by Lux Miller
Since he’s Noemi’s guard, it seems he’s always wherever she is. Although, it appears he’s taken the idea of a shadow-guard to a new level. I don’t know if Mike is just more old-school or if he’s taken a step back since I’m almost always in Luca’s company. Mike may be a beast of a man, but Luca is just as dangerous, especially when someone he loves is threatened.
Right now, though, he’s in a rare mood that I rarely see outside of our bedroom. I’ve seen Luca without the weight of the world on his shoulders, but it’s usually because he’s naked. Right now, he seems to actually be having… fun. If I wasn’t witnessing it for myself, I’d never believe it second-hand. The side of Luca that the vast majority of people meet has no time for anything that isn’t business related.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think that Luca was born without a funny bone. Or that he’s simply incapable of enjoying life for what it has to offer, as opposed to constantly planning his next move to stay afloat. But I’ve seen the pictures of a young Luca with a devil-may-care freedom that only childhood could have afforded him. Or this moment right now. I see hints of it now, too, as we act like giddy teenagers in the pool, far-removed from the crowded expectations of perfection earlier.
I’m swimming backwards to avoid Luca splashing me again when my back collides with the side of the pool. I grunt in surprise, but before I can make my escape, Luca slams a hand down on the stone surface behind me, caging me between his body and the side of the pool.
“Stop playing hard to get, Emily…”
I shudder as his muscles shift against me. My hair is plastered to my forehead, and I’m almost certain I’ve got snot on my face from the pool water, but he’s staring at me so intently that I shiver, despite the amount of heat between us. “It seems as if I either really suck at this game… or you’re cheating…”
He groans softly and nips at my neck. “Crime Lord… I never play by the rules…”
A sly smile creeps across my lips as I thread both hands into his hair and tug. His head tilts back as I jerk him back by his hair. He growls, but doesn’t fight me on it. Instead, he shifts himself against me to let me know exactly how much he’s actually enjoying himself.
I lean forward and rake my teeth down the length of his neck, from just under his chin to his collarbone, then place gentle butterfly kisses back along the path to soothe the angry skin. He clears his throat. “You know where this is going to end up, Emily…”
I shrug. “Maybe that’s the point… maybe I don’t play fair either…”
Luca groans and pulls back away from me, disappearing beneath the glassy surface of the dark water. He pops back up quickly, but he’s shaking his head hard. “I still have guests inside. Important associates… and business partners. The last thing I need is for someone to walk out here and find me in the middle of ravaging my wife, because she’s too damned beautiful for this Earth. Despite my numerous strengths, I’m a weak, weak man when it comes to you. Loving you makes me a stronger man, but you’re my Kryptonite, and I’m powerless against you.”
As if waiting on a cue to interrupt us, the sliding glass door creaks open. Luca audibly groans, and I turn around to see Dante step outside, a concerned look on his face. He looks down at the stone under his feet, then back up at us. “I hate to interrupt whatever it is you have going on out here, but there’s something you need to see, Luca.”
Luca exhales in frustration, but makes no move to climb out of the pool. Dante steps over to the edge and looks down at me, then over at Luca. “I hope you two aren’t naked out here in the middle of a party…” He motions to my clothes folded neatly on the chaise lounge as if to drive home his point.
I laugh and shake my head. “I’m not naked and neither is he. We weren’t doing anything inappropriate out here. Just taking a much needed opportunity to cool a certain someone’s heated anger so he didn’t kill anyone.”
Dante nods and chuckles. “I see. I heard about Noemi’s little impromptu fashion show from some of the guys. Apparently they’re scared to look at her, but said it was like a train wreck, and they couldn’t help but stare.”
I glance back over at Luca with a smirk. “Told you they weren’t all dicks. Any man with a pulse would have been watching any woman with the audacity to pull a stunt like that. Shit, even Royce would have been captivated by that walk of hers. She may have a future in modeling… as long as she can stay upright in the future.”
Luca gives me a look and then glances over my head up at Dante. “What’s so important that it can’t wait?”
Dante’s face darkens, and he shakes his head, narrowing his eyes down at me. “Business matters. Project Hoyle.”
Luca stiffens, and though we aren’t touching, I can sense his entire demeanor change at Dante’s words. “Fuck. Really?”
Dante nods. “I’m afraid so. Information just came in ten minutes ago. We apparently have four of a kind. Nobody is missing any longer.”
I gasp, the hidden meaning behind Dante’s word painfully obvious to me. I push off the side of the pool and turn around so that I’m looking up at Dante’s face. “Wait… the Queen of Hearts has been found? You said they’re after me…”
Dante scowls and looks beyond me to Luca, ignoring my insight into what’s going on. Which either means I’m right on the money and he’s pretending I’m not, or I sound like a fucking idiot. Dante’s voice is tight as he says, “The remaining men have gathered and are awaiting your guidance on how to proceed.”
Luca is already making his way to the side of the pool. He pulls himself up out of the water, and it takes everything in my power to stay where I am. If he’d wanted me to follow, he’d have told me to follow him.
