by Cora Reilly
“Yes. And I promised your father to protect her. It’s easier when she’s living in our apartment.”
“She will provoke you,” I said.
“I can handle a little girl.”
“She’s not that little. She’s barely younger than me.”
“I can handle her.”
“Luca,” I said firmly. “Gianna knows how to push people’s buttons. If you aren’t absolutely sure that you can control yourself, I won’t let her near you.”
Luca’s eyes blazed. He’d been on edge all day. “Don’t worry. I won’t kill her or you in the next few days.”
I took a step back. Where did that come from? Was he angry because of what I’d said? It was the truth; we both knew it.
“Aria!”
I whirled around. Gianna rushed toward me, dropping her trolley on the way. We collided almost painfully, but I clutched her to my chest tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered.
She nodded, then pulled back, searching my face. “No visible bruises,” she said loudly, her gaze darting behind me toward Luca. “You only hit places that are covered by clothes?”
I gripped her hand and gave her a warning look.
“Get your luggage,” Luca ordered. “I don’t want to stand here all night.”
Gianna glared at him but retrieved her trolley and returned to us. “A gentleman would have got it for me.”
“A gentleman, yes,” Luca said with a tight smile.
We walked back to our car, my arm linked with Gianna’s. Luca walked a few steps ahead and got behind the steering wheel without a word.
“What’s the matter with him? He’s even more of an asshole than I remember.”
“I think the Russians are giving him trouble.”
“Aren’t they always?” Gianna put her trolley into the trunk of the car before we both sat in the backseat.
Luca raised his eyebrows at me. “I’m not your driver. Get in the front with me.”
I was taken aback by his harshness, but I did as he said and sat shotgun. Gianna’s face was scrunched up with anger. “You shouldn’t talk to her like that.”
“She’s my wife. I can do and say to her what I want.”
I frowned. Luca turned to me, meeting my gaze. I couldn’t place the look in his eyes. He turned back to the street.
“How are Lily and Fabi?”
“Annoying as hell. Especially Lily. She doesn’t stop talking about Romero. She’s in love with him.”
I laughed, and even Luca’s lips twitched. I wasn’t sure why but I reached out and put my hand on his leg. His eyes snapped toward me briefly, then he covered my hand with his until he needed it to shift gears again. Gianna’s eyes were attentive as they watched. She’d bombard me with questions the moment we were alone, no doubt.
* * *
When we stepped into the apartment, the smell of roasted lamb and rosemary wafted over to us.
“I told Marianna to prepare a nice dinner,” Luca said. Gianna’s red eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Thank you,” I said.
Luca nodded. “Show your sister to her room and then we can eat.” He was still withdrawn and stiff. I watched him head around the corner toward the kitchen area.
I showed Gianna her guest room, but she quickly pulled me inside and closed the door. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I told you on the phone. I’m fine.”
“I prefer to hear you say it when I can see your face.”
“I’m not lying to you, Gianna.”
She gripped my hand. “Did he force you to sleep with him?”
“No, he didn’t. And I haven’t.”
Her eyes widened. “But something happened between the two of you. I want details.”
I pulled away. “We need to have dinner now. Marianna will be mad if the food gets cold. We can talk tomorrow when Luca’s busy with business.”
“Tomorrow,” Gianna said firmly.
I opened the door and led her toward the dining area. Her eyes took everything in, then became slits when she saw who else would be having dinner with us: Matteo. He and Luca stood beside the table, discussing something, but stepped apart when they noticed us.
“What’s he doing here?” Gianna said, her nose wrinkled.
Flashing his shark grin, Matteo walked toward her and gripped her hand to kiss it. “Nice to see you again, Gianna.”
Gianna snatched her hand away. “Don’t touch me.”
She needed to stop provoking him; he liked it way too much. Luca and I sat beside each other and Matteo beside Gianna. I wasn’t sure that was the best decision. I glanced at Luca, but his cautious gaze rested on his brother and my sister.
Marianna bustled in, serving roast lamb, rosemary potatoes and green beans. We ate in silence for a while until Gianna couldn’t hold her tongue anymore. “Why did you crush that guy’s throat?”
