Chapter 34

Luca’s POV

I felt 80% better, as I slipped into the driver’s seat next to Mara. “Where are we going?”,

“, she questioned. “To eat,

bambolina (doll face)”, I answered, lacing my fingers with hers and bringing the back of her hand to my lips. I drove approximately ten minutes up the street to one of the Italian restaurants that we own. Mara was quiet for the entire ride, even while we were being brought to our table. I kept glancing at her to see if I could decipher what was going on inside of her head through her facial features.

“What do you want to drink, piccola?”

“, I asked her. “Uh,

water is fine”, she answered, shaking her head. “What’s the matter, baby girl?”,

“, I questioned. “What is the bad blood

between you and your uncle?”, she whispered. I frowned,

“I’ll tell you once we order”, I murmured, just as the waiter walked up to the table. I ordered water for both of us and two pepperoni calzones.

Mara stared at me expectantly, as I glanced back over the table at her. I heaved a sigh before beginning. “My uncle was abdicated of his birthright by my grandfather. My uncle Robert is actually the oldest, but he disgraced the family by getting a divorce and kicking his wife and kids out on the street. The bastard remarried within a week. My grandfather was furious and stripped him of his title, and gave it to my father. The second born”, I explaihed. Mara’s eyes were already wide with curiosity and shock.

I reached across the table and took her hands in mine.

“Every since, my uncle has been going above and beyond to find a way to reverse it”, I said, darkly. “Do you think he may have been involved in your father’s murder?”, she whispered remorsefully. I shook my head, “I really don’t know, l answered, with furrowed eyebrows. Mara frowned,

“You really do have a lot on your plate, don’t you?” , she murmured.

I took a deep breath and sighed. “What can I do to help?”, she questioned softly, as she stroked the back of my hand tenderly with her thumb. “Just keep being you, bambina.

You’ve helped me more already, than you even realize”, I smiled. The waiter sat our drinks on the table, interrupting us, and making us pull our hands back. “Your order will be out shortly, sir”, he said. “Thank you”, I acknowledged. Mara stared at my chest and bit her lip as she thought about something way too hard.

“What is it?”,

“, I asked softly. Mara shook her head. “Tell me,

principessa”, I encouraged. “I was just trying to think of ways that I could help you unload your plate some”, she answered. “You are so wonderful, bambina. I don’t deserve you. But, you don’t have to worry about any of that”, I said, as the waiter came back with our food, keeping Mara from retorting.

“For now, we will focus on lunch, then on bringing Timmy’s crime lord to justice. Can you text Rex and tell him to call a meeting for thirty minutes from now? I still need to get a phone”, I explained. Mara nodded, as she pulled out her phone. “I could just have Cal get me one”, I mumbled to myself. Mara typed out a message on her phone and then put it away, giving me and her calzone her attention.

“Eat, baby girl. I know you are starving”, I chuckled. Mara giggled as she picked up her food and took a bite. “Mmm, this is amazing”, she moaned. “I know, this restaurant has the best chef”, I said. Mara nodded in agreement and continued eating. We sat in comfortable silence for the rest of the meal. As creepy as it sounds, I could watch this girl all day long. She can make any mundane task seem completely enchanting.

Marabella’s POV

When we made it to the villa, Luca took me to a quadrant that I had not been to yet. It was a smaller building at the back of the property. “This is where we hold meetings”, Luca said, as he put the car in park. Luca got out and walked to my side of the vehicle, as I observed my surroundings. My door opened, and Luca was reaching across me to unhook my seatbelt. “When you see him, let me know”, Luca whispered. “Okay”, I nodded, accepting his hand, to exit the car.

The chatter in the monumental room seized when Luca and I entered the room. “Good evening, Boss”, Sergio

greeted. The room stood at attention as we walked past them to the front. Halfway through, I could feel eyes on me.

I looked to the left, across Luca’s chest, making eye contact with the man from last night I slightly squeezed Luca’s hand. He squeezed back, acknowledging my signal.

“Are you okay with pointing him out, piccola?”, Luca murmured in my ear, when we reached the front. I turned towards him, “Uh, It’s the guy, with the emerald tie”, I whispered. Luca nodded, understanding that I wasn’t quite up for that at the moment. Maybe it was the look in the guys eyes that made me feel off, or maybe it’s something else. I’m not sure.

“Last night, we set out on a mission to retrieve my brother.

The mission turned south, and we lost quite a few men. In that fight, one of our 16-year-old recruits was injured”, Luca said, his voice loud and clear. Murmurs broke out amongst the men. “You are all aware of my rule. No children in battle. I am giving the one who sent Timmy out there last night a chance to come forward. Your punishment may not be as severe if you do”, Luca warned.

The men collectively glanced around at one another, wondering which of them was brass enough to break a rule so critical. Finally, the man with the emerald tie stepped forward. “Huh, Gibson, come with me”, Luca demanded, taking me toward a door behind us. It was a small office, with a desk and chairs. There were books in book cases and a few abstract paintings hanging on the wall, but an overall bland room.

Luca sat in the chair behind the desk and patted his thigh, silently commanding me to sit on his lap. I froze for a second, ready to protest. Luca’s eyes dared me to disobey him.