Page 53 of Luciano (Belles & Mobsters 1)

Her head snapped to him, but she didn’t deny it. “Yes, the keys to his place.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. She must have been in a great state of shock to be answering questions without snapping at either one of us.

“Why?” I tried hard to keep my head cool. Despite my age, I had to admit my father was right. I had a hard time thinking rationally around my wife.

She licked her lower lip nervously. “I need a copy of my parents’ will.”

That was not the response I anticipated.

Chapter Sixteen

Grace

Ithink my husband is psychotic.

And God help me, I might be too because when Luciano claimed me as his in the middle of the nightclub, every inch of my skin warmed and his burning gaze sent a warm timbre down my spine.

I watched in shock, as he used Ian’s face as a punching bag. I didn’t even know he was in the club.

After the lawyer drafted the will, Nonno witnessed it, and Luciano’s attorney assured me it was valid as of that moment. Ella and I rushed to get ready. Yes, Luciano dragged me back to the States, but now I took charge of what I could do. However little that might be. I had to do something, starting with obtaining a copy of my parents’ will.

But this was not how I envisioned our night ending.

I wet my lips, trying to calm my nerves. Luciano wanted to know why I stole Ian’s keys out of his pocket.

“I need a copy of my parents’ will.”

I couldn’t come up with any feasible explanation other than the truth. My husband's bloody knuckles reminded me how brutal he could be. Something deep in my stomach always pulled me towards him. I was a fool to think there was ever a chance of me moving on. The ember of hope, just like that cold January night, flickered, coming back to life.

I should never forgive him. A normal person would never forgive it. Yet, my heart wanted him. It only ever glowed for him, like a damn lightning bug at dusk. And he could squash me like that bug, and still, my stupid heart would only beat for him. Luciano and our son were my whole heart.

His hazel eyes on me were warm, emotions swirling in them that reflected my heart. I stepped towards him, the pull he had over me strong. His clean palm cupped my face, and I wanted nothing more than to press my face into his chest.

“You were going to break into his house?” Disbelief and amusement danced in his eyes. I nodded and thought I heard him mutter, “What happened to my sweet Grace?”

My lungs tightened and my heart constricted in a strange way. It was a reminder not to let him hurt me again. There was no mistaking it; I never got over my husband. He would eat me alive, and next time, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to pick up the fractured pieces of my heart.

We only live once.

That was the dumbest justification ever.

“Luca could do it.” Cassio’s voice interrupted the world where only Luciano and I existed. I blinked in confusion, wondering what he was suggesting. I had completely forgotten about him and Ella. “Luca could go into Ian Laszlo’s house and get the will. He can break into any safe.”

Ella and I shared a glance. Neither one of us thought about a safe.

“Grace, let Luca do it.” Luciano’s tone was commanding, and my instinct to fight him flared up. “He’s one of the best when it comes to that stuff.”

“We don’t know how to break into a safe.” Ella must have picked up on my intent to argue with Luciano. “Might not be a bad idea,” she murmured.

She was right. It was actually a very good idea. I extended my hand and opened my palm, showing the key I had taken from Ian. My palm had an imprint of the key dug into it, from the sheer force of my squeeze, protecting a possible key to my future.

“It has to be done tonight,” I muttered, meeting Cassio’s whiskey gaze. “And we have to return the key before he goes home.”

Cassio immediately sprang into action. He phoned Luca, and he was here within five minutes, along with Massimo. It made me think he lurked somewhere in the shadows of the nightclub.

“I’ll go check on our fallen fighter and keep him busy,” Cassio commented and left the room.

“Massimo, take Ella back to the house,” Luciano ordered. “I’ll bring Grace back. Take the safe route.”

I glanced Ella’s way to ensure she was okay with that plan. She must have been because she was already making her way to Massimo.

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