HIS: Luca: The Sabatini Family

by Fiona Murphy

“Shh, sweetheart. Slow, remember. It will make things that much better,” he promises.

  His phone goes off with an alert and he moves to check it. Whatever it is causes him to smile.

  “Who is it?” I ask, curious.

  He pulls me close, maneuvering me onto my back, his arm under me so I can see the screen. A little girl is in a pink castle tent. Her smile is wide as she clutches a cat to her chest. I go cold, wondering if it’s his daughter, until I read the text below it. Someone named Chloe is mad the little girl won’t leave her castle.

  “Chloe is married to my cousin, Enzo, and the little girl is theirs. She’s pissed because she told me not to get Allegra a present and I did anyway. How the hell am I supposed to tell a face that cute I didn’t get her a present?”

  Oh my god, my ovaries are exploding. Big, bad, scary Luca Sabatini was soft as a marshmallow against a little girl. He surprises me when he brings up his pictures and starts to show them to me.

  “You have a twin?” I blurt only to realize the man in the picture has blue eyes.

  “No, Dominic is five years older than me.” Another picture, and there are so many of them. “These are our cousins. This is Cesare.” Huh, he pronounces it Chezeray. “He’s the oldest, that one is Enzo, then the youngest is Dante. They are civilians. Dominic is underboss of The Outfit. And this is my father, he’s a capo with territory in Chicago.”

  No way is he old enough to be Luca’s father. “Holy crap, how old is he? Did he have you when he was twelve?”

  He shakes his head. “He’s old enough, trust me.” He swipes again and his father has a beautiful woman on his lap. She’s holding a baby boy who looks just like his father.

  “Is that his wife and wow, that would be your baby brother?” I’m stunned, emphasis on baby. He couldn’t be more than a year old.

  “Yes, that is my baby brother. This is my little sister. And can you tell she’s pregnant? It will be twins.”

  Chuckling, he slides to a picture of his brother with a pretty woman who looks like she is my age. They are each holding a baby girl. “Pop came by his twins naturally, and Christy is still freaked out. Dominic and his wife needed help with theirs.”

  As he speaks, there is a hesitation to him that I don’t understand. “I think it’s awesome you’re so close with your family. I’m jealous.”

  “You aren’t close with any of yours?” He frowns.

  “No, Augusto was very careful to keep us all away from each other—even the ones he had with the same women. The kids he had with the same women were sent to boarding schools across America and even a few in Europe. I did manage to get close to one of my brothers, but Augusto overheard him offering to help me the day before the wedding, and he killed him. In front of everyone, just strangled him to death.” I shudder as I remember it. “All we could do was watch. Which is why I’m so grateful to Mundo for helping me. He’s the one who called you to tell you about the women in the back of the truck.”

  “Mundo? He’s the one who has been calling me all these years?” Luca is as stunned as I am.

  “Years?”

  “Since the first year I took over. I would never have guessed it was Mundo. Al never got a call.”

  “Mundo hates the trafficking. All of our mothers were trafficked by Augusto, who decided to keep whatever woman appealed to him. I guess I’m just surprised Mundo would take the chance of calling you for so many years.” Crap, only now am I wondering if I shouldn’t have told Luca.

  “Me too. He was smart though. He called in on not just Augusto, but other shipments of women. I thought it might be someone in the Mexican army or police who was trying to do the right thing. So all the women he had kids with were trafficked, not just your mother?”

  “All of them. And like a sick fuck, he’s proud of it. He thinks the women grew to love him, but they are just afraid of him. Three women over the years have committed suicide, two of them were pregnant at the time. I’m so grateful for my mom. She was so much stronger than I ever could have been. She was an amazing mom. I still miss her sometimes.”

  “So she was living in America when she died?” he asks.

  I nod. “In Dallas, where she was originally from and where she raised me. It was weeks before Mundo called me and told me she died. He said it was a car accident. Since she didn’t have any family, she was buried in a pauper’s grave. He didn’t have any other information. When I left Mexico, I went straight to Dallas to try and find out more, but I never could.”

