Page 59 of Devour
I don’t know if I should let myself feel anything at all. Mai’s face flashes in my mind, and fear takes root again. I still don’t know what happened to her.
What if she saw too much at the club—what if he had her killed? I almost met the same fate. I didn’t realize I’d tensed upuntil Luca gently turned me to face him. Afraid he’ll see the fear in my eyes; I try to look away—but he’s not having it.
His hands frame my neck, his thumb gently caressing my chin, guiding my gaze back to his.
“Are you scared of me?” he asks quietly.
I lower my eyes.
“Look at me, kitten.”
I slowly lift my gaze. “Maybe… a little,” I admit. To be honest, I’m not scared that Luca would ever hurt me or Noah. I know, deep down, he cares about us.
He’s proven that in ways that words could never capture. He sighs, his expression hardening for a moment with something darker, deeper.
“I’ll be honest with you,” he says. “I’m not a saint. I’ve done a lot of shit… long before you came into my life. I started training to take over my father’s organization when I was five. I was 10 when I had my first pit fight.
It was underground with so many audiences. And I was unlucky enough to be thrown in with a kid three years older than me.
“I was just a scrawny shy kid. That fight… It was the first time I felt the pain of a broken bone. Dislocated my shoulder. I was writhing in pain while the crowd cheered for the winner.” He shakes his head slowly.
“But I didn’t give up. A few months later, I faced that same kid again—and I won. That feeling… that win—it stayed with me. It shaped me. Taught me that pain was part of survival.” His voice turns quieter.
“That’s been my life ever since. Survive, or be nothing. The only saving grace was my father. Even though he put me through hell… he still loved me, in his own messed-up way.” He pauses, emotion tugging at his features.
“When he died, I spiraled. Got into all kinds of trouble. I couldn’t cope with school—the structure, the rules—none of it made sense anymore. I was lost.” His eyes soften as they meet mine again.
“Then I met you. And everything changed. Suddenly, I wanted to be better. To do better—for you.” He pauses, swallowing hard.
“Ariel, I can’t change who I am. But I can adjust for you. Hell, it was my compassion that got me shot.”
“What—?”
As if realizing he’d said too much, he quickly adds, “It’s nothing.”
But I heard him. I heard every word. He got shot because he was trying to change, for me. He’s making an effort, risking things, for me. He keeps talking, but I’m no longer listening. My heart is thundering in my chest.
Before I can second-guess myself, I rise onto my tiptoes, grab the front of his shirt, and tug him down to me. I pressed my lips to his, swallowing the rest of the words he was about to say.
He freezes for a beat, clearly not expecting it—then melts into the kiss, taking control like he always does. His hands find my waist, firm and steady, and he kisses me back with the same raw urgency curling through my veins.
By the time we pull back for air, we’re both breathing fast, taking in each other’s breath. This feels like the right time to ask about Mai… but I chicken out. Tomorrow, i tell myself. Maybe. Or maybe it’s because I don’t want to ruin this moment.
“I’m suddenly craving a night snack,” Luca stays in a low voice giving me a look like he wants to gobble me up.
“You ate a huge serving for dinner,” I say innocently, pretending not to understand his meaning.
“You’re such a tease, you know that?”
“Uh-huh,” I hum, grinning from ear to ear.
He joins me, and the moment is filled with warmth and quiet joy. When we finally return to our bedroom, he holds me close until we both fall asleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
Luca
Like a man on a mission, I head straight to Noah’s bedroom. Ariel was still in bed when I woke up, her back turned to me. I leaned down and gave her a quick good morning peck on the cheek, but she didn’t react.
