I wasn’t used to this.Not the hand-holding. Not the constant checking in. Not the way he looked at me—like I was something he wanted to protect, something he wanted to keep.And I definitely wasn’t used to the kissing.Because Luca kissed like he meant it.Like every touch, every movement, was a promise.It should have scared me.It did scare me.But right now, standing under the streetlights, our fingers still intertwined, I wasn’t thinking about fear.I was thinking about him.“Do you want to go for a drive?” he asked, voice low.I should have said no. It was late. My father would kill me if he found out.But the thought of going back inside—to the walls, the expectations, the rules—felt suffocating.So I nodded. “Okay.”Luca didn’t say anything. He just squeezed my hand and led me to his car.We drove in comfortable silence, the hum of the engine filling the space between us. Luca’s hand rested on the gear shift, close enough that I could reach out and touch him if I wanted.I wan
I wasn’t used to feeling this way about a girl.It was fucking with my head.The way Sienna got under my skin so easily, the way my body reacted to hers without hesitation—it wasn’t normal for me.But nothing about Sienna was normal.She was different.I could feel it in the way she kissed me, the way she looked at me like she was scared of wanting this but couldn’t stop herself.And I was completely screwed because I wanted her to want me.Not just for a night. Not just for the moment.I wanted everything.Which was why, when I pulled up outside her house later that night, I didn’t let go of her hand.I should have. I should have let her go, watched her walk inside, and left before I did something stupid.But I didn’t.She sat there in the passenger seat, Luca’s jacket still wrapped around her small frame, her bottom lip caught between her teeth like she was working through something.I wanted to lean over and kiss her again.To make sure she knew.But I held back.Instead, I watched
I had never felt this out of control in my life.Not when my father walked out on us.Not when my mother sat me down and told me we’d have to move into a smaller house because things were tight.Not even when I started a new school, walking into the building knowing no one but Cassie, praying I wouldn’t drown in the unfamiliarity of it all.But this?The way Luca could completely consume my thoughts with just one look?The way his voice alone could send shivers down my spine?The way I wanted him, even though every single thing about him screamed dangerous?I was spiraling, and I had no idea how to stop it.Maybe I didn’t want to stop it.That was the thought that plagued me as I sat in the kitchen that night, pretending to eat my dinner while my mom and younger brother, Eli, talked about their day.I tried to focus.I really did.But my phone sat beside my plate, taunting me with its silence.Luca hadn’t texted.Not since he kissed me against that wall at school, not since he claimed
Luca's POV Mondays were a bitch.Mornings were worse.And early mornings, like this one? Downright cruel.I slumped against my locker, yawning so wide my jaw cracked. The weekend had been a blur—training, Sienna, dealing with my dad’s never-ending attempts to “connect”—but none of that prepared me for the hell that was the first day of the week.“Mate, you look like you got hit by a bus.”I cracked one eye open to find Ethan smirking at me, arms crossed over his chest. He was fresh, energized, annoyingly awake, which only made me scowl harder.“More like a truck,” I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face. “Didn’t get much sleep.”“Wonder why.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain dark-haired girl, would it?”I shot him a look. “Shut up.”“Ah, come on. You’ve been spending all your time with her. When’s the wedding?”I groaned, slamming my locker shut. “Piss off.”Ethan just laughed, but whatever comeback he had was drowned out by the usual Monday morni
I didn’t want to be here.Not even a little bit.If I had it my way, I’d be curled up in bed with a book, not standing outside the school, surrounded by hyperactive students, waiting to board a bus for a three-day excursion.Who even liked these things?Cassie. That’s who.“This is going to be so fun,” she said, practically vibrating beside me.“Fun?” I shot her a glare. “Cass, it’s a mandatory school trip. Nothing about it screams fun.”She just grinned. “Three days away from school, no parents breathing down our necks, bonfires—” she waggled her brows—”Luca?”I felt my stomach tighten. “Shut up.”She nudged me with her elbow. “Oh, come on. You can’t tell me you’re not the least bit excited to spend three days in the wild with your little lover boy.”My face burned. “He’s not—”“Yet.”I groaned, shifting the strap of my bag higher on my shoulder. I hated how my pulse picked up at the thought of him.The past few weeks had been… a lot.Luca had started making it painfully clear that h
The ride was long.Too long.The bus rumbled along the highway, filled with chatter and occasional outbursts from overly excited students, but I barely heard any of it.Not with him sitting just a few rows behind me.Not with his presence burning into my skin like a brand.Cassie had long since dozed off, head resting against the window, but I was wide awake, pretending to be engrossed in the scenery outside when, in reality, I was painfully aware of every single move Luca made.His laugh, low and lazy, floated through the air.The rustling of his hoodie as he shifted in his seat.The occasional murmurs as he spoke to Ethan.I hated it.I hated how aware of him I was.I squeezed my hands together, nails biting into my palm. It’s just a school trip, Sienna. Nothing else. Keep your head down, and get through it.But of course, the universe had other plans.The moment we pulled up to the campsite—a massive stretch of land nestled between thick woods and a lake—our teacher, Mr. Harrison,
