Page 42 of Devoted

Heat blooms in my chest. “It’s cute, I accept.”

He laughs. “Good. Agreed then.”

I unfold myself from my cushion and go to stand, but he catches my wrist, his eyes searching mine.

“Can we stay like this for a bit longer?” He pauses. “Please?”

When I give him a small nod, he shifts to one end of the couch and he taps his lap.He must be expecting me to lie my head on his leg like he had been.

I don’t know what comes over me. I straddle his thighs and settle down on his lap. His eyes go wide.

“What are you doing, Rosa?” His deep gravelly voice sends pulses to my pussy.

He groans, tipping his head back against the headrest.

Holy shit.I lick my lips as his Adam’s apple bobs.

“I-I don’t know,” I answer honestly.

My feelings for him confuse the hell out of me. He brings his face back to me, his bloodshot eyes remind me of the pain he’s feeling right now.

“Oh, Luca,” I sigh, wrapping him up tight, his head nested between my breasts.

He’s never faltered when it comes to me, so I will be there for him. We fight together.

“Thank you, Rosa. I’m going to be lost when you leave me.”

I don’t even want to think about that day, so I just hum in agreement.

His phone starts to vibrate. He takes two long breaths that end in a sigh before he leans back to dig it out of his jacket pocket. I slide away onto his knees to give him some space to answer.

The tanned skin of his face pales as he listens to whoever is on the other end, then a flush of red works its way up his neck. “What in the fuck do you mean you can’t find her?”

I flinch back at the sheer anger in Luca’s voice, torn between getting off his lap or hugging him closer. So I do what my heart tells me to do–I bury my face into his chest and I hold on to him as tight as I can. I just know they’re talking about Maddie.

“Keep looking, we can’t lose her. We have to find her before he wakes up. It will fucking kill him.” His hand tightens where he grips my hip.

I keep my face pressed against his neck, my heart sinking for him. It’s going from bad to worse for him and there isn’t a damn thing I can do to help. It might be wrong, but I wish my dad was dead, so this would stop for him.The cell phone bounces off the cushion after he ends the call. “I have to go.”

“Luca, you’ve got this. It will be okay. Go out there and fight, just keep your head and don’t get yourself hurt,” I whisper. I release my hold and lean back, grabbing his face in my hands.“Don’t worry about me. I’m safe here.” I press a soft kiss to his cheek and hop off his lap.

There's a fire in his eyes as he stands.“I’ll see you soon, tesoro.”

CHAPTERTWENTY

luca

Watching my best friend’s heart rip out of his chest when we told him Maddie was missing made me realize our weakness. We don’t have enough men for this fight. I promised him I will do what it takes to bring her home, and that starts now. With Sienna being so broken about Maddie’s disappearance, me and Keller don’t have a choice.

We need more recruits, and we know exactly where to find them.

In the place it all started for us.

I follow my brother as we push open the doors to our childhood.

Tony’s gym.

The familiar smell of leather and sweat hits me, and I feel home.

---