I swim over to the side of the pool and call to Luca, “I’ll just, um, go check on Noemi. At least throw me your t-shirt in case this thing doesn’t actually stick. The last thing I want to do is go traipsing through the house topless in skin-tight, white shorts that are soaking wet.”
Luca glances at me and nods, folding the black t-shirt he’d had on underneath his button down and setting it beside the pool. He sighs and gives me a look that tells me he wants to do anything but take care of business as expected. But I give him a nod and gentle smile, “Go. I knew I married the mob when I married you.”
He nods and turns his back to me then drops his wet underwear. Dante makes a disgruntled sound and promptly turns around. “Shit, warn a dude when you’re gonna drop trou… I just saw your ass, Luca.”
Luca shrugs and kicks the soaking wet fabric aside. “You expect me to address the men in waterlogged clothes?”
Dante grunts without turning back to face Luca, “Just hurry up.”
Luca pulls on his suit trousers and turns back around as he buttons them on. The sight of his damp body glistening in the moonlight makes my insides clench, but I know it isn’t the time or place. He pulls on his button-down, followed by the suit coat and fastens everything into place. He shakes his head wildly in an attempt to somewhat dry his hair. Then he walks across the lanai and follows Dante inside without another word.
Sighing, I pull myself out of the water and sit on the side of the pool for a minute while I gain my bearings. The flurry of activity inside the house has largely abated, and very few people remain. Through the windows, I can see Bianca and Mike talking as they gather up used dishes and deposit them into the sink. They pause momentarily in the kitchen, and a moment later, Mike tilts his head back and guffaws in an enormous chuckle. Bianca pats his arm as she appears to laugh too, then points into the other room.
I watch them like a stalker for several minutes, and it feels strange to be peeping on Mike’s personal moments. It’s usually the other way around with him shadowing me at all hours of the day. It’s refreshing that he isn’t concerned with what I’m doing right now. Granted, that’s because he thinks Luca is out here with me. The moment he realizes I’m out here alone, he’ll drop everything he’s doing, whether he wants to or not, to resume his duty. And for the first time sin
ce I can remember, Mike seems to truly be enjoying himself.
If I can sneak back into the house without him realizing that Luca has been called inside to an emergency meeting, then I will. I can at least grant him this one night. Besides, there’s an abundance of extra guards surrounding the house tonight because of the party. And from the way Dante was talking, it sounds as if I may no longer be a potential target for whoever is knocking off the girls from Piacere.
Also, I don’t want Mike to see me in my current state. He’s seen me in a lot of awkward positions with Luca, including in a bikini, but there’s a line in the sand, even for shadow-guards. I grab Luca’s shirt and hold it up to my face, inhaling his familiar scent deeply. Then I tug it on over my head, relieved that it hits me mid-thigh, covering both the miraculously still-holding-on adhesive bra and the near see-through white shorts.
I tip-toe across the lanai like the slightest sound will alert Mike that I’m alone. He and Bianca thankfully stepped into the other room, but I don’t know if they’re coming right back to the kitchen and how long I have to sneak inside if they are. I’m relieved that Luca didn’t shut the sliding glass door completely and I edge it open, silently praying that it won’t squeak. I manage to get it open just enough for me to slip through without it announcing my arrival. I push it halfway closed, then dash across the kitchen floor, being careful to be as quiet as possible.
I hear their voices getting louder and realize they’re returning to the kitchen. I bound to the staircase and leap over the bottom two steps, making sure to miss the one that squeaks, then bound up the stairs like my life depends on it. Once I hit the upper landing, I exhale the breath I was holding and walk down to Noemi’s room to check on her.
I raise my hand to knock on the door, but stop when I hear voices inside. My mouth falls open when I hear a distinctly male moan come from inside the room, and I instantly feel my pulse quicken. Who the fuck is messing around in Noemi’s room? I put my hand on the door and push it when I realize it isn’t shut all the way. It swings open, and I gasp when I see the sight before me.
There’s a couple splayed across Noemi’s bed, in the middle of fucking. At least, that’s what it appears is happening. There’s definitely a man thrusting between a pair of feminine legs that are wrapped around his waist. The man grunts as he quickens his speed, and I blink dumbly as I watch his asscheeks clench with the effort. I trail my eyes up his chiseled back, tracing over what appears to some kind of military tattoo in the middle of his upper back. It’s intricately detailed, but I can’t tell exactly what’s going in the piece, because my eyes are distracted by the muscles that bunch all along the broad back with each movement.
“Oh, fuck,” I mutter, not realizing how loud my voice is. The man’s motion immediately ceases mid-thrust, and he whips his blond head around to peer at me in surprise. My eyes get as wide as saucers as my gaze meets his. “Kyle?!? What the hell? You’re supposed to be taking care of Noemi and making sure she feels okay. What in God’s name are you doing?!? And in her bed, no less?”
