Chapter 16
Sixteen
Luca
I still can’t believe my little sister and my best friend are shacking up behind my back. It’s not bad enough that I warned all of the hockey players on the team to stay away from her, but my best friend had to stab me in the back by screwing her and then keeping it a secret.
Of all the guys on the team, Ashton’s past makes me the angriest about all of it.
Or maybe it’s the fact that we’re so tight and he chose not to tell me.
He had plenty of opportunities to come clean.
No, instead, he had to wait until he let Nova get drunk on her ass and make a huge announcement.
She embarrassed herself.
And while I’m not happy that Harper kept the truth from me, I can see where she would feel it wasn’t her secret to tell.
I’ve forgiven her.
I’ve mildly forgiven Nova. She’s young, foolish, and never been in love. She’s barely an adult; she just turned eighteen. She has an excuse.
There is zero excuse for Ashton.
He didn’t heed my warning.
No, instead, he blatantly chose to fuck my little sister and then lie about it. If he were a man, he’d have come clean immediately after it happened, told me the truth, confessed that he’d slept with her.
Maybe I could have forgiven him.
It’s the lying.
The betrayal.
The fact we live under the same roof and for months he kept it a secret, like she wasn’t good enough to tell anyone they were dating.
That sickens me.
Nova deserves better.
My little sister deserves a man who will shout from the rooftops that he likes her, wants to be with her.
Clearly, that’s not Ashton.
After classes, I head back to the house to help with dinner. Harper’s already in the kitchen, and Zeke is banging the extra pots and pans, pretending to help as he sits on the floor.
“How about I take over the cooking?” I offer, letting her look after Zeke.
“Are you sure? I’m almost done with the prep.
It just has to go in the oven.” She’s cutting the potatoes, and the baby carrots are already sliced in half.
There’s chicken in some type of glaze, and she’s popping the potatoes and carrots on a separate tray.
She glances at the cookbook, following the recipe, which remarkably looks like it might be similar.
“We could have just eaten on campus tonight.” I drop a quick kiss on her cheek. I’ve never seen her cook before, but I honestly like this side of her.
“I know, but lately, we’ve been having dinner with your family on Friday nights. I thought it might be nice for me to try to cook us a real dinner instead of having the same stuff at the dining hall. I just hope it turns out.”
“I’m not worried. It looks good.”
“It’ll look better when it’s done in the oven.” She puts the vegetables in first and sets the timer on the stove.
“What can I do to help?” I ask.
“Would you mind watching Zeke for a bit? I’m going to have him all weekend. It’d be nice to have a few minutes’ break.”
The words come out before I even think about what I’m saying. “You could come with us and stay at my parents’ this weekend. They have a room for Zeke. Mom could help you with him? She loves him so much.”
Harper inhales sharply and forces a smile. I see the hesitation, and I should know better than to suggest visiting my parents.
They’re mafia.
Dangerous.
Deadly.
Even suggesting that she come to stay is a terrible idea.
“Sorry,” I wince. “I wasn’t thinking.”
Harper’s forced smile weakens, and she steps forward. Standing on her tiptoes, she presses a kiss to my lips. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to have to pass. I’ll stay here this weekend.”
“It’ll be quiet; it’ll just be Nova, Liam, and you two.” I nod toward Zeke.
She smiles and shakes her head. “Nothing is quiet with this guy.” Bending down, Harper scoops Zeke up into her arms, giving him kisses.
He pushes her away and then throws out his arms for me.
I hesitate, not because I don’t adore the kid, but because I’m afraid to get too attached. He’s Harper’s son. I don’t want to destroy him.
There are flashes I get, memories of my father, and I see myself in him more and more. I don’t want to be like Dante, and I certainly don’t want to hurt Zeke. But being forced to work for the man I despised all my life, how can I not become him?
“Luca?” Harper’s voice jars me as she sees Zeke trying to reach for me and my hesitation.
This time, I’m the one forcing the smile as I take him in my arms. “Take a break. I’ve got him.”
Her brow furrows as she rubs Zeke’s back. “Are you sure? If he’s too much, I can take him back.”
I chuckle. “I don’t think the kid comes with a return receipt.”
Her nose crinkles, and Harper smiles. This time, it’s genuine.
I love her laugh. I adore that smile with her dimple on her left cheek. Her dark eyes glisten, and I swear there are gold flecks that shimmer from the sunlight cast in through the window.
“We are definitely past the return window,” Harper jokes and then crinkles her nose at the scent wafting from the little man in my arms. “Oh no. Diaper duty. Here, let me take him.”