  His cell phone goes off with a text. “It’s time to get up, we have things to do today.”

  He moves fast, rolling off the bed and goes into the bathroom. With a sigh I get out of bed and go into the walk-in closet. I take out the pink sundress he pointed at before. Wow. I hadn’t really looked at it the day he picked it. The fine silk is heaven against my skin. Thankfully it has built in support so I don’t have to wear my lone sports bra I have been since I got here. I didn’t dare complain that of all the beautiful clothes and pretty panties there was not a single bra. Especially when it was clear Luca’s eyes were often drawn to my breasts.

  Today, I go with white leather sandals. There were four pairs of shoes I could wear. The others were high heels that I have no idea how to walk in and am not willing to try.

  “You naughty little liar. The dress fits you perfectly.” Luca has a towel around his waist and another in his hand that he was obviously using to dry his hair. “Thank you for wearing it today. We’ll be spending time with a personal shopper to fill the rest of the closet for you. I meant to do it the day after you got here, but between my schedule and the shopper’s I couldn’t make it work until today.”

  I want to tell him, ask him, only I don’t know how. Luca frowns and catches my hands into his. “What’s the matter?”

  “He used to dress me to make him happy. Super short skirts that were a size too small. Even tighter tops that showed my stomach. He—”

  Luca catches me close as his hands go down to my hips. “You are a gorgeous woman with a sexy body that makes my cock ache. I would never allow you to show your body off to other men. It won’t happen. I don’t want to worry about killing a man who likes what he sees when I understand completely their reaction.”

  I’m so annoyed he has me smiling at the idea of him getting jealous. Until his hands move up to cup my face, his touch firm. Holy crap, he’s serious about killing someone over me. All the air leaves my lungs at the violence simmering in him.

  Then he blinks and it’s gone. “I don’t want you hiding in oversized shirts and leggings either—that isn’t going to be an option. In time there will be events I’ll need to attend, and I want you at my side. Just like with you becoming comfortable with me, this is a way of becoming comfortable with your body. At the same time, if you’re uncomfortable then tell me, talk to me. Anything you want or need, I’ll give it to you. I told you, you belong to me. I take care of you—always.”

  I nod, accepting him at his word. I’m trying not to focus on the whole me-going-to-events-with-him thing just yet. Considering I hadn’t left my apartment to even go grocery shopping, I’m not looking forward to getting dressed up to attend a party.

  Then soft lips come down on mine and all thought disappears. His kiss isn’t nearly long enough. “Now get out of here and let me get dressed.”

  I flee without arguing.

  ***

  Luca

  Christ, she is killing me today. Bella is so freaking happy she’s glowing like someone turned on a thousand-watt lightbulb inside her. The last week has been a special kind of agony and ecstasy. Every night falling asleep holding her hand, Bella sharing her past freely, then waking up every morning to find her in my arms. I didn’t always come awake when she moved to me, but I always woke up when she touched me with her curious fingers and hands in the morning.

  It wasn’t easy letting her touch me. I don’t know how she didn’t I was awake when my cock was so hard a few times I wasn’t sure how I didn’t come from he
r touch. Yet I didn’t dare let her know I was awake, wanting to give her the freedom to become comfortable with me.

  Normally, shopping is something I would have only done with a gun to my head. I’d almost gone with another shopper who was better able to accommodate my schedule, but Natasha swore this woman was worth it. Seeing the woman understand Bella’s concerns of her weight and what clothes worked for her, I’m glad I waited until she was available.

  What I thought was something I would have to endure became two hours I wouldn’t have traded for the world. Teasing Bella, making her laugh and seeing her smile as she grew more confident in the clothes was addictive.

  We stop for lunch and I’m grateful our conversation naturally moves into the subject of her past therapy. “I know I offered you the option of continuing to meet with your therapist in Dallas over the phone. However, I looked into it and I think it’s best you see someone in person. Especially if there are further EMDR sessions needed. I got the number for the best therapists in the city. Two of them are in the same practice, which will make it easier if the first one isn’t the right one for you. Both of them are women.”

