Chapter 5
Luca
I stare at the stack of papers on my desk, willing them to disappear. It's been two days since the incident in the alley, and I can't get Sofia Romano out of my head. Her fierce determination, the fire in her eyes... It's intoxicating.
“Boss?” Leo's voice snaps me out of my reverie. “The meeting with the Espositos is in an hour.”
I wave my hand dismissively. “Cancel it.”
Leo's eyebrows shoot up. “Again? Boss, this is the third time this week. They're not going to be happy.”
I fix him with a hard stare. “Let me worry about that. We have more pressing matters to attend to.”
“Like stalking a certain chef?” Leo mutters under his breath.
I choose to ignore his comment, even though he's not entirely wrong. “We're going to Nonna's again. Now.”
Leo sighs but doesn't argue.
As we drive through the city, I find myself fidgeting with my tie. What am I doing? I'm Luca Del Toro, feared mafia boss and billionaire. I don't get nervous over women. And yet, here I am, palms sweating like a teenager on his first date.
I pull out my phone and send a text to Dominic Esposito letting him know I’d like to discuss options for Sofia and her restaurant. Maybe I can talk them into letting her stay. Which is crazy. I barely know her, yet I’m drawn to her in ways I can’t explain. I feel so protective of her, even though I usually enjoy being known as the meanest man in Brooklyn. A man who cares about nothing and no one other than his family business.
We pull up outside Nonna's, and I take a deep breath before stepping out of the car. Through the window, I can see Sofia in the kitchen, moving with graceful efficiency as she directs her staff. She's in her element, and it's a beautiful sight to behold.
As we enter, the hostess's eyes widen in recognition. “Mr. Del Toro,” she stammers, “welcome. I'm afraid we don't have any tables available at the moment.”
I wave off her concern. “That's quite alright. I'm here to see Chef Romano.”
The hostess looks conflicted, but before she can respond, Sofia emerges from the kitchen. Her eyes find mine instantly.
“Mr. Del Toro,” she says, her voice cool and professional. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
I step closer, lowering my voice. “I was hoping we could talk, Sofia. Privately.”
She raises an eyebrow. “I'm working, Mr. Del Toro. I have a restaurant to run.”
I can't help but smirk at her sass. “Fair enough. When do you get off?”
Sofia looks at me for a long moment, as if weighing her options. Finally, she sighs. “We close at 11. I'll be done by 11:30.”
I nod, followed by a curt reply. “I'll be back then.”
As Leo and I turn to leave, I hear Sofia call out, “And Mr. Del Toro? Don't be late.”
I grin, feeling a thrill at her challenging tone. No one speaks to me like that. I’d have their heads. But this girl? I’m loving that smart mouth. “Wouldn't dream of it, Miss Romano.”
The hours crawl by as I wait for 11:30 to arrive. I try to distract myself with work, but my mind keeps wandering back to Sofia. At 11:15, I make my way back to Nonna's, this time alone. Instead of my usual luxury car, I've opted for something a bit more... adventurous.
As Sofia steps out of the restaurant, her eyes widen at the sight of me in black jeans and a leather jacket astride a sleek, black motorcycle. I can't help but feel a surge of satisfaction at her reaction.
“What's this?” she asks, a mix of surprise and intrigue in her voice.
I grin, holding out a spare helmet. “Care for a ride?”
Sofia hesitates for a moment, eyeing me warily. Then a mischievous smile spreads across her face. “Why not? You only live once, right?”
She takes the helmet and climbs on behind me, her arms wrapping tentatively around my waist. The feeling of her pressed against my back sends a jolt through my body.
“Hold on tight,” I warn her, revving the engine.
As we speed through the city streets, I feel Sofia relax behind me, her grip becoming more secure. The wind whips around us, carrying away the stress and expectations that usually weigh me down. For these moments, I'm not Luca Del Toro, mafia boss. I'm just a man on a motorcycle with a beautiful woman.
We ride for what feels like hours, weaving through traffic and taking in the glittering lights of the city. Finally, I pull over in front of a small, unassuming storefront. The neon sign in the window flickers: “99￠ Pizza.”
Sofia climbs off the bike, looking at me with amused disbelief. “Seriously? This is where the great Luca Del Toro eats?”
