DANGEROUSLY YOURS MR.VALE

CHAPTER 7

Chapter 7

Sienna’s Pov

I walked over and handed him a fresh cup of coffee. Our fingers brushed, and that simple touch sent warmth through me. “You should rest more,” I said softly.

He pulled me onto his lap instead, careful with his injured shoulder. “Resting is overrated when I have you here.” His voice was low, rough with emotion. He rested his forehead against mine, breathing me in. “Last night… saying those words. It wasn’t just the adrenaline, Sienna. I meant it.”

I cupped his face, my thumbs tracing his sharp jawline. “I meant it too. I love you, Luca. The real you. The man who fights for his sister, who protects me even when it complicates everything.” Our lips met in a slow, tender kiss. It wasn’t rushed or desperate like before. This one was gentle, full of quiet discovery. His hand rested on my waist, holding me close as if I might slip away.

When we pulled back, I stayed in his arms, my head on his good shoulder. “Tell me more about Isabella,” I whispered. “I want to know the parts of you that aren’t about revenge.”

He smiled faintly, his fingers playing with a strand of my hair. “She’s incredible. He plays the piano like the music comes straight from her soul. When we were kids, we’d squeeze into our tiny living room, and she’d practice for hours. I’d sit on the floor pretending to read, but really, I was just listening. Victor took that from us. But you… you make me remember what it felt like to have something worth protecting beyond anger.”

I kissed his temple. “We’ll get her safe, too. And Noah. All of it.” Being this close to him felt right, even in the middle of chaos. His warmth chased away the fear that had gripped me since the wedding.

We spent the morning going over the plan together at the table. No rushing in. No fighting. Marco joined us with printed maps and notes. “Vescovi’s warehouse has security, but we have leverage,” Marco explained calmly. “Luca’s connections can set up a meeting. Talk it out.”

Luca nodded, his arm around my shoulders. “Roman respects power and deals. We’ll offer him something he wants more than Noah, information on Victor’s side dealings. In exchange, Noah walks free. No one gets hurt.”

I squeezed Luca’s hand under the table. “I want to be there with you. I'm not waiting behind again.”

He turned to me, eyes serious but soft. “I know. We’re a team now. You’ll stay by my side the whole time. But promise me you’ll let me lead the talking. Your brother is safe as long as we stay smart.”

“I promise,” I said, leaning in to kiss him lightly. His lips tasted like coffee and hope. Every touch between us felt like building something real amid the lies. “This marriage started as a contract, but it feels like home now. With you.”

His eyes darkened with emotion. He pulled me closer for another kiss, deeper this time, his hand gently cradling the back of my head. When we broke apart, he whispered against my lips, “You are my home, Sienna. One year? I want forever if you’ll have me after all this.”

My heart swelled. “Forever sounds perfect.” We sat like that for a while, just holding each other. His fingers traced patterns on my back, sending shivers down my spine. I could feel his heartbeat steady against mine. In the quiet moments, the romance between us bloomed stronger than any danger outside these walls.

Marco cleared his throat politely and stepped out to make calls, giving us privacy. Luca chuckled softly. “He’s giving us space.”

“Good,” I murmured, nuzzling his neck. “Because I need more of this. More of us.” We talked for hours about dreams after the revenge ended, about finding Isabella a safe place to play piano again, about me writing stories that actually helped people instead of chasing shadows. He listened like every word mattered. I shared stories of Noah as a kid, how he’d always tried to be the man of the house after our parents passed. Luca opened up about the loneliness of pretending to be Damian, how empty the big mansion felt until I arrived.

“You walked into that café and turned my whole world upside down,” he said, his voice warm. “I thought I was using you, but you saved me instead. Made me feel again.”

I straddled his lap carefully, mindful of his shoulder, and kissed him with all the growing love in my heart. His hands settled on my hips, pulling me nearer. The kiss was sweet and lingering, filled with passion that promised more once the storm passed. “I love how you look at me now,” I whispered. “Like I’m not just a journalist or a pawn. Like I’m yours.”

“You are mine,” he replied, his tone possessive but tender. “And I’m yours completely. No more secrets. No more walls.”

As the afternoon turned to the evening, Marco returned with good news. “Roman agreed to a neutral meeting at an old café downtown. Eight o’clock. Just talk.”

Luca kissed my forehead. “Ready?”

“With you? Always.” I changed into simple jeans and a sweater, and he did the same. Before we left, he pulled me into one last embrace by the door. “Whatever happens tonight, remember this. Us. The way you make me want a real life after.”

“I will,” I said, melting into him. Our kiss goodbye was full of quiet fire—lips moving slowly, hands exploring with gentle affection. It left me breathless and certain. We were in this together, hearts and all.

The drive to the café was peaceful. Luca held my hand the whole way, thumb stroking my knuckles. “After we get Noah, I want to take you somewhere normal. Dinner. No cameras. Just us.”

“I’d love that,” I replied, smiling. “A real date, Mr. Moretti.”

He grinned, the kind that lit up his whole face. “Mrs. Moretti sounds even better.”

At the café, we sat across from Roman Vescovi. He was calm, watching us with sharp eyes. Luca laid out the deal clearly, with information for Noah’s freedom. I added details from my journalist notes, my voice steady because Luca’s hand rested supportively on my knee under the table.

Roman listened, then nodded slowly. “Smart move. We have a deal. Your brother will be released tonight.”

Relief washed over me. Luca pulled me close as we left, kissing my temple right there on the sidewalk. “See? Teamwork.”

Back at the safe house later, Noah arrived with Marco’s men. He hugged me tight, tears in his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Sienna. For everything.”

“You’re safe now,” I said, holding him. Luca stood nearby, giving us space but smiling softly when our eyes met.

That night, after Noah settled into a side room, Luca and I curled up together in bed. His arms wrapped around me perfectly. “I love you,” he murmured into my hair.

“I love you more,” I whispered back, pressing a kiss to his chest.