HIS: Luca: The Sabatini Family

by Fiona Murphy

  She shakes her head. “Twins.” Even as she says it she’s caressing her stomach lovingly. “I do not look forward to the conversation I know we need to have about having my tubes tied.”

  Regina nods. “He’s not going to want to say yes. At the same time it’s out of the question for him to have a vasectomy.”

  Christy nods. “Why does it have to be so different with mafia men? Cesare was willing to have a vasectomy. Dante’s already talking about one since he and Bethany aren’t sure if they are done at three and it’s reversable. Bethany is the one who would rather go with the implant in her arm over a vasectomy.”

  “So all men in the underworld are the same?” I ask even as I know the answer. Any threat to a man in the Mexican mafia’s perceived masculinity was a threat of death.

  Both women nod.

  “One thing though, if you have questions, ask us. If I have the answer I’ll tell you. The world is a little different and not always easy to navigate. If I can help you, I will. I’m so grateful you came into Luca’s life. He liked to pretend he was happy, but he was miserable. I’ve never seen him so happy as he is with you. It’s clear he loves you.” Christy pats my hand.

  “Tony couldn’t wait to meet you. Luca’s happiness is important to Tony. He hates Luca is in Vegas as it is. Our home is loud and full, but we will always have room for you two to stay with us. We kept tonight just us, but tomorrow you meet the other Sabatinis and things will get even louder. We’re all pretty close and always into each other’s business and lives. So fair warning. But it’s only done in love.”

  “It’s true. I’m lucky. I have Bethany and Chloe just down the street. They are always ready to drop whatever they are doing and help. Even the men. Enzo is freaking Mr. Mom, the tricks he uses are phenomenal—I swear he could write a book. The only thing is,” she rolls her eyes, “all the guys are ridiculously territorial. Cesare, Enzo, and Dante too, and even with each other which makes no freaking sense. So start with one of the women first. Or else you’ll have Luca cranky.”

  Regina laughs. “At first I thought the jealousy thing was stupid, but even after two years and Dominic telling me as well as showing me on a daily basis how much he loves me, when I see him even smile at another women I find it hard not to get cranky. But never with the other women in the family, because I see them staring at their husbands the way I look at him.”

  “Oh god, me too. I’ve always hated watching Tony with other women though. His charm and the way he appreciates all women is something he simply cannot turn off. Women flirt with him while I’m right fucking there. I really thought after a few years I wouldn’t be jealous, but nope. It’s embarrassing because I know Tony would never do anything, it doesn’t matter. So I don’t bother getting annoyed with him when he gets jealous.”

  Cora comes back from putting Santino and Rosie to bed. She tells Christy she’s going to bed and asks if Christy would like her to take the baby monitor with her.

  “No thanks, we’ll take tonight if he does wake up. Have a good night.” Christy takes the monitor and sets it on the large marble-topped island, then begins cleaning up.

  I immediately get up and begin helping her. “I’m so jealous you all live close by and are like a real family. My father had more than a dozen children, but it was always just me and my mom.”

  “I grew up an only child and was sent to a boarding school when I was seven. So I totally feel you. Everyone has been so accepting. I love Dominic and am so happy he changed his mind and let me have kids, but I also feel like in marrying him I got this bonus of having a family with a father who treats me like everything I do is amazing and is so supportive. And then there are these women, who are my sisters now.”

  Christy gives Regina a hug then turns to me. “Even I was able to get out of purgatory for leaving Tony far sooner than I expected. The men were a little quicker to forgive, but eventually all of it got buried. Now you would never guess Alicia hated my guts. It’s over and done. And Tony would be ecstatic if you managed to get Luca here.”

  “Luca said I could pick out a house I wanted.” I wonder what he would say. “While I appreciate the thought that we’re always welcome here, I think it would make more sense if we bought a house nearby. Especially with Luca wanting four kids—three of them are to be girls, by the way.” I roll my eyes. Seeing Santino, I want more than one baby boy.

