Chapter 111

Luca’s POV

Marabella and I ate lunch with the family before heading to the theater room. Marco and Carlo had followed us and settled themselves into their favorite spots. Mara chose the movie, picking a horror film. Before she settled into my side. I have been tossing over what she said in my head.

She truly seems content with her decision. It just worries me that the path I am leading her down is a bad choice for her. But I also understand her feelings about this. She is right, the world would be a better place without Franky Vaughn in it anymore. However, what will that do to her mind? What will she have to face internally when she solidifies such an act, even through me?

Marabella’s soft hand touched my face, drawing me from my daze. “Are you okay, daddy?”, she asked gently. I grinned at her innocently, “Of course, piccola. Are you?”, I asked. “Yeah”, she nodded. “Are you scared?”, I teased, referring to the movie. Marabella chuckled, “Yeah, right”, she answered, a broad smile on her lips.

I chuckled, as I shook my head and pulled her back into my chest. The boys sat at the other end of the massive sectional couch, goofing off with each other. They were not paying attention to the movie nor us. They were giggling about something on Carlo’s phone.

I snuck my hand up Mara’s shirt, tenderly enclosing my fingers around her breast. Mara looked up at me surprised. “They aren’t paying attention. Besides, I am more comfortable this way”, I shrugged. Mara smiled as she shook her head, and continued to watch the movie.

I wasn’t kidding about being comfortable, because only ten more minutes into the movie, I passed out, holding my woman close to me.

Franky stood in the corner of the room. Completely off of my radar as I snuggled my wife. Marabella giggled as she climbed around on my lap in the recliner. “You better settle down and behave”, I warned with a soft growl. “Ooh, or what, daddy?”, she giggled. “I’m going to have to spank that ass if you don’t”, I growled, pulling her close to me. Marabella squealed with joy as she wrapped her arms around my neck. “I love you, daddy”, she whispered. “I love you too, principessa”, I purred.

“Absolutely disgusting”, Franky’s voice rang through the living room as he stepped out of the shadows. I reacted as quickly as I could. But the gun that was in his hand had already been discharged and Marabella laid underneath me bleeding. I pulled my weapon and turned to fire back, but Franky was already gone.

Marabella spit and sputtered on her on blood as she grasped at the collar of my shirt. Tears rolled down my cheeks, and my breathing completely stopped. “Marabella Rose, please”, I cried out. “No!”, I yelled.

“No!”, I sat up on the sofa, startling Marabella as I did so. “Daddy”, she uttered. “Marabella”, I breathed out in relief as I crushed her to my chest. “What happened?”, she asked softly, holding me tightly. “It was just a nightmare”, I answered, looking around the room to notice it was only us left in here and another movie was on. Looked like a Disney princess movie.

I looked over in the corners of the room closely, making sure that Franky wasn’t lurking in the shadows like he was in the dream. “What happened in your nightmare, Luca?”, Mara asked, pulling back and cupping my cheeks. I frowned, I couldn’t lie to her. How else will I ever expect her to tell me the truth when this sort of thing happens to her?

“I had lost you. Your father, he was here. In this room with us. And he shot you”, I answered, shortening it up as much as possible. Marabella sighed as she placed my hand on her chest. “Do you feel that?”, she asked, tilting her head to the side. I nodded, knowing that she was talking about her heartbeat. “I am still here, daddy”, she murmured.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I pulled her in to me to kiss her. “I love you, baby girl”, I whispered. “I love you too”, she purred, with a grin. “What are you watching?”, I asked, arching an eyebrow, as I looked at the screen behind her. “Encanto”, she answered, with a bit of cheer. “It’s catchy”, I goofed. “Will you finish it with me?”, she asked excitedly.

I couldn’t say no to that adorable face. “Yes, baby girl. I will”, I said, nodding at the TV to make her look at it. She squealed with happiness as she turned around to watch her movie. I did not pay a lick of attention to the movie on the screen. I was too busy starring at Marabella.

I couldn’t help myself. The dream of losing her felt too real. So every single second I get with her, I will admire and relish in. I ran my fingers through her hair. Enjoying the silkiness against my skin. Every now and again Mara would look over at me and grin. She would blush under the intensity of my stare.

I’m not sure when the movie ended. I was only made aware because Mara turned towards me. “I think it’s getting about dinner time”, she uttered. “I think you are right, piccola”, I whispered. The door to the theater was thrown open and Sergio came storming through. “We have a problem, brother”, he said. I groaned as Mara and I stood up. “When do we not have a problem?”, I asked.

Marabella grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me toward the exit. “Debrief me”, I said, as we walked down the hall. “Some of Franky’s men have been asking around about him. Apparently, someone in the village told them that we had him. They are on their way here now”, Sergio informed me.

“And how do you know that to be true?”, I asked. “Trey has it on CCTV. They are driving towards the villa as we speak”, Sergio said. For the safety of my wife, mother, brothers and my home, I have to believe him. I stopped and turned towards Marabella. “No”, she said, shaking her head. “You aren’t sending me away to hide. I have proved I can hold my own time and time again”, she growled.

She’s right, it’s just my first instinct to send her to safety. I nodded at her, and continued to follow Sergio to the command center. “The biggest problem here is that we need a command”, Sergio said, looking over his shoulder at me. I looked down at Marabella with furrowed eyebrows. She knew what I was thinking, and I knew what she was thinking. We had a complete understanding between the two of us.

“Kill them on sight”, Marabella said. Sergio halted in his tracks and faced us. “What Serg?”, Mara asked. “I didn’t know that you were giving orders like that now”, he responded. Before I could but in and defend her, Mara had already squared her shoulders. “They are inherently my men, correct? Therefore, I call the shots on what happens to them. My order is, kill on sight, Sergio”, Mara growled. Sergio looked up at me, my face portraying support for my wife’s decision.

Sergio nodded as we continued on. I could feel the panic of the fratellanza (brotherhood) when I entered the command center. Ease seem to grace most of them when my presence was made. Why are they freaking out like this? We have dealt with worse. Franky’s men are nothing on ours.

A low audible gasp slipped Mara’s lips when we saw the motorcade that was traveling towards our home. Marabella immediately jumped into action. “Your orders are to kill on sight. Let’s take as many of these vehicles out as we can before they even grace the property”, she hollered across the room.

All of my men nodded their heads. “Si, Mia Regina (Yes, My Queen)”, they answered, jumping into gear. I stood still for a moment, watching in awe as my beautiful little spicy wife took over this entire mission. I feel the upmost pride flowing through my veins right now.