I put my fork down, expecting Luca to explode, but he only leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
Gianna huffed. “Come on. It can’t be that big of a secret. You got your nickname for it.”
Matteo grinned. “The Vice is a nice name.”
Luca shook his head. “I hate it.”
“You earned it,” Matteo said. “Now tell them the story or I will.”
I’d been curious about it for a while. Nobody from the Chicago mob wanted to give me details, and I hadn’t dared to ask Romero yet.
“I was seventeen,” Luca began. “Our father has many brothers and sisters, and one of my cousins climbed the ranks in the mafia alongside me. He was several years older and wanted to become Capo. He knew my father would choose me, so he invited me to his house and tried to stab me in the back. The knife only grazed my arm and when I got the chance, I wrapped my hands around his throat and choked him.”
“Why didn’t you shoot him?” Gianna asked.
“He was family, and it used to be tradition that we put down our weapons when we entered the home of a family member,” Luca said coldly. “Not anymore, of course.”
“The betrayal made Luca so angry, he completely crushed our cousin’s throat. He choked on his blood because the bones in his neck cut through his artery. It was a mess. I’d never seen anything like it.” Matteo looked like a kid on Christmas morning. It was more than a little disturbing.
Luca glared down at his plate, hands clutching his thighs. No wonder he was reluctant to trust people. To be betrayed by family must have been horrible.
“That’s why Luca always sleeps with an eye open. He never even spends the night with a woman without a gun under the pillow or somewhere at his body.”
Luca shot his brother a glower.
Matteo raised his hands. “It’s not like Aria doesn’t know you screwed around with other women.”
I didn’t think that was the reason for Luca’s reaction.
“So are you wearing a gun now?” Gianna asked. “We’re all family, after all.”
“Luca always wears a gun.” Matteo leaned toward Gianna. “Don’t take it personally. I don’t think even I have seen him without a gun since that day. It’s Luca’s tic.”
Luca didn’t wear a gun when we were alone. He wore one when Romero or Marianna was there, even when Matteo was there, but when Luca and I shared a bed, there wasn’t a gun under his pillow or anywhere else. That’s probably because he could overpower you with his hands bound behind his back. Still it seemed like an unnecessary risk.
Luca spent the rest of dinner tense and silent, but Gianna’s and Matteo’s arguments filled the silence. I wasn’t sure who got off more on their fights.
When we were done eating, I got up to clean the table. Marianna had already left and I didn’t want to leave the dirty dishes waiting for her when she came back tomorrow. Luca surprised me when he rose as well and carried the serving platters and plates over to the dishwasher. I yawned, exhausted.
“Let’s go to bed,” Luca said quietly.
I glanced at Gianna. There was so much I wanted to talk to
her about, but it was late and tomorrow was another day. “Not before Matteo leaves. I won’t leave him and my sister alone.”
Luca nodded grimly. “You are right. She shouldn’t be alone with him.” He went over to Matteo and put a hand on his shoulder before leaning down and saying something into his ear. Matteo’s face darkened with anger but he rose smoothly, gave Gianna his shark grin and then walked out of the apartment without another word.
Gianna came toward me. “He’s obsessed with me.”
Worry clawed at my insides. “Then stop teasing him. He likes it.”
“I don’t care what he likes.”
Luca leaned beside me against the counter, his arm sneaking around my waist to Gianna’s obvious displeasure. “Matteo is a hunter. He loves the chase. You’d better not make him want to chase you.”
I worried it might already be too late for that warning. Gianna rolled her eyes. “He can hunt me all he wants. He won’t get me.” She looked at me. “You don’t intend to go to bed now, right?”
“I’m really tired,” I said guiltily.
Gianna’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, me too. But tomorrow I want you all to myself.” She gave Luca a pointed look before heading off toward her room. She paused in her doorway. “If I hear screams, no gun under a pillow will save you, Luca.” With that, she closed her door.
Luca brushed my ear with his lips. “Will you scream for me tonight?” He licked my skin and I shivered.
