Page 91 of Ruined

“If I take every threat seriously, I’ll lose my mind.”

He shook his head. “You’re not invincible.”

“No, but I’m practical. I know how my brothers operate. They talk big, but they’re not gonna risk everything over this.”

“You can’t afford to be wrong.”

“Luca, I’ve got this handled.”

His eyes flickered. “If they make a move, you’re not dealing with it on your own. I’m in. I don’t care how ugly it gets.”

I stared at him, my response stuck in my throat. Nobody went to bat for me. Not in a way that felt real. Family was a loyalty you earned. Business was protection you bought. Luca didn’t owe me anything. Why was my life something he’d fight for?

Did it mean he had feelings for me?

“Why?” I asked.

“Why what?”

“You’ve made it pretty damn clear you don’t want me here half the time. Now you’re ready to throw yourself into the middle of my family’s bullshit?”

Luca looked away, his jaw tight. “Don’t overthink it.”

“You can’t drop a line like that and expect me not to question it.”

“I’m not doing this for you,” he muttered, his face flushing. “I don’t want someone to take a shot at me while you’re on my couch.”

I smiled. “That’s a nice way of saying you’d miss me if I was gone.”

He glared at me. “Shut up, Dom.”

“You’re a terrible liar, baby.”

His shoulders tensed. His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to argue, but no words came.

“What are we doing, Luca?” I asked quietly.

“I don’t know.”

I stepped forward, and his nostrils flared. I reached out, brushing my knuckles against his jaw, just to see if he’d pull away. He didn’t. He stayed right where he was, his eyes locked on mine.

“How are you feeling after last night?”

He shrugged. “I’m okay.”

Bullshit. It was his first fuck. Everyone remembered their first. Some regretted it. I didn’t want that for him. “That doesn’t mean anything. Talk to me.”

He let out a rough breath. “Everything I’ve told myself for years is falling apart, and I don’t know what I’m doing. I spent all night trying to make sense of it.”

“It’s not easy,” I said, dropping my voice. “And no one gets to tell you how to feel about it, but last night…wasn’t something you need to punish yourself for.”

“I’m not punishing myself.”

“Then why are you running off before sunrise?”

He swallowed hard. “It felt…different. Everything about it.”

“Good different?”

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