Page 22 of Luca
Pushing thoughts of my snobby aunt aside, and even more importantly, I wanted to plan my way out. The more I thought about it, the more certain I was of my decision. I refused to raise my daughter under the same roof as my mother.
But unless I shared my memories with my brothers and Uncle, she was here to stay. Truthfully, I’d be all for ratting her out at this point. Except, I had no evidence and no witnesses.
It’d be my word against hers. And Mother had never done anything wrong, while I, on the other hand, have done plenty of reckless things.
The car slowed down as it passed through the wrought-iron gates and carried on to the three-story-mansion.
My insides tightened, readying for battle. Okay, a slight exaggeration but my flare for dramatics was intensifying almost daily. Again, hormones.
As I exited the car and thanked the driver, I grimaced, flicking a glance at the elaborate manor. I hoped the King brothers wouldn’t be in attendance, but that was too much to hope for. Cassio was so fucking enamored with Áine, I was certain he admired her while she sat on the toilet.
I sighed. Gosh, I was getting meaner too with these hormones.
All this tension couldn’t be good for the baby. I rubbed my belly, whispering soft promises as I climbed up the stairs. I intended to keep them. Da always kept his promises to me. I intended to do the same.
The home was regally white, welcoming, and disguising the blood of the underworld that every criminal organization harbored. Murder, lies, deceit, infidelity.
Uncle’s home was decorated to the nines, hiding it all. Or like there was a wedding going on, not a simple family gathering. The decorations were gold, green, and red - the family crest colors.
Uncle Jack was the first one to greet me, waiting at the bottom of the stairs of the elaborate foyers.
“Is it Christmas in fall or maybe another wedding is going on?” I asked dryly.
He chuckled, like I just uttered the funniest joke ever. “I had hoped for yours,” he remarked, then kissed me on the cheek. “Margaret, you’re glowing,” he beamed. It took all I had not to roll my eyes. Instead, I took a step back. “Baby is growing fast and furious, huh?”
“Yep.”
My eyes skirted around the foyer. I hoped to disappear before his wife showed up.
Uncle let out a heavy sigh, probably knowing exactly what I was doing. “Listen, girl. I know you and your aunt haven’t been getting along lately.”
I scoffed. “That’s the understatement of the century.”
“Margaret.”
A voice came from behind us and I tensed. Speak of the devil. Áine’s mother married the Prime Minister of the UK. In one of her visits to the U.S. she hooked up with Uncle Jack and boom. The result was Áine.
“Still not married, I see.” I sucked in an uneasy breath. God, I couldn’t stand the woman. Maybe my own bad relationship with my mother was rubbing off with every other mother out there. I really hoped that wouldn’t be the case with my own daughter.
An odd tightness to my chest was unexplainable. “Nice you could join us to celebrate Áine’s five month anniversary.”
My lips thinned, keeping the snappy words behind my lips.
I slowly turned and met her gaze.Distaste. Even after all these months, she held it against me. The fact that Áine had to step in to take the spot in the wedding arrangement with Cassio King. Despite the fact that the two couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
“Has your mother decided who is next in line to marry you since the first couple didn’t work out very well?” she asked casually, her eyes roaming over the guests. God, I hated her. I really did.
This woman was even more annoying than my own mother. Okay, that might be a stretch.
“Imagine in our day and age, people still insisting on a woman being married before having a baby.” The familiar, annoying voice came from behind me. Agitation washed over me. I didn’t need Luca King to defend me. “How positively boring,” he added.
How positively boring.Did he really just say that? Maybe he was intoDownton Abbey.Or Bridgerton,I snickered.
“Hello, mia bella.” Luca’s voice was almost a purr.
The back of my neck burned, but I counted to five before I slowly turned to meet the dark eyes with the hint of hazel in them. His gaze grabbed hold and hung on.
His suit was immaculate, as always. Smooth lines. Broad shoulders. Dark expression. And that constant smirk curving his lips. Awareness tickled in the back of my mind, holding that hazel gaze that spoke of darkness.
