Chapter 19
Cancio and I had spent the past hour in his office, going over shipment schedules and handling a minor issue with one of our suppliers. Business as usual.
Now, I was done. Ready to leave.
I adjusted my cuffs as I stepped into the dining area, intent on heading straight for the door but my mother's voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Luca stay for dinner."
I glanced up from my watch. "Can't. I have to leave."
"You never stay anymore." Her tone was light but there was a bit of disappointment beneath it.
That's when Fabio decided to open his damn mouth.
"Leave? Where?" I stilled at Fabio's voice."To your wife?"
The little shit was lounging on the couch, arms crossed, a slow grin stretching across his face.
I looked at him. "Go bother someone else."
"Oh Dio," he clutched his chest dramatically. "Never in my life did I think I'd see Luca Moretti blushing over a woman!"
I shot him a glare, mouthing a sharp fuck off remembering Leo was in the room, watching us with wide, curious eyes. He was only three but the kid picked up on everything.
Fabio just grinned.
I ignored him, striding out the door.
"At least pretend you are not obsessed with her." He called after me.
I was already out the door and walking to my car. The moment I slid into the driver's seat, I hesitated my fingers hovering over the steering wheel.
Something made me glance up. I caught my reflection in the rearview mirror.
My jaw tightened. Did I actually?
I scowled, shaking my head. I pushed the thought aside and started the engine.
I was heading home.
???????
The penthouse was still when I stepped inside.
I shrugged off my jacket, tossing it onto the couch before making my way toward the kitchen.
Empty.
The dining table? Nothing. No plates, no food, no sign that Alessa had even stepped foot in here.
I frowned.
Lately, we had started eating together. A habit I hadn't planned on keeping, hadn't even realized I had gotten used to until now when the absence of it felt off.
My chest tightened, irritation flickering in my gut. Not at her, at myself. I had never given a shit about eating with someone before. Yet here I was standing in my own damn kitchen, annoyed that my wife wasn't here waiting for me.
I headed toward the bedroom. The moment I stepped inside, I spotted her.
Alessa was curled up on the bed, a blanket wrapped tightly around her small frame. Her dark hair fanned out over the pillow and even from where I stood, I could see the tension in her shoulders.
Something was wrong.
A strange, uneasy feeling settled in my gut as I stepped closer.
"Alessa"
She didn't stir.
I crouched beside the bed, resting my forearm on the mattress as I studied her face. Her breathing was even but her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips parted just enough to make me think she hadn't fallen into deep sleep yet.
I reached out brushing my knuckles against her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered open, hazy and unfocused before locking onto mine.
"Luca?" Her voice was soft, small.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
She blinked, "It's nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing."
She swallowed, shifting slightly under the blanket. "I just... don't feel great."
I narrowed my eyes. "What's wrong, Alessa?"
She hesitated, then sighed. "I got my periods."
I stared at her for a beat, processing.
That's all it was?
Not sick. Not hurt. Just that.
I exhaled, tension easing from my shoulders though I didn't understand why I had been holding any in the first place.
"You didn't eat." I said, more a statement than a question.
She gave a small shrug. "Wasn't hungry."
Of course.
I pushed up from my crouch, pulling my phone from my pocket. "You still can't skip meals, carina."
She groaned, burying her face in the pillow. "I don't want to eat."
I ignored her protest, already dialing. "Pizza or pasta?"
She peeked at me from beneath the blanket. "You are ordering food?"
"Obviously" I said.
A pause. Then, "Pizza."
I nodded, placing the order. When I hung up, she was watching me, eyes softer than usual.
I raised a brow. "What?"
"Nothing" She murmured, sinking back into the pillow.
I sat on the edge of the bed, studying her. "Do you need anything else?"
She hesitated for a moment, then in a voice so soft I almost missed it, she asked, "Can we watch a movie?"
A movie?
I blinked, caught off guard. That was the last thing I expected her to ask for.
She must have taken my silence the wrong way because she quickly added, "It's fine if you don't want to. I was just.. "
"Which one?" I cut in.
Her lips parted slightly as if surprised I agreed so easily. "You don't have to."
"Alessa." My voice dropped. "Just pick the damn movie."
Her face warmed and she averted her gaze, mumbling something under her breath before finally saying, "Anything is fine."
"That's not an answer." I said, tucking a hair behind her ear.
She sighed. "Something light. No action, no guns, no crime."
I smirked. "That rules out half my collection."
She nibbled on her bottom lip, hesitating. Then finally, she mumbled, "I know that but maybe... a romance?"
I stared at her. "Romance?"
She gave me a look. "You said I could pick."
Shaking my head, I stood up. "Okay, go settle in the living room. I will join you after taking a quick shower."
I headed to the bathroom, stripping off my shirt as I went and got under the shower head. By the time I stepped out. The pizza had already arrived.
I threw on a fresh shirt and joggers. I grabbed the pizza boxes and walked to the living room placing the boxes on the coffee table.
Alessa was already curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over her legs, the TV screen paused on the opening scene of her chosen movie.
I handed her a plate and sat on the couch beside her with one for me. I glanced at the title. Some sappy romance I had never heard of.
As the movie started, I leaned back, stretching my arm over the back of the couch. Alessa was focused on the screen taking small bites of her pizza, her fingers curled around the plate.
Minutes passed, the soft glow of the TV flickering over her face.
I wasn't watching the movie.
I was watching her.
Her brows furrowed slightly at something on the screen, lips parting just a little. She was completely absorbed in the movie, unaware of my gaze lingering on her.
I wasn't sure why I was watching her so closely. Maybe it was the way her fingers toyed with the hem of her sweater, twisting and untwisting the fabric. Or the way her lashes fluttered when she bit her lip, completely absorbed in the movie..
Soft. That's what she was. Soft in a way that didn't belong in my world.
She must have felt my stare because, after a moment, she turnedand met my eyes.
"What?" she asked, blinking at me.
I shrugged, taking another bite of my pizza. "Nothing."
Her lips pressed together like she didn't believe me but she didn't push. Instead, she refocused on the movie, her head tilting slightly against the cushion.
This time, I actually tried to watch the movie. But every few minutes, my eyes kept drifting back to her.
Alessa yawned softly, setting her empty plate on the coffee table. She pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
"Can you get me a blanket?" She asked, rubbing her arms.
I raised a brow, gesturing at the blanket in her lap. "You already have one."
"I want a bigger one." She murmured, tucking her chin into her knees.
I sighed but stood up, heading to the bedroom. A minute later, I returned with a thicker blanket.
When I handed it to her, she hesitated then looked up at me through her lashes.
"Can we cuddle?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
I let out a slow exhale, sinking back down beside her. "You are so needy today." I muttered.
But I still lifted my arm.
She didn't waste a second, tucking herself against my side, her cheek resting against my chest. Her warmth seeped through my shirt, her body fitting against mine in a way that felt oddly natural. One of her hands rested against my stomach, fingers curled slightly against the fabric.
I let my thumb skim absentmindedly over her arm, feeling the slight shiver that ran through her. Not from the cold though.
She sighed, scooting closer, her breath fanning against my collarbone.
Needy.
I should have been annoyed. Should have pushed her away with some excuse.
But instead I shifted slightly, adjusting so she was more comfortable, letting her press fully against me. Her body relaxed, her breathing slowing, syncing with mine.
The movie played in the background but neither of us were really paying attention anymore.