7. Luka
Luka
She stares up at me with those amazing green eyes and I almost forget why I dragged her over here, away from my family.
When we got off the plane this morning, Layla begged us to meet her here to see her before our evening practice.
To say I was a little shocked when I saw my niece talking to my girl would be a lie.
So many things ran through my head. First and foremost, I thought that somehow Adrianna was using me to get close to my family.
That thought was quickly dismissed when I remembered she actually didn't want anything to do with me—or so she says.
"Hey, Gattina." I smile at her and push a piece of her hair behind her ear. Taking my time to soak in the fact she is letting me touch her.
"Don't call me that." She pushes my hand away and I laugh. Her eyes gleam with anger and her little hands make a fist. This is exactly why I call her Kitten. She gets so mad, but she is so cute when she does.
"What are you doing here, Adrianna?" I take a step closer to her.
"I am here getting coffee." She takes a step back.
I take another step. "And you just happened to be talking to my family?"
She takes another step back and hits the wall.
I smile when she lets out a little yelp.
"Well, Layla came up to me and was talking about my hair.
I am not going to ignore a little girl, Luka.
Especially one as cute as her." I reach out and take a piece of her hair.
I slowly twirl it around my finger. It feels like satin, and I love the red look against my tan hand.
I wish I could bend down and smell her hair.
I bet it smells fantastic. I am sure that would scare her off, though, so I don't dare move.
I just keep twisting her hair in between my fingers.
"It is the most beautiful hair I have ever seen.
" I look from the hair in my fingers to her eyes.
Her green eyes are mesmerizing, a vivid blend of jade and emerald.
Flecks of gold catch the light just so, making them shimmer like sunlight filtering through leaves.
When she looks at me, it's as if the world stills and those eyes seem to pierce me right through my soul, warm yet fierce; it feels like those eyes hold endless secrets, stories I want to know, and a love so deep it could drown the stars.
"I am sure you say that to everyone." Her voice shakes me out of the trance her eyes had me in.
The statement pisses me off. It's one I have heard a lot before.
I am not saying I am a saint or anything, but I never played games with women.
I never just fed them a line. I press into her and place my hands next to her head as I lean close to her face.
Keeping eye contact with her, I tell her the truth.
"I have never said that to another woman before and I plan to never say it to anyone else but you, forever."
Her eyes widen, and I allow her to push me away. "You are crazy, Rizzoli." She storms out of the hallway toward her friend, who is talking with Augie and Jake.
"Only for you, Gattina," I shout as she grabs her friend and storms out the door.
Cross's barking laugh draws my attention away from the closed door.
"I fucking love her!" CeCe yells while pointing to the door. "She is amazing."
"She is. Don't hurt her, Luka." Augie sets my coffee down next to Lacey and I sit. Layla climbs onto my lap as I shoot daggers at Augie.
"I am not going to hurt her asshole."
Lacey smacks me on the back of the head, looks down at Layla and then back to me. I raise my shoulders at her and turn back to Augie. It isn't like asshole is the worse she will hear. I mean, CeCe drops the f-bomb more than any other word.
"I know you won't do it on purpose, Man.
You are a good guy. She and Pen are great girls.
I just know what comes with you being...
well, you being you. I don't know if she can handle that man.
I don't know if she would want to just be another one of your girls.
" He leaves me sitting there with my mouth hanging open.
Is that what he thinks of me? I scan the faces of my family and realize they are all wearing the same look.
Well, everyone but Lacey. Do they all think like that?
"I am not like that." I tip my head down and look at the top of my cup. "We aren't like that." I nod my head towards Jake and he smiles back at me. "Do you think she thinks that?" Fuck, maybe that is the reason she doesn't want anything to do with me.
"But I thought she didn't follow hockey or know anything about it.
How would she know what puck bunnies are like?
Or how every time you guys go to an event you have a different girl on your arm?
" Sam must have realized what she said because she moved her hand to cover her mouth. "Sorry," she murmurs through her hand.
