Chapter 15 #2
“What about the Russians? Do you think they might attack to avenge Nikolai?”
Luca looks at me without saying a word, takes hold of my chin, and pulls me toward him, covering my lips with his; I run my hands through his hair and give myself to him.
He looks at me, smiling as he pulls away, aware of the power he holds over me, over my heart.
“Don’t worry about it; I won’t let anything happen to you.
” I don’t think before embracing him, feeling my body close to his, feeling his heartbeat close to my face, his woody scent taking over my senses, feeling the security that his presence brings me.
“I’ll kill anyone who dares to hurt you.
I’ll carry out a massacre if necessary, but no one will ever make you suffer again, Principessa. ”
His arms are around my body, and I feel a small traitorous tear slide down my cheek. I know you don’t feel the same way, but I love you, Luca. Don’t ever forget that. His grip on my body increases, and his heart speeds up a little, something almost unnoticeable.
“I have to go!” His arms let go of my body, and I can’t help but wish to be between them again.
“Don’t hurt yourself!”
“Nothing will happen, Chiara, not to me.”
“Come back to me, please!” A hoarse laugh fills the room, and he holds my face with both hands, placing a light kiss on my lips.
“I’ll always come back to you!” The words come out of his mouth quickly, paralysing me; he doesn’t let me think or give an answer; he just walks out of the room, leaving me alone with a passionate smile on my face.
I get into the car accompanied by Francesco, with a smile on his lips. He looks at me with a strange look as if he knows something, smiling amusedly, which makes me offer him the middle finger, making him laugh.
I pick up my phone for the thousandth time to check the time; time seems to be passing more slowly than usual, and there isno news from Luca.
I lie in bed with the phone in front of my face, trying not to let my anxious demons attack my body; he’ll be fine; he has to be fine.
He promised to come back to me, and men of honor always keep their promises.
I wake up to someone jumping on my bed; I look up to be graced with my own constellation before contemplating my two older brothers lying on my bed, looking at me with macabre smiles.
“For someone who’s just had an operation, your fiancé is in pretty good shape.” I look at Vincenzo, not knowing what he’s sayingordoing here,and sit on the bed, staring at them.
“What are you doing here? And what’s this about Luca being in good shape? How do you know?”
“We arrived in Rome this morning; I wouldn’t have missed the bloodbath that the Camorra organized; it was incredible, a real massacre!” Vincenzo’s voice sounds too enthusiastic, and my stomach turns.
“The massacre; why the hell did you go and see it?”
“The men who were killed were conspiring with Nikolai, and Nikolai’s victim is you; at least you were what he wanted; the whole attack was programmed according to his sick obsession with you.
” A few tears gather in my eyes, realizing that Lorenzo is right; many died because that man wanted to marry me, to have me as his prisoner.
“Luca killed them allin a brutal way; he avenged everything they did, andthey got what they deserved.”
“We’ve seen Luca kill several men, so I’d say he’s in good shape. Now the question on my mind is, how do you know Luca’s in good shape?” Vincenzo’s face gradually comes closer to mine, with an amused smile on his lips.
“Stop that!” I look down and try to push his face away with my hand, causing them both to laugh.
“Looks like our little sister isn’t so little and innocent anymore, Lorenzo!”
“They grow so fast!”
“Stop it now, both of you. You’re so annoying.” I look at them and see them smiling at me. I can’t help smiling at them and throwing my arms around them, finally hugging them.
The ring of my phone makes them let go of me; I reach out to pick up the phone on the bedside table and see Luca’s name fill the screen.
I see my brothers smiling at each other before leaving the room without saying a word.
I answer the call, putting the phone down on my legandnervously biting my thumb.
“Principessa!” His voice sounds hoarse when he speaks, and a smile appears on my face at the nickname.
“Are you okay?” I hear his laugh, and I know it’s due to the anxiety and rapidity in my voice.
“I’m fine; nothing happened. I promised I would come back to you, I intend to keep that promise.”
Butterflies fly around my stomach incessantly, and I finally understand why they say you feel them when you’re in love. It’s not a bother; it’s good, and itmakes me want to fly with them. “I hope so; I’m too young to become a widow.”
“I don’t intend to let that happen any time soon; after all, I’m only twenty-two!”
