Chapter 56

Marabella’s POV

When the bathroom door closed, Luca turned around and cupped my face. “Are you okay?”, he murmured. With that one simple question, I broke down, forgetting all about Sergio’s stupid comments. I felt gravity give up from under me, as Luca swept me into his arms. He picked me up and craddled me. “Piccola, what did he do to you?”, he asked, softly. I shook my head as I cried harder, “Can we please shower”, I managed to croak out.

Luca swiftly set me on the counter and started yanking his clothes off. My breaths were labored, as I tried to fight my tears. I rocked back and forth, trying to calm myself. “Hold tight, baby girl”, Luca said, starting the shower, before coming back over to me. He slipped his coat off of my shoulders, inspecting my body.

Luca growled as his eyes zeroed in on my neck. “Did he choke you?”, he asked in a gruff tone. I nodded, still trying to keep myself from slipping into a full-blown anxiety attack. Luca tenderly wrapped his arms around me and lifted me up. I instantly wrapped my legs around his waist, and my arms around his neck. I buried my face against his soft skin. His scent filled my senses, calming me slightly.

“You are going to be covered in bruises, principessa”, he murmured, remorsefully. He gently stroked my back as he walked into the shower. “Did he rape you, piccola?”, he asked, low and cautiously. “N-No”, I stuttered, against my tears. Luca sighed with relief. He carefully pushed me against the shower wall. “Fuck, now I never want to leave your fucking side”, he sighed, resting his head against mine, which was still buried in his neck.

“Please wash his touch off of me”, I pleaded, pulling my head back. Luca’s eyebrows scrunched together as he gently sat me down. “I would be more than happy to do that for you, piccola”, he uttered, grabbing my shampoo first. His hands were tender as they combed the soap through my hair.

“Relax against me, piccola”, he murmured. I did as he said, resting myself against his chest. “Good girl”, he muttered, as he rinsed the shampoo from my hair. “I’m sorry, bambina. You should never have to go through that in our home”, he growled, in a low murmur. “It’s not your fault, Luca. You couldn’t have known that would happen”, I said softly, my lips brushing his chest.

“I should never have left you unattended. You are injured and fragile right now”, he whispered, one of his hands wrapping around my waist. I frowned, he did not just say fragile. “I wasn’t too fragile for you earlier”, I snipped. Luca smiled softly, “You are too fragile to fight. When you needed to stop for a second earlier, I stopped. Because, I’m learning your limits and respecting them. Someone else wouldn’t do that, as you could tell”, he explained, as he tenderly rubbed the conditioner into my hair.

I sighed, understanding what he meant. If I hadn’t been able to handle it, he wouldn’t have done it, or would have stopped for me. Luca would have respected my boundaries, but the guy did not. “Are you okay, little one?”, he muttered. I nodded my head, as my fingers mindlessly traced his tattoo on his chest. “Words, bambina”, he murmured sternly.

“Yes. I feel a bit violated, but I am okay”, I answered, still messing with his chest. Luca grumbled under his breath, as he leaned in and kissed my neck. “What do you want me to do?”, he uttered, helplessly. “Just keep doing what you are”, I answered. Luca grabbed the body wash and proceeded to start washing me down.

His hands glided gingerly over my skin. He took a step back to wash down the front of my chest. When his hands skimmed my breast, he hesitated. “Please, don’t stop”, I urged. Luca groaned as he delicately grasped my breast. I flinched slightly, realizing that my boobs were bruised.

“Are you okay?”, he asked, arching an eyebrow at me. “Yes, just a little sore”, I murmured. “I’m sorry, I’ll be more gentle”, he said, rubbing his thumbs across my nipples. I gasped at the soft friction, my nipples hardening immediately. His hands circled my breast, before they wrapped around my rib cage. His thumbs rubbed under my boobs, making chills spread over my skin, even in the heated water.

His hands continued down my stomach and around my hips, to my back. They slid up my back and back down, before he ran his hands over my ass cheeks, spreading them in the process. “Tell me if you need me to stop, piccola”, he whispered concernedly. “Don’t you dare”, I murmured, getting lost in his touch.

It’s astounding how I can feel his energy through his hands, know it’s him by his touch. My body only responds this way, to him. His hands slipped down between my thighs before circling back around my hips, to run his fingers through my folds. I moaned, my hands grasped at his chest, making Luca chuckle lowly. “Patience, little one”, he muttered, letting his hands fall to my thighs. He kneeled down in front of me, washing my legs and feet, careful of my wound.

When Luca rinsed my body, he took more care against my skin. “We have to go take care of this. I need to make it public”, he sighed, as he rinsed my hair of the conditioner. “Why?”, I questioned. “To show the brotherhood what will happen if even one of them, lay their hands on you. An example must be made, baby girl”, he explained, running his fingers through my hair. “And you must be present”, he whispered, making chills travel down my spine.