"Our agents make those girls show up. We don't even see them until we are about to walk into the event.
We hate it. As for her thinking that." Jake explains to my family and then turns to me.
"You just need to show her you aren't like that.
Her brother plays ball. You know she isn't stupid.
She knows women throw themselves at us. Even if we don't take them up on their offer. "
"How am I supposed to prove I am not like that if she won't see me?"
"Start tomorrow," Jake says as he takes a sip of his coffee.
"Tomorrow?" I rack my brain, trying to think of what tomorrow is.
"Yeah, Augie convinced her friend to come to our home game tomorrow. I told her you would get her and Addy tickets to the game." He raises his coffee cup to his lips and smirks at me.
"Don't call her, Addy. I don't like it." I don't know if I want to punch my best friend or hug him.
"Can she sit with us?" Mia asked. Layla starts bouncing up and down on my lap.
"Oh, Zio. We can get her a jersey to wear. She can wear one like mine."
"Which one are you wearing tomorrow, Layla Baby?" Callum scoops her up off my lap. "You wore Zio's last night and got grape juice on it."
"Oh yeah," She sticks out her lip and taps her chin. "I can wear Uncle Jakes!" I almost choke on my last sip of coffee.
"Oh, Layla. I think that is an amazing idea." Augie sits down beside us and throws his arm around Mia's shoulder.
"Hands off, Augie." Liam growls and Mia laughs.
"Sweetheart. I don't think that is a great idea. Let me just go buy you a new one of mine to wear."
"Okay, Zio." She reaches towards me and I take her from Callum.
"We will drop her off before practice," I say goodbye to my family. Listening to Liam growl at me when I kiss Mia on the head.
"Come on, Layla Girl. Let's go spend Zio's money." Layla jumps from me into Jake's arms and we head out to shop.
"Did you seriously need to buy her everything she asked for?" Lacey watches us bring in bag after bag from all the different stores in the mall.
"Of course." I roll my eyes at her because why wouldn't I spoil her.
"We bought a bunch of things for Gio also!" Layla yells as she runs to find Callum.
Lacey and Callum decided to move into a house together to help Lacey raise Layla.
They live on different sides of the house and I am not sure why they keep pushing each other away the way they are.
They are perfect for each other. I just wish they would both get over their issues and be together for real.
"Luka, you need to stop buying her a bunch of things. What happens when we move somewhere and she can't take them all."
Instead of gently setting the bags on the ground, I drop them and step towards her. I take her by her shoulders and ask, " Why would you move? What did Callum do?"
"Callum didn't do anything. We can't live here with him forever, Luka. He bought this house for his family. He needs to be out there searching for her. He will get sick of playing house with Layla and me, and we won't be able to afford a place this big."
Fuck, Lacey thinks Callum already had this house when he brought them home?
She doesn't know that the second Lacey said she wanted to keep Layla, Callum was on the phone with Coleman and bought this house sight unseen before he even got to the dance studio to pick the girls up that day.
That he paid a ridiculous amount of money to have it cleaned and fully furnished in less than 24 hours. What a fucking dumbass.
"You aren't leaving here, Lacey. Callum won't allow it. I won't allow it. You are ours and we are keeping you." She goes to say something stupid like she isn't Callum's. I place my finger on her lips to shut her up. "I am going to practice. See you tomorrow, and for God's sake, talk to Callum."
Practice is absolute hell. I don't know why Coach is riding us so hard. It isn't like we didn't win yesterday. The team we play tomorrow is tough, though. We have just a few more games until we are set for the playoffs. Madison is smiling at us as we come off the ice to get some water.
"Kincaid giving you a hard time today, boys?" She swaps her flash off her camera and starts taking pictures.
"It's not too bad, Maddie." Grady winks at her and she rolls her eyes.
"Grady, back on the fucking ice. We aren't paying you to flirt." Kincaid's voice booms through the empty arena.
"That's right, Coach, you are paying me to kick ass." Grady jumps back on the ice and starts running drills.
