Epilogue
ALESSIA
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” I muttered with my eyes cast outside the car window, watching the city blocks whiz by.
“It shouldn’t be such a shock. You go to family dinners every Sunday—we’re together now, so I’m going with you.” Luca’s voice was light with amusement, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
“It hasn’t even been a full week, and you’re already inviting yourself to my parents’ place for dinner? Yeah, I’m a little shocked—shocked and anxious.”
“Baby, you have nothing to worry about. Your dad and I have an understanding.”
My head whipped to the side where he smirked in the driver’s seat, one arm draped lazily over the steering wheel. “What do you mean ‘an understanding?’”
“He knows I’m not letting you out of my sight, not when things are still so turbulent. Plus, he gave me his blessing to date you, so it’s not a problem,” he explained as if describing his favorite dessert rather than the status of our relationship.
“When did this happen?” I gaped at him. Why hadn’t my father mentioned they’d had a conversation about our relationship?
“It was while you were … gone.” His voice deepened, and he took hold of the steering wheel with a white-knuckle grip. “It wasn’t something he said in so many words, but he gave his approval. Trust me.”
Well, this should be interesting. “Glad you two sorted everything out. Maybe next time, you’ll want to fill me in when it’s my love life you’re arranging.” I gingerly crossed my arms over my chest, more interested in broadcasting my annoyance than avoiding the discomfort of my healing wounds.
Luca’s eyes glanced my direction, and his lips pulled back in a broad grin. “Try and be annoyed all you want. You know that sass just makes me hard.”
I tried not to smile, I really did, but that damn playboy charm of his got me every time.
I shook my head, and instead of arguing, opted to enjoy the scenery as we finished the drive to my parents’ house.
We pulled up at the same time as Sofia, so I exited the car with a deep breath and prepared for the introductions.
“Hey, Sof.”
“Lessi, oh my God, it’s so good to see you!” She pulled me in for a gentle hug, then searched my eyes for confirmation I was alright. We’d spoken over the phone since my kidnapping but hadn’t seen each other in person.
My father had suggested we tell her that my abduction had been a freak kidnapping and I’d managed to escape my captors by sheer luck.
The lie about what had happened to me was not too far off the truth, but it still felt eerie how easily it had slipped off my tongue.
She didn’t ask many questions, and those she did ask had been centered around my current welfare rather than the circumstances of my abduction.
She knew that Sal and our father had parted ways, but she didn’t know he was in any way connected to my kidnapping.
Looking at her golden hair glistening in the sun, I hoped none of that ugliness ever touched her.
I smiled at her warmly, then stepped back toward Luca. “I’m doing great, Sof, I promise. I suppose I have some introductions to make. Luca, this is my little sister, Sofia. Sof, this is Luca, my … um …”
“Boyfriend,” he filled in, taking Sofia’s hand in his.
Holy crap, Luca called himself my boyfriend!
Warmth filled my chest, easing some of the tension that had coiled on the way over.
“It’s wonderful to meet you,” she offered shyly but smiling ear-to-ear.
“Alright, let’s get this over with,” I murmured, pulling a smiling Luca toward the front door. I pushed down on the lever to find the door locked, so I pressed the bell. Within seconds, the door swung wide, and my father welcomed us inside.
“Alessia, Sofia,” he said as he kissed each of our cheeks, then turned to Luca with a hand outstretched. “Luca, I’m glad you could make it.”
The two men shook as I stared on in astonishment. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to seeing my dad welcome a man I’d brought home. There’d only been a couple in the past, and each time, my father had been positively brutish.
Dad turned to me with a questioning raise of his brow. “You two go help your mother. I need to have a word with Luca.” Without waiting for a response, Dad ushered Luca toward his office.
I turned to Sofia, who gaped at me with a mirrored look of surprise. “I feel like I’ve walked into a funhouse full of mirrors and illusions. Who was that man?” I asked as I looked back to where my father had disappeared down the hall.
“No idea. They’ve both been acting odd. Mom took me shopping with her yesterday to get a dress for my party. She hasn’t asked to shop with me in years—we never agree on anything.”
“Did you find a dress?”
“Eventually, but it wasn’t easy. Everything she liked had rhinestones or tulle.” She did an exaggerated full-body shiver. “And that wasn’t the worst of it! She tried to set me up with a guy—the worst possible guy she could have picked.”
My eyes bulged wide. “Nico?”
“The one and only,” she confirmed, her lips pursed firmly together.
“I have no idea what she was thinking.” Sofia shook her head in exasperation and led the way back toward the kitchen.
My mother didn’t know everything that had gone on between Sofia and Nico, nor did I for that matter, but she should have known enough not to try to set them up on a date. I was just as confused as Sofia.
We joined Mom in the kitchen, the men meeting us in the dining room just as we placed the food on the table.
The new addition to our family dinner helped give a new flow to the conversation, which was far less awkward than expected.
My dad was unusually engaging, and Luca was the perfect gentleman.
I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.
By the time we said our goodbyes and made our way to the car, I was exhausted. The night had gone well, but my overactive nerves and still-healing body had drained every ounce of energy. I laid my head back against the headrest and took a deep breath as Luca made his way to the driver’s side.
“Let’s go home,” I said softy, my head turning to take in his stunning features in the dim light of the car.
He reached out and traced his knuckles down the line of my jaw. “And where would that be?” he rumbled in a voice I felt deep in my belly.
“Wherever you are.” It was a little cheesy, but it was how I felt. I didn’t care if he took me to my place or his, as long as he was with me.
“My girl’s tired. I enjoy the sass, but there’s always room for soft and sweet as well. We’ll head to your place—I want you to get a good night’s sleep.” He pulled the car out of the driveway and started the thirty-minute drive home.
“Thanks for making dinner go so smoothly.”
“I told you there was nothing to worry about.”
“Easy for you to say, it wasn’t your parents. Speaking of, what did my dad say to you in his office?” I peered at him curiously, a small surge of energy giving me life as I remembered their private conversation.
“It looks like Sal was doing more than lighting fires among the families—he’s done something to piss off the Russians.
Your father is amping up security for you girls until we can get it all sorted out.
I don’t want you to worry, though. We’re going to get it all sorted and find that bastard, Sal.
In the meantime …” he said, his voice growing warm and honeyed.
“I’m going to take excellent care of you, all day and all night.
” He glanced at me, and our eyes locked for a long second full of promise.
The passion glinting in his eyes vanquished all other thought. It was the same thing he’d done since he cornered me in that elevator—his presence eclipsed all else.
He was my world, and I was his.
I was still coming to terms with the mafia element of the equation, but as for Luca, there was no longer any doubt in my mind.
He was the one for me, and there was no running from that.
I believed he would never hurt anyone unjustly, and he would never let anyone lay a finger on me.
I trusted him to always give me the truth, his truth, no matter how ugly that might be; and I would give him my light to guide him through the darkness.
Thank you so much for reading FOREVER LIES!