Chapter 19 – Sienna #2
"Luca is a grown man with his own mind. And if Luca is so enamored with you," I say slowly, letting each word land, "Why would he need me at all? Or Kate.”
Her smile freezes.
“It seems like you were right there, available and willing." I pause, letting my eyes roam over her dress, her perfectly made-up face. "Easy." Now I smile. “And he passed you up… twice.”
Holding up two fingers, I get a perverse pleasure from watching her pretty features twist in anger.
“Alfonso might have convinced you that Luca is yours, but I assure you, he’s not. He’s mine."
She shifts her weight to one foot, telegraphing her slap a mile away. Before it connects, I grab her wrist and twist, forcing her to stoop and lean to avoid me breaking it.
"Try touching me again, or Luca," I say quietly, "and I'll break your fucking arm."
We stand there, frozen, her eyes wide with surprise, until Tony booms from right behind me.
“Sophia, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he growls at her.
She gives him a filthy look, then, when I relax my grip, yanks her hand back, rubbing her wrist as her composure cracks. "You have no idea," she hisses. "This world will eat you alive. If Alfonso doesn’t kill you first."
Not for the first time, I realize that’s a distinct possibility.
"Maybe." I smooth down my dress, my hands only trembling slightly. "But I won’t be run off by you."
She opens her mouth to snap back, but when Tony steps between us to shield me, Sophia shoots me one last venomous look over his shoulder, then sweeps out without another word.
"Are you okay? What the hell happened?"
"Nothing." I hurry away, eager to get back to the main reception area, but he falls into step beside me, my loyal shadow.
"Ms. Fox,” he begins, stopping when I glare at him. “Sienna." He gives me a kind smile. "You’re allowed to take a second."
I look up at him, this big, scarred man who's spent the last few days watching my every move, and my composure cracks. The need to confide in somebody is tearing me apart.
"Apparently, she and Luca have... history."
Tony remains closed-lipped, neither confirming nor denying, even though we both know he knows. Now, I can’t stop wondering how many other women out there have history with him.
"She said..." I shake my head. "It doesn't matter."
"No, it doesn't." He glances toward the ballroom, then back at me, pensive. He sighs. "But can I tell you something?"
I nod, fiddling with my jewelry.
"In all the years I've worked for Mr. Calvano, he's never brought a woman to an event like this. Not once. Not even Kate." He pauses, letting that sink in. "Bringing you here, introducing you to these people... this is a statement. A big one that’s bound to cause some ruffled feathers.”
I stare at him, unconvinced. "What kind of statement?"
"The kind that says you matter.” Tony sighs. "Remember that when it might sometimes appear otherwise. Luca Calvano doesn't do anything by accident."
I absorb his words, turning them over in my mind, and let them loosen the tension within me.
"And if you want to help him? Help find whoever killed Kate? Then play the part," Tony encourages me. "Be the adoring fiancé, be confident and unshakeable. The kind of woman who belongs at Luca Calvano's side."
After everything I've been through, this should be a walk in the park. "I can do that."
Tony nods, his approval shining through. "Then fuck her and fuck Alfonso. Go do it.”
Encouraged by Tony’s pep talk, I square my shoulders and walk back into the ballroom, immediately met by Luca’s furious stare.
He’s standing near the bar now, elbows on the counter behind him, and eyes trained on me as he listens intently to what someone tells him.
Sophia stalks toward a high-top table nearby, bringing her head close to the woman beside her, no doubt, gossiping about me.
I ignore her completely.
Instead, I walk straight up to Luca, who watches with interest as I approach, his heated stare devouring me with an intensity that almost makes me falter. I can’t tell whether this is a good idea, but I’m not backing down in front of Sophia.
Luca stands to his full height and moves toward me, ending the conversation with his companion, mid-sentence.
Sidling up to him, I give the men he just abandoned a warm, apologetic smile. “Sorry, gentlemen. Please don’t let me interrupt.”
I slip my arm through his and press myself against his side like I belong here.
He glances down at me, surprise ghosting across his features before he schools them into indulgent amusement. "Missed me?" he asks, one eyebrow raised.
"Always," I reply loud enough for the men around us to hear.
Luca wraps an arm around me, and I slide my hand up his chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath his shirt, and the steady thump of his heart under my palm.
When the rest of the circle moves on with their conversation, I rise on my tiptoes, bringing my lips to his ear.
"I thought you should know I just had a disagreement with the woman in red outside." I feign remorse, though I feel none. “She told me she’d be replacing me in your bed in no time. I didn’t think your future wife would allow that to stand.”
Luca’s eyes blaze, but he does nothing to give away the anger I see bubbling up inside him, which I hope is not directed at me.
“Just wanted to let you know in case you heard it from someone else.” Stroking my hand down, letting my nails drag along the front of his shirt, I lower my eyes, doing my best to look innocent and coy for those around us.
“Where was Tony?” Luca asks, low and rough, sounding slightly unhinged.
Oh no.
“Tony was there, but he had no way of knowing it was going to be anything other than some friendly small talk.”
Luca glares at Tony, where he stands no more than six feet away. Apparently, Luca thinks Tony should have known.
“She tried to slap her,” Tony confesses, though I had planned to leave that part out.
Luca goes very still, then gives my face a quick scan to make sure I’m not hurt. “You okay?”
I nod. “I’m fine. She didn’t touch me.”
Instead of flying off the handle, Luca pulls me flush against him. His lips brush my temple as he responds, "So this is you proving a point?" he asks, his husky voice sending tingles dancing across my skin. "I’m not complaining. In fact, I'm enjoying it immensely."
I pull back just enough to meet his eyes. They're darker than before, heated in a way that sends warmth flooding through my veins. "I want her to see I’m not a pushover."
Luca’s hand slides lower as he hauls my body closer until I’m practically draped against him.
The men around us avert their gazes as Luca runs his lips along my jaw.
"Feel free to take it as far as you want." His thumb traces circles on my hip, the same maddening pattern from this morning, lips curving into a slow, dangerous smile. Luca’s glances at Sophia, right before he nods at Tony who moves in her direction.
“Luca, there’s no need…”
He dips his head and kisses me, drowning out my protests.
“I appreciate you handling it, but it’s just as important for everyone to know that any disrespect to you will not be tolerated. I protect my own. And the sooner everyone accepts that’s what you are now, the better.”