Chapter 23

Marabella’s POV

“Let’s eat, baby girl”, he uttered, grabbing the bag from beside my feet. He set it on the, now cleared, table. He started pulling the contents out. He placed two very greasy-looking burgers onto the table, along with a paper-boat, slap full of fries. “This looks amazing”, I commented. “It is”, Luca chuckled. “I told you that you would love it though, did you ever doubt me?”, he asked, looking over his shoulder at me. “Not for a second”, I grinned, with a headshake.

Luca smiled as he set up our food. “You know, we still have to practice”, he said, with a smirk. “Practice for what?”, I asked, as I leaned forward and plucked up a fry. “Dancing, for tomorrow night”, he chuckled, watching me closely. “Shit. I forgot about the actual dancing part”, I muttered. “I didn’t”, Luca smirked. Ugh, I really can’t dance. I’m going to end up embarrassing both of us.

“No, don’t do that”, Luca uttered, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Do what?”, I asked. “Get lost in your head about it. You’ll do great, bambina”, he said, kissing my forehead. “Eat your lunch, piccola”, he commanded softly. I picked up the burger and took a bite. I hummed in delight. “These are better than mine”, I moaned. Luca stared at me with a look I couldn’t decipher. “No, they’re not”, he said flatly, as he took a bite of his burger.

“Yours are way better”, he said with a headshake. I blushed and shook my head, choosing to ignore his comment and eat. “Can I ask you something, Marabella?”, he whispered, looking over at me. “Yeah”, I nodded. “Why don’t you defend yourself against Jason, if you know how?”, he asked. I sighed as I set my burger down and took a sip of my drink. “I did, once. In the seventh grade”, I answered. Luca frowned, “What happened, then?”, he questioned.

“I was expelled from school and told that if I ever lay my hands on him again, that they would send me to Juvenelle prison for attempted murder”, I answered. “Why attempted murder?”, Luca frowned. “Because I was trying to kill him. I fractured his skull pretty badly, slamming his head into the concrete”, I explained, looking down at my plate.

“And his father paid off the chief of police to do so”, Luca nodded. “Probably”, I shrugged. “I’m going to handle this, bambina”, he said gruffly. “You already did, Luca. It’s okay”, I said with a half-smile. Luca shook his head as he continued eating. I picked at my plate, no longer supporting an appetite. “Piccola, you must eat”, Luca said, nodding at my plate. I half-heartily smiled. “I have to use the restroom, Luca”, I muttered.

It was as if Luca could see right through my walls, as he studied me. “That door, little one”, he uttered, pointing at a door towards the back of the office. I nodded as I stood and headed toward the door. I quickly did my business and washed my hands. I was visited by an unwanted memory in the process.

Jason’s hand was firm on the back of my neck as he pinned me to the lockers. “You’re my toy, little pet. You can’t talk to other boys, ever”, Jason growled, as he dug the blade of his knife further into my skin. “Please stop”, I cried out. “This will prove you are only mine to play with”, he sneered. I could feel his blade carving my skin like it was a pumpkin. The pain is unbearable, making me cry out in pain.

Luca’s POV

Mara is taking way longer than normal in the restroom. At first, I chalked it up to her being on her period, but now, I’m beginning to worry. I walked to the door and knocked. “Bambina?”, I called out. She didn’t answer, and when I stuck my ear to the door I could hear her whimper. My mind went into overdrive. “Marabella?”, I called out again, wiggling the handle to find it locked.

I took one step back, and planted my foot, firmly and forcefully, next to the handle on the door, sending it flying open. I looked around the room, spotting Mara curled up with her knees in her stomach and her hands covering her head. “Please stop”, she whimpered, through choked tears. “I’m sorry, I won’t talk to anyone anymore. Please stop. It hurts”, she muttered, rocking herself. What the fuck is happening right now?

I rushed to her side, trying to find a way to comfort her. “Mia Bella”, I uttered, softly putting my hand on her back. Mara jumped away from my touch, “No, Jason, please stop”, she cried out. Jason? What the fuck has he done to her to make her have an episode like this?

I moved through her failing arms, a man on a mission. She would know that I am not Jason. My hand wrapped around the back of her neck and I pulled her to me, kissing her deeply. Her fists hit my chest in protest. I grabbed one of her hands and fattened it onto my chest. She slowly began to stop fighting me as I continued to kiss her. I didn’t stop until she was lax against me.

“Luca”, was the only name that fell from her lips when I pulled away. “Yes, piccola. It’s me”, I uttered, wiping her tear-stained cheeks with my thumbs. “I was doing so good. i thought I was past it”, she hiccuped, getting ready to cry again. “What did he do to you, piccola?”, I asked.