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I realize that I haven’t told him how I feel. I’ve had sex with him, and I’ve acted like an impulsive, jealous ninny. What can he possibly make of that? I need to use words to let him know I love him. I need to do better to show him that I’m committed to staying. He is my future. As much as I want my friends and even Niko in my life, it’s time I stake my claim to my life. To my love. To Luca.
23
LUCA
The house feels empty with Aria gone. I fill my time with work that needs to be done, but I'm using it as a distraction more than my job.
Roberta and the other staff seem to feel it as well. I can hear them talking about how they miss Aria’s attempts to speak Italian.
At night, with nothing to occupy my mind, is the worst. The silence echoes through the house, accentuating her absence.
Tonight, I’m at my desk, feeling lonely. I call Aria, needing to hear her voice, but then I remember the time in New York and realize she’s at her baby shower. I scrape my hands over my face and prepare for another long night of missing her.
My phone rings, and I grab it, hoping she’s calling me back.
“Don Conte?” a guard at the gate greets.
“Yes.”
“The woman… the one we’re not to let in is at the gate.”
So send her away, I think. “What does she want?”
“It has to do with the child.” His voice is tentative. He knows he risks my anger by interrupting me with this when my order was to keep her away. I suspect it’s that she’s pregnant that has them calling.
“Keep her there. I’ll come out.” I make my way outside, bracing myself for the confrontation.
Electra stands there, her eyes pleading. "Luca, please, you have to listen to me. The baby is yours, I know it is."
I cross my arms, my jaw tightening. "We've been through this. I've told you, I won't be a part of your games."
"But it's the truth!" she insists, her voice rising. "The child is yours, I swear it."
I raise a hand, silencing her. “What about Bruno?”
Electra waves a dismissive hand. "It doesn't matter. Bruno means nothing to me. You're the one I want, Luca. We belong together."
“You’d really take his child from him?” I’m not surprised. “Why would I want a woman who’d do such a thing?”
She scoffs. “You’re no saint.”
I shake my head. “No. I don’t care about earning wings. You should keep that in mind when dealing with me.” It’s a veiled threat. One that I wouldn’t be able to carry out, but she doesn’t know that.
She steps back, telling me she understands.
“Bruno is making you a good offer. I suggest you take it. We both know the truth. You don't want me. You want my money and the lifestyle I can provide. That's all this has ever been about."
She moves toward me again, her hand reaching out to touch me. "That's not true, Luca. I love you. I've always loved you. This child is ours, I swear it."
I shake my head, unwilling to be drawn in by her manipulations. "Spare me the lies. This has nothing to do with me.” I think of Aria. How she looks at me like I’m a superhero. Except for that time she saw me kill Sabini’s man. It gutted me that I’d fallen in her estimation. But since then, I feel that she sees me as who I am, wants me as who I am, not my power or influence or money.
Electra's expression hardens, her desperation giving way to anger. "How dare you! I've given you everything, Luca. My body, my loyalty, my heart. And you repay me by throwing me aside for some American whore?"
My jaw tightens, and it takes all my effort not to strike out. “Watch yourself, Electra. You’re precariously close to stepping over the line. You will not talk about her to me… or to anyone. Do you understand?”
She must see the lethalness inside me as she again steps back.
“If you’re smart, you’ll take Bruno’s offer. It gets you what you want.”