He winces and thrusts again into the woman underneath him, seemingly unable to stop his momentum. He grunts as the woman wraps her arms around his waist and digs her fingernails into his sides, raking them along his skin. He flinches as her nails break open the skin along his sides, but that’s not what catches my attention. What catches my attention is the color of the nails that are assaulting Kyle’s sides. I’ve seen the manicure before, because I helped do it. As soon as Kyle realizes that I’ve put the pieces together, he looks away from my face guiltily and back at the woman underneath him.
I gasp with realization and lower my voice as I step into the room so that nobody else hears me. “Dear God, Noemi… have you lost your fucking mind? Your brothers are going to tear Kyle limb from limb if they catch you screwing him. Oh shit, this isn’t what I meant when I said to explore your feelings. I meant privately, not… by fucking him. If you two don’t stop this madness, Kyle is a dead man walking…”
NINE
The sun is almost blinding as I stand on the concrete steps outside the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. Luca was supposed to be here half an hour ago, but I haven’t seen nor heard from him. His trial is set to start in less than an hour, and I’m nervous. He’s given me no indication that he intends to jump bail. It wouldn’t be wise, anyway, since he’s being monitored twenty-four-seven by the ankle bracelet that was included in the terms of his bonding out of jail. But I can’t help but wonder if his super-secretive talks the last few days had anything to do with him not being here.
I pace back and forth nervously as the light breeze whips around me. It’s a minor relief in the blazing New Orleans summer, but any kind of moving air is a welcome reprieve in July. Looking down, I shudder when I see the flash of metal reflecting off my left hand. This is the first time since Luca and I said our vows that I’ve worn my ring in public. It’s definitely different, though it seems right. I know he still isn’t keen on shouting it from the rooftops, but I’ll finally be able to act like we’re more than just casual. Honestly, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, since the longer I’m married, the more real it’s beginning to feel.
A familiar voice stops me in my tracks, my carefully selected dress whipping around my legs with the sudden halt of movement. I look up and see Dante coming up the steps toward me and give him a genuine smile. I haven’t seen much of him lately, and he’s been sneaking in late at night on several occasions. Seeing him here is a welcome reprieve. He makes a beeline for me and leans over me to wrap me in a tight hug without prompting.
I laugh in his arms and hug him back, then gently push him away. “Here for moral support?”
He shrugs and reaches into his back pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper that I recognize instantly. I have a matching one that arrived two days after Noemi’s party. He hands it to me, but I know what it says before I even read it. It’s a subpoena, stating that he’s being called to testify in the case against Luca. He sighs as my eyes skip over it. “That too, but I’ve been called to testify as well. Whoever provided the department with their information pegged me as being there too.”
I shake my head as I hand the letter back to him, “But you were advised not to say anything, right?”
Dante nods. “Somewhat. I’ve been advised that I don’t have to incriminate myself, but I’m not protected from testifying against Luca… or from corroborating any testimony you give.”
I stamp my foot on the concrete step. “There will be nothing to corroborate from me. I’m going to invoke my spousal privilege and refuse to testify against him. Their star witness isn’t going to give them a fucking thing.”
Dante’s lips twist into a grin. “Sounds like Luca won the lottery when it comes to you. You seem to be adjusting to your role as mob wife quite well.”
I shrug my shoulders and narrow my eyes at him. “To be honest, I’m not doing anything differently than I was before. Despite this…” I hold my hand up, flashing the ring at him, “...and the necessity of it for Luca’s survival, there’s no denying my feelings for your brother. I likely would have said yes anyway, even if his freedom didn’t depend on it.”
Dante quirks an eyebrow. “Really? You’d have married him for real?”
I nod and turn to look down the courthouse steps, my heart racing as I see Luca step out of a darkened vehicle. He’s wearing a black suit with a crisply starched white shirt and a black skinny tie that completes the look. The essence that surrounds him is one of an educated businessman full of cool confidence. I glance back at Dante and plop one hand on my hip, tilting my head to the side slightly, “Technically, I already did. Even after this trial, the marriage is still binding. Unless you know something I don’t and Luca is planning to annul it and toss me on the street?”
Dante shakes his head sharply. “I haven’t heard him say anything like that. In fact, I think he’s quite satisfied being married to you. Besides, he’d be a fool to do something as s
tupid as annul your marriage. You’re a gorgeous woman who both tolerates and supports him, despite his ties to the underground.”
I snort softly at Dante’s words. “Ties to the underground? He’s the fucking king of the underground, Dante.”
I shudder as strong arms encircle my waist and I feel hot puffs of breath against my neck. A deep, velvety voice sends warmth straight to my core, “And you are my queen.”
I turn in the arms and feel relief flood through me as I find myself face to face with Luca. “It’s about damn time you showed up. What on Earth have you been doing?”
He shrugs nonchalantly as a mischievous grin spreads across his face. “Things. Important things, actually.”
I roll my eyes at him. “More things you can’t tell me about?”
His grin falters for a moment, but I shake my head at him and pat his chest. “Relax, Luca. I understand the need for discretion, but I do hope that in the event I am ever threatened again, that you’ll own up and tell me the truth. I’m not helpless, but I can’t defend myself if I don’t know what I’m facing.”
