Page 36 of Inevitable

“Angel,” he groans. “I am The Boss; I cannot just spend a day in bed after we were just attacked. I need to be seen by my men and the city, taking action. I can’t afford to look weak. They can’t know they have rattled us. It will only put you in more danger.”

I continue to stare him down. “Santo cazzo di merda,” he curses under his breath.

He pulls back the covers on my side and gestures for me to slide in. I give him a delighted smile and kiss his cheek sliding back into bed. He grumbles more Italian under his breath as he makes his way around to the other side and lies next to me.

“Grazie mio amore,” I say kissing the tip of his nose.

He gives me an irritated look, but I can see the smile building behind it. He puts his arm around me avoiding my left side and kisses my temple.

“Sleep my angel.”

-

The next few days are filled with lots of naps, pain pills and movies with Luca tucked in to my side. Every day he grumbles about me forcing him to stay with me but to be honest I don’t think there is a thing I could ask for that he wouldn’t give me anymore.

One morning, I stir to the feeling of soft kisses feathering across my face. I smile with my eyes closed before peeking them open.

“Hi,” I whisper.

“You are so beautiful, Angel. Do you know that?” His tone carries one of awe.

“Mio Amore, I have been shot, struck in the face with a gun and practically bed ridden for the last 4 days. I am the farthest thing from beautiful.”

He frowns at the reminder of my injuries and slips his arms around me protectively, pulling me in to him tightly. “You will always be the most beautiful woman in the world,” he says while kissing my cheek.

I scoff and push away from him. “Well, this beautiful woman needs a shower desperately. Can you help me get my shirt and this stupid wrap off?”

He gets a mischievous smirk and a glint in his eyes. “Angel, I would love to strip you bare.”

Luca winks at me as he rolls out of bed. I attempt to swat him but miss and cause a deep chuckle to rumble through his chest. Luca comes over to my side and helps me walk to the shower.

“My love, I can walk on my own. It’s just a little hole,” I say with a light laugh.

His eyes narrow at me and his jaw tightens for a moment. All of the previous amusement has left his gaze.

“A little hole that almost killed you. Two inches lower and it would have been your heart. Stop being so damn stubborn and let me take care of you.”

I roll my eyes but smile. It’s been years since I have had anyone care about my wellbeing, since mom passed. He turns on the shower and steps behind me to help lift my shirt up and over my head. Once I feel it pull off of me completely, I hear a sharp intake of breath.

“What. The. Fuck?”

Luca’s tone is the deadliest sound I have ever heard. The ferocity of his words sends chills across my skin. I look over my shoulder trying to figure out what is wrong when I see that he is staring at my lower back with the most menacing glare I have ever seen. I realize in that moment what caught his attention. How could I have forgotten that he has never seen my back since it happened?

I step inside the shower, trying to avoid this conversation but he steps in right behind me, clothes and all. He is becoming more soaked by the second making no effort to move. His eyes are black with rage as he backs me up against the wall, his arms caging me in. I know he is really gone in his anger because he hasn’t even made an attempt to glance down at my naked body.

“Angel,” he grits out carefully. “What the fuck happened to you?”

I shrug and bite my lower lip looking down at the ground as the water pours over my head. He places a finger underneath my chin and tilts my face up to meet his eyes.

“Talk,” he demands.

I sigh. I knew this conversation would happen sooner or later. I was just really hoping it would be later.

“It was after I turned 18, my mom had already passed. I felt all alone in the world, I missed you...needed you. Ever since the night I lost you I was never the same. I had exhausted every resource I could think of to find you and your family and came up short every time though. So, when I turned 18, I had my own money and was legally an adult. I hired a few Private Investigator’s to find you, they didn’t come up with anything though. Looking back now it makes sense, I guess. I am sure there isn’t a great way to trace someone deep in the upper ranks of the mafia,” I say with a humorless laugh.

Luca’s eyes are intense and never waiver as they burrow in to mine. He nods brusquely for me to continue.

“Anyways, one of them mailed me the report that basically said sorry couldn’t find anything here is my bill. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the one to get the mail that day or open the report first. When I got home my dad was piss drunk and angry. He usually was those first months after mom died but that day was the worst I had ever seen him.

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