"Hey, Mads. Can I ask you a question?" I whisper to her so Coach can't hear us.
"Sure, Rizzoli. What do you need? Want me to get some new skates for the kiddos?" Madison is amazing with Gio and Layla. She makes sure the kids have anything they need. She is like that with all the families on the team.
"Nah, they are good. What could I do to convince a girl to date me?
Like, date me for real. To see that I am not just someone to fall into bed with?
" Madison travels with us. She knows that Jake and I haven't been bringing bunnies back to the hotels.
She knows hockey has been the number one thing in my life this season.
She tilts her head as she looks at me. "So you want her to see you for who you really are and not who she thinks you are?
" I eagerly nod to her. That is exactly what I need.
"Then show her your big heart, Rizzoli. Your love for your family and friends runs deep.
The love you have for this game and your teammates rivals that.
I am sure she will give you time if she sees that. "
I sit on the bench, not even worried about Coach yelling at me. "How can I do that if she won't spend time with me?" I drop my head into my hands. She sits next to me and pats my leg.
"You have to make her want to spend time with you, Luka. When will you see her again?"
"She is coming to the game tomorrow with her friend. We set it up for her to sit with my family. I don't think she knows she is coming yet, though."
"This is perfect. Let me set some things up and we will get you your girl, Rizzoli." She stands and pats my head before she realizes it is soaked with sweat. She wipes her hand on my practice jersey and smiles.
"Rizzoli, get your ass in the net. We have a game to win." Coach bellows and I jump up. I have to win this game for my girl.
The next morning, I tried to keep my mind occupied, but I couldn't. I pull my phone out and bring up our group text.
Me:
What software do you use to track the girls?
Liam:
You can get a tracker from Al's. I will message him and let him know you are coming.
Callum:
Give me the data information after you get it and I will plug it into your phone so you can follow her in real time.
Me:
How do you track her if she doesn't want to wear a device?
I have a feeling my little Gattina would fight me on that.
Cross:
Subcutaneously...
Me:
Well, how can I track her until I can do that?
Liam:
Do what any Rizzoli man would do...
Cross:
You track her phone.
Me:
Okay. How can I do that?
A separate text message comes in from Callum with a link.
Callum:
Click this link. It's already set up with Adrianna's phone number.
I click the link, which pulls up a tracking website. A little red dot dances on the screen. She is at Perk It Up. Before I can think about it, I throw on some shoes and head out the door.
I stare at the cars I have in the parking garage.
I don't think she knows my car, but I can't risk it.
I jump into one of the families' SUVs and head toward the coffee shop.She is walking out of the store when I pull up.
I see her get into the back seat of a waiting car.
I have my door open, ready to go pull her out of the back of a stranger's car, but they pull away from the curb before I get out.
I follow the car until it stops at a large house with a for sale sign in the front yard.
She steps out of the car, and I trail my eyes from her black shoes to her red shirt and black flowy top.
I should pull away. I don't; I sit and watch her as she walks into the house.
20 minutes later, another car shows up, and a man and woman get out and walk to the house.
After 40 minutes, all three step outside.
The woman hugs Adrianna and the man shakes her hand.
I want nothing more than to rip his hand off his body.
I pulled my phone out to text her, saying that no one should be touching her.
But I think she would be pissed. So, instead, I text my family.
Me:
How do you control the urge to cut off any hand that touches your girl?
Cross:
Are you serious? Have you met your brother? You think he controls himself?
Liam:
Cross is right; I just don't.
Romeo:
CeCe would cut them off for me.
Callum:
I don't know if I should be included in this conversation.
I smile at my phone. Callum is so lost with Lacey that it isn't even funny.
Me:
Callum...what would you do if someone touched Lacey
Romeo:
I want to know the answer to that.
Cross:
Me too...
Callum:
I would kill them.
Liam:
Sounds about right.
For the next two hours, I follow Adrianna around. She does a quick showing at an apartment and then heads back to what must be her office. I want to follow her home and see where she lives, but I have a game tonight and need to get ready.