Page 12 of Boss of Brooklyn

His arms tighten around me, and I feel him press a kiss to the top of my head. “Always, Sofia. You're precious to me. I'll always protect you, always take care of you. That's a promise.”

Chapter 7

Luca

In the days following our rain-soaked encounter I find myself making excuses to visit Nonna's, always under the guise of “business,” though we both know the truth. But between her schedule at the restaurant and my responsibilities, we don’t spend nearly enough time alone together. I find myself daydreaming about her during important meetings when I should be focused. I don’t know what’s come over me. All I know is I need her like I need air to breathe. So I’ll take these little visits for now, even though I’m dying to taste her on my lips again.

During one such visit, I watch her work in the kitchen, mesmerized by her grace and confidence. She glances up, catching my eye, and a small smile plays on her lips. It's these moments that I live for now, these little connections that set my heart racing. Connections I never knew existed.

It's a Tuesday evening when everything changes. I'm in my office, drowning in paperwork, when Leo bursts through the door, his face pale.

“Boss, there's been a fire at Nonna's.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I'm on my feet in an instant, grabbing my jacket. “How bad?”

Leo shakes his head. “Not sure. It just happened. Fire department's on the scene.”

I don't wait to hear more. I'm in my car, speeding through the city, my heart pounding. All I can think about is Sofia. Is she okay? Was she there when it happened? The thought of her in danger makes my blood run cold.

As I weave through traffic, memories of our time together flash through my mind. Her laugh, her fierce determination, the way her eyes light up when she talks about food. I realize with startling clarity that I can't lose her. Not now, not ever.

When I arrive, the scene is chaos. Smoke billows from the broken windows of Nonna's, fire trucks crowding the street. My eyes scan the crowd frantically, searching for her face. Panic rises in my throat with each passing second that I don't see her.

And then, finally, I spot her.

Sofia stands on the sidewalk, her arms wrapped around herself. She looks shell-shocked, staring at her burning restaurant with vacant eyes. The sight of her, small and vulnerable, makes my chest ache.

I push through the crowd, not caring who sees me or what they think. When I reach her, I pull her into my arms without a word. She stiffens for a moment, then melts against me, her body shaking with silent sobs.

“It's gone,” she whispers against my chest. “Everything I've worked for... it's all gone.”

I tighten my hold on her, my mind already racing with plans. “We'll fix this, Sofia. I promise you, we'll make it right.”

She pulls back, looking up at me with red-rimmed eyes. “How? I don't have the money to rebuild, Luca. The insurance won't cover everything. This was my dream, my legacy...”

I cup her face in my hands, my thumbs wiping away her tears. “Let me help you. Please.”

Sofia starts to shake her head, but I cut her off. “This isn't charity, Sofia. It's an investment. In you, in your talent. I believe in you. I've seen what you can do, how you light up a room with your food and your passion. We can't let that die here.”

She searches my face, looking for any sign of deceit. Finding none, she nods slowly. “Okay,” she whispers. “Okay.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulders, leading her away from the chaos. As we walk, I notice her shivering, whether from shock or the cool night air, I'm not sure. I shrug off my jacket and drape it over her shoulders.

“Come on, you don’t need to be here. I'll take you home.”

The drive to her apartment is silent, Sofia staring out the window, lost in thought. I want to comfort her, to tell her everything will be alright, but I know empty platitudes won't help right now. Instead, I reach over and take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. She doesn't look at me, but she doesn't pull away either.

When we reach her apartment, Sofia hesitates, her hand on the door handle. “I... I don't want to be alone tonight,” she admits, her voice small.

My heart races at her words. “You don't have to be,” I say softly.

We end up at my penthouse, the city sprawling beneath us through floor-to-ceiling windows. Sofia stands at the glass, hugging herself again, looking lost. The sight of her like this tugs at something deep inside me.

I approach her slowly, not wanting to startle her. “Can I get you anything? A drink? Something to eat?”

She turns to me, and the look in her eyes takes my breath away. There's sadness there, yes, but also a burning intensity that I've never seen before. “I don't want a drink, Luca,” she says, her voice low. “I want you.”

That’s all I need to hear. My restraint snaps like a twig and our lips crash together. This kiss is different from our first – it's desperate, hungry, filled with need. My hands roam her body as I back her up against the window.

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