Luca

34 - Something that's ours

Sofia

I’d never been this excited in my entire life.

Not even as a child.

Not even on birthdays.

Not even on the rare days my father didn’t raise his voice or his hand.

Today feels different.

Today feels like a possibility.

Today, Luca is taking me to see the house we’ll be moving into tomorrow once we’re married! Tomorrow. God, I’m getting married to Luca Vidal tomorrow!

Of course, I’m nervous. Not about being Luca’s wife, but what’s expected of me. I don’t want to cause the Vidal’s any embarrassment, and I won’t deliberately. But I have a horrible feeling that I’m going to fall flat on my face. All I need to remember is to put one foot in front of the other and breathe.

There’s also the fact that I have to return to my father tonight. I know that as soon as I walk through the door, he’ll be on me about what I’ve learned about the Vidal’s. I have nothing to tell him because I haven’t learned anything. I mean, it’s not like they’re going to talk about their business in front of me. They don’t trust me, and I wouldn’t expect them to.

However, Papa will have another task for me. I don’t know what that will be yet, but I know it will be something I don’t want to do. I’m not going to betray Luca. He doesn’t deserve that.

But I’ll tell Papa whatever it takes for him to believe me. Because once I’m married to Luca, I won’t have to see my father again. He will most certainly never be able to touch me. Luca will protect me, I know he will. But that doesn’t mean my father won’t hurt me tonight for not having the information he assumes I would be able to get.

I’m scared that he’ll mark me. if he does, Luca will notice, and that won’t be good. Luca already told me that if my father lays a hand on me again, he’ll kill him. It’s not that I want to protect my father, but I don’t want Luca to put himself in danger.

Yes, I know that the Vidal’s could wipe my father and his organization out in the blink of an eye. But that doesn’t mean Papa couldn’t have someone – I don’t know, a sniper, maybe – take Luca out before Don Vidal could get to my father. I must protect my husband, no matter what it costs me.

Luca and I aren’t alone on this trip. There’s a black car behind us with four suited-up bodyguards behind our car. I don’t mind that we’re being followed. It just means that the Don takes his son’s safety very seriously. But I do like that it’s just Luca and me in this car. No one else from the family is with us today. Luca said this was something we should do just the two of us. I was more than happy with that. Because bodyguards aside, it’s nice spending a few hours with Luca while no one else is around.

Luca drives with one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on the console between us. The windows are down, letting the warm breeze sweep through my hair as we turn onto a long, private road lined with endless fields and rolling greenery.

It doesn’t look real. It looks like something from a dream — a place untouched by violence, untouched by fear, untouched by the Romano name.

“Luca,” I whisper, leaning forward to take it all in. “Is this where our house is?”

“Just a little further down the road.” He tells me.

“It’s beautiful.”

He glances at me, smiling softly. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

My heart flutters, and I smile shyly. I love the way he looks at me.

We pass a large barn, its red paint fresh and bright against the green landscape. A stable sits beside it, empty for now but full of promise. Oh, wow!

I press a hand to the window. “Are we… are we going to have horses one day?”

I adore horses. I always wanted one of my own. But the moment Papa knew that I loved horses, he made sure I would never get close enough to stroke one.

“If you want them,” Luca says easily. “You can have anything you want, Sofia. All you have to do is ask.”

Anything I want.

No one has ever said that to me before.

I swallow hard, blinking back the sudden sting in my eyes. “I’ve never had a horse. But I always wanted one.”

“You will,” he says. “If that’s what you want. I’m going to make all your dreams come true, baby. Just you wait and see.”

I nod, unable to speak. But I can’t help smiling.

The road curves, and then — there it is.

I gasped.

The house rises before us like something out of a fairytale. Three floors of immaculate stone and glass, surrounded by gardens that look like they’ve been painted into existence. I can’t believe what I’m seeing! There are white shutters and a wraparound porch. Tall windows that catch the sunlight and make the whole place glow.

“Oh my God,” I breathe. “Luca… It’s magical.”

He parks the car and steps out, coming around to open my door. “Welcome home, beautiful.”

Home.

The word hits me so hard I nearly stumble.

Luca offers his hand, and I take it, letting him lead me up the steps and through the front door.

I didn’t know a heart could feel this full.

The moment Luca opens the front door, the world seems to shift — like I’ve stepped out of my life and into someone else’s. Someone lucky. Someone loved. Someone free.

I stand frozen in the entryway, staring at the high ceilings, the warm lighting, and the polished floors that gleam like they’ve been waiting just for us.

What is this place?

Am I dreaming?

“Go on,” Luca murmurs behind me, his hand resting lightly on my back. “Explore.”

I take a breath and step forward.

I drift through the open double doors and into the living room, my fingers brushing the back of the stunning dark blue plush sofa. A massive stone fireplace dominates one wall, stretching to the ceiling. The hearth is clean, ready for its first fire. Sunlight pours through the huge window, warming the room and making the wooden floors glow.

“It feels… cozy,” I say, surprised. “Even though it’s so big.”

“That was the goal,” Luca replies. “A home, not a museum.”

My chest tightens—a home. I’ve never had one of those.

It’s perfect.

“This is…” I turn in a slow circle. “Luca, this is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.”

He watches me with a look I don’t understand — something warm, something proud, something protective.

“Come on,” he says. “There’s more.”

He leads me out of the living room and into the dining room. It instantly takes my breath away. A long wooden table sits in the center, surrounded by eight high-backed chairs. A wrought-iron chandelier hangs above it, casting warm light across the room. French doors open onto a patio overlooking the fields, and it’s so picturesque.

I can imagine dinners here — laughter, warmth, safety. I can even see Luca and me hosting dinner sometimes.

I swallow hard.