  Laughing, Christy nods. “These men and their orders for girls. A house close by would be almost as good.”

  “Dominic said the other day he’s now officially over feeling guilty we aren’t having boys. With Santino and you pregnant with another boy, the Sabatini line is secure in the Outfit. Are you okay with your sons following Luca? It’s kind of important,” Regina asks as she wipes the table down.

  I hesitate, unable to admit growing up in the Mexican mafia, I wasn’t happy but I also understood. Also it seemed as though Luca and the Outfit were much less bloody than the Mexican mafia, so I was relieved for that. “It wouldn’t be my first choice for my child. At the same time, the things Luca has done, not allowing trafficking, setting up a charity for women who have been—there’s good and bad in everything. I wouldn’t want the good to stop because the bad could be so much worse.”

  “I’m so relieved you said that. It’s exactly how I feel about the sons Tony and I have.”

  I catch sight of a clock; the men have been gone for a while. “I wonder what they’re talking about for so long,” I murmur.

  “You, of course. The whole question of who you really are and why you’re dangerous to Luca,” Christy answers as lines appear on her forehead.

  Fumbling, I drop the pan I’m wiping dry. “What?”

  Christy reaches down for the pan but Regina gets to it first.

  “Don’t worry. Tony will protect you, with his own life if need be. It would just make everything easier if he knew what he was going up against.” There is fear in Christy’s eyes.

  “I’m sorry.” I don’t know what else to say. “I’ll leave. I’ve tried but Luca won’t let me go. If you’ll help me get away, I’ll go.”

  Sighing, she shakes her head. “It’s too late. Tony knows that. Now the only thing is to prepare for what’s coming.”

  I shouldn’t be here. I look around the room and wonder if I dared to try one more time, walking away and getting as far from Luca as possible. As if he heard me, Luca appears in front of me. He looks tired. My chest twists at the idea of walking away from him. I’m not sure if he came to me or I went to him; all I know is he’s hugging me tight.

  “Come on, Bella. Time for bed.”

  13

  Luca

  Watching Bella and the way she’s handling Elisabetta with ease has my cock hard and aching for her all over again. She fits here. Christy and Regina clearly like her. Rosie adores her. Even though Pop and Dominic are studying her as if the puzzle that is Bella will magically unlock if they don’t take their eyes off her, they are also taken with her.

  When Dominic’s phone rings, I know it’s time to have the discussion I would rather not have. Following Pop and Dominic into Pop’s office, I make my way to the whiskey in the corner and pour more than a few fingers.

  Carlo wants more concessions from Milos. Dominic argues Milos has done more than enough. If Carlo isn’t happy, then maybe this shouldn’t move forward at all. It snaps Carlo out of his rant. Within minutes Carlo is hanging up with his mind changed.

  Dominic sits down and studies me. Pop sips on his glass of whiskey in the corner. Dominic and I haven’t had any issues. I’ve been running Vegas on my own terms without input from Chicago for years. He was content for me to continue on. I hadn’t wanted to tell Pop because I knew Pop’s concern was me. Dominic, as underboss, his concern was for the Outfit first, then me. It was Dominic I was worried would take the cold-blooded approach of removing all threat to the Outfit.

  “The sooner we know, the more prepared we can be. It’s frustrating you are holding back and not trusting Pop and I would
be there for you.” He sighs.

  “I told Pop. I’m dealing with it the way I see fit. I’m frustrated you both think it’s about you two when it’s about doing what I think is best to protect my woman. She is the most important thing to me. Everything else comes second.” I shrug as I look to Pop.

  “Sorry. I know you both want to help. I’m aware I’m lucky you’re at my side. I do not take it for granted. When I believe there is something you can do, I’ll tell you. For now, there isn’t anything, and I’m going to enjoy the time I have with her before shit hits the fan.”

  “So there’s shit out there we could be cleaning up that doesn’t have to hit the fan or get stepped on?” Dominic frowns as he looks to Pop.

  “My hope is she’s already pregnant. Whether she is or not, I want you both to promise me whatever happens, you’ll take care of her.” I meet Pop’s eyes.