“Not with my sister under the same roof,” I said, even as a tingling between my legs betrayed me.
“We’ll see about that,” Luca growled, then gently bit my throat. I moaned, but quickly bit my lip to stifle the sound. Luca took my hand and pulled me upstairs. With every step that we got closer to the bedroom, the pressure between my legs increased. I couldn’t believe how eager my body was for his touch, for the release he brought me. In just a few days, Luca’s touch had gone from something that terrified me to the only time I forgot everything about my life, the only time I was free of the shackles in our world.
Luca slammed the door shut behind us, and I hoped it wouldn’t draw Gianna’s attention. But I didn’t have much time for worry because Luca pulled my dress off, then he lifted me into his arms, only to lay me down in the middle of the bed. Luca pressed a kiss against my lace panties, inhaling, before he kissed my stomach and my ribs, then my breasts through the lace of my bra.
“Mine,” he growled against my skin, making me tremble with arousal. He slid his hands under my back and unclasped my bra and slowly pulled it off. My nipples were hard. “I fucking love your nipples. They’re pink and small and perfect.”
I pressed my legs together, but Luca gripped my panties and slipped them down. He ran a finger over my folds, smirking. His hungry gaze returned to my breasts, and he bent his head and trailed his tongue from one nipple to the other. I moaned softly. He took his time with my breasts and when he slowly moved lower, I was already panting. His lips found my folds, teasing and gentle, then suddenly his tongue slid out hard and fast, and I covered my mouth with my palm, stifling my gasps and cries.
“No,” Luca snarled. He gripped both of my wrists in his hand and pressed them against my stomach, trapping them there.
My eyes widened. “Gianna will hear.”
He smirked and sucked my clit hard and fast, then gentle and soft. I whimpered and moaned, my body trembling from the effort to keep quiet. “Oh god,” I gasped as Luca slipped his finger achingly slow into me, then eased in and out in rhythm with his sucks on my clit. I buried my face in the pillow. Luca’s grip on my wrists tightened and pleasure ripped through me. I cried out into the pillow, my back arching, legs quavering.
Luca moved up my body until he bent over me, knees between my spread legs. “When will you let me take you?” he whispered harshly against my throat.
I turned to stone. Luca raised his head, eyes meeting mine. “Fuck. Why do you have to look so fucking scared when I ask you that question?”
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I just need more time.”
Luca nodded, but there was a deep need in his eyes that seemed to grow every day.
I ran my hands over his chest, feeling his gun holster beneath the shirt. He sat back and I leaned forward, beginning to unbutton his shirt, revealing his toned torso and the black holster with his gun and knife. Luca took off his shirt and I opened the holster, helping him out of it. He thrust it to the ground. Matteo’s words came back to me and I ran my hands over Luca’s naked chest.
I pressed a kiss against Luca’s tattoo, then against the healing wound over his ribs. I brushed Luca’s nipples with my fingertips and he groaned in response. He quickly slipped out of his pants. I lowered my lips to his erection but paused an inch from his tip. “If you’re not quiet, I’ll stop.”
Luca’s eyes flashed. He put his hand on my head. “Maybe I won’t allow you to stop.”
“Maybe I’ll bite.”
Luca chuckled. “Have your way with me, I won’t make a sound. Don’t want to offend your sister’s virgin ears.”
“What about my virgin ears?” I kissed his tip.
“You shouldn’t still be one,” Luca said in a low voice. I took his erection into my mouth to distract him. He made a sound deep in his throat, then quieted as I took care of him.
I pulled back again before he came.
After he’d cleaned himself, Luca spooned me.
“I’m sorry for what your cousin did,” I said into the darkness.
“I should have known better than to trust anyone. Trust is a luxury people in my position can’t afford.”
You can trust me, I wanted to say, because he could. No matter how much I tried to fight it, I had fallen for him. “Life without trust is lonely.”
“Yes, it is.” He kissed the back of my neck, then we fell silent.
