CHAPTER THREE
Ginny
A Fragile Connection
I knocked softly on the door before pushing it open.
Luca was still there, sitting in the same chair he'd been in for the past three days. He looked up when I entered, his expression exhausted.
"You need to sleep," I said.
"I'm fine."
"You're not. When was the last time you ate?"
He didn't answer.
I sighed and walked over to the bed, looking down at the girl—Liana, Luca had said her name was.
She was awake now, her eyes open but unfocused. Bassi had said she'd regained consciousness an hour ago, and Luca had called me immediately.
"Hi," I said softly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I'm Ginny. Luca's sister."
Liana's eyes shifted to me. They were dark brown, almost black, and filled with pain.
"Hi," she whispered.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like I got hit by a truck."
I smiled despite myself. "That's pretty accurate, from what Bassi said."
She didn't smile back. Just stared at me with those haunted eyes.
"I know this is overwhelming," I said gently. "Waking up in a strange place with people you don't know. But I promise, you're safe here. Luca won't let anything happen to you."
"Why?" Liana asked. "Why does he care?"
It was a fair question. Luca wasn't exactly known for his compassion. He was a mob boss—ruthless, dangerous, feared.
But I'd seen the way he looked at her. The way he'd refused to leave her side.
"Because he's a good man," I said. "Even if he doesn't always act like it."
Luca made a sound that might have been a laugh.
Liana's gaze shifted back to him. "You found me."
"Yeah," he said.
"Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me."
"I do." Her voice was barely a whisper. "You saved my life."
Luca didn't respond. Just looked at her with an intensity that made my chest ache.
"Do you need anything?" I asked, breaking the silence. "Water? Food? Bassi said you should try to eat something."
"I'm not hungry."
"You need to eat," Luca said. "You've lost a lot of blood. Your body needs fuel to heal."
Liana looked like she wanted to argue, but she just nodded.
"I'll get you something light," I said, standing. "Soup, maybe. And some tea."
I left the room, giving them privacy.
In the kitchen, I found Deangelo making coffee.
"How is she?" he asked.
"Awake. Talking. Scared."
"Can't blame her."
"No." I started pulling ingredients out of the fridge. "Luca's not leaving her side."
"I noticed."
"He cares about her."
Deangelo raised an eyebrow. "He just met her."
"I know. But you should see the way he looks at her." I paused, thinking. "It's the same way you look at me."
Deangelo came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "That's because you're the love of my life."
I leaned back against him. "Maybe she's his."
"After three days?"
"Love doesn't have a timeline."
He kissed my temple. "No. I guess it doesn't."
I made the soup and tea and brought it back to Liana's room. Luca helped her sit up, propping pillows behind her back. She winced with every movement, her face going pale.
"Easy," Luca said, his hands steadying her. "Take your time."
I set the tray on her lap and watched as she picked up the spoon with shaking hands.
She managed a few bites before setting it down.
"That's good," I said. "You did good."
She didn't respond. Just stared down at the bowl, her expression distant.
"Liana," I said gently. "Can I ask you something?"
She looked up.
"Do you have family? Someone we should call?"
Her face crumpled. "No. No family."
"Friends?"
"I..." She shook her head. "I don't remember. I can't—everything's so foggy."
"That's normal," I said quickly. "Bassi said the concussion might affect your memory for a while. It'll come back."
"What if it doesn't?"
"It will," Luca said firmly. "And until it does, you're staying here. Where it's safe."
Liana looked at him, something unreadable in her expression. "I don't even know you."
"No," he agreed. "But I'm not going to let anything happen to you. That's a promise."
And I knew, watching them, that he meant it.