Luca paces into the room like a wild animal. He tears through the room, putting on his suit.
“Luca, what happened?”
He turns to face me. His jaw clenches so tight it looks like he may crack a tooth. He fumbles with his tie.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” he hisses and gives up.
I walk over to him, without a scrap of clothing on. He told me not to move earlier.
“Let me.” I take the smooth black tie in my hands. He lifts his chin as I do it for him, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“There, done.” I smile up at him.
His features soften, his gaze traveling my body, giving me goosebumps as the anger shifts to pure hunger in his eyes.
“What happened down there, Luca?” I pin him with a stare.
“I’ve made a deal with the devil to bring Maddie home.”
“What deal?”
He shakes his head. “Not right now, please.” The sadness laced in his voice stops me from pressing him further.
I wrap my arms over to cover my breasts, suddenly uncomfortable that he’s keeping secrets.
“You’re beautiful, you know that, right?” He tilts his head to the side.
“I guess.” I shrug.
I didn’t ever know my beauty until he showed me, until I got clean. Now, when I look at myself, I like the woman who stares back at me. The one with glowing skin, brighter eyes, and shiny hair.
“Things are about to get messy, Rosa. Really messy.” His head drops.
He looks absolutely exhausted.
“Hey, you’ve got this. You are Luca Fucking Russo. You can take on the world.” I cup his stubbly jaw and tip his head back up. Something is eating him alive.
I know it’s going to come down to Luca or my dad. And I know who my heart wants to win this. The only man who has ever protected me.
“Don’t hesitate when it comes down to my dad, Luca. Not for me. You keep yourself safe. I want you to come back from this. Not him. Okay?”
I blink back the tears; I can’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. But I mean every single one.
I can’t lose him.
He simply nods. I wrap my arms around his muscular frame, and hold him tight. I never want to let go. At this moment, we’re just Luca and Rosa. Our little escape from reality. It’s perfect.
But I know deep down it’s too good to be true.
“Go and take over the world, Luca.” I swallow, my heart heavy.
He strokes the back of my hair, his erratic pulse hammers against my ear.
“Rosa, do you have any family members called Frankie?”
I pull back and gasp. “Yes, an uncle. He left us a few years ago. I haven’t seen him since the explosion that killed my mother.”
He frowns.
“Your dad’s brother?”
I nod. “Why?”
Dread fills me. Frankie was the ruthless one. I loved him more than my dad. He was always my protector. Until one day, he was gone.
His finger traces my shoulder. “If I’m right, I’ll tell you everything. From the look on your face, I’m suspecting you liked your uncle.”
“I did,” I say honestly. “I don’t know what my dad did to him. If he is back, be careful, Luca. Growing up, he was always my protector. He once blew up one of my bully’s parent’s cars for picking on me about being a virgin. I want to see him; he owes me an explanation.”
He assesses me, his lips tight. “I can’t promise you anything. I don’t know what I’m walking into yet. I have to protect my family, and you, tesoro.”
“Me?” My brain is working a hundred miles an hour with all of this information.
“Of course, you. Now, stay here. I’m sorry. I hate doing this to you. This is your home, too. But it will not be safe out there.”
I go up on my tiptoes, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. His hand wraps around my naked body and cups my ass. His other hand lightly laces around my neck, which has me melting against him. He groans into my mouth, his tongue demanding more, and I give him it.
“Fuck, now isn’t the time to deal with this and a hard-on. But it’s worth it. I needed that.” He drops another kiss.
“Please be safe, Luca.” My bottom lip starts to tremble, and he runs his thumb along it.
“When I have this to come home to, of course I will be,” he rasps and pats my ass.
Even when the world is a mess, he makes me smile.
“I’ll go get your spicy book collection from downstairs; that will keep your mind busy.” He winks.
“That isn’t your worst idea,” I tease.
If there’s ever been a time I need to escape reality, it’s now.
