Page 101 of Luca
The doctor stared at me blankly, then turned his attention to Luca who held my hand, this thumb brushing back and forth over my skin, soothing me.
“She’s out of town, mia bella,” Luca murmured. “This doctor knows what’s at stake if he fucks up.”
The doctor nodded his head, reminding me of one of those bobble head toys people stick on their dashboards.
The next moment, I was wheeled down the hallway and into the surgical room, Luca’s hand never releasing mine. He only let go long enough to don the surgical gown the nurses pushed towards him, then my hand was back in his as they prepped me, including when they gave me the epidural to numb me. Luca refused to leave my side as they cut open my belly. Obviously blood didn’t bother him. He’d seen plenty of it.
His presence, his steady gaze, the utter control and strength he projected was exactly what I needed. He’d always make sure we were safe. Nothing could go wrong because Luca wouldn’t allow it.
The whole time, he held my hand and whispered soft words. I only listened to his voice, like it was my prayer. It gave me strength. He’d keep our baby safe.
When the first cry traveled through the air, both of us were startled. Our eyes locked and then he turned toward our daughter. After cleaning her up and taking the necessary measurements, the nurse held our daughter, wrapped in a hospital blanket, and presented her to us.
“Congratulations,” she beamed. “You have a healthy baby girl.”
Emotions swirled inside my chest. My throat squeezed and a tremble rolled through my body. Luca’s eyes shimmered and I let go of his hand.
“Halloween must be our lucky charm, mia bella,” he rasped, his eyes protective and vehement on our baby. “The best gift.”
He remembered too. If only I’d seen this side of him that first night we’d met. It would have saved us so much time.
“Go, hold our daughter.” His eyes darted to me, reluctant to leave me, but I nodded reassuringly. “Go.”
He brushed a soft kiss against my forehead, then straightened up and headed towards the end of the operating table. The nurse handed him our daughter, and the moment he held her, his expression softened. She looked tiny in Luca’s arm and I knew deep down he’d never let anything happen to her. By the fierce expression in his eyes, I knew he’d protect her with his dying breath.
“My little Penelope,” he murmured, emotions I had never heard before thick in his voice.
I knew our daughter would be safe. Luca’s eyes spoke of protectiveness, of pure determination to destroy anything and anyone that meant her harm. Turning his gaze away from the hospital staff, he approached me with our daughter and lowered himself to the chair beside my head so he could show me our little girl.
“Meet our world,” he murmured as he pressed a kiss on my cheek.
“She’s so beautiful,” I whispered, my voice trembling. I didn’t even care that the doctors were busy stitching me back together.
“She’s just like her mommy,” Luca said quietly. “She’ll be breaking boys’ hearts. I’ll definitely need more guns.”
He ran a finger over her cheek. She blinked, already dark hair covering her head. She was tiny, and I wanted nothing more than to protect her. I couldn’t wait to hold her.
“Penelope DiMauro,” I murmured the name that we had chosen for her. “We’ll always love you and keep you safe.”
Luca kissed Penelope’s forehead. “And I’ll always protect you both.”
I searched his eyes, and happy tears rolled down my cheeks as overwhelming emotions filled my lungs.
“Forever,” we both murmured together.
ChapterThirty-Seven
LUCA
The Vitales’ backyard was a happening place right now.
The weather was beautiful. An unusually warm day for this time of the year.
My nieces chased Matteo like he was the only boy on this planet. One planned his demise while the other planned to lock him in a marriage. My nephews, barely three months old, slept soundly - one in my sister’s arms and the other held by Nico’s mother.
Bianca's hair was slightly ruffled, like she had a quick tumble. She subconsciously ran her fingers through it, combing it. If Nico and her didn’t stop, they’d have a whole soccer team.
But she looked happy. Everyone did.
