49
I should have said no.
I should have shut down that pleading look the second she turned those hazel eyes on me after we got back from the office, lips in a soft pout, fingers curled around my wrist as she practically purred, "Luca, let's go out for ice cream please."
But like the fucking idiot I was when it came to her, I had caved.
And now here I was—
Standing in the middle of a goddamn park, holding a dripping ice cream cone in one hand, watching Lenora as she practically bounced in place like an excited kid.
"I can't believe you actually agreed to this," she said, taking another happy bite of her strawberry ice cream. Apparently today she was 'testing out' flavors.
I huffed, shifting my weight onto one foot, my suit jacket feeling ridiculously out of place in a setting like this.
"I'm regretting it already," I muttered, glancing around at the sea of people—too many people—and the occasional glance in our direction.
Lenora rolled her eyes, linking her arm through mine. "I warned you to change from that suit, now stop pretending like you're not secretly enjoying this, Mr. Grumpy Pants."
I glared down at her.
"Mr. Grumpy Pants?"
She giggled. "What? It suits you."
I took a slow, measured lick of my vanilla ice cream just to annoy her. "Say that again and see what happens."
Her eyes lit up, the challenge evident. "Oh? And what happens if I do?"
I leaned down, letting my lips brush against the shell of her ear as I murmured, "You won't be able to walk tomorrow."
I felt the shudder that ran through her body.
Felt the way her grip on my arm tightened, her breath hitching.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
But just as I was about to really push her buttons, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
I followed her gaze.
Kids.
A group of them running around the playground, shrieking with laughter as they climbed the slides, chased each other through the grass, their parents sitting on the benches nearby, chatting with easy smiles.
And then—
I saw it.
The shift in her expression.
The way her body stiffened ever so slightly, the way her grip on my arm loosened, like something was pulling her away.
Like she was retreating into herself.
I knew why.
And it made my chest ache.
She wasn't looking at them with joy. She was looking at them like she was staring at something she could never have.
I set my ice cream aside, grabbing her hand instead.
"Lenora," I murmured.
She inhaled sharply, as if she had forgotten I was standing right there beside her.
She blinked up at me, lips parting slightly, her throat working like she was trying to hold something in.
I knew what she was thinking.
That she would never have that. That she would never be the mother on that bench, watching her kids play. That it had been stolen from her before she even had the chance to dream about it. She didn't have to say it.
I saw it in her eyes.
I felt it in the way she tensed under my hold.
And that... that fucking killed me.
Without thinking, I pulled her against me, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist, pressing my lips against the top of her head.
She didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just stood there, her fingers curling into my shirt, her breath shaky.
"Don't do that," I murmured against her hair.
She swallowed. "Do what?"
"Look at them like that," I said. "Like you lost something."
She let out a soft, broken laugh. "But I did."
I gritted my teeth, hating how fucking helpless I felt in moments like these. Hating that I couldn't take this pain away from her.
"You think that's the only way to have a family?" I asked, my voice lower now, rougher.
She exhaled sharply. "I—"
"You have me," I said, tightening my grip on her waist. "You have my brothers. My mother. Mia. You're already a part of a family, Lenora. You're not alone."
Her fingers dug into my shirt. "I know, but—"
I pulled back slightly, grabbing her chin, forcing her to look at me.
"You want a kid?" I murmured, my eyes locked onto hers. "Then we'll adopt. We'll figure it out. We'll do whatever the fuck you want, but don't stand here and tell me you're broken, because you're not."
Her eyes welled up.
And fuck, that look—
That look made me want to destroy everything that had ever hurt her.
Made me want to rip the world apart and rebuild it just so she would never have to feel this way again.
She blinked up at me, her lips trembling.
"You really mean that?"
I cupped her face, pressing my forehead against hers. "I mean everything I say to you, love."
Her breath hitched.
And then—
She crashed into me.
Her arms wrapped around my waist, her face pressing into my chest as she clung to me like I was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.
I held her. Right there, in the middle of the park, surrounded by strangers—I held her.
Let her breathe, let her feel. And when she finally pulled back, I wiped the tears from her cheeks, leaned in, and whispered against her lips—
"You're mine, Lenora."
She let out a soft, shaky exhale.
"And I take care of what's mine."
Her lips parted. And then I kissed her.
Slow. Deep.
Like I was reminding her. Like I was telling her—without words—that she wasn't alone, that she never would be.
Not as long as I had breath in my fucking lungs.
The ride back was silent.
Lenora sat in the passenger seat, curled up with my blazer around her shoulders, her gaze fixed on the city lights flashing past. Normally, she'd be talking, teasing me, making some snarky comment about how I was always grumpy.
But now?
She was lost in her thoughts, still caught in the weight of our conversation at the park.
I hated that look on her face—the uncertainty, the sadness, the lingering pain she carried every time she thought about the past. Every time she thought about what she believed she couldn't have.
And even though I had told her, promised her, that she wasn't broken, I knew it would take more than just words to make her believe it.
That's why I didn't push.
Not yet.
Instead, I reached over, grabbing her hand, threading my fingers through hers.
Her body stiffened for a moment before she exhaled, squeezing my hand in return.
By the time we pulled into the underground garage, she was still too quiet.
I got out first, walking over to open her door, but before I could say anything, she huffed, crossing her arms.
"You're really bad at relaxing, you know that?"
That made me pause. I lifted a brow. "And you're really bad at listening when I tell you no."
A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Finally.
"Yeah, well... you still gave in, Mr. Grumpy Pants."
I exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down my face as she giggled. "Keep calling me that and see what happens, stellina."
She bit her lip, that playful glint flickering in her gaze. She was testing me, pushing my buttons like she always did when she wanted to stir up trouble.
And fuck, she had no idea what she was doing.
Because I had spent the entire damn eveningwanting.
Wanting to get her back home. Wanting to remind her exactly who she belonged to. Wanting to ruin her.
She started to step out of the car, but before she could, I grabbed her by the waist, pulling her against me, she gasped, hands flying to my chest as I pressed her against the car, caging her in with my arms on either side of her.
"Luca—"
I growled, leaning in, my nose grazing the shell of her ear.
"You've been teasing me all night, baby," I murmured, my voice dark, low. "Do you really think I don't see it?"
Her breath hitched.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she whispered.
"Liar." Myfingers brushing over her exposed collarbone, the dip between her breasts.
continued, dragging my thumb down the side of her throat, feeling the rapid pulse beneath my touch. "The way you pushed me in that damn park, looking at me with those innocent eyes, knowing damn well I was barely holding myself back."
I leaned in closer, my lips a breath away from hers.
"You did it on purpose, didn't you?"
Her cheeks flushed, but she shook her head, refusing to admit it, still so fucking stubborn.
I chuckled darkly. "Lying isn't good for you, princess."
I slid my hand lower, over her hip, gripping hard.
"You wanna know what happens to little girls who tease their daddy?"
Her body jerked at the word, her nails digging into my shirt. Ah.
I felt her reaction. I knew her secret now.
A slow, predatory smile spread across my face.
"You like that, don't you?" I murmured against her jaw, pressing a lingering kiss there before dragging my teeth down the sensitive skin. "You like being my good girl."
She whimpered.
I lifted her effortlessly, wrapping her legs around my waist as she buried her face in my neck, while I took her inside.
She should've known by now.
There was no escaping me tonight.