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He does as I say, laying his head on my lap. I stroke his soft brown locks while wrapping my other hand around his body.
He nuzzles his face into my bare stomach, his tears falling onto my skin.
“Talk to me. Luca, please.”
He takes in a deep breath. “He’s in surgery. They don’t know if he will make it. I’ve been with Maddie; she’s so fucking broken. And I can’t stop thinking about him never meeting his kid. He was so excited, Rosa. He has everything he ever wanted, and my stupidity could have ruined everything for him.”
“Hey, this is not your fault, Luca. The mafia is a dangerous place, we all know that.”
“If they had a better leader, it wouldn’t be.”
“Stop it with that. Soon you’ll be top of the top. I have no doubt you can take down my dad’s men. Then it’s Luca for world domination. You’ve got this.”
I suck in a breath and ask. “Was it my dad?”
He nods. “I should never have taken you.”
A tightness forms in my chest. “Well, if it’s any consolation, in taking me, you saved me.”
He moves his head to look at me, and I give him a reassuring smile.
“It’s true. This is the first time in my adult life I’ve truly felt free, happy even. And that’s down to you. I know this wasn’t about me. Why would he attack Grayson?”
His elbow sticks up as he wipes his face. “He wants something I’ve got.”
“Which is?” I know it isn’t me.
Luca’s voice drops. “Can I trust you?”
“Weirdly enough, I trust you with my life.”
He sits up and faces me, our noses almost touching. My breath hitches as I realize his cologne has long faded and his raw, manly scent covers me, making me wish his head wasn’t on my legs so I could press my thighs together.
“I have the commissioner’s backing to run the gun shipments into New York. I just need to take the merchandise from the Capris somehow to keep them from gaining a foothold here.”
“See, you’re doing great.”I reach out and stroke his stubbly jaw. He leans into my touch.“When will you know more about Grayson? Is Maddie okay?”
With an exhausted groan, he sits up. “Soon. I just came home to shower, change, and update the rest of the guys. I need to get our retaliation organized while we wait. I have a guy with Maddie keeping an eye on her for me.”
Pulling my knees up to my chest, they feel cold without his warm heat laying across them. “I have faith he will pull through. From what you’ve told me, he’s a fighter; he won’t go down that easily.”
He gives me a sad smile, and it breaks my heart seeing him like this. I roll onto my knees and wrap my arms around his neck and place a soft kiss on his cheek.
Pulling his head back, his eyes open wide as he stares into mine. The pain he carries seems to melt a little as his thumb rubs idly across my elbow.
Breaking the spell, he clears his throat and sits up straight. “What were you cooking?” he asks.
“Carbonara.” I pull away, letting my hand drift down to rest on his veiny forearm. “Don’t expect much. I can’t even find the grater.”
He chuckles, and it makes me smile. “Thank you, little one.”
“I told you to stop calling me that!” I lean back in feigned protest and poke him in the chest.
He huffs. “Fine.” His warm fingers cover my hand. “What about ‘tesoro’?” he asks with a hoarse whisper.
I blink a few times at the sweet nickname that fell from his lips. “And why am I your treasure, Luca?”
His full lips twitch into a smile. “It’s because you are. You are my stolen treasure.”