  “Of course.” It’s said in unison and I chuckle. I hadn’t thought they would say anything else. I’m still grateful for their answer.

  Sighing, Pop sits down across from me. “I didn’t find you after all these years only to lose you again.”

  “You won’t,” I assure him. “I’m not going anywhere. Finding Bella, all the shit you talked about that I never understood finally makes sense. I am not about to miss out on all the rest.”

  Dominic gives in and the discussion moves on to Emilio’s daughter, who might be exactly what Sandro needs and who hates Chicago.

  Talk moves on to the wedding. “Since it’s going to be big and Bella doesn’t have anyone to stand up with her, would Regina be open to being a bridesmaid or whatever?”

  “I’m not sure. We just found out she’s pregnant again; you know women and the whole worried about fitting into dresses thing. I thought I had broken her of all that shit, but every once in a while it pops ups. Bethany and Alicia are definitely good for a yes.”

  “How the hell do you break that shit? It’s like she’s trying to make me crazy not believing I think she’s the sexiest damn woman I’ve ever seen.” I swallow the last of my whisky.

  Both Pop and Dominic groan. “You just have to keep saying it and showing her. I was happy about the twins but Christy, fuck, she is all freaked out about the weight she’s gained and how her body is changing.”

  “Regina in the last few months had me ready to say we were never having kids again if she kept on about her body. This last time she wanted to do two embryos again. I straight told her no and why. She conveniently forgets all the shit she said last time. I’m an asshole for saying no, it’s one and that’s it. I’m worried she’ll listen to Alicia for too long.”

  “What about Alicia?” I eye the whisky in the corner but set my glass down instead.

  “She’s on Che to let her have her breasts done. Che has held out on no, but he’s admitting he’s on the verge of breaking down she’s so miserable. She has twice brought up he promised her that he would do whatever it took to make her happy.” Dominic sighs.

  “What’s so bad about letting her have her breasts done?” I wonder. “Why does she want her breasts done?” I’ve tried not to notice the bodies of my cousins’ wives, yet I’d have to be dead not to. The women are all beautiful, curvy, and they don’t seem to have gained much weight from the pictures I’ve seen of their wedding days.

  Both Pop and Dominic shake their heads. “Because you let her get that done and it opens the door for other shit like liposuction and tummy tucks. That shit is dangerous. There is too much room for something to go wrong. Che isn’t about to lose his woman because she doesn’t like the way her tits look. As for why, I’m reminded of you going on about how different the women are from Vegas to Chicago. When a woman is breastfeeding she can go up as much as three cup sizes—”

  “Four for Regina with the twins.” Dominic shakes his head.

  “When they go back down, things look very different.” Pop sighs as he sees my confusion. “Think of it like a balloon. Once the balloon loses almost all of its air, what does it look like?”

  “Ah. Damn, that’s too bad. Bella’s breasts are perfect the way they are now.” I reconsider the whisky on the other side of the room.

  Pop laughs. “I thought the same thing about Christy. Except her current body has given me two kids and is giving me two more. I’d rather have those kids and Christy than her previous body. Over the years with each change of her body, it becomes my new idea of perfection. I didn’t fall in love with her tits or her ass, they were the icing on the cake.”

  “Shit was hard. I loved Regina’s body when she was pregnant, everything got bigger and rounder but fuck me, I made the mistake of saying it.”

  “Oh fuck, you didn’t really do that.” Pop shakes his head.

  “I know. I know. Do not make the mistake I did. It was fucking weeks of her bringing it up almost every damn day.”

  Remembering how Bella stopped eating, I shudder at the idea of stressing her out while she’s pregnant. “How the hell did you come back from that?”

  Dominic chuckles. “I tied her to the bed for the day and made it very clear I loved her body. Then every time after that if she said anything about weight or her body, I spanked her ass raw. It only took a few times before she stopped.”

