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But I think of other things, too. I think of twinkling lights on a rooftop, Luca telling me that he brought Paris to me. I think of feeding each other popcorn and laughing at stupid jokes in a bad comedy movie. I think of Luca at the dinner table, telling me how he’s spent his whole life protecting his best friend.
Luca’s new position is a lonely place. I realize that now. Franco is his best friend, but he’s also Luca’s right-hand man now, someone Luca has to depend on to do the right thing when Luca isn’t there to do it. He can’t shield Franco any longer. He has to continue a legacy that Caterina’s father has built up over the years—and then pass it on to his underboss’s son.
That’s not really fair, is it?It’s the first time I’ve stopped to consider that. Luca will spend his life defending a legacy that he won’t pass on to anyone of his own blood. No one has really explained to me why that is—why Luca isn’t allowed to have children of his own, why he’s essentially keeping a place warm for Franco’s eventual—hopeful—child.
It hadn’t occurred to me to ask because I hadn’t intended to ever sleep with Luca. I hadn’t intended to evenspeakto him more than necessary, much less fall into bed with him over and over.At least we’ve been using protection, I think, remembering the box of condoms Luca had brought home with him last week since we’d apparently run through what was left of his stash.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Father Donahue says, breaking through my thoughts—all of which are completely inappropriate for a church—and Franco pulls his new bride into his arms, kissing her firmly. I see Caterina lean slightly into the kiss, and I hope that no matter what issues they might have, she’ll be able to have some happiness in this new marriage.
There are cheers as they walk down the aisle, everyone standing as they walk hand in hand towards the doors of the church, and I see Caterina smile at her father as we all walk out into the sunshine. A health aide is with him, and as we all stand out on the steps of the church, I see him wheeled out, and Caterina turns to talk quietly with him.
“Are they taking him back to the hospital now?” I ask Luca quietly, and he nods.
“My men are doing a sweep of the hotel before the reception,” he adds under his breath. “As soon as it’s all clear, we’ll head there.”
I can tell that he’s trying as hard as he can to make today as smooth for Caterina and Franco as he can, with as little reminder of the danger hanging over all our heads—the danger that took her mother—as possible. It’s the same thing I’ve been trying to do this whole time while helping Caterina plan. For the first time, as I look up at Luca, I catch a glimpse of what it’s like to be his partner in something, working together.
It’s not so bad if I’m being completely honest with myself.
We’re starting to head to the limos when Luca suddenly puts a hand out, stopping Caterina and me. “Hold on,” he says. “Raoul just sent me something.Stay here,” he adds, his voice suddenly deep and commanding. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Caterina looks slightly pale, reaching for Franco’s hand. “I should be helping Luca,” he says, and I turn towards him at that, glaring at him.
“This is your day with Caterina,” I bite out, my voice harsher than I’ve heard it in a long time. “Worry about your new wife, for twenty-four hours, at least.”
Franco stares at me, momentarily shocked into silence. “Watch your mouth,” he says sharply when he’s recovered. “Luca wouldn’t like you talking to me like that.”
“Franco!” Caterina exclaims, but he shakes her off.
“I think Luca would agree with me,” I say flatly, still unsure how I’m finding the nerve to speak at all. I honestly don’t know how Luca would feel about my talking to his underboss like this, but in terms of rank, I’mprettysure Franco is supposed to give the boss’s wife respect. As far as how I’m supposed to treat Franco, I don’t really know. And to be honest, I don’t really care.
Franco opens his mouth to make some retort, but the sound of Luca, Raoul, and the others coming back brings him up short.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my stomach tightening at the look on Luca’s face. Whatever he went to find out about, it can’t be good.
“They hit the reception hall at the hotel,” Luca says, his voice dark with barely restrained anger. “Everything was destroyed, the staff held up at gunpoint. Franco, I’m sending you and Caterina back to the Rossi house with double the guards. I don’t think they’ll expect you to spend your wedding night there instead of a hotel or your apartment. Tomorrow, we’re taking a trip to get to the bottom of this. But you and Caterina deserve your wedding night.” He glances over at me. “We’ll head back to the penthouse.”
Caterina is so pale that her rose-colored lipstick looks like a bold pink slash on her face, the rubies standing out garishly against her skin. “Luca—I’m scared,” she whispers. “The wedding—”
“I’m sorry your wedding was ruined,” Luca says, and I can hear the genuine apology in his tone.
“I don’t care about the reception,” Caterina says, waving her hand. “The important part is done. But they’re not stopping, Luca. What if—”
“They’ll stop,” Luca says harshly. “If I have to—” he trails off. “These aren’t things you should be worrying about on your wedding day,” he says more carefully. “Go with Franco. I’ll make sure you’re well-guarded. They’ll bring food from the caterer over for you. You won’t have to worry about anything tonight. I promise.”
We’re at the church a little longer after Caterina and Franco leave and the guests file out. I can see Luca talking quietly with Father Donahue and some of the security, and I hang back, perched on one of the pews as I wait for him to be finished.
It occurs to me how much our dynamic has changed in such a short time. If I’m being honest with myself, I like this better. Mutual respect, tentative peace—whatever this new thing is that has sprung up between Luca and me, it’s better than what we had before.
It’s just after dark when we get back to the penthouse. Luca lets out a long breath as the front door shuts behind him, and I see the relief etched across his face. I realize then thathefeels safer here too, and it makes me reconsider, just a tiny bit, his genuine motives in keeping me here from the start. That maybe, just maybe, it was because he truly felt this was the safest place for me, and not just because he wanted to exert control over his bride-to-be.
We eat the food sent over from the caterer in relative silence, neither of us really knowing what to say. We should be dancing at Caterina’s reception right now. Instead, we’re sitting in our quiet dining room, eating the filet and crab cake that we should have been having at a white-covered table with violets in the center of it.
“I’m going to check with security once more before bed,” Luca says when we’ve finished. “I’ll meet you upstairs.”
“Okay.” I give him a small smile. “See you upstairs.”
Halfway to Luca’s—our?—bedroom, I pause in the hall. I have the sudden urge to do something different, something special for tonight. I don’t know if it’s the wedding ceremony, the interrupted reception, or something else altogether, but the thought of the look in Luca’s eyes when he came back to tell Caterina that her wedding day had to be cut short makes me want to do something for him. Something to replace that look with a different one altogether.