“Twenty-two years old, you told me you were twenty-one.” Luca lets out a laugh, making my insides vibrate.
“Today is May 24 th , which means I’m twenty-two years old!”
“My God, I’m a terrible bride! I could have asked anyone; I should have found out; we’re getting married soon, and I didn’t even know your birthday.”
“Birthdays aren’t that important, at least for me.”
I get out of bed and head for the safe in my closet, opening it and taking out a 1942 Rolex Chronograph, only twelve of which were ever made, and when I saw it at an auction, I decided to buy it for Luca, without really knowing when I was going to give it to him.
“I have a present for you!”
“You just said you didn’t know when my birthday was.”
“Yes, I actually bought it a few months ago; I didn’t know when I’d get the chance to give it to you.”
“My parents are having dinner in the house; your father has already been informed.”
“We’ll see you soon.”
“See you soon, Principessa.”
I look at the small wrapped box on my lap, trying to imagine his reaction, whether he’ll like it.
My father looks relaxed as he checks some contracts on his iPad.
My brothers are chatting amongst themselves, and I’m just looking forward to seeing him.
The car stops, and Paolo opens the door, offering me his hand to get out.
I follow my dad inside the mansion, and we are greeted by Luca’s parents.
I look at Don Henrico in the wheelchair and feel guilty; he smiles in my direction and holds out his hand for me to put mine down; he kisses it lightly and smiles.
“You look very beautiful, Chiara.”
I look at him and can’t help but notice a certain discomfort with his current situation. “Don Henrico, I’m so sorry…”
I can’t finish speaking; he squeezes my hand lightly and smiles. “It’s not your fault; in this type of business, anything can happen, and it’s been long since I’ve made peace with death or disability; it’s okay!”
“Still, I…” He looks at me with a scolding look, and I realize why they fear him as Capo; I smile at him, seeing his expression lighten a little. “I’m glad you’re all right!”
I hear footsteps coming toward me, and before I can identify them, I feel my body being embraced by a slightly smaller body.
I smile as Bella’s dark hair takes over my vision, and I squeeze her tighter against my body, planting a kiss on her head.
I see Lady Milena and Don Henrico laughing, with my father and brothers pointing at us and commenting on something I can’t hear.
“ Did you miss me that much ?”
Bella turns away from me and smiles, looking a little shy. “I think so; I just like your company, your presence, I can’t explain it, it’s like having a sister…”
“That’s good because I already consider you a little sister!” She smiles at me, looking really happy, and at that moment, I know I’d go against any mafia rule to keep her that way.
I feel watched; I look out of the office and see Luca leaning against the door with a glass of whiskey in his hand, watching what’s going on in the room.
I smile at him with his sister still hugging me from the side, andhe gives me a small smile.
I kiss Bella on the head and move away from her; seeing her smile and wink at me, I walk toward Luca, feeling his eyes on me as I walk the short way to him.
He holds out his arm to me, and I smile, letting him take my hand, bringing it to his lips, and then pulling my body closer to his.
“Happy birthday, amore!” I leave a kiss on your cheek, knowing full well that my brothers are watching me. “Your gift; I hope you like it.” I squeeze the small box, making him put down his glass to open it, smiling at me as he discovers the present.
“Thank you Principessa!” Unlike me, Luca isn’t bothered by the fact that they might be watching us.
He holds my face lightly and affectionately, then places a kiss on my lips.
He replaces the watch on his wrist with the one I gave him before taking my hand and going to meet our families.
“Good night!” His voice is louder and colder as he greets my father and brothers, shaking each of their hands.
“Happy birthday, Luca!” My father takes the box that Vincenzo is holding and hands it to Luca. “A little souvenir.”
Luca nods before opening it, looking pleased with the DSR-Precision DSR 50 sniper rifle.
“Thank you. It really is something I’ll be using a lot!” The men in the room laugh at his words, but I’m left with nothing but worry.
“As I said before, it is just a souvenir; after all, as a member of the family, you will have access to all the weapons built, including prototypes. If you need anything and for some reason can’t get hold of me, Chiara has all the access.”
“A generous gift, I must admit Salvatore!” Don Henrico’s voice makes everyone look in his direction. “Speaking of family, we should talk about the wedding after dinner.”