  I consider asking, then give in. “With the shit her ex did to her, I’ve been careful with her. She freaked out on me twice and I never want to experience that again. At the same time... she seemed to like it when I got a little rough with her, had my hand around her throat. I want to give her what she wants but I don’t want to freak her out either. Especially when she seemed surprised herself by how much she liked it.”

  Pop finishes his whisky. “I had the same concern with Christy. Her mom was an abusive bitch. We’re talking broken bones and black eyes as well as all the verbal and mental shit that went with it. Christy was also surprised by how much she likes getting spanked. It’s a biology thing, up to a point pain is the same to your brain as pleasure. As far as the hand around the throat, it’s about control. Bella trusts you to be in control in bed and out of it. Poor thing, it’s even more meaningful she’s giving up to you. After all those years when she wasn’t in control of her life, for her to give up control—her love for you is unquestionable.”

  “I’d felt it, but there was a part of me that wondered if it was just because I didn’t give her a choice,” I admit.

  “You always gave her a choice. And she chose you.” Pop smiles.

  ***

  Bella

  When we go upstairs Luca points me to a door, telling me to go inside, then says he’ll be right back. Confused, I watch as he goes into a room that has “Rosie” emblazoned on a bright pink poster on the door. He’s in her room for less than a minute before he goes into the room on the other side of the bathroom.

  Seeing my confusion, he shrugs. “Rosie is constantly kicking off her blankets but she wakes up cranky if she’s cold. And it just doesn’t seem right to not check on Santino after checking on Rosie.”

  Oh my god, could he be any sweeter? His arm goes around my waist as he guides me into the room then closes the door. “What’s that look?”

  “You’re not nearly as big, mean, and scary as you proclaim to be,” I whisper as I run my hand over his chest.

  His chuckle is dark as rough hands grab my ass and squeeze. “My secret is out. You can’t tell anyone.”

  “My lips are sealed,” I mouth against his lips. “As long as you give me a baby boy with black eyes and your dimples.”

  He lifts me up and I wrap my legs around his waist. Grinding his hard cock against the weeping heart of me, his teeth tease my neck. “After I get my three girls, I’ll give you as many boys as you want.”

  “Hmm...” Oh god, his mouth is driving me crazy as he sucks on my breast through my dress and bra. “What if I said I want three boys to match my three girls?”

  With a flick of his wrist he has the dress off and his mouth is back on my breast through the bra, driving me out of my mind. My back is agains
t the wall as he grinds his cock into me. “I told you, mi amore, anything you want is yours. I’ll give you as many babies as you want, especially when it means my cock is inside your sweet pussy where it belongs. It’s been four hours since I heard it. I’m going to need to hear it again.”

  Closing my eyes against the pain that flashes bright on his words, I force a smile. “Hear what again?” I whisper even though I know exactly what he wants.

  His bite of my nipple has me yelping even as I grind against him. He sucks deep to soothe the pain. “Say it, Bella. Tell me what I see in your eyes and feel in your touch.” The words are against my breast, said before his teeth tease my aching nipple.

  “I love you, Luca,” I whisper so low the sound of his zipper masks it.

  “Again, mi amore, louder,” Luca orders as his cock plunges into me.

  “I love you, Luca.” I groan against his mouth.

  “I love you, Bella. I love you so fucking much.” He moans as his hands go down to my ass and hold me in place as he fucks me hard and fast.

  In minutes I’m coming with a scream that he covers with his mouth, in a kiss that has my head spinning. When he comes, filling me with the hot, thick essence of him, I pray if I wasn’t pregnant already, I am now. His baby will be the only thing I’ll have of him after tomorrow. It will have to be enough.

  14

  Bella

  I come awake suddenly, my heart pounding, gasping for air. It’s how I’ve woken up for years, only I haven’t since I started waking up in Luca’s arms. The sun is just coming up outside the window. Luca is on his side, facing me, but for the first time since I woke up with him, I’m not in his arms. He fell asleep with his phone in his hand. I’m sure he was reading to fall asleep, the way he does sometimes when his schedule is off the way it is when he comes to Chicago.