Chapter 21
1113 Words
On the way back to my apartment I couldn’t stop thinking about everything. Jackson and Luca and, above all, the mafia.
Once the car was unpacked, I collapsed on the coach.
Luca came over and pulled my feet on to his lap and started to rub my feet.
“Have you thought about us?”
“Luca….I….I will always love you. You are my first love, but no matter how hard I try, I will always suspect you are cheating or lying to me.”
“Eventually, I will prove to you I am able to be trusted.”
“I can’t.”
“I have already found a place of my own and I will be staying here until I get you to forgive me.”
“Luca.”
“Listen, I don’t care how long it takes, but I will get you back.”
“Stop being selfish Luca! You need to let me go and find a love that will not cheat and make me feel like I wasn’t good enough.” I pulled my feet away from him and shifted to the end of the coach.
“You are right. I am selfish, but I can’t……I have to try. A few days isn’t enough time.”
“When will your place be ready?”
“Tomorrow. I mean it’s mine as of today, but the furniture won’t be delivered till tomorrow.”
“Good because I need space.”
“I don’t think you need space. I think you want me as much as I want you and when you are around me your body wants my touch. Just as much as I want to touch you.” He said, moving closer to me.
He slowly ran his finger tips over my arm, causing goose bumps all over my arm.
I wanted to push him away but I didn’t. As he moved closer, his lips pressed against mine. His tongue ran across my bottom lip and I opened my mouth, allowing him access.
I miss how soft his lips felt on my mouth. For a moment, I allowed my lust to take over, but only for a moment before I pulled away and stood up.
“Good Night Luca.” I said, walking to my room.
“Good night beautiful.”
I crawled into bed mad at myself for allowing him to kiss me. Why was I so weak?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning went by fast and before I knew it, Emily and Bella came walking through the door.
When Susan heard about Bella, she set up a little desk in her office so she could wait for me to get off work. There were about 2 hours where our shifts overlapped.
As soon as my shift was over, Bella and I made our way upstairs to my apartment.
I opened the door to find Luca setting the table.
“I thought you got a place?”
“I do have a place but I knew a little princess would be hungry and grilled cheese and tomato soup didn’t make itself.”
“Luca!” Bella squealed as she ran and wrapped him in a hug.
I wanted to yell and kick him out but Bella really enjoyed him and the poor girl had already been through more than any kid should.
I watched as she didn’t hesitate and started eating.
“Can I have some more, please?” She asked as she finished her grilled cheese.
“My pleasure princess.”
I couldn’t believe my eyes when she finished her second sandwich. She yawned and rubbed her eyes.
“Are you sleepy princess?”
“A little. I can’t sleep when the car gets cold.”
My eyes darted to Luca and I forced a smile. “Well, Bella, how would you like to lie down in my bed?”
She shook her head as Luca scooped her up and carried her to my room.
I paced back and forth in the kitchen as I watched Luca tuck her in and close the door behind him.
“Do you think they are sleeping in her car?” I whispered.
“It sounds like it.”
“I can’t let them stay in a car.”
“I could give them my place and I could stay here.”
I gave him a dirty look, letting him know I didn’t like the idea.
He put his hand up in surrender. “Sorry. Honestly, it’s smaller than this place. It’s only a studio and it’s about a half hour away. Her car wouldn’t handle the distance.”
“They can stay here till she can save enough for a place.”
“Babe, this is a one-bedroom apartment. I can just look to get her a place. I just have to figure out how to get that kind of money without drawing too much attention to this area.”
“What?”
“My father knows why I am here….I am running things from here but nobody else knows I am here and let’s say it needs to stay that way.”
“I won’t let you put them in danger, so I have enough room if I move my book case into my bedroom and put a toddler's bed where the bookcase used to be and Emily can sleep on the couch.”
“The couch has to be better than a car.”
I walked over to Luca and ran my hand up his arm and let my lips run over his ear. “So would you please go buy a toddler's bed for me?”
He took a deep breath. “Anything for you.”
Luca must have been on auto pilot as he drove to the store because he managed to get back just as Bella was getting up from her nap.
He helped me to move the bookshelf into my room and started setting up Bella’s bed. The bed fight perfectly in the corner of the room and by moving the couch he was able to put a tiny dresser next to the bed.
Bella watched with big eyes as I made the bed.
“Who’s bed is that?” She asked.
“Well, as you can see, it’s a princess's bed, so it’s for a princess.”
“I’m a princess.” She whispered.
He chuckled.
“Would you like to stay with me?” I asked.
She shook her head yes and threw herself on the bed. “I love it!”
Both Luca and I started to laugh. We had yet to give her the bags and bags of clothes and dolls.
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