Page 54 of Bones

I walk closer to him and wrap my arms around his waist. “You’re very sweet for an asshole,” I say with a mischievous grin.

He growls as he returns my embrace, and leans down close to my ear. “Careful, Butterfly.”

His breath is warm and fans over my ear, causing me to shiver.

“Fuck, baby, you make me crazy. Let’s go, before I do something I’ll hate myself for.”

Luca takes my hand in his, and we walk out of the room, and down the stairs to a back door I didn’t know existed.

“You can come out here whenever you want, but must have a guard with you at all times. And I don’t want you in the pool unless I’m around, until you learn how to swim. I’ll hire an instructor for you.”

“I hope he’s hot,” I say with a smirk.

He chuckles. “Shewill be.”

We step out into the warm sun and I gasp. If I thought the inside was nice, this is next level. I only saw part of the backyard when we got married. This is a completely different section. The entire area is covered with rock formations and waterfalls. In the center, there’s a massive pool that’s the bluest I’ve ever seen, with rocks on the far end and another waterfall flowing over them. Tropical looking plants are scattered throughout the area. This place is his back yard, but looks like a tropical oasis.

“Luca, this is amazing. How big is your property?”

Wrapping his arm around my waist, he pulls me tight against his side. “Our property, wife. What’s mine is yours. Our property is three hundred twenty-nine acres, and almost all of it is accessible to you. Only the warehouse is off limits.”

I glance up at him and ask, “Why? What happens there?”

He chuckles softly, as he tucks my hair behind my ear. “Nothing good, baby. You don’t need to be in there. If you need me and I’m in there, one of my men will get me.”

I nod and he asks, “What do you want to eat?”

“What are my options?”

Leaning his head down, he kisses me on the forehead. “Whatever my wife wants, she gets. Tell me what you want, and our chef will prepare it.”

This is not something I’m used to. My father used to bring me breakfast and dinner. My morning meal was always oatmeal, which I hate, and I frequently wondered if that’s why he brought it to me. Whereas Manny would never give me breakfast. I got dinner three times a week, and sometimes lunch. Only enough to keep me alive. And I never had much of a choice with either of them. Complaining meant violence.

“Baby?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I’m not used to choices.”

“What’s your favorite?”

I close my eyes and remember a more pleasant time. “When I was really little, my mom used to make me pancakes. And bacon.”

The memory is distant but still there. We used to sit at the table outside for breakfast. The birds chirped as I shoveled syrupy goodness into my mouth. There was laughter, so much laughter. Things were mostly good and then she left.

I open my eyes and blink away the unshed tears. “Pancakes and bacon, please. If it’s not too much trouble.”

Luca kisses me softly on the lips. “If my wife wants it, she gets it. I don’t give a fuck how much trouble it is. I promise you, our staff is paid well for their trouble.”

He pulls out his cell phone and dials a number. I guess it’s the chef when I hear his side of the conversation. “Mrs. Bonetti will have pancakes, bacon, and whatever extras you think of, because that’s not enough. I’ll have my usual, Teddy. And coffee.”

Placing his phone back in his pocket, he takes my hand and we walk across a wooden bridge to a large patio, with a wrought-iron table with a purple umbrella covering it. Luca pulls out a chair for me, and I arch a suspicious eyebrow, but take a seat, anyway.

He chuckles as he moves to the chair on the other side of the table and takes a seat. “I can be nice to my wife.”

I giggle as I push my hair out of my face. “It would appear so.”

A server comes over with coffee and orange juice, and sets it in front of us, and immediately walks away.

“You live quite the privileged life, Mr. Bonetti.”

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