Chapter 72

Luca’s POV

I slowly nodded my head, “Okay”, I whispered, placing a soft kiss on her lips. “Let’s get you home, then”, I said, nodding toward the exit. She nodded her head once and turned around to leave. I put my hand back on her waist to brace her. As we walked down the hallway towards Rex, Mara looked up and made eye contact with him. “Hey, Rex”, she said, a little strained from her pain.

“Mrs. Barello, I am so sorry. Please forgiv-“, he began, but Mara put her hand up to stop him. “It’s not your fault, Rex. You don’t need to apologize”, she said softly. “The hell he don’t”, I said, my voice raised an octave. Mara jabbed me in the ribs softly with her elbow. I looked down at her with furrowed eyebrows. Did she really just jab me? “It wasn’t his fault, Luca. He can’t follow me into the woman’s restroom”, she said gently.

I growled, hating the fact that she had a fucking point. Mara’s face contorted to a playful shock. “Did you just growl at me?”, she feigned hurt. My lips turned into a straight line as I tried not to laugh at her antics. Rex looked truly fearful, while Mara feigned the cutest fucking pout. I started to think, if I threw her over my shoulder, it would’t hurt her bad right? All of her injuries are on the back side of her body.

“Don’t growl at me just because I am right. That’s not nice”, she teased. The corner of my lips twitched. I narrowed my eyes at her, so that I didn’t smile. Then grabbed her by the waist and tossed her over my shoulder. She shrieked as she grabbed onto my hips for support. “Ow, Luca”, she whined. “Don’t sass me, bambina, and we won’t have this issue”, I said, walking down the hall. Rex’s eyes were as wide as saucers, as he stepped out of the way to let us pass.

“Ugh, why does that sound so familiar?”, she retorted sarcastically. “Keep it up and there’s going to be a feeling that’s also familiar”, I smirked proudly, especially when she fell silent and squuezed my hips at the memory. She knows exactly what I am talking about. I know she does, I can tell that she relived the memory of my hand coming down on her ass by the way her body responded.

“Good girl”, I smirked, as I walked out of the hosue. I felt her hand tighten at my praise, only making my smirk deepen. “Have a doctor meet us at the villa”, I told Rex, as I sat Mara down next to the Mayback. “Yes boss”, he answered, pulling out his phone. Cal stood next to the door, holding it open for us.

I felt a smack on my chest, making me furrow my eyebrows and look down at my beautiful fiesty wife, who looks like an extremely angry kitten right now. I had to thin my lips to keep from smiling. “Yes, il mia gattina arrabbiato (my angry kitten)”, I asked. I had an eyebrow arched and a smirk etched onto my lips. Her face got angrier and her bottom lip stuck out, making me want to bite it.

As I reached up to touch her lips, she turned and climbed into the vehicle, leaving my hand in the air. I dropped my hand. Dammit, she got me. I climbed in the seat next to her. She tried to sit on the edge of the seat, obviously in discomfort, instantly making me feel like an ass. “Bambina, I’m so sorry”, I said, reaching out for her face. “It’s okay. I don’t want you to stop being the way you are, Luca”, she smiled softly.

My heart swelled, but it still hurt. I scooted closer to her and brought my lips close to hers. “I still need to be gentle with you when you are hurt, baby girl”, I whispered. “I’m okay”, she smiled softly. I rolled my eyes as I kissed her. God damn this stubborn woman. As my lips moved against hers, I grabbed her hips and slowly lifted her up and sat her on my lap so that she was straddling me.

Mara hissed and lifted a little, using my shoulders. “Hold on”, I whispered, then quickly placed my hands under her ass to support her weight. “Better, bambina?”, I asked. She sighed as she rested her forehead on mine and grabbed my neck. “Yes, thank you”, she whispered.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Marabella”, I croaked. “Shh, stop blaming yourself, please”, she muttered, rubbing her nose against mine. “I can’t help it, bambina”, I said unsteadily. “You saved me”, she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “You stopped him”, her voice was barely above a whisper. “Piccola”, I uttered. I tightened my grip and leaned in, connecting my lips to hers. I don’t need her to elaborate, I know what she means.

I could feel and taste her tears as they ran down her cheeks. She was fighting herself, holding back the sobs that she really wanted to release. When she broke the kiss, she pulled back and wiped her tears, sniffling her nose to stop it from running. She rested her forehead against mine, once again.

“We are almost home, sweetheart. Just hang on a little bit longer, love”, I whispered, my lips brushing hers. I was trying to give her encouragement, I could feel how tired she was. Her body would relax then tense and switch back and forth. “Mara, talk to me, baby. Or I’m taking you to the hospital”, I threatened. She’s lost a lot of blood. “Is there any orange juice at the house?”, she asked weakily. “Yes, amore mia”, I answered. Weird question, but I will take it if she is conscious. “I’ll need it”, she whispered.

“You need to eat as well, principessa”, I said, nudging her nose with mine. She nodded her head slowly. “Words, bambina”, I said, squeezing her ass. “I’m tired”, she uttered. “I know, amore”, I whispered. “Hurry the fuck up, Cal”, I ordered. “Yes, boss. One minute out”, he replied.

I felt Mara nod off and relax into my hold. “Mara, stay awake, bambina, per favore”, I pleaded, squeezing my hands to jolt her awake. A soft moan left her lips. Not what I was expecting. “Marabella, you have to stay awake”, I bounced her slightly, this time successfully getting her eyes open. “Ow”, she whined, frowning at me. “I’m sorry, bambina, but you need to stay awake”, I said sternly.