Chapter 12

Marabella’s POV

Luca’s demeanor shifted, becoming more relaxed. My vision blurred from my tears, that I was holding back. I felt Luca’s hand grip the back of my neck, before I was forcefully pulled into his hard chest. My arms immediately snaked around his waist, to hold him tightly. His free arm wrapped around my back and held me closer.

My body had already begun to rack with sobs. “I’ve got you, piccola (little one)”, Luca cooed in my ear. I felt him lean over to remove the pan from the stove-eye, while still holding me to his chest. Luca picked me up by my waist with one arm, my legs automatically wrapped around his hips, as I moved my arms to his neck and shoulders.

He sat me on a cleared part of the counter and continued to hold me as I cried. When my cries finally slowed down, Luca pulled back and cupped my face, “It wasn’t your fault, bambina (baby). None of it, do you understand me?”, he asked. I frowned, but nodded. “It’s not nice to lie, piccola (little one)”, he scolded, before leaning in and capturing my lips with his. When he pulled away, I frowned, getting ready to protest. “You did lie to me, piccola ragazza (little girl). And don’t lie again to tell me you aren’t lying. It’s okay not to understand, bambina (baby girl). I’ll help you”, he uttered. I clamped my mouth closed and nodded. I don’t understand. It had to be my fault. How else could a man leave a child that he had already put years into loving and raising?

I took a deep breath and steadied my thoughts. “I’m okay now. Thank you”, I said softly. Luca smiled as he kissed me tenderly. “You are so very welcome, Piccola (little one)”, Luca murmured. He gently picked me up and put me back on my feet. I smiled softly as my hand touched his chest. To avoid an incomplete reading experience, visit * .net. I love the way this man feels under my hand. “Mara”, he whispered. My eyes drifted from my hand on his chest, to his gray eyes. His eyes drifted to my lips, as they parted. “Yes?”, I asked softly.

Luca’s hand gripped the back of my neck roughly as he pulled me in for a heated kiss. His lips on mine were a contradiction to his hold. His kiss was softer than silk, as his lips slid against mine. His finger tilted my neck, moving my head with it, giving him access to dip his tongue into my mouth. My heart was pounding in my ears. It was as if I couldn’t breathe, from focusing on all of his different movements.

His free hand ghosted my hip and up my side, before he gripped my ribcage. My whimper was lost against his lips. My fingers fisted his shirt at the collar, as my body drew closer to his. “Ahem”, a deep voice interrupted. A small squeak left my lips as I pulled away from Luca. Well, as I attempted to pull away, only to be stopped by Luca’s hold on my neck. His gray eyes pierced mine, as he held my attention. He looked up towards the kitchen door.

“Don’t burn the kitchen down, now, brother”, Sergio chuckled. I closed my eyes and blew out a steady breath. I clutched onto Luca’s sides for support. “Fuck off, Serg”, Luca growled. His chest vibrating against mine did nothing to soothe my rapid heart beat, only increased it, along with the ache between my thighs. Luca must have felt me squeeze my thighs together because his eyes snapped to mine, and he pinned my hips harder to the counter with his.

“Come on, brother. I’m hungry, too”, Sergio said. I could hear one of the bar stools scrap against the granite tile. “Questo figlio di puttana (This mother fucker)”, Luca growled under his breath, before sighing and resting his forehead on mine. “It’s okay. There’s enough for me to make another”, I whispered softly, as my thumbs stroked his sides. Both of Luca’s hands cupped my face. “Let me help you”, he uttered. I nodded softly in submission to his request. A sexy smirk crossed his lips. He leaned into my ear to whisper, “Good girl”. A shiver traveled down my spine at his words.

Luca still sported his smirk, even as he released me. My steps faltered slightly, as I tried to step away. Two chuckles hit my ear drums, one from Luca and the other from Sergio, only furthering my embarrassment. I made quick work of making another burger patty for Sergio, and getting the pan back on the stovetop. Luca pulled the lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and cheese from the refrigerator.

As the patties cooked, I started cutting tomatoes, as Luca washed the other vegetables off. “So, I have a suspicion about who was behind the explosion today”, Sergio said, as he picked a slice of tomato off the cutting board and began sprinkling it with salt and pepper. Something sliced through me from his words. Maybe it was the lack of acknowledgment for the family that burned to death in the home.

“You mean the quadruple homicide of Greg, Ashley, Kylie, and Mason Greers, and the attempted murder of Luca and myself?”, I asked, maybe a little too harshly. Sergio’s relaxed posture shifted immediately, stiffening. His broad shoulders squared and his face lost color. I could feel Luca’s stare on the side of my face. A wave of guilt passed through me. “I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from”, I apologized, as I hung my head.

“No. I apologize, Mara. I should have acknowledged the innocent lives lost today”, Sergio replied, with true remorse, his shoulders sagging in shame. Luca’s thumb brushed my jawline. I half smiled, as I stepped back, to flip the burgers. Luca sighed, “Let me guess, Vaughn?”, he asked in monotone. Sergio nodded solemnly, “Yeah, two men showed up at the home this morning. Neighbors report them being cable technicians. The company was a fake”, he reported. I tuned out the rest of their conversation as I continued to prepare the dressing for the burgers.

I sliced a pickle and an onion, as Luca pulled apart the lettuce and grabbed the mayonnaise and mustard from the fridge. He did not falter in his conversation with his brother. I found myself faltering with myself though.

I wasn’t even hungry anymore. I was tired, sad, and I just wanted to lay down and forget about what happened today. “Piccola (Little one), what’s wrong?”, Luca whispered softly, his lips caressing my earlobe. I realized I was staring blankly at my plate that sat on the counter in front of me. Sergio had already taken his plate and left the kitchen. “Marabella”, Luca uttered, as he grabbed my chin and turned my face towards his. “I’m just tired”, I answered.

Luca frowned, “I thought we discussed this”, he murmurmed. My frown matched his, “I’m too tired to talk about what’s bothering me, Luca. It’s been a long day”, I pouted. Luca’s thumb brushed my bottom lip. “You need to eat first, then you can go to bed, okay?”, his voice may have been deep, but it had a smoothness to it, that seemed to calm me, pretty quickly. “Come, we can eat in the room”, Luca said, grabbing both of our plates, and nodding his head toward the door. I nodded once, as I grabbed our drinks and headed toward the room.