Luca

29 - It's time he listened

Luca

After I took Sofia to get checked out to make sure she hadn’t sustained any serious injuries, I walked her back to her room and told her to get ready for bed. I then made my way to my brother’s room. Yes, we spoke earlier, but I didn’t say nearly enough. This s**t has gone on long enough; now, it’s time to put an end to things.

“Come in, why don’t you?” Dray huffs when I walk through his door without knocking.

I roll my eyes, close the door behind me, and pull up a chair from his desk.

Dray sighs while moving to the edge of his bed. “Okay, get it over with already, Luca.”

I sit down, keeping eye contact with my twin. “This has to end, Dray.”

“Didn’t we already have this conversation, Luca?”

I shake my head. “No, we did not, Dray. What I said downstairs wasn’t nearly enough, and you know why.”

Dray groans while scrubbing his hands over his face. “I already got the message. You don’t need to go on.”

“But I do, Dray. What you did to Sofia earlier was disgusting. I get that you acted out of instinct. But it was wrong, and you know it.”

“And I already apologized!”

I shift in my seat. “Yeah, you did. But we both know you didn’t mean it. Hawk had a point last night. Mom’s dad was a piece of s**t. Should Dad or Uncle Hammer have treated her or Brooke the way you’re treating Sofia? By your reasoning, they should be dead!”

Dray’s eyes widen.

He doesn’t agree with me because he loves Mom and Aunt Brooke. But my brother needs to hear this. He needs to understand that what I’m saying is right.

“I know you don’t like Sofia,” I say. “I’m not asking you to. But I am asking you to respect her as my wife.”

“What the hell is it about this girl that you like so much, Luca?”

I smirk. “Other than the fact I took the time to get to know her?” Dray nods. “She’s sweet, Dray. There’s an innocence about Sofia that isn’t fake. Romano is a bastard, but he kept Sofia so sheltered that she’s not wise to our world. She’s not playing games because she hasn’t learned how.

“She’s kind,” I continue. “Even after everything Sofia has been through. She’s gentle. She listens. She doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not. She’s smart — smarter than anyone gives her credit for. She’s quiet, but not weak. She’s been hurt her whole life, and she still finds a way to smile.”

Dray stares at me.

“Sofia is the only woman I’ve been with who doesn’t want anything from me. She’s not trying to impress me. She’s not trying to manipulate me. She’s just… Sofia.”

My brother breathes deeply.

“Listen to me, Dray. You can’t keep doing the things you’ve been doing. Not just to Sofia, which I won’t put up with. But in general. How do you expect Dad to hand the family over to you when you act like you do?”

His eyes widen, but he doesn’t speak. Good. That means he’s listening.

“Dad is an evil bastard; no one is denying that. But he knows when to act that way and when to pull it back. You need to learn to do the same, Dray. But if you can’t, then maybe I should take over from Dad. One of us needs to use our heads. It’s clear you don’t know how to.”

“How dare you speak to me like this?” He hisses. “Who the fuc.k do you think you are, Luca?”

“I am your brother, Dray!” I snap. “I’ll talk to you however I see fit because I’m the only one who can. To be the Don, you need to be the backbone of the entire organization. You’ll need to use your head and keep it, especially in situations when most would lose it.”

Using my feet, I move the chair on wheels closer to my brother.

He sits straighter, looking directly into my eyes.

“I know how smart you are, Dray. I doubt there are many smarter than you. But on the other hand, you’re a dumb shit.”

“Prick!” He hisses under his breath.

“Maybe, but you know that I’m right. I would never wish to take your place, Dray. I don’t even want to be Don. But I’d do it if needed, and you know that.”

He rolls his tongue over his top teeth.

“I know you’re better than this,” I tell him. “Prove everyone wrong, Dray. Show people why you’re the best choice to take over.”

He groans, then nods. “Fine. You’re right. I do need to calm down. But for the record, if you wanted to take over from Dad, I wouldn’t stand in your way.”

I chuckle while shaking my head. “You know I don’t want that, Dray. However, I would if it came to it.”

“I know.” He whispers.