* * *
Luca was asleep when I woke, his body wrapped around mine, his hardness pressing against my lower back. I untangled myself and slipped into the bathroom. It wasn’t late yet, but Gianna was an early riser and I couldn’t wait to spend the day with her. I took a long shower, feeling more awake already. I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around myself, then went back into the bedroom. Luca sat on the edge of the bed but got up when I entered. His erection jutted out. I gave him a teasing smile as he curled his fingers over my hipbones. “Hard again?”
He growled. “I’m always hard for you. One day my balls are going to explode.”
I could hear movement somewhere in the apartment, then a curse. Gianna was awake. “I should go to her.”
“Oh no, you won’t,” Luca rasped. He kissed me possessively and I stood on my tiptoes to make it easier for him. One kiss couldn’t hurt, but the way Luca was grinding himself against me, I knew he wanted more than a kiss. He turned me around and pulled me flush against his chest so his erection pressed into my back.
I gasped. We were facing the floor-length mirror across from the bed. Luca gripped the towel and pulled it down, leaving me naked. He kissed my throat, eyes on me through the mirror. His strong hands traveled up my sides and cupped my breasts. He captured my nipples between his forefinger and thumb, and twirled them. My lips parted and a soft moan escaped.
I could hear Gianna coming up the stairs toward our floor. Oh god.
Luca pinched my nipples, then tugged. I closed my eyes at the delicious sensation that swept through me. He peppered my throat and collarbone with kisses and licks while his hand slid down the valley between my breasts, over my stomach and between my thighs. Gianna stopped outside of our bedroom. Luca flicked his thumb over my clit, and I bit down on my lip to stop myself from moaning.
“Aria? Are you awake?”
“Your sister is a fucking nuisance,” Luca muttered in my ear, then licked the skin below before sucking it. His index finger slid between my folds, then entered me. I exhaled. “But you’re so fucking wet, principessa.” A new wave of wetness pooled between my legs. “Yes,” Luca growled into my ear.
His eyes bored into me in the mirror and I couldn’t look away. His finger slipped in and out of me, spreading my wetness all over my folds.
I couldn’t believe he was making me watch him fingering me. I couldn’t believe how much it turned me on. His fingers pinched my nipple again, harder this time, and I could feel it all the way in my clit. I whimpered.
“Aria?” Gianna hammered against the door. God, she wouldn’t stop. I tried to pull away. This was wrong. I couldn’t do this with my sister outside of the door. Luca smirked, his grip on me tightening. His second hand moved down and rubbed my clit while his other kept slipping in and out of me. I was spiraling out of control. His lips crashed down on mine, swallowing my moans as pleasure washed over me. My legs spasmed and I rocked myself against Luca’s hands as I came hard. Luca didn’t stop moving his hands, even as I tried to step away. Instead he pushed against my shoulders until I leaned forward, my hands coming up to support me against the mirror. My eyes grew wide when he knelt behind me, palming my butt and then spreading me. And then his tongue was there, sliding over my folds. He licked the entire length of me. I tensed when his tip slid along my back entrance and he quickly returned his mouth to my clit. I lost all sense of myself, even as I heard Gianna’s insistent knocking and her occasional calls. All that mattered was Luca’s tongue as it drove me higher and higher. This had to be wrong, but it felt too good. I bit the inside of my cheek and as pain and pleasure mingled, my second orgasm crashed over me. My legs gave way and I fell to my knees beside Luca, panting and gasping, and hoping Gianna couldn’t hear it.
I glared at Luca, but he smirked, hunger on his face. He stood, and his erection twitched. I watched as he began stroking himself in front of my face. I knew what he wanted. I parted my lips and he slid his tip in. The saltiness of his pre-cum spread on my tongue. I couldn’t believe I was blowing Luca with Gianna close by, but the wrongness of it turned me on even more. What was wrong with me? Luca caressed my cheek as his other hand cupped the back of my head. His eyes never left me as he slowly slid in and out of my mouth. I wasn’t sure why I liked it, but I did.
“You’re so beautiful, Aria,” he murmured, pushing a bit deeper into my mouth. I swirled my tongue around his tip and he exhaled sharply, so I did it again.
