Chapter 119

Luca’s POV

Marlan was screaming with terror. You’d swear I was killing someone down here. Oh, wait. “You know this would be a lot easier if you just told us what we wanted to know”, Mara said, almost sounding bored. “Fuck you”, he spit. I stabbed my knife into his thigh and drug it vertically, ripping open his leg. “Ahhhhh”, he screamed. “Watch how you speak to my wife. It may cost you your manhood”, I growled. Marlan whimpered breathlessly.

“Marabella”, Franky called from the cell across from us. Mara rolled her eyes as she looked in his direction. She didn’t speak, only looked at him with dead eyes. “Come here, please”, he said. Marabella sighed as she stood up and walked across the hall. He whispered something to her and Mara shook her head as she turned and walked back to me.

“What exactly do you have against me?”, Marabella asked Marlan. “What do you have against a female leader?”, Marabella asked, placing her hand on her hip. “There has never been a female leader in the Vaughn family. I was just trying to make sure that it didn’t happen at all”, Marlan finally answered through gritted teeth. “Wow, so you lied to my father all them years because you didn’t want me to lead the Vaughn family?”, Mara asked condescendingly.

“I did much more than that”, he sneered in response. “Like make my life a living hell?”, she asked, tilting her head to the side. Marlan smirked and began laughing manically. Marabella grabbed the knife from my hand and slit his throat. Marlan gurgled on his blood, trying to breathe.

“Ironic that you’ll die by my hand then, huh?”, she scoffed, as she threw my knife at his feet. I smiled widely, I couldn’t help it. The pride I felt was just so damn strong. Please visit * .net and search the book title to read the entire book for free. Franky started laughing from his cell, obviously watching the entire encounter. Mara turned and faced me, she had a look of ‘I told you so’ on her face. My smile fell as I studied her. His answers were not enough for her. They didn’t satisfy the part of her that she needed them to.

“I’m ready to go home now”, she uttered quietly, so that no one else could hear her. I nodded, “Let’s go”, I whispered, taking her hand. “Clean this mess up”, I demanded, talking to the guard on the outside of the cell. “Yes boss”, he nodded, walking into the cell. Mara was quiet as we drove back to the villa.

Her leg bounced uncontrollably with anxiety. I placed my hand on her leg and squeezed gently. “Talk to me, piccola”, I muttered. “I have to remind myself that there are extremely shitty people out there that would literally do something like ruin someone else’s life just because they don’t see them fit as a leader”, she vented. “Which is crazy that I even have to tell myself that. I literally lived an entire lifetime of it”, she scoffed, throwing her hands up. “I’m sorry, piccola. You should never have to go through any of that. And I can promise you that you won’t go through that anymore”, I told her.

Mara smiled softly at me. “I know”, she whispered. I pulled up to the door and put it in park. I got out and walked around the vehicle to let Mara out. She looked drained, like she needed a nap or a bath. “Tell me what you need, piccola”, I uttered, taking her hand in mine. “I don’t know”, she shook her head. “A nap? A bath? Some food?”, I suggested. “Maybe a bath and a nap”, she responded in a low murmur.

“You’ve got it, baby girl”, I smiled. I led her inside, and towards the stairs. It was getting pretty late, so obviously ma was standing by the door waiting on us. “Well?”, she asked, looking at us expectantly. “We killed them”, Mara answered. I nodded in agreement with Marabella. Ma nodded her head, relief and sorrow on her face. Ma understands how the world is, but she wishes it wasn’t so. She does not like it when people have to die. No matter whose side they are on. However, she is relieved because she understands the importance of the fall of this enemy.

“Are you hungry?”, she asked, looking in our direction. “No ma’am”, Mara answered. “I am. Can you have someone bring up enough for both of us? We are going to go relax in a bath”, I explained to my mother. She smiled gently, “Absolutely”, she answered. Ma reached up and gave me a kiss on my cheek. Then she turned and gave Mara a hug. “My apologies, Bella”, she whispered.

Marabella hugged my mother tight, refusing to let go prematurely. “I love you, ma. Thank you for everything you have done for me”, Mara murmured into my ma’s shoulder. “Ti amo, figlia mia (I love you, my child)”, my mother answered, with such love that even tears sprang into my eyes.

Ma pulled back from the hug and wiped Marabella’s tears. “You will always have a family with us. And we will always accept you for who you are”, Ma said, her voice holding all the truth. “Thank you, ma”, Mara whispered. “Of course, my dear”, Ma endeared. “Now go enjoy a nice hot bath. You deserve it”, Ma chuckled.

I grabbed Mara’s hand and spun her around to pick her up bridal style and carry her up the stairs. Mara gasped at the sudden movement, but my mother only chuckled at my banter. “I love how you make it seem like it is easy to pick me up”, Mara whispered, against my neck. “It is easy to pick you up, piccola”, I laughed. Mara shook her head as she relaxed against me. I love how she came around to allowing me to carry her without fuss.

I took her straight to the bathroom and sat her on the counter. I started undressing her gently. “You aren’t going to start the bath first?”, she asked, confused. I chuckled, “No, I want to be able to look at you as I prepare the bath”, I smirked. Mara blushed feverishly. “You can’t possibly still be shy around me, are you?”, I teased, sliding her shirt over her head.

Mara didn’t reply, she just went with the flow and let me do my thing. Once her panties were on the floor with her bra, I took a step back and admired the beautiful woman in front of me. “Fucking gorgeous”, I muttered. Mara smiled and looked at the tub, silently asking me to start it. I chuckled as I walked over to the tub and turned the water on.

“Luca”, Mara called out softly. “Yes, baby girl?”, I said, looking up at her. “Now that Franky isn’t a threat anymore, does that mean I can go back to college?”, she asked meekly. I smiled and sighed with relief. She is right, Franky is no longer a threat. “I don’t see why not, principessa”, I answered her. Mara giggled softly. She is starting to feel the change as well.

I started to strip next. I fully plan to bathe with my wife this evening. “So, the inconsistencies in the finances at work. Did you ever sort that out?”, she asked, slipping off of the counter and walking towards the tub. She started to put essential oils and Epson salts in the water. “I think so”, I answered her.

“You think so?”, she questioned, arching an eyebrow at me. “Well, when I got abducted, and you came to save me. It dawned on me that Zera’s father was most likely stealing the money to support his lifestyle. When we got back, I asked Trey to look into it. However, we’ve been focusing on other things, like finding your father’s compound. So, tomorrow, after everyone has had some rest. I will talk to Trey and find out what he knows”, I explained to her.

Mara nodded her head as she listened to me. “It makes sense. She was working with my father, probably to get rid of me so that she could be with you. Her father was also probably working with my father to steal funds from you”, she theorized. “I’ll talk to your father tomorrow as well and find out”, I agreed.

I stepped into the tub and held my hand out to her. “But, for now, let’s enjoy this victory”, I said. Mara nodded, and took my hand. “Yes sir”, she answered, stepping in the bath with me.