Page 80 of Mafia Don's Secret Heir
“Yes,” I repeat, louder this time, surer.
Before I can say more, his hands are on my face, pulling me into a kiss that feels like coming home and setting the world ablaze all at once. His lips are soft but insistent, his touch grounding me as I wrap my arms around his neck.
“I’ll prove it to you every day,” he whispers against my lips, his voice raw, breaking. “I’ll show you what we can be together. You, me, Leo—our family.”
I nod, unable to speak as my throat tightens with emotion. His forehead rests against mine, his breath mingling with mine as his hands slip down to my waist, holding me as though I might disappear.
“Valentina,” he says, his voice low and steady. “You’ll never regret this. I swear it.”
I pull back slightly, my fingers brushing his jaw, tracing the strength and the vulnerability etched into his face. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I say softly, though there’s no malice in my words.
“I don’t,” he replies, his tone resolute.
His lips find mine again, and this time, the kiss is slower, more deliberate, a tender claiming that steals my breath. The world outside these four walls ceases to exist—no threats, no rival families, no impossible stakes. Just us.
His arms tighten around me, his hand slipping into my hair, and for a moment, I allow myself to believe that this life—this chaotic, dangerous life—might be worth it.
The moment is shattered by the sharp trill of his phone, cutting through the silence like a knife.
Luca exhales sharply, muttering a curse under his breath as he steps back, his hand reluctantly leaving my waist. He pulls the phone from his pocket, glances at the screen, and his expression hardens.
“It’s Marco,” he says, answering the call.
“What?” His voice is sharp, all traces of tenderness evaporating. “How the hell?—”
He goes silent, his jaw tightening as he listens. My heart sinks, dread curling in my stomach as his expression darkens.
“I’ll be there in ten,” he snaps, ending the call and shoving the phone back into his pocket.
“What’s happening?” I ask, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound calm.
His eyes meet mine, and for a brief second, I see the conflict warring within him—between the man I just shared a promise with and the don who has ruled his world with an iron fist.
“The estate,” he says, his voice grim. “It’s under attack.”
30
LUCA
The call ends with Marco barking orders at someone in the background. "Luca, it’s bad. The Rossis aren’t holding back this time. Get here now."
My phone slips back into my pocket as I turn to Valentina. She’s already on her feet, her face pale but determined, her hands trembling just enough to betray her fear.
“You’re staying here,” I growl, pointing to the room. “This isn’t your fight.”
Her jaw tightens, fire sparking in her eyes. “I’m your wife. My fight is yours.”
I step toward her, my chest heaving. “Valentina, this isn’t about pride. It’s about survival. Leo needs you alive.”
Her shoulders square, defiance etched into every angle of her face. “Leo needs both his parents alive. And you’re not going without me.”
The conviction in her voice silences the retort forming on my lips. She’s made up her mind, and I know better than to waste time arguing. My eyes rake over her, weighing her resolve, her unflinching gaze. She’s not going to back down.
I grit my teeth. “Fine. But Leo—he comes first.”
She nods, already moving toward the bed where Leo is fast asleep, his tiny fists clutching the blanket. I crouch beside her, brushing a hand through his tousled hair.
“Leo,” I whisper, my voice softer than I thought it could be. “Wake up, little man.”
