My Mafia Father's Bodyguard

Chapter 4

Elena's POV

He then paused dramatically, as if setting the stage in his mind and I crossed my arms, absolutely amused already.

“It was late at night," He said, waving the cigar for emphasis, “and your old man was in a bit of a situation. My car had broken down, right in the middle of nowhere and I was ready to throw the damn thing into the sea.”

“That sounds like you, Papa.” I giggled, shaking my head.

“Don’t interrupt the storyteller.” He warned pretending to be serious and then continued. “So, there I was, standing in the dark, cursing my luck, when suddenly—this man appears.” He pointed his cigar at Luca.

“And what was my first thought?" He continued. "That he was a thief, of course!”

“Papa! You didn’t!” I burst out laughing.

“Oh, I did.” He nodded proudly. “I was about to pull my gun and demand what he was doing there.”

“Wait—" I paused mid-laugh. "you have a gun?!”

“Of course I have a gun." Papa’s eyes twinkled mischievously. "What kind of man do you think I am? If I hadn’t, I’d probably be robbed blind by now.”

“Unbelievable.” I rolled my eyes laughing in disbelief.

“Anyway,” he continued, brushing off my protest, “instead of robbing me, this thief—” he air quoted with his fingers, “—turns out to be the one helping me fix my car. He just rolls up his sleeves, crouches beside the hood, and starts working like it’s the most natural thing in the world.”

"You were struggling with the spark plug, sir.” Luca’s quiet voice entered the scene at last.

“Exactly! He remembers." Papa pointed his cigar again. "I was about to break my own car in frustration, and this man saves me from my own stupidity.”

"So you’re a mechanic too and a bodyguard?” I smiled at Luca.

"A little." Luca shrugged humbly. "I grew up fixing things. My uncle taught me well.”

“A good man, that uncle." Papa nodded, satisfied. "Because this one—” he jabbed a thumb at Luca, “—didn’t even flinch when it started to rain. I told him to leave it, that I’d call for a tow truck and he said, ‘No, sir, it’s almost done.’ He stayed there under the rain, drenched to the bone, fixing my car.”

He then paused to take a puff, eyes glimmering through the smoke.

“That was the night I decided I’d never let him go.” He added.

“You didn’t really give me a choice, sir.” Luca chuckled softly, lowering his gaze and Papa threw his head back laughing.

“That’s true! I told him the next morning that he was working for me whether he liked it or not. And ever since that day, he’s been my right hand, my most trusted man, and my bodyguard." Papa said as he placed a proud hand on Luca’s shoulder. "The best I’ve ever had.”

Luca gave a small, respectful bow, though I noticed the subtle curve of pride in his mouth. It wasn’t arrogance but more like the quiet satisfaction of a man who knew his worth.

“Bravo.” I murmured, my lips curling into a smile I didn’t mean to show and Papa caught me watching Luca and grinned wickedly.

“Ah, see? Even my daughter is impressed.”

“Papa!” I exclaimed, mortified, though Luca’s smirk deepened.

“What? I speak only the truth.” Papa laughed heartily, puffing his cigar.

"So… you just appeared out of nowhere that night?” I turned to Luca, hoping to steer attention away from my reddened cheeks.

“Pretty much.” Luca responded. “I was walking home from work when I saw his car on the side of the road and I didn’t think twice.”

“He didn’t even ask who I was." Papa chuckled. "He just fixed it like some guardian angel with a wrench.”

Papa then leaned back, exhaling smoke into the night air.

“You know, Elena, you should’ve seen me that night. I was completely drenched. If your mother had seen me, she would have said, ‘Vittorio, I told you never to drive alone.’” And that made us both laugh again.

“She would have, actually.” I said.

Hearing Papa talk about my mother brought a tender silence that neither of us filled immediately and Papa’s gaze drifted to the horizon.

“It’s been six years.” He said softly, suddenly looking sad.

“I know.”

“She would’ve loved to see you now.” He turned back to me, smiling through the sadness. “You’re starting to look just like her.”

“Papa…” I said gently.

“No, no, it’s true.” He insisted, stepping closer. He pinched my cheek lightly, then tilted my chin up with a fond look. “You both have the same smile and the same stubborn eyes. But, eh—” He gestured dramatically, his eyes sweeping down my frame. “—you’ve got my height, and her curves. The body of a hundred models joined together!”

“Papa!” I groaned, and laughed despite myself and he laughed heartily too, changing the mood.

“What? It’s true! Even Luca can see it.”

Luca had looked away politely at first, but as our eyes met, his smirk returned as if he was undressing me in his mind.

Papa didn’t notice of course but I did.

“Go on, figlia mia, don’t act shy now. Pose for us, eh?” He said playfully and I shot him a playful glare. I used to play model when I was little and Papa would go on and on with taking pictures of me.

But then, I couldn’t help myself and I struck a pose, hand on hip, dramatically like a model and Papa burst into another round of laughter, clapping his hands.

“Ha! That’s my girl!" Papa said gleefully and Luca chuckled quietly.

“See?” Papa said proudly. “I told you she’s an exceptional beauty.”

“Indeed she is.” Luca murmured, his gaze catching mine again seductively for a second too long.

“Papa, please, stop embarrassing me.” I finally said, trying to compose myself as I crossed my arms again.

“Embarrassing? Bah! It’s my job.”

He then leaned in conspiratorially toward Luca and started telling him embarrassing stories about me when I was little.

“Did I tell you about the time she tried to run away from her nanny because she didn’t want to eat her vegetables?”

“Papa, no—”

“She was three.” He said gleefully, ignoring me. “Three! She climbed into the doghouse and stayed there for hours.”

“Really?” Luca’s brow lifted slightly in amusement.

“Don’t listen to him.” I said quickly and Papa grinned wider.

“Oh, it gets better. When she was five, she decided she wanted to be a pirate princess. She made us call her ‘Captain Banana.’” And that made Luca laugh harder, and that made me want to both melt and throw a pillow at my father.

“Stop telling him these things!” I protested.

“Never!” Papa declared theatrically. “You must also hear about when she was ten and tried to make pasta for her mother. She ended up setting fire to the kitchen curtains.”

"You set fire to the kitchen?” Luca turned to me, trying to suppress his laughter.

“I was experimenting!” I defended.

“Ah yes.” Papa said. “An experiment in destruction.”

Even I had to laugh at that one.

“You’re the worst.” I said, turning red.

"I know.” He says as he ruffled my hair affectionately.

The laughter lingered after that and then Papa took another drag of his cigar, his tone softening again.

“She’s always been trouble.” He said fondly. “But the kind that keeps you going.”

"Thanks, I think.” I smiled quietly.

"That was a compliment.” He winked.

Before I could reply, his phone began to ring and he frowned, fishing it out of his pocket.

“Hold on a minute, cara. I have to take this.”