Zeke giggles like he’s proud of the smell emanating from him. It’s grotesque, but when does that ever smell pleasant?
“It’s fine. I know how to change a diaper. I’ll handle it.” I carry Zeke to his room, and Harper follows.
“Are you sure?” she asks, watching me from the doorjamb.
Does she not trust me with Zeke?
I wouldn’t blame her.
I place Zeke on the changing table and quickly change his diaper.
The stove beeps, and Harper leaves the two of us alone while I finish the diaper change before bringing him to the bathroom so I can wash my hands.
“Did you leave the diaper in his bedroom?” Harper asks me from the bathroom. I left the door open, and she’s already on me like I’m incapable of handling a simple diaper change.
I’d be annoyed if it were anyone else.
“It’s in the diaper pail. I know how to look after Zeke.” I kiss his forehead, and he wiggles away from me, wanting to get down. I gently set his feet on the ground, and he tears off, arms out, running around like a little monster.
“Dragon! Roar!” Zeke shrieks with laughter, running around the living room. While his words aren’t crystal clear, I’ve learned to decipher most of his babbling over the past couple of weeks.
Nova pokes her head out of her bedroom. “Is the little dragon okay?”
“He’s fine!” Harper shouts over the roar of the little dragon running wild. “Sorry for the noise.”
Nova’s been studying for hours or, more likely, avoiding me. It’s fine; I’m leaving for Dante’s soon. She’ll have the house all weekend, and thankfully, Ashton will be with me, so I won’t have to worry about the two of them getting up to trouble.
Ashton hasn’t come home yet. I expect he’ll be back in time for us to leave. We’ve exchanged a few brief texts, him double-checking that he has a ride tonight.
I’m feeling generous.
I won’t make him walk or take the bus.
“I made enough dinner, you’re welcome to join us when it’s ready,” Harper says, inviting Nova to dine with us.
When the timer beeps again and this time dinner is ready, Nova finds her way out of her books and to the table for dinner.
“Thanks. This smells amazing. Way better than the chicken tenders at school.”
We all sit down, minus Ashton, for dinner. He’s probably at the dining hall. Liam joins us, although he’s a bit quieter than usual. I’m assuming he also knew about Nova and Ashton and is trying to keep the peace or at least stay on my good side.
Dinner is delicious. I don’t want to move from my seat at the table, but I hear the front door and glance at my watch. It’s time to head to Dante’s. Although we won’t begin any training this evening, we’ll likely be getting started early tomorrow morning.
I’d rather sleep in my bed with Harper and wake up extra early and drive over, but that isn’t an option. Dante has made it clear that he expects me to stay weekends, unless there’s a hockey game.
I hate playing Thursday games.
It means longer weekends and more time learning about the ins and outs of the mafia.
I’ve mastered the gun range, which wasn’t the worst thing in the world. But knowing that I need to know how to use a gun, how to shoot someone—that, I find far more unsettling.
I give Harper a kiss goodbye and kiss Zeke on the cheek before grabbing my weekend bag and departing.
It’s cold outside, the crisp air allowing me to see my breath as we walk to the car.
Ashton says nothing.
No apology.
No words.
He’s silent, which irks me even further.
I throw my bag into the backseat. Ashton does the same, and then we climb into the car.
We drive, the radio on, the only noise between us.
He doesn’t even try to explain himself. Although I’m not sure I’d listen, either.
I’ve made up my mind; I’m pissed at him.
He deserves my wrath for what he’s done.
We ride in silence all the way up to the compound. I punch in the code at the front gate, and the wrought-iron fence opens.
It’s slow, takes several long drawn-out seconds before I hit the gas and pull up out front.
Heading out of the car, Dante greets us, which I find quite unusual.
“Luca,” he says, and there’s a smile on his face, but I’m not buying it.
He’s never happy to see me. I’m the son he wishes he never had. I’m sure if Mom got pregnant with another child, he’d be gleeful that he might be able to manipulate and control him, make him the heir to the Ricci empire.
That’s not me, and yet, here I am, forced to work under Dante.
“Come on inside; we have quite a bit to discuss.” Dante gestures for us to follow as he heads up the front stairs and opens the door, granting us entrance inside the compound.
I leave my bag just inside the door, take off my shoes and winter coat. The house is plenty warm, a little too warm for my liking. Practically like I’m in hell. Maybe I am. Dante is the devil.
“I thought we were starting work in the morning.” Ashton is right on my heel and he steps beside me, placing his bag on the opposite side of the door before hanging up his coat and removing his shoes.