  Her smile dims. She opens her mouth then seems to think better of it and simply nods. “Okay.”

  Reaching for her hand, I squeeze gently. “Talk to me.”

  She closes her hand as she returns my squeeze. “I’m tired of feeling broken. Thank you for being patient with me.”

  I really wish we were alone so I could hold her the way I want to. Then again as her eyes go gold, maybe it’s better that I can’t touch her.

  ***

  Isa

  At the therapist’s office I’m clinging to Luca’s hand. My heart is pounding, and my stomach churns at the prospect of discussing my past. I hate this part so much.

  The therapist is an older woman, maybe mid-fifties with blonde hair threaded with gray. Her name is Ruth, and I’m almost immediately comfortable with her. Something about her reminds me of my mom.

  “Mrs. Sabatini,” her words startle me. I look to Luca, who smiles devilishly as he winks at me. “I spoke with your husband at length. I have made it clear to him that I will only be able to speak to him in general instances unless you requested otherwise. While his concern for you is something I admire, I will not allow him to override our confidentiality. I want you to know that up front. What happens in our sessions will not be repeated to your husband.”

  I find myself smiling. The woman has already come up against Luca’s strong will. It’s sweet the way she is reassuring me she will not buckle under his demands. “Thank you. He means well.”

  Luca chuckles. He presses a kiss to my temple, then begins to get off the couch. “I’ll leave you two alone so you can begin.”

  It’s without thought that I cling to Luca’s hand. Standing, at first he smiles. Then he sees the fear that is threatening to overcome me. “It’s okay, mi amore. I’ll be right outside.”

  I nod, but I only tighten my grip on his hand. Sitting back down, Luca lifts me into his lap. “Do you not want to do this today? You don’t have to.”

  “I want to do this.” I whisper into his neck. “I just don’t want to remember all of it without you here with me.”

  He’s quiet for so long, I wonder if I’m disappointing him by being such a wimp. “Thank you for being brave. I’ll be right here with you. Anything you want. I promised. I keep my promises.”

  ***

  Luca

  When I made the appointment, I was told it would be fifty minutes long. The appointment runs over by almost a half hour. It is the longest hour and a half of my life as I sit holding Bella while she recounts more than four years of mental, physical, and emotional torture. I’ve been shot, knifed, and dragged at almost sixty miles an hour for more than ten minutes over the hot Nevada desert. Nothing in my life has prepared me for the agony of knowing there isn’t a single thing I can do to make someone pay for what she endured.

  I want to break something, destroy something with my bare hands. For the first time in my life I want to kill someone just to kill someone.

  The plan for after the therapy session was to take Bella to visit the art museum as a surprise. However, she begs to go home instead. I love how she calls it home, so I don’t even think of denying her request. Carrying her out to the SUV, I hate that I have to let her go to get her into her seat belt.

  I tell Joey, my usual driver, of the change in plans.

  Carrying her upstairs, I go into our bedroom. I set her down on our bed then take her shoes off. Rounding the bed, I take off my jacket, tie, kick off my shoes then get into bed as close as I dare. She moves into my arms without any prompting.

  “Are you sure?” she whispers into the skin of my neck.

  “Even more so than ever,” I assure her as I hold her tight. “You are a brave, beautiful woman. After everything you have endured I’m a little pissed at the way you put yourself down, because you are so much stronger than you realize. We’ll get there. Slow and steady.”

  I’m not surprised when she falls asleep. I simply enjoy holding her soft, curvy body against mine until it’s long past time for me to go to work.

  Going downstairs to my office in the casino, I find Sandro waiting for me.

  “I wanted to apologize about even voicing the suggestion of giving Bella back. I shouldn’t have done it. She’s your woman, I’ll protect her the same I would you. Truth: I got scared. For me, you are always the one I need to protect and watch out for. The idea of removing the threat to you is all I could think of. I get for you it’s her you want to protect. And going forward she will be my primary too.”

