Chapter Seventeen
Angel
“Merry Christmas,” Luca’s words come out groggily.
The sun hasn’t fully risen, and we had a full day after the police left.
Noah only stayed a while longer before he was sent to the bedroom, which is now his.
It isn’t in the basement, but now on the second floor and just down the hall from the rest of the family.
“Merry Christmas, Husband,” I reply, running my hands through his hair.
“Say it again.” His hands slide up and down my torso.
“Merry Christmas.”
“No, you know what I want to hear.”
“Husband.”
“That’s a good wife.”
“I’m worried, Luca.”
“About what?”
“Is Noah really okay with everything we learned?”
“Are you?”
“I think I might actually have a mental breakdown later. For almost seven months I’ve been picking up the pieces of my life, and it hasn’t been easy. Every day has felt like there was some other force dragging me down, and now I’m here with you and I have to say, as terrible—” His mouth falls open.
“Let me finish.” I close his mouth. “As terrible as everything has been around me, this has been the only thing grounding me, keeping me sane. When I’m in your arms, I feel safe.”
“Fuck, Amore. We have family waiting for us.” He attacks my throat, nuzzling my neck until I’m squealing and laughing.
“Okay, stop, stop.”
“Angel, I’ll do everything and anything to keep you safe.”
“Are you two done in there? Your mom wants us downstairs,” Noah calls through the door.
“Where the fuck are my security?”
“They’re right here, annoying the piss out of me, but they weren’t bold enough to knock.”
“They weren’t stupid enough, is more like it.”
“Fine, I’ll tell your mom you were busy.”
“Tell her we’re working on her grandbaby she requested for Christmas.”
“Luca,” I gasp, slapping his chest and shoving him off my body.
“We’ll be down in a minute.” I quickly jump off the bed and fall down, landing awkwardly on the side of my hip and thigh.
“Damn it, woman. Be careful. Are you okay?” He’s on his feet in a second, looking super-hot when he’s stark naked.
“Yes, I got tangled up in the sheets.”
“Then you should have just stayed up here with me. Please tell me you’re really okay.” He lifts me off the floor and then searches my body, running his strong, firm hands over my soft, bruised thigh.
“I’m fine. I promise,” I answer with a moan.
“Woman, you get dressed and this time, don’t hurt yourself because I’m going to fuck you and then spank you after I make sure you’re okay.”
“Oops, is that a Lego on the floor?”
“We don’t even have Legos.” I wink and then rush off to the closet and find my cute holiday morning outfit and wash up fast. We make it downstairs within twenty minutes, which is good because my brother’s antsy being surrounded by Luca’s mom and dad and several guards.
“We don’t have many traditions anymore, but I hope that as our family grows, we can add to them,” Luca says. “I hope that we can make it a fun Christmas morning for our little ones.”
“You know, I would love it if we were included,” my mother-in-law says.
“Of course,” I answer before Luca can. It’s his whole reason for starting a family. He only wants to give her grandbabies.
“Don’t ‘of course’ her too soon, love. She can be a handful,” Luca says.
“Luca, that’s not nice.”
“You act like that’s a surprise,” Noah says.
“You act like you don’t want a damn present.”
“I have a present?” he gasps.
“Of course. Your lovely sister enjoyed picking them out.” I did. He gave my fingertips free reign on the internet, and I let loose.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.” I shake my head when my brother looks like he’s about to cry.
We had a rough Christmas the year before, and now it makes sense.
My father had been struggling with debt up to his eyeballs.
Both of my parents had a gambling addiction, and I guess it got out of hand.
At first they tried to hide it, but I saw the slips from the casino.
I thought it was under control, but they would spend nights out often.
They were either at the casinos in Joliet or East Chicago, so that has to explain the reason for the debt.
“Thank you.”
“We’re family now,” Luca adds, wanting my brother to feel as welcome as he can. I know this is going to be a difficult transition for all of us. Especially since they really don’t like each other.
We spend two hours opening gifts, slowly relishing the thoughtfulness.
I had no idea that his parents were going to welcome us with such open arms, considering who they were, but they have.
By early evening, we are sitting by the fire, relaxing, when the doorbell rings.
It takes me by surprise because the gate has to be opened first so Luca would have gotten that notification.
“It’s probably one of the guys who doesn’t want to disturb us.” He gets up and goes to the door. I’m a little anxious, but when he comes back, he’s grinning from ear to ear.
“My lovely wife, and Noah, I’d like to introduce you to my second, who is also my cousin, Raul.”
“So this is the enchanting Angel. Wow, I am definitely impressed.” Luca growls beside him. “Calm down, Cousin.”
“Raul, what are you doing back so early?” Luca’s mother walks into the room after checking on our dinner.
“I thought I’d check on the family. I heard about Sammy and thought it was best that I returned.”
“How is my sister?” Luca’s dad asks.
“She is well and demands that you go visit soon.”
“Of course.”
“All of you women are the same.” I giggle.
“Are you joining us for dinner?”
“I hope so. It was a long flight and even in first class, it doesn’t compare to the food here.
” We dine and Raul is funny, which seems to irritate Luca all night.
He grumbles and grunts, but I’m not sure why he’s so put out.
He was so happy when he first arrived. Personally, I’m grateful he’s not as intimidating as I was expecting.
A call comes in for Luca, and he excuses himself for a moment.
“Congratulations, Mrs. D’Antonio. It’s truly a pleasure to see my cousin marry.”
“I’m sure he would have married soon.”
He shakes his head. “Ha. No chance in hell was that happening until you came along. After seeing you together, now I understand why my cousin is smitten.”
“Are you done flirting with my wife?”
He tilts his head and smirks. “Do you see what I mean? So jealous. There’s a first for everything.” He looks back at Luca and says, “I wasn’t flirting. I congratulated her on your marriage. Stop being so uptight, or you’re going to bust a blood vessel in that forehead of yours.”
“I’m about to bust your head.”
“Boys, behave.”
“See, this is the way it goes, Noah,” my mother-in-law says, shaking her head. “They act like children sometimes.”
“You love me, Zia.”
“Yes, I do, but you still better behave before I tell your mother.” He nods and Luca looks smug, until his mother looks right at him and says, “The same for you, Son.”
The rest of the night is a blast. We play some games and then we part ways to our rooms for bed. As soon as Luca gets me into our room, he reminds me that I’m his, over and over. I don’t think I’ll be able to walk straight for a week.