Page 12 of Inevitable

“Miss,” he says before reaching to grab me.

God, are all of the guards handsy assholes? I am about to tell him off when I hear someone shout.

“Do not touch her!”

I look down to see Luca standing in the foyer giving the guard a murderous look. The guard raises his hands and takes a step away from me.

“Sorry Boss. Was just trying to make sure she wouldn’t disturb you,” he says as he slowly backs away from me.

“Well, that isn’t your decision to make! And you sure as hell have no right to ever put your hands on her,” he snarls. “If anyone places a finger on her they will end up like Marcus. Clear?”

The goon’s eyes widen slightly, and he nods his agreement. Luca’s authoritative tone is so intimidating it has me nodding as well. His eyes flick over to me and hold mine. “Did you want to see me?” He asks.

I continue nodding as I stare at him with wide eyes. He gestures with his head for me to come to him.

My anger has been squashed by his little protective outburst for the time being. That means he cares right? I make my way down the stairs slowly, never breaking our eye contact. He waits for me patiently before placing a hand at the small of my back and escorting me to the dining room. It looks like the staff is still setting up for our dinner, but they all stop and turn in unison when they see him.

“Leave,” he snaps.

The staff scatter immediately and soon it is just him and I left. Who the hell barks at their staff like they are some bothersome animals? Oh, that’s right Mob Bosses do, because Luca is in the freaking Mob! I can’t even believe it. I scoff, shaking my head at him.

“What?” He asks with sharp tone.

“I am just blown away that Luca Mariano would be so disrespectful to his staff. It wasn’t so long ago that you were in their position, sweetie. Maybe it would do you good to remember where you came from. Lord knows your parents raised you better.”

His eyes ignite with anger as he narrows them at me. He takes a menacing step towards me until we are practically chest to chest.

“Don’t ever, speak about my parents again.”

“Why? Have they told you how disappointed in you they are? Because I sure am. You are not the man I thought you would become,” I retort with a sneer.

His face goes stock still, the anger from before is gone and he looks almost calm as he speaks to me with no emotion as he adjusts his suit jacket.

“No, they have not been able to tell me what they think of me for quite some time. Considering they have been dead for 5 years.”

That hits me like a punch to the gut. I feel numb. They were like a second set of parents to me. I used to spend so many summer days in the gardens with Antonio, and Luciana taught me everything I know about cooking. She made sure I spent time in the kitchen with her every day, learning at least one of her recipes. I still use them all to this day.

Dead? All this time? I never even knew. My face must show how crestfallen I am because Luca’s stance softens as he looks at me. A tear slips out, trailing down my cheek before I can stop it, he reaches his hand out, swiping it away with his thumb.

Something tender passes across his face for a moment but then hardens almost immediately, back is The Boss. That sobers me from my heartache. There will be time to mourn the Mariano’s later.

“You are a fucking Mob Boss Luca?” It comes across accusatory, but there is a hint of pleading. Pleading for it not to be true, that he is still the same boy I once knew. Just a grumpier version, not a cold-hearted killer.

“Yes,” he says dismissively.

“How? Why?” I pause for a moment and shake my head before asking the real question I want an answer to. “So, let me get this straight, I looked for you for years. Hired Private Investigators, reached out to every contact I had in the city, scoured the streets looking for you and your family and all along you were 45 minutes away in this mansion?”

His mask slips and he looks completely confused for a moment. “You looked for me?” His voice is gentler this time. The surprise at my words is evident across his features. I cock my head to the side; how could he be so stupid?

“Of course, I did. I told you I would love you forever, I actually meant it. Clearly the same can't be said for you.” I shake my head for a second as I push down the emotion attempting to boil over. “You have no idea the consequences I faced trying to find you.”

I turn and head for the staircase. If I stay for one more second, all of the pent-up emotions I have saved for years will come out bursting out. That is a humiliating moment I would not like anyone else to bear witness to.

“Ashlynn!” He shouts but I keep moving. “Don’t you dare walk away from me!” He yells again.

Why? That’s what you did to me.

The tears start to pour. I finally make my way into my room and I slam the door shut as I slide down against it. I curl my legs into my chest and bawl. I cry for Antonio and Luciana; I cry for the broken past between all of us. I mainly cry because after being with him for longer than 2 seconds I realize that his indifference for me is strong, and I am still madly in love with the stupid bastard.

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