Page 37 of Weaponized

“Look—” I start, but she elbows me in the side.

“Not now, Luca. Please.” Her big blue eyes are pleading with me. I move my arm around her, and we assume our normal cozy position for this course. I rub my hand up and down her arm, wanting her to know I’m on her side. That I can take care of anything or anyone that bothers her. She takes my hand, stopping my motion, and brings my palm to her mouth, kissing it. Jesus. She guts me.

I’m not hearing a word our professor is saying, but I see that Gráinne is writing a few things down. All I can think about is why someone from her father’s organization would upset her. I also need to ask her about the dinner, which I now regret more than ever.

I don’t know how to feel about this upcoming meeting. I’ve shared with my father what DeAngelo had to say about the Russians and his assumptions that they have been stealing some of our shipments. But, that would mean they have someone on the inside, and a tendril of anger snakes its way into my chest. The worst part is that, despite our investigations, cameras, and a lot of effort, we can’t see a common pattern. Trust me. I’ve looked, but something must be hiding in plain sight.

Gianni’s father, Umberto, does most of our surveillance setup and he uses specific, high-end cameras that usually can pick up anything. He’s been a good friend to my father, and I practically grew up with Gianni. While I never thought his dad would betray us, my dad had him followed for quite a while. He told Matteo and me that he had to rule Umberto out, because if the cameras weren’t catching anything, you have to look at the guy who set the cameras. I admit that I’m glad they found nothing, but it leaves us nowhere with who is fucking with us. If it’s the Russians, I don’t know how this dinner will go.

Gráinne’s hand goes to my knee and I realize I’ve been anxiously bobbing my leg under the desk. I feel antsy. Someone is bothering my girlfriend and my dad wants me to introduce her to the Bratva. Shit.

When Professor Lauchlin tells us we’re done, I turn to my girl. She beats me to the punch.

“My father hasn’t called me directly since I’ve been here. He has his main advisor do it occasionally. It’s usually a perfunctory check-in. Today, he was especially rude, making sure I’m not embarrassing the family name.” She takes a deep breath. “I can’t stand my father, Luca, and I hate that I have these pitiful check-ins with his mini-mes. I was just being overly emotional, that’s all.”

“You are the opposite of worthless,” I say, refuting her words from earlier, while looking her straight in the eye. I hate that someone made her feel that way. I take her chin in my hand when she starts to look away. “You. Are. Everything.”

The air around us swirls with emotion as her eyes get glassy with tears. I hate that anything would make her cry.

“I love you, Luca,” she whispers, still looking deeply into my eyes.

My breath backs up in my lungs. I can’t speak. Can’t move. My heart is going to pound out of my chest. My whole body feels the impact of her words. I let them wash over me. Fill me. Make me whole. This beautiful, sweet, intelligent girl loves me.Me.How is this even possible? There is no way that I’m good enough for her.

She clears her throat after a few pregnant seconds of silence, and pulls away from my hold on her chin. “We should get going,” she says to the floor and I realize that we are sitting in an empty lecture hall. It also occurs to me that I left her hanging after that declaration.

I stand up as she does, and I spin her toward me. She gasps and drops her backpack. I lift her in the air and hug her to me. “I love you so fucking much, Angel. You have no idea.”

I hear her sob. I’ve got her lifted off the ground and she’s wrapped herself around me like a koala. She squeezes me tight, and we stay like that for a few minutes. Fuck, I am all sorts of choked up right now. My throat is thick with emotion.

“God, baby.” She sniffles into my neck then laughs. She slides down my body and looks up at me. Smiles. I can only imagine what she sees on my face. I’m sure everything I feel is right there. She reaches up and cups my cheek. Just looks.

Finally, she grabs my hand as she picks up her bag. She leads me out of the lecture hall into the brisk autumn air. I let go of her hand as we walk across campus, instead putting my arm around her. I need her closer. She is never close enough. Her arm goes around my waist and she snuggles against my side as we walk toward the coffeehouse.

“What’s going on?” My brother appears out of nowhere, eyeing us both dubiously given our dazed expressions.

I’m still not sure I can speak. My angel helps me out. “Just going for a coffee with my love. What’s up with you?”

Matteo doesn’t miss her words. His eyes fly to mine. I’m not sure what he sees, but it seems to rattle him.

The silence is starting to get suffocating while Matteo shuffles his feet, not making eye contact. I’m not used to him looking so uncomfortable. His normal, unaffected facade has been ruffled, and he seems a bit vulnerable. I pull my girl even closer. God, she smells so good.

“So, we’re going to dinner on Saturday?”

Goddamn it. I know Matteo had to find something to cut through the weird energy around us. But, why this? Shit.

“You guys are going to dinner?” Gráinne asks sweetly,blinking up at me from under my arm, as if it’s a fine idea. “That’s really nice.”

“Oh,” Matteo mumbles. “You haven’t asked her.”

Gráinne looks to me and smiles. “Luca, do you have something to share?” Her tone is light, teasing.

“Yeah, um.” Geez. Brilliant. Really great. “Our dad would like you to join us for a dinner on Saturday.” Her expression lightens. Shit. It occurs to me that this is the first time I’ve asked her to actually go out somewhere with me. I’m inviting her to meet my father. It should be a big moment. I hurry to continue. “It’s just a business dinner.” I need her to understand it’s not dedicated time alone with my family.

Her face drops and she pulls away from my side. “What business?” She sounds so small, I want to punch something. I want to go back in time and invite her to a thousand romantic dinners that aren’t business-related if it’ll make her look as happy as she did before. I wish I’d already introduced her to my dad and my other brother.

“You don’t have to go,” I blurt out. I need the look of joy back. Now. She doesn’t need to be pulled into this shit. I’ll set up another dinner. One for us.

“It’s the Bratva,” my idiot of a brother answers her. “It’s just a sit-down. They bring beautiful women along. We have to do so as well. And Pop wants to meet you. Two birds, one stone.”

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