“It’s amazing,” I say softly.

Luca’s eyes soften. “Good.”

When we step into the kitchen, I stop dead. “Oh,” I breathe. “Luca…”

This is the most beautiful kitchen I’ve ever seen. Marble countertops gleam under the lights. A huge island sits in the center, surrounded by barstools. State-of-the-art appliances sit on almost every counter but the island. The farmhouse sink is positioned beneath a wide window that overlooks the land. I couldn’t have imagined the house would look like this. I was expecting a small place, but this is beyond anything my wildest dreams could imagine.

“Luca,” I whisper, covering my mouth. “This is… this is out of this world.”

He chuckles. “I thought you’d like it.”

“Like it?” I spin toward him, laughing. “I love it.”

He smiles — a real one, the kind that softens his whole face.

I press a hand to my chest. “This doesn’t feel real.”

“It’s real, Sofia,” he says gently. “And it’s yours.”

Mine.

The word feels foreign. Dangerous. Precious.

“It’s ours.” I correct him.

“Ours.” He nods with a smile.

Luca leads me into another room. “This is the study.” He tells me.

The room is warm and masculine, with dark wood shelves and a leather armchair that looks like it belongs to a man who reads late into the night. I run my fingers along the spines of the books already on the shelves.

“You read?” I ask.

“Not as much as I should,” he admits. “But I will. If you want me to.”

“Will you read to me?”

Luca smiles. “I would do anything for you.”

My heart flutters.

Why is he so good to me?

He leads me into yet another room. He tells me that it’s the sunroom. It’s bright and airy, filled with plants and soft seating. Sunlight streams through the glass walls, warming my skin.

“I could stay in here forever,” I whisper.

Luca chuckles. “Then it’s yours.”

“What?” I gasp.

Luca cups my cheek. “This is your room, a place where you can come to relax. You can do whatever you want in here.”

Whatever I want.

Luca leads me up the large staircase, showing me every room. There are eight bedrooms: two on the top floor and six on this level.

Each guest room is decorated in soft colors — blues, creams, gentle greens. The beds are neatly made, and the curtains are light and airy. Everything feels peaceful. Whoever organized everything had good taste.

“You thought of everything,” I say as I turn to look at Luca.

“I thought of you,” he corrects.

I don’t know what to say to that. I just smile shyly.

When we reach the master bedroom, I stop in the doorway, my breath catching in my throat. It’s enormous — vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, sunlight pouring in through floor-to-ceiling windows. A private balcony overlooks the fields, the view stretching endlessly into the horizon.

A small fireplace sits in the corner, with a loveseat positioned in front of it. The sheer curtains are huge! The light fittings are gold, and the walls are dark blue. Even the lamps on the bedside tables match the walls. Then there’s the walk-in closet, which is bigger than my childhood bedroom!

I laugh — a bright, unrestrained sound that surprises even me.

“Luca,” I say, spinning around to face him. “This is… this is incredible.”

He leans against the doorframe, watching me with a soft smile. “Sorry that there isn’t a bed yet.”

I chuckle. I had noticed there wasn’t a bed.

“Our new bed arrives later today. The exact one you wanted.” Luca smirks.

I freeze. “You remembered?”

“I remember everything you say. Besides, you only said it last night, which is why I had the bed that was in here removed this morning.”

Something inside me breaks open — something warm, something hopeful, something terrifying.

Before I can think, I run into his arms. He catches me instantly, lifting me slightly off the ground as he holds me close. He rocks me gently, his chin resting on my hair.

“Luca,” I whisper, voice trembling as he stands me on my feet. “Are we… are we going to be happy?”

He pulls back just enough to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing my skin. “I don’t want you to worry about anything, Sofia. I know your life hasn’t been good, and you’re expecting the shoe to drop at any moment. Aren’t you?”

I nod because I promised Luca this morning that there would be no secrets between us. I promised to always be open and honest with him, no matter how hard it might be for me.

“I don’t want to think like that, Luca. But I can’t help it. It’s all I’ve ever known.”

Luca smiles. “Tesoro, I understand. Believe me, I do. But I’m going to make sure we’re always happy. This will be our home. You’ll be safe here with me, and nothing is going to spoil it.”

My chest tightens.

I don’t say it out loud — I can’t — but I know the truth.

I’m falling for him.

Hard.

Fast.

Dangerously.

I rest my head on his shoulder, breathing him in. “I wish I didn’t have to go home,” I tell him honestly.

His arms tighten around me. “I wish you didn’t have to either, Sofia. But it’s just for one night. This time tomorrow, we’ll be married, and your father will never be able to hurt you again. I wish I could keep you with me, but that’s not how things are done.”

“I know that.” I sigh. “It’s just one night. I’ll be okay. I just have to stay out of Papa’s way.”

He kisses my head. “I know you’re worried about being there with Roberto. But everything will be okay.”

He knows that I’m worried, but he doesn’t know everything.

He doesn’t know the fear that claws at my stomach every time I think of my father.

He doesn’t know the orders I know are coming.

My father wants information.

He wants leverage.

He wants me to spy on Don Vidal.

But I won’t. I can’t.

Not now. Not ever.

I’ll pretend that I’m going to do what Papa wants. I’ll nod in all the right places because I’ll do whatever it takes to survive until I’m finally away from him for good.

I shouldn’t keep this from Luca after I promised I wouldn’t keep secrets. But some things can’t be spoken about until we’re married. I won’t do anything to jeopardize that. The day after our wedding, I’ll tell Luca everything. What he does with the information – well, that’s another story.

I close my eyes, letting Luca’s warmth surround me.

This house feels like freedom, and Luca feels like safety.

For the first time in my life, I want a future, and I want it with him.