Page 21 of Luciano (Belles & Mobsters 1)

Her son, how it grated me to even think of her having someone’s son, started crying, and it was what finally woke her from her stupor.

She quickly faced him and started cooing at him. “Shhh, it’s okay.”

Her eyes returned to me, watching me with a guarded expression. She picked up the boy off the ground and sat him on her hip.

“Don’t I even get a hello, wife?” I mocked her.

She pressed her lips into a thin line, her eyes turning darker. Her violet eyes were always her telltale. She couldn’t hide her emotions.

“Hello.” Even mad, her voice sounded soft. “Can it be a goodbye now too?”

I chuckled without amusement. “I don’t think so.”

She closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath and then exhaled. As if she was desperately searching for an ounce of patience. “What do you want?”

“You are going back home with me.”

“No.”

I remembered the time when she was too scared to stand up to me. Yes, she bickered with me but never outright stood up to me. It was so different now. She dismissed my presence, turning her back to me and started walking away, pulling Ella along with her free hand.

Poor woman, she stood frozen, immobile, staring at us in shock.

Massimo and I followed behind. Grace’s steps away from us were rushed, but she couldn’t get away. Her son peeked over her shoulder at me and my breath stuck in my lungs. His big eyes stared at me curiously, and I resented him.

“Grace,” I started.

“Don’t talk to me,” she hissed.

“It’s time to go home.”

She whirled around. “You are taking me nowhere,” she spat her words. “I want you nowhere near me or my son. Do you understand?”

I grabbed her by her arm, my fingers digging into her flesh hard. I knew her fair skin complexion would bruise from my firm touch. I didn’t fucking care.

“You have no say in it, wife!” I smirked, my lips curving into a cruel smile and my voice cold. “You’ve played long enough.”

Chapter Eight

Grace

My heart thundered wildly, blood rushing into my ears and my brain. I had to calm down so I could think clearly. I had never expected to see Luciano again. I never wanted to see him again.

Just like before, his eyes took my breath away. They were bewitching, and each time I gazed into them, oxygen would get caught in my lungs. Those eyes of rich, dark cognac mixed with colors of the forest. And those damn eyelashes, the envy of every woman. They were thick and black, surrounding those stunning eyes. Those eyes only gave a hint of the predator he was; a beast full of power and danger that could kiss you one second and snap your neck the next.

His hand firmly squeezed my arm in his grip, his inked fingers searing my skin.

“Let go of me,” I hissed, hating how his touch warmed my skin. I held on to my son, keeping him close to me. I didn’t want to alarm him. I wanted him to have a safe and happy life, full of joy not angry words. “And don’t ever touch me again.”

He lost that right a long time ago. And I would never give it to him again. I fell for him, and he broke my heart. Pulled a trigger. Like I was nobody, nothing. There was no forgiving that.

Surprisingly, Luciano’s hand fell down. I turned to Ella, and we shared a look. Yes, it shocked me to run into Luciano. I didn’t think we’d ever cross paths again, but we weren’t stupid. We always prepared for the worst. Every town we stayed at, we had a contingency plan.

“Take the baby,” I told Ella. Yes, calling Matteo who was almost three a baby was stretching it, but he’d always be my baby. “Go ahead towards thehouse.” I accented the last word and she knew what I meant. “I’ll be right behind you.”

I leaned over to give her my son. Swallowing hard, I murmured to him, “It’s okay, baby. Go with Ella. Mommy will be right behind you.”

“Gelato,” he pouted. “Mama, voglio gelato.”Mama, I want ice cream.

---