Page 50 of Weaponized

I take a deep breath. Another. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t expect to react that way. It’s just—that shouldneverhave happened to you.” I force myself from his arms and, unfortunately, it panics him more. I need to get away, at least for a minute. “I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be right back. Promise.” I kiss his lips lightly.

I scramble into the en suite and shut the door. I force myself to take another breath and use the toilet. I wash my hands and splash cold water on my face. I do it again.What if I just told Luca the truth?If I told him, he would understand the risk to his family. To him. I gulp air and look at myself in the mirror as I contemplate what to do next. My eyes are red and puffy. My skin is red from Luca’s stubble. My hair is a rat’s nest. I run a brush through it with a shaky hand. Another deep breath.Pull yourself together.Just breathe. I hear his knock on the door.

“Angel, please, let me in.” His voice is ravaged. I’ve spent too long away from him for his comfort. Given my hysterics, he’s about to lose it. God. Ican’ttell him. Not until I have a plan because Iknow. I am absolutely positive Luca will go after my father. If not for himself, for me. He is coming undone because he can’t stand the thought of something—anything—upsetting me. His anger will own him, and he isn’t equipped to deal with my father. He has no idea the evil that he’s dealing with. But, I do. I know it all too well.

Luca may have started as a name in a file, but that’s irrelevant now. I will tell him about everything—the list, my assignment, my father—but not today. There’s too much risk that needs to be contained first. Once my father is gone, I can concentrate on how to tell Luca and make him understand. Pray that he will still love me despite the things I’ve done.

I open the door and step directly into his strong arms. “Thank you for sharing your story. You are everything to me, Luca.” I squeeze him, repeat his words from earlier. “You are beautiful. Truly. You are caring. Strong. Inside and out. You love so hard. Me. Your family. I am so lucky to have you in my life.” I press my cheek to his broad chest. “You are mine, Luca Larozzi. Every muscle. Every scar. Every tattoo. Every single piece of your beautiful soul. Mine.”And I will protect what is mine.

“I—” He squeezes me even tighter. “I—you—fuck.” He takes a deep breath. Scents my hair. I feel him tremble. “I love you.”

We stand naked, holding each other in my bathroom doorway for several long minutes. My stomach rumbles. Loudly.

I giggle. “The chicken piccata wasn’t great.”

He chuckles, pulls back to look at me. “Titus needs your recipe.” I laugh, and his hand pushes the hair from my face. He studies me for a few seconds. Smiles. God. I love his dimples. “Let me make you something. Eggs?”

“Oooooooh. Egg white omelet?”

“You got it, Angel. Anything you want.”

He kisses my forehead and pulls me back into my bedroom. I grab his undershirt while he finds his boxer briefs. For the first time in our relationship, my boyfriend walks around my apartment shirtless.

He cooks in my kitchen while I ask him more questions about his tattoos. He patiently answers each one, explaining some that are significant, others that are meant to be filler designs. I eat on his lap, and we talk about more mundane things. School. Anthony’s latest antics. How Gianni’s date threw up in their hot tub last weekend. How I think Liam may have a crush on Taryn. Taryn’s sassiness. How much I like hanging out with her and Elizabeth. The crush Maeve mentioned during our last FaceTime conversation. Matteo’s training.

Luca asks me questions about what medical school would entail, and what type of residency is needed to become a psychiatrist. It’s obvious that he’s been doing some research.

“I haven’t looked too far into it,” I tell him honestly, although I’ve taken all the necessary undergrad classes thus far. I shrug. “Not many in our clan would want a doctor as a wife.”

Luca’s eyes flash. “Good thing you won’t be marrying into the clan then, isn’t it? It’s almost as if you were meant to have a husband who wants you to realize your dreams.”

And what do I say to that? Nothing, because my throat is suddenly too tight.The thought that I could be more than my father’s creation? That I could be worthy of Luca’s love? Luca gives me a soft smile as he notices my contemplative expression.

We make our way back to bed hours later, where he leans over me, caresses me softly, enters me slowly. Loves me with his whole body. Gentle kisses. Slow strokes. Softly whispered words of adoration. Shivers of pleasure and awe. We fall asleep wrapped together, exhausted but connected in a way that neither of us knew was possible.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I am absolutely certain of one thing: My father will never hurt Luca again. I will find a way to protect him. Always.

Gráinne

“I hate this life,” I tell my brother the following week. Rowan waves his arm, indicating my beautiful apartment. “Yeah. You’re really roughing it, G.” My brother has been a bit irritable ever since I made the game-time call to provide Victor Larozzi with the Russian translation. Fortunately, the mafia don called Rowan the next day to discuss terms of an alliance.

I sigh. “Why does everything have to be so violent?”

In addition to Rowan working to take down my father, Luca finally told me how that Tiny guy was killed for being a traitor. How the Russians had been caught stealing from the Family, and that things had become tense as a result. He didn’t want me to leave campus without him. No running alone in the park. No trips by myself to my esthetician or nail salon. No driving alone to meet my friends at the diner. I tried to protest, but Luca wasn’t having it.

“Absolutely not,” he’d said when I argued. “You call me. Or, if I can’t be here, call Rowan. But, you do not—under any circumstances—go out alone. It’s not up for discussion.”

Even my “please, baby” didn’t sway him. I’m not used to him being so forceful with me. He’s been spending more time with his father and brother, which not only means that I’ve seen him less but I’m also stuck inside. I wonder if he’s been brought into the loop that his dad has been working with my brother. Maybe I’m not the only one keeping secrets.

“Yeah. Things have heated up. That reminds me: Your boyfriend now has access to your whereabouts any time he wants,” Rowan tells me, matter-of-fact, cracking his neck. He steps closer and gently touches my necklace. “If that ever needs to change, you let me know.”

I nod as my phone lights up. My stomach free falls and I hold up my screen to show my brother the name. It’s been almost two months since I’ve heard his voice.

“Hello, Da,” I say as I answer the phone. I hate how my voice quivers, especially since I should have expected his call by now.

“Gráinne,” he replies, terse as ever. “You have decided on the larger Larozzi brother.”

I suck in a shaky breath. “Luca is the heir. It makes sense for me to be with him.” This is what he wants to hear.

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