029

Caterina

I wrapped my arms around myself, resisting the urge to shiver as Luca remained stubbornly in my doorway. The rain had started to pick up, thick droplets smacking against the roof like it held a grudge against it.

Luca had to leave soon.

I had been expecting this confrontation… It was Luca we were talking about. I just didn’t expect it so soon, nor had I expected this level of relentlessness.

“You need to leave.” I said firmly, despite the fact that my nerves thrummed harshly inside.

Luca tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in those eyes of his as he leaned against the frame like he belonged there… belonged here. “I was under the impression that wasn’t an option.”

“When the heck did…”

The rest of the words died in my throat as a sudden movement at the end of the hall caught my eye. A figure. 

Masked.

He was watching us.

Luca, ever the observant one, sensed the shift in my focus because I could see his body tense, eyes snapping to where mine had been. In a blink, the masked figure turned and ran from where he was crouched. Sometimes I forget that Luca was part of the mafia, and little things like how fast he was when he ran after the guy brought it back.

Who the fuck was that?

Where had he come from? And most importantly, what did he want?... could it be Ethan, here for some sort of twisted revenge?

Luca looked downright murderous when he came back, his group of men behind him. Of course, men had been stationed around my apartment complex. Some might even be my very own dear and beloved neighbours.

Luca’s gaze was sharp as he surveyed them. “Who saw him?”  

A beat of silence. Then…

“No one, sir.” 

I didn’t miss the way Luca’s fingers curled into fists at his sides. “You mean to tell me a masked man was standing outside her apartment, watching her, and none of you saw a damn thing?”  

No one answered.  

Luca exhaled sharply, the muscle in his jaw ticking. His attention snapped back to me, his gaze dark with frustration. “You’re coming with me.”  

“The hell I am.”  

“Caterina.” His tone was sharp, edged with something dangerous. “This isn’t up for discussion.”  

I crossed her arms. “It absolutely is up for discussion.”  

“You really think I’m leaving you here alone after that?”  

“I can handle myself.”  

Luca scoffed, dragging a hand down his face before exhaling a slow breath. “Fine. If you’re not coming with me…” He stepped forward, past the threshold, into my space. “Then I’m staying here.”  

My eyes widened at the declaration. “Like hell you are.”  

And as if the universe was personally invested in making my night worse, a sudden crash of thunder shook the walls.  

The rain that had been steady turned heavy, sheets of water hammering against the windows. The lights flickered, then held, but the wind howled through the streets, rattling everything in its wake.  

Luca’s gaze was smug. “Looks like I’m staying.”  

I could barely contain my groan as I turned on my heel and walked inside, muttering whatever curses I could think of under my breath.

***

I threw him a blanket. 

“You’re sleeping on the couch,” I said firmly, hands placed on my waist.

Most would say I was trying to control a bad situation.  

Luca caught it with ease, his lips twitching. “So bossy.”  

I glared. “Don’t make me regret this.”  

He settled onto the couch, propping an arm behind his head. “I think you’ll find I’m excellent company.”  

“Ignore him.” I screamed at every part of me that wanted to retort, storming into my room as fast as I could and shutting the door behind me.

What I needed to do was sleep.

And yet…

Sleep wouldn’t come.  

I tossed. Turned. Pulled the blanket over my head. And nothing helped. I was too aware of the man in the next room, the fact that his presence was taking up too much damn space after I tried my best not to think about him during my little exile.

“I give up.”

My stomach felt like it was being eaten from the inside at this point so it was safe to just slip out of bed, and tiptoe toward the kitchen.

I wouldn’t wake him up.

I wouldn’t wake him…

He was awake, and in my kitchen, leaning against the counter like he owned the place. 

Maybe he wouldn’t talk to me.

A smirk tugged at his lips. “Couldn’t sleep either?”  

I let out the breath I was holding, already irritated at how good he looked— shirtless now, sweatpants hanging low on his hips, shadows sculpting those muscles in an unfair display.

“I was hungry,” I muttered, moving toward the fridge.

Luca watched me like he was searching for something, arms crossing over his chest which made his biceps pop… no. I wasn’t going to get distracted.

“So was I.”

There was something about the way he said it, keeping his voice so low, just something that sent a shiver down my spine. But that didn’t stop me from seeing the dark circles beneath his eyes.

Luca looked exhausted.

“I’m fine, amorino.”

My stomach tightened. “Don’t call me that.”

He didn’t say a word after that. Instead, he stepped closer until he was close enough to me that I could feel his warmth.

And I didn’t move away.

I watched as his fingers traced a slow, lazy line down my arm. “You keep looking at me like that,” he whispered, a wolfish grin on his face, “and I’m going to start thinking you like having me here.”

Breathing became something I was conscious of.

It was time for me to walk away.

But I didn’t.

Instead, my fingers found their ways to his chest and curled against his chest. He was so warm… so, so warm… maybe… I kissed him.

No. Kissing was too tame of a word for what I did.

Luca inhaled sharply, but the surprise didn’t last long.  

Because he was kissing me back, his hands gripping my waist, yanking me flush against him.

Others had been tame. Now, a sort of heat flared between us, sending my hands moving, grasping, needing. My fingers were tangled in his hair as his mouth trailed down my jaw, pressing those slow, burning kisses to my throat.

I needed Luca. I needed him like a flame need oxygen to burn.

Clothes vanished, and the only thing I could hear was the breathless gasps escaping… I was the one doing that.

Luca lifted me onto the counter, spreading my thighs with so much care while also dragging his hands over my bare skin.

“Tell me you want this,” he murmured against my lips.

 

My answer was a desperate tug, a roll of my hips against him.

He groaned, sliding into me, slow, deliberate, forcing me to feel every inch. Every thrust, every touch, every whispered praise against my skin unravelled me, pulling me deeper into him.

And all I could do was let him.

Because in those moments, I didn’t care about the fight. Or the money. Or anything outside of this.

Outside of him. 

My nails raked down his back as my body tightened around him, the pleasure pushing even higher with Luca bringing me to the edge and dragging me over it.

And when we finally collapsed, tangled together, breathless…

Luca pressed a soft kiss against my neck. 

“Not so bad having me around, is it?” he murmured.  

I had no words.

No defense.

Because fuck it, I was in trouble.