I was so fucked.And not in the good way.Standing outside the tent, watching Sienna wrestle with the poles like they’d personally offended her, I had to bite back a smirk.“Need help, Sunshine?”“Don’t call me that,” she snapped, not looking up as she struggled to drive a stake into the dirt.I shoved my hands in my pockets. “Alright, Sienna—do you need help?”She huffed. “I got it.”Yeah. Sure she did.I watched for another thirty seconds before stepping in, easily driving the stake into the ground with my boot.She scowled. “I could’ve done that.”“Of course you could’ve.” I grinned, grabbing the other pole and securing it in place. “But at this rate, we’d be sleeping outside.”She muttered something under her breath, but I was too busy not staring at the way her shirt had ridden up to expose a sliver of smooth, golden skin.Focus, Russo.By the time we finally got the tent up, the sky had darkened, the campfire was lit, and dinner was being passed around. But before we could even
I woke up to warmth.Soft. Comfortable. Dangerous warmth.For a second, I forgot where I was.The rain had slowed to a soft drizzle, the occasional rumble of thunder still rolling in the distance. The tent smelled like damp fabric, grass, and something undeniably Sienna.And then I realized—She was still wrapped around me.Her head rested against my chest, her fingers curled into my hoodie. One of her legs was tangled with mine, and my arm was still draped over her waist, holding her way too close.Fucking hell.I forced myself to stay still, even as every muscle in my body screamed to do the opposite.I should wake her up.I should move.But I didn’t.Instead, I let my eyes trace the curve of her cheek, the way her lashes rested against her skin.She looked so soft like this.So unguarded.I had the sudden, reckless urge to run my fingers through her hair, to tilt her chin up and kiss her awake.Instead, I swallowed hard and forced myself to breathe.What the fuck was happening to m
(Sienna’s POV)The house was alive with laughter, the scent of fresh flowers and warm food mingling in the air as the guests arrived one after another. It felt surreal—this moment, this day. A day that marked the beginning of something far greater than Luca and me. It was the start of a new legacy, a new generation.I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the delicate lace on my white and gold dress. The fitted bodice hugged my waist, the flowy skirt cascading down to the floor in elegant waves. It was tradition to wear white for purity, for new beginnings, and today, everything felt pure.“Are you ready?” Luca’s voice came from behind me, deep and soothing.I turned, and there he was—my husband, the father of my children, the love of my life. He looked breathtaking in his custom-fitted navy-blue suit, the gold cufflinks matching the accents on my dress. His dark hair was styled to perfection, but it was his eyes—the way they softened when they met mine—that made my heart race.“As
(Sienna’s POV)The house was finally quiet. It was a fragile silence, the kind that came after hours of soothing newborn cries, calming restless toddlers, and making sure everything was set for the next day. I stood at the doorway of the nursery, my fingers gripping the frame as I watched my daughters sleeping soundly in their cribs.Elena and Isabella.It still felt surreal, even though I had spent the past eight weeks holding them, feeding them, memorizing every little detail about their tiny features. The gentle rise and fall of their chests, the way Isabella’s little fingers always curled around her sister’s when they were placed beside each other, the way Elena would turn her head in search of my voice.A soft smile tugged at my lips.It wasn’t just them that made my heart feel impossibly full—it was everything. The house, now brimming with life. The sound of Matteo and Alessandro’s giggles echoing through the halls. The way Luca looked at me with a depth of love that made me wea
(Luca's POV) Sienna was asleep.After more than fifteen hours of labor, screaming, crying, and a near bone-breaking grip on my hand, she had finally drifted into a well-earned rest. Her body was utterly exhausted, her face soft in slumber, strands of hair still sticking to her forehead.But me? I couldn’t sleep. Not even for a second.Because right in front of me, in the transparent bassinet beside Sienna’s hospital bed, lay our daughters.My daughters.I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. It didn’t feel real. How could it? One moment, it was just the two of us—just me and Sienna, figuring out life, navigating chaos, and now… now there were four of us.My heart clenched.They were so tiny. So fragile.One of them let out a small, soft sigh in her sleep, her tiny fingers twitching before settling against the soft pink blanket wrapped around her. Her sister lay beside her, her lips pursed slightly, looking just as peaceful.Matteo had arrived with Alessandro a few hours ago, and af