  Studying him, I nod. I believe him. And I’m relieved I don’t have to kill him. The report had come back from Valdez that Sandro was a hundred percent loyal to me. I can recognize now his suggestion was all that was—her here was a threat to me. At his most basic, as he admits now it was only ever about protecting me.

  “I’ve been thinking about a way out of this where we don’t all end up dead. Valdez had said Reyes was on the verge of death in the hospital, but they can’t kill him because of the whole staff-family-hostage thing. I looked into the recovery for a quadruple bypass, it’s going to be weeks. Reyes will need a nurse or something once he leaves the hospital. What if we make sure the nurse he hires is able to kill him? Someone he won’t suspect. Someone he will be able to trust?”

  I consider it. It isn’t a bad plan. “I’ll talk to Valdez about it.”

  8

  Isa

  When I wake up I’m alone. I snatch Luca’s pillow close and breathe in his scent. For a long time I battle the questions in my mind. There’s no way around it. Luca isn’t going to let me go. On one hand, it makes me so happy I want to cry for getting something I never thought I could. On the other hand, I can’t shake the foreboding feeling that I’m going to get him killed.

  I do it without thinking because every time I think about it I start to cry. Packing only takes ten minutes, as I only take the most basic of what he’s bought me. Until I go to retrieve my driver’s license, social security card, and birth registration card. I’d taped the items as well as the money Mundo gave me under a drawer. They’re gone, in their place is a note from Luca.

  Now that I’ve finally found you

  I’m not letting you go

  Why does he have to make this so hard on me? I don’t want to leave him. I have to leave him. This is for his safety.

  Going out to the elevator, I try once again to get it to turn on. While I’m doing that I see the wall move. Holy shit. It’s the guy from the first time I tried to leave.

  An eyebrow goes up. “Can I help you with something?”

  “I, um, wanted to see Luca. He promised he would show me the casino again. That you would take me downstairs for him,” I bluff.

  He shakes his head. “Luca would have told me. There are over thirty men in and around the casino who would make sure you didn’t get far. Shall I call him?”

  Fucker. Pout
ing, I shake my head.

  “Why don’t you go check out the guest bedroom. There’s a surprise waiting for you there.” He waits until I go back into the penthouse.

  Opening the door, I’m stunned at what I find. He’s turned it into an artist’s studio to die for. I cannot believe it has changed so completely. The lush carpet is gone, replaced by light bamboo wood. The bed and vanity have disappeared, and the only furniture is a chaise lounge in pink silk and leather stool. There are two large wooden workstations, one filled with oil paints and brushes of the best money can buy. The other workstation has acrylic paints, two different large sketch pads, one smaller sketch pad, and three different kinds of charcoal pencils.

  There are two different easels set up in the corner where the glass walls meet, with blank canvas on each one, then there are so many I lose count at twenty in varying sizes along one wall.

  This is the dream studio I never thought I would have the money for. I’ve done okay for myself over the last almost three years. I set up an account on a work-for-hire website where I drew whatever the client wanted, everything from logos to art for children’s books. The bank account the money went into was one my mom set up with our names on it, with her as the primary.

  By the time Ignacio died I had almost thirty thousand dollars, enough to settle into the life I wanted to build in Dallas. I was surprised by how quickly the money went, even though I thought I was careful in the purchases I made. With each job I would put money away toward my dream studio. It would have taken at least another five or six years to be able to afford all of this.

  Luca warned me the first night; I should have listened. He wanted me and he was going to keep me. Nothing happened in Vegas without him knowing it.

  So he doesn’t need me to tell him I’ve fallen in love with him.

  ***

  Luca

  I’m not surprised when Phillip tells me Bella tried to leave. Disappointed, not surprised. I am surprised when I don’t find her in our room. Phillip hadn’t mentioned she wasn’t there.

  Going into the room I had turned into her studio, I find the lights on and Bella asleep on the chaise lounge. She’s in another one of my shirts, again. They are not only what she wears to lounge around the penthouse in but to sleep in as well. Every time I see her in them it makes my cock ache and fills me with satisfaction.