“Now, about Sofia. I don’t want to sound like a broken record,” I say. “But I won’t stand for you mistreating her any longer. You know how I feel about men who hurt women, Dray. I’ve killed people for much less than what you’ve done to Sofia. If you were anyone else, I would have killed you by now. The fact that you hurt the woman I’m going to marry,” I shake my head. “It can never happen again because brother or not…” I leave the words hanging in the air. Dray knows what I’m saying without me having to voice it.

“I get it, Luca. Don’t touch your woman or you’ll kill me.” He chuckles. “The trouble is, I actually believe you would. Look,” he sighs. “I’ll move past the fact that Sofia is a Romano. But answer me honestly. Are you falling for the girl?”

I groan while scrubbing my hands over my face.

I barely know Sofia. We’ve spent a week together. But I can’t deny that I like her more than I thought I would.

“I don’t know, Dray,” I tell him honestly. “Can I see myself falling for Sofia? Yes, I can.”

“So, you don’t like that I hurt her because you’re falling for her?”

I groan. “No, Dray. I don’t like that you hurt her because she’s an innocent young woman who doesn’t deserve it! I don’t want you to hurt her because you’re better than that. But yes, I also don’t want you to hurt her because I’m falling for her. Okay? Happy now?”

Dray shrugs. “I can’t say that I understand why you’d be falling for a Romano, but I said the same thing to Antonio about Marchello. I shouldn’t have hurt Sofia,” he tells me. “I’m sorry, Luca. I didn’t realize how you felt about the girl.”

I shake my head. “That shouldn’t matter, Dray. You shouldn’t have hurt her period. Do you have any idea how scared Amber was?”

“Yes,” he sighs. “I was a bastard, but I’ll make it up to Amber.”

I raise my eyebrows.

“You’re gonna make me apologize properly to Sofia. Aren’t you?”

I smirk while nodding. “It’s the least you can do, Dray. I’m going to marry that girl, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her alive. But I can’t have her scared of you. It’s not right.”

“You really think Dad will let you keep Sofia once Romano is out of the way?”

I nod. “And do you know why?”

“Why?” He asks.

“Because I’ll make him see that if he takes her from me, it will destroy me. When I said I’d take your place and marry Romano’s daughter, I had no idea I would feel this way about her. But I do, Dray. Tell me honestly. Would you really watch me fall in love with Sofia just to stand back and let Dad take her from me? Would you willingly hurt me like that?”

Dray sighs and shakes his head. “Of course I wouldn’t, Luca. If you honestly fall in love with her, then no, I wouldn’t let Dad take her out. I know I’m a cold-hearted bastard, but you’re the most important person in my life. I don’t want to hurt you, Luca. And I truly am sorry for what I’ve done. I’m a prejudiced cunt, but I love you. If you honestly want this marriage to work, then I’ll do whatever you need me to do. I promise.”

I sit back in my seat. “If that’s true, you’ll sincerely apologize to Sofia. If she accepts your apology, you’ll do whatever it takes to help me keep her safe. Right?”

Dray stares at me for a moment before nodding. “Right.”

“Thank you,” I tell him while I get out of my seat. Dray follows, and we hug. “I love you, too, brother.”

I leave Dray’s room, feeling a little better about things, and thankful that I didn’t have to smack him in the mouth. I could have hit him, but all that would have done was end up with both of us breaking bones.

Violence isn’t always the answer. So, Mom always says. Though Dray usually only understands such actions, brothers fighting is not a good thing. However, I was prepared to throw hands for Sofia.

I stop outside Sofia’s room, press my ear to the door, listening for movement. But I hear nothing. The painkillers Keaton gave her must have done their job and put her to sleep.

I’m disappointed because if Sofia had been awake, I would have walked right into that room, grabbed her, and kissed the s**t out of her.

As it is, I retire to my room. I shower the day away and then climb into bed.

I hope Dray keeps his word and apologizes to Sofia. I don’t doubt that he’ll help me to keep her safe. He’d never lie to me about something like that.

All I need to do now is convince my father of the same thing.