(Luca's POV) Time had never felt so slow and so fast at the same time.The past eight months had been a whirlwind. From setting up the nursery to attending doctor’s appointments, every single day had been a countdown to this moment. And now—now it was here.Sienna was in labor.And I was losing my goddamn mind.I had rehearsed this moment a thousand times. I had planned, prepared, and memorized every step of the process. But all of that went out the window the second Sienna gripped my arm and gasped, “Luca… my water just broke.”For a solid five seconds, I stared at her like a complete idiot.Then chaos erupted.“Okay—okay! We’re ready! We have the bag! We have the—where’s my phone?!” I patted down my pockets, my movements jerky and uncoordinated. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I barely heard Sienna groan.“Luca,” she exhaled, gripping the kitchen counter as she breathed through a contraction. “Stop panicking.”“I’m not panicking,” I lied, my hands shaking as I reach
(Sienna's POV) The news of our twin girls spread like wildfire. By the time Luca and I had finished calling everyone in our immediate circle, our families had already told their friends, and somehow, I suspected half the neighborhood knew too.Luca’s mother had called again—twice—to ask if she could start planning the baby shower immediately. My own mother had sent me a list of name suggestions before I could even finish breakfast. Even Cassie had texted me with an absurd amount of baby girl outfits she wanted to buy.And through all of this, Luca looked like a man who had been hit by a freight train.“Are you okay?” I asked him as he slumped against the kitchen counter, staring at his phone.He let out a slow breath. “I just got a message from my uncle. He says congratulations, and that we should start looking into bulletproof windows for when the girls are teenagers.”I snorted. “He’s not wrong.”Luca groaned, rubbing his face. “Sienna, do you realize how much trouble I’m in?”I ra
(Luca’s POV)I didn’t know how long I sat there, staring at the ultrasound screen like a man who’d just had his entire world flipped upside down. Twin girls.Two.Jesus Christ.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply as I tried to process the reality of it. One baby had already been enough to completely wreck me in the best possible way, but two? I was so f***ed.Sienna was watching me, her fingers squeezing mine, probably waiting for me to say something more profound than the string of curses I’d already let loose. But my mind was short-circuiting.Twin daughters.“Luca,” she murmured, her voice softer now, like she was worried about me.I shook myself out of the trance, blinking at her before looking back at the screen, where two tiny, indistinct shapes flickered with life. My daughters.I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with something dangerously close to tears. “They’re so small,” I rasped.Dr. Caldwell chuckled. “That’s because they’re only about ten weeks along. But I
(Sienna’s POV)I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers idly tracing the fabric of my nightgown. The past few months had been a whirlwind—recovery, adjusting back to normal life, and trying to find a sense of peace after everything we’d been through. Luca had been my rock, never leaving my side, always knowing exactly what I needed before I even said a word. And now, as the early morning light filtered through the curtains, I found myself staring down at the pregnancy test in my hands.Two lines.Two lines.I blinked. My breath hitched.No. This couldn’t be right.I grabbed another test from the drawer—one of the fancy digital ones. My hands shook as I followed the instructions, waiting the agonizing minutes for the result.“Pregnant. 3+ weeks.”A choked gasp left my lips. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.Pregnant.I pressed a hand to my stomach, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. We hadn’t been trying, not exactly, but we also hadn’t been preventing it. I
Luca's POV I never thought the sight of home would make my chest ache the way it did today. As the car rolled up the driveway, the massive wrought-iron gates slowly opening, I tightened my grip on Sienna’s hand.“We’re here, baby,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.Her head rested against the seat, exhaustion still etched into her delicate features, but when she lifted her gaze to meet mine, I saw something there—relief. Hope. A softness that had been missing for too long.She smiled, small but real. “Home,” she whispered, as if testing the word on her tongue.It had been months of uncertainty, months of fighting battles that neither of us had been prepared for. The long nights in the hospital, the painful procedures, the endless waiting for answers that never seemed to come fast enough. But we had made it through.And now, we were finally back where we belonged.The front door swung open before the driver even fully stopped the car. My mother rushed out first, wiping her ha
(Sienna’s POV)The hospital doors slid open, ushering in a crisp breeze that smelled like rain-soaked pavement. It was the scent of freedom, of normalcy, of the life we had fought so hard to return to. After what felt like an eternity inside these sterile white walls, we were finally walking out as a family again.Luca held Matteo in his arms, pressing a soft kiss to our son’s temple. Matteo had always been a light sleeper, but today, exhaustion had won, and he rested against his father’s chest, his small fingers curled into the fabric of Luca’s hoodie. Alessandro clutched my hand tightly, his grip firm as if he were afraid someone would try to pull us back inside. He had been so strong through all of this, stronger than any five-year-old should ever have to be.Outside, Dr. Caldwell and Dr. Moreau stood near the entrance, watching us go.“Remember,” Dr. Moreau said, adjusting the glasses perched on his nose, “his immune system is still delicate. Keep him away from crowded places for