I shrug, grinning. “What can I say? I'm a man of simple tastes.”
We step inside, the smell of grease and melted cheese filling the air. The guy behind the counter barely glances up as we order our slices. We find a small table in the corner, the vinyl seats cracked and worn.
Sofia takes a bite of her pizza, her eyes widening in surprise. “Okay, I have to admit, this is pretty good.”
I chuckle at her reaction. “Told you.”
As we eat, we fall into easy conversation. Sofia tells me about her childhood summers in Italy, her eyes lighting up as she describes her Nonna's cooking. I find myself sharing stories of my own family, memories I haven't revisited in years.
“You're not what I expected, Luca Del Toro,” Sofia says suddenly, studying me over her pizza slice.
I lean back, curious. “And what did you expect?” It’s a struggle to meet her eyes as mine keep focusing on those lips of hers.
She shrugs. “I don't know. Someone colder, I guess. More...threatening. Like the other night.”
I pause before replying. “About that night at your restaurant. I am… working on that.”
Sofia's quiet for a moment, considering my words. “Really?”
I nod. “I can’t promise anything, but I’ll see what I can do.”
Her smile is radiant. I realize I’d move heaven and earth to see it again. “Why were you really there that day in the alley?” she asks suddenly.
I freeze, caught off guard by her directness. For a moment, I consider lying again, but something in her eyes makes me want to be honest.
“I was watching you,” I admit. “I've been... intrigued since we met.”
Sofia's eyes widen slightly, but she doesn't look angry. “Intrigued enough to stalk me?”
I wince at her choice of words. “I wouldn't call it stalking. More like... intense curiosity.”
To my surprise, Sofia laughs. “You're ridiculous, you know that? Most men just ask a girl out for coffee.”
I feel a spark of hope at her teasing tone. “Is that what you want? Coffee?”
Sofia looks at me for a long moment, her expression softening. “I don't know what I want, Luca. You're... complicated.”
She’s not wrong. But it doesn’t matter. I already know I want this girl. “I'm not as complicated as you think, Sofia. At least, not with you.”
“But why me? I mean, aren’t you a ga-jillionaire or something? You probably have women throwing themselves at you everywhere you go.”
I give her a hard stare. “Because none of those women affect me the way you do. None of them surprise me like you do. And no, I’m just a billionaire.” I wink at her, and she laughs as she shakes her head.
As we step outside, I'm surprised to feel raindrops on my face. Sofia looks up at the sky, laughing as the drizzle turns into a downpour.
“Come on,” I say, grabbing her hand. “We should get back to the bike.”
But Sofia doesn't move. Instead, she pulls me back, her face alight with a joy I've never seen before. “Dance with me,” she says, her voice barely audible over the rain.
I look at her like she's crazy. “Here? Now?”
She nods, already swaying to music blasting from a nearby club. “Why not? Live a little, Mr. Billionaire.”
And so, in the middle of a deserted New York street, rain pouring down around us, I dance with Sofia Romano. She spins and twirls, laughing as we get soaked to the bone. I've never felt so free, so unburdened by the weight of who I am and what I do.
As the song comes to an end, she stumbles slightly, falling against my chest. I catch her, our faces suddenly inches apart. The laughter dies on her lips as she looks up at me, raindrops clinging to her eyelashes.
Without thinking, I lean down and kiss her. It sends a shock straight through me. I pull her closer, deepening the kiss as the rain continues to fall around us. The electricity between us is undeniable, a current that seems to light up the very air around us. My cock swells with need.
When we finally break apart, both of us breathless, Sofia looks up at me with wide eyes. “What are we doing, Luca?” she whispers.
I brush a wet strand of hair from her face, my heart pounding. “I don't know,” I admit. “But I don't want to stop.”
Sofia bites her lip, conflict clear in her eyes. “This is crazy. You're... you, and I'm...”
“Perfect,” I finish for her. “You're perfect, Sofia.”
She laughs softly, shaking her head again.
As we stand there in the rain, I feel a war raging inside me. On one side is my desire for Sofia, this incredible girl who makes me feel alive in ways I never have before. On the other is my duty, the weight of my responsibilities to my family and my organization. I push those thoughts aside and focus on the feel of Sofia in my arms, the taste of her lips, and the sound of the rain around us.