CHAPTER 21
Mia stirred beneath the covers, the weight of sleep still heavy on her chest. She heard voices. Luca's, and another one colder, firmer.
She blinked against the light slipping through the cracked bedroom door, pushed the blankets off, and stood.
Her legs were unsteady, her skin too warm but the voices pulled her.
She padded out slowly, barefoot on the wooden floor, one hand clutching the oversized hoodie at her chest. Her hair was a mess, her eyes heavy. She didn't think anyone besides Luca would be there.
Until she stepped into the living room rubbing her eyes drowsily.
Marcello turned toward the hallway, as if instinct had tugged at him.
And there she was.
Mia.
She stood in the living room hallway , barefoot, wrapped in one of Luca's old hoodies, hair a soft mess from sleep. Her hand lightly held the wall, her eyes still drowsy, blinking as she looked down.
She hadn't seen Marcello yet.
But he had seen her.
And he was staring straight at her.
His gaze didn't flicker. Didn't shift until she looked up and froze. His gaze pinned her in place like he hadn't just seen her, but recognized something no one else ever did.
Luca turned sharply then his voice softened instantly. "Mia, baby, go back to bed."
But it was too late.
She swallowed hard startled, her breath catching as she looked at Marcello. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she couldn't move.
Neither could he.
For a long second, he said nothing. He didn't offer a polite nod or look away. He just took her in , messy hair, flushed cheeks and the faintest tremble in her hands.
Luca moved fast quieter than a threat but just as sharp. He stepped between Marcello and mia, blocking the view.
Mia had never felt so seen and so shaken.
She turned slowly, quietly slipping back toward her room whispering a small sorry, but his gaze followed her the whole way. Not with lust . Not even with softness.
With possessiveness and obsession and Luca knew that look well
You've seen enough." Luca seethingly said, his voice rough and deep.
Then, finally, Marcello looked back at Luca.
Luca continued. "You don't talk to her. You don't look at her like that again."
Marcello was quiet. Calm.
"I didn't say anything."he said, calm. "Didn't so much as move when she walked in
"You didn't have to," Luca said, flat. "Keep her out of your head Marcello, I'm serious, I saw the way you looked at her."
Still, Marcello didn't move but remained calm as ever. Luca knew him too well then gave him a small smirk.
"She's your sister. I get it."
"No," Luca said, eyes narrowing. "You don't." then he continued, " Don't linger around her. Don't look at her like that again. And if I ever see that flicker in your eyes like she's something you want to understand I'll shut it down before it becomes anything."
" Do. Not. Threaten me. Luca," ....Marcello bit out every word spilling venom, then he continued... "or are you forgetting who you are talking to. I already gave you word that I wouldn't harm her, Trust. That. And remember who takes orders from who." He finished his voice rough.
That was all.
Then, without another word, he left.
And Luca remained still in the room long after the door shut the only sound left was the hum of the distant hallway, and the lingering certainty that nothing about that interaction was over.
Marcello shut the door of his car and slid behind the wheel, gripping the leather like he was holding something back. The engine purred to life, but he didn't pull away immediately.
Instead, he sat there in silence, staring out through the windshield at the darkened road ahead, but seeing nothing of it.
His mind was still behind those doors
Mia.
He could still picture her the oversized hoodie, the way her fingers curled gently around each other, the sleepy confusion in her eyes.
Something about seeing her suffering in silence with sickness tugged deeply in his heart making him clench his fist. He would do anything to make her feel alive again.
But still.
She looked so soft, so unaware.
Luca's secret.
And now, his.
He finally pulled the car onto the road, driving slow at first, like speed might snap whatever restraint he had left. The city lights blurred past, but Marcello barely registered them.
He should've left it at that.
Respect the line Luca drew.
But he already knew that wasn't going to happen.
Not when she'd looked like that. Not when his instincts the ones that always screamed when something was valuable were pulling toward her like a magnet.
He ran a hand down his face, exhaling through clenched teeth.
He wasn't the type to get caught up in softness. In innocence. But Mia... she wasn't something he could ignore. Not anymore.
And the worst part?
He didn't want to but he needed to because it was the right thing to do, Luca was right getting her dragged in his life would be a danger to her, he was selfish, that much he knew about himself but not that selfish.
" Fuck!!, " he screamed in frustration, why was something that felt so right, so hard to have....
The air still felt tainted with Marcello's presence. Not hostile but far from harmless.
And she'd been seen.
Luca inhaled slowly, steadying his heartbeat as he headed towards her bedroom careful, deliberate steps. He didn't want Mia to sense the tension. Not tonight. Not ever, if he could help it.
Her door was half-closed,
He pushed it open quietly, finding her curled up in bed with the hoodie still on, sketchpad beside her, pencil tucked behind her ear. A soft crease furrowed her brow a mix of sleep and worry.
She looked up the moment she sensed him.
"Luca," she whispered, her voice small, uncertain. "who was that?"
Luca walked in slowly, half closing the door behind him. "Just business," he said gently. "You didn't need to worry."
She blinked at him, studying his face like she was searching for something beneath the surface. "Are you okay?"
He sat on the edge of her bed, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm okay, princess."
She relaxed slightly at the nickname, but not completely.
"I... I came down because I thought I heard voices," she admitted softly. "Then I saw that man and he looked at me like ,,,,, like he knew me."
Luca's heart dropped for half a beat, but his expression didn't change.
"You imagined it," he said, voice calm but certain. "You were sleepy. You didn't see anything."
She looked down at her sketchpad.
"Okay," she whispered, trusting him. "If you say so."
He pulled the blanket up gently over her legs. " Ill get you some tea" he said standing up
Mia shook her head holding onto him, "will you stay a bit?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Always, princess."
And even with the weight pressing on his chest, he knew one thing for certain, he wouldn't let his Don influence her.