Chapter 69
“Your sister is with Bastardi,” he said bluntly, lifting his glass and swallowing the rest of the whiskey in one go. The alcohol burned a clean, familiar line down his throat.
Vee went still. “What next?” she asked.
“Patience, bambola. Patience.” He set the empty glass down. “You are in the mafia now. You need to learn patience, or your blood pressure will be through the roof before you’re thirty p>
Vee forced herself to sit back, to breathe, to unclench her fists. If Luca said he had it handled, she should believe him. He was capable. More than capable. The legendary devil.
So why wasn’t she relaxed?
She stood abruptly and crossed to the bar. She grabbed the bottle straight from its place of honor and carried it back.
“Careful, bambola. It’s strong,” Luca said mildly, watching her with narrowed eyes. There was a note of warning there, buried under the affection.
“Strong is good,” she replied, pouring herself a generous glass. She downed it.
Luca leaned forward slightly. “Vee p>
She was already pouring another. “I can’t do this,” she snapped. “I can’t stay calm.” She lifted the glass and drank again, not even wincing this time. The burn was gone, replaced by a dull warmth.
Luca snatched the bottle from her hand. “That’s enough.” He set the bottle out of her reach, eyes scanning her face, noting the flush in her cheeks, the glassiness creeping in.
His phone buzzed again.
He looked at it for only a second.
Extracted.
That was all Reese sent. Luca’s shoulders loosened a fraction, tension bleeding out of him.
“Your sister is safe,” he said aloud. “It will take a bit for me to get her resituated, but she is currently in safe hands p>
Her breath left her in a long, trembling exhale, and she folded forward until her forehead rested against the desk. Relief crashed through her so violently it left her hollowed out, shaky, almost weak with it.
“And Marco?” she asked.
“Marco will be punished by the laws of the familia p>
Her fingers curled against the desk. “Is there p>
“Don’t.” He cut her off sharply. “Like I said, he knew the risks. Just like I know the risks of saving your sister. We make our choices and accept the consequences p>
She lifted her head slowly, eyes red-rimmed, searching his face. “You had your own plan mapped out,” she said quietly. “You were always going to save her p>
His mouth tightened. “She is your sister. You love her. I couldn’t hurt you like that. Now tell me,” he said. “What’s with Marco and your sister p>
Vee stiffened instantly, her eyes flying up to meet his. “What’s with them p>
“I don’t get it,” Luca continued. “Marco isn’t reckless. And he certainly isn’t suicidal. He knew saving her was a suicide mission, and he did it anyway.” His eyes narrowed. “Why p>
“They are quite close,” Vee said slowly. She sat sideways in the chair, one knee tucked up. “I noticed it when she visited.” She frowned, thinking. “But Tina says it’s nothing.” She glanced at Luca. “You think it’s something p>
He shrugged. “I guess I’ll find out in time p>
“I hear a bit of hypocrisy in there, Luca p>
“I’m not a hypocrite,” he replied immediately, offended in principle.
She tilted her head, eyes glittering. “So you can have me as an obsession,” she said lightly, “but he cannot have her as an obsession p>
Luca rose from his chair and closed the distance between them. He caught her by the wrists and pulled her up to her feet. She swayed slightly, unsteady, and he compensated instinctively, one arm wrapping around her waist to keep her upright. His face was close now, stubble shadowing his jaw, dark eyes burning.
“I don’t care about them,” he said quietly. “Not really.” His hand tightened at her waist. “I care about you p>
Her laughter faded.
“You have a problem?” he continued. “I have a problem. That’s how this works.” His thumb brushed absently over her hip, a small, unconscious touch that spoke volumes. “I want to make life easy for you p>
She blinked at him, heart thudding.
“I want your only task every day to be fighting me,” he went on, mouth curving slightly, dark humor threading through his intensity. “Arguing with me. Challenging me. Making me lose my temper in very specific ways.” His gaze dropped briefly to her lips, then lifted again. “While mine is to solve all of your problems by whatever means necessary p>
Her breath hitched. “Are you being sweet,” she asked, laughing again, breathless now, “or am I just too drunk p>
He snorted softly. “Both,” he admitted. “Which is why you should go home and sleep it off p>
She leaned into him, forehead brushing his chest, the steady beat of his heart oddly comforting.
“I’ll wake you up when I get back,” Luca added.
“Promise?” she murmured, her head tipped back.
Luca snorted, a real laugh breaking free. “Someone is excited to be punished.” His hand steadied her, palm firm at her lower back.
“Can I tell you a secret?” she asked, lips dangerously close to his collarbone.
“Please,” he drawled, amusement curling through his tone. “Regale me p>
She leaned in, breath warm against his neck, whispering. “I like it when you punish me p>
Luca laughed again, shaking his head. “I know, Bambola.” His thumb brushed her chin, lifting it just enough to look at her unfocused eyes. “Oh, you’re going to hate yourself when this clears from your system p>
She giggled. “I know, right. I’d never truly admit that in my right mind.” She wrinkled her nose. “Damn, that drink is strong p>
“I warned ya,” he said smugly.
She sobered slightly then, the haze parting just enough for the real fear to peek through again. “You’ll take good care of my sis?” she asked, searching his face.
“I promise,” he replied.
Her lips curved, alcohol-fueled bravery blooming. “Then you can fuck me p>
Luca lifted her chin fully, forcing her to meet his eyes. Her lashes were heavy. “Hey,” he said quietly, intensity cutting through the humor. “Listen to me before you pass out. I didn’t save her to fuck you, you crazy woman. What kind of vibes are you getting from me exactly p>