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“Not a word,” Luka replied.
“I can’t believe this.” Arturo shook his head and took off down the hallway, slamming his bedroom door behind him.
I turned to Luka. “He hates me now.”
Luka cupped my face in his hands. “Give him time, it will be alright. Just breathe.”
I leaned into his chest and took a deep breath.
The elevator door dinged, and Gia stood there with bags in her hands. She squealed, set the bags down on the side table, and ran over pulling me into a hug. “I missed you so much!” She squeezed me tight and then pulled away gripping my shoulders. “I want you to tell me everything over dinner.” Max ran over, barking at her feet. “Max, I missed you too sweet boy.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me into the kitchen.
Luka followed behind us grabbing the bags of food. “Oh, hello Luka, so nice to see you. I missed you so much too.”
Gia laughed and pulled him into a hug. “I missed you too, idiot. I am dying to know how all those Volante men reacted to not only a woman leading them but having a Rossi man by her side.”
“It hasn’t been the easiest adjustment, but we’re figuring it out,” Luka replied.
“I brought Chinese food, and I got a couple of movies.” She started opening boxes and laying them out on the table. “I figured we could just stay in tonight and pretend the world outside these doors does not exist, at least for a few hours.”
“But it does exist.” Arturo walked into the kitchen. His face was hard, and void of emotions.
“You’re such a stick in the mud, Mr. Rossi.” Gia mocked him. “You were so much more fun when we were kids.”
“Yeah?” He grabbed a box of lo-mein and a fork from the drawer. “Well, we aren't kids anymore Gia. It is time you grew up.”
“You are a bigger asshole than normal today. Who pissed in your cheerios?”
“I think a movie night sounds perfect, and just what we all need. Don't ya think?” Luka looked at Arturo, his eyes wide while he grabbed plates from the cabinet.
Arturo waved his fork in the air, and then sat back in his chair digging into the noodles.
Gia shook her head and filled her plate. “Alright you two, tell me everything.”
The four of us sat there eating food, and I filled Gia in on how things had been going over the last three weeks. While most of the men seemed to adjust fine, a few had to be let go. I filled her in on how hard we had been hitting training. We had decided to postpone the next swearing-in ceremony until after this trip, we wanted another week to get the men ready. Mostly it was because Dad wanted to make sure he was satisfied that all the men were in fact on our side. Lucio had proved to be pretty useful and a great bodyguard. I gave him the weekend off since we would be away.
“Well, you are a badass Alora.” Gia smiled. “I wish I was half the woman you are. If I got into a fight, I am pretty sure I would get my ass handed to me.”
“Well, then you will just have to come visit and do some training with us,” I replied.
“Hell yes!” She exclaimed. “I would love to come visit!”
“Well, then we will have to make that happen.” I smiled. I glanced at Arturo feeling his eyes on me. He was pissed, and my heart again sank. I couldn't take any more of the tension. I stood up and started cleaning up dinner, Gia and Luka helped while Arturo sat at the table deep in thought.
“So,” Gia held the movies she’d brought up. “Chick flick or action?”
“Action,” Luka said.
“Boo fine.” Gia stuck her tongue out at him and started for the living room, Luka followed her. I heard the TV speakers blare as the TV turned on, the two of them laughing.
I sat down next to Arturo and looked at him. “I am sorry, I, I never meant to.”
“Don’t” He shook his head and stood up, walking towards his bedroom.
I sat there for a second and took a deep breath. I looked down at my hands, slamming them hard to the table. “Screw this.” I stood up and made my way to his room, opening the door. “You can't push me out!”
“We’re not doing this now.” He looked at me, his jaw tense.
“The hell we’re not.” I shut the door and walked over pushing him in the chest. “I never meant to put Charlie in danger, I was doing what I thought was best. Talking piece of shit scum off this earth, trying to get Elena back. What if some of the shit you and Luka pulled, had a ripple effect and made it harder for me to find her? Do you think I am pissed at you guys for that? No, of course not. So, you need to.”
