Filed to story: Bound by Honor (Aria & Luca) Drama Story
I trusted Luca. It was Matteo whom I didn’t trust. Even more so since he’d attacked me, but Luca didn’t know that, of course, and never would. “But will he hurt her?”
Luca didn’t say anything, and my heart plummeted. “Come on, let’s get back home. I have a feeling we’ll have to fly to Chicago soon to appease your fucking father.” He took my hand and led me toward the exit of the park. He hadn’t answered my question because he couldn’t.
I couldn’t stop fretting over what was happening with Gianna, and Luca sensed it. He tried calling Matteo several times during our ride home, but he didn’t pick up. When Luca’s phone rang, I could have cried from relief, but it turned out to be my father.
Luca’s face darkened as he listened to him. “We will come to Chicago to discuss matters with you. This isn’t only an Outfit matter. Gianna is Matteo’s fiancée.” Pause. “Yes, still, until he decides he doesn’t want her.”
The moment Luca hung up, I asked, “What did he say?”
“Apparently, Matteo found your sister with another guy. I don’t have to tell you how fucking bad that is.”
I turned toward the car window, trying to keep it together. Matteo would see it as cheating and worse, as an attack on his honor. I knew how men in our world dealt with that kind of thing. Trembling, I turned back to face Luca and touched his hand. “Please, Luca, you have to make sure Matteo doesn’t hurt Gianna.”
We pulled into the parking garage and Luca shook his head. “She is his fiancée. I can’t tell Matteo what to do with his woman.”
I narrowed my eyes. He knew I hated that, but his expression spoke a clear language: I had to accept it. These were the rules of mob life.
I followed Luca out of the car, and his strong arm around my waist steadied me. “Don’t worry so much.”
How could I not worry?
Then finally when we arrived in our apartment, Matteo answered his phone.
“A text with ‘I got her,’ that’s all I get from you?” Luca ranted. I pressed close to him, wanting to hear what Matteo had to say, but Luca was too tall and Matteo didn’t speak loud enough for me to hear anything.
“What is he saying?” I asked, panic swinging in my voice.
Luca rolled his eyes at something Matteo said, then muttered, “With what?” He paused. “No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to fucking know.”
“Did he hurt her?” I practically shouted, hoping Matteo would hear me. My throat was tight and my eyes watered. I was going to lose it soon. Luca could tell as his gray eyes leveled on mine.
Luca lowered his voice. “Is she alive?”
I jerked against him, my eyes growing wide. I hadn’t considered that option. Matteo wouldn’t do it, right?
He was a killer and had found Gianna with another man.
Oh God.
Luca squeezed my hand. “I take that as a yes.”
“How’s Gianna? Please, is she all right? I need to know.”
Luca nodded. “Gianna is fine,” he told me, then to Matteo, “When will you be back?”
“Will he bring Gianna to New York?” I asked. Luca gently pried my hand off his arm and motioned for me to stay where I was. Then he walked out onto the roof terrace. I followed but stayed inside, watching him through the windows. I knew I was driving him crazy with my anxiety, but he had never liked Gianna very much. He tolerated her because of me, but he wouldn’t shed a tear if she were gone.
He paced the roof terrace, dark brows pulled together, disapproving. He shook his head, then lowered his mobile and spotted me watching him. He came back in.
“Your sister is all right, Aria. Matteo will be heading to Chicago with her to deal with your father.”
“We will go too, right?” I whispered.
He released a small sigh, then cupped my face. “We will. Of course, we will. We’ll take our plane. Go pack a bag in case we have to spend a couple of days in Chicago.” I nodded and was about to pull back, but he held me in place and bent down until his lips almost touched mine. “You need to stop protecting your sister. She’s a grown-up and she will have to deal with the consequences of her decisions. I don’t want to have to worry about you in addition to Matteo, love.” My heart fluttered at the endearment. Luca wasn’t big on nicknames, but whenever he called me “love” or ” principessa,” it felt all the more special.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” I promised. “As long as you are at my side, I can deal.”
“I’ll always be at your side, Aria-that I can promise you.”
He kissed me slow and sweet, before he allowed me to head upstairs.
Luca’s hand around mine was tight as we waited at the airport for Matteo and Gianna to disembark from their plane. The moment they did, I tugged at Luca’s hand and he released me. I ran toward Gianna. She was forced to walk beside Matteo, who kept her at his side, but then finally she was allowed to storm toward me and we collided painfully. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, glad to have her back in one piece.
“Oh Gianna, I was so scared for you. I’m so glad you’re here.” I couldn’t stop the tears.
I pulled back to give her a once-over. It took a second glance to recognize her with her dyed hair. Brown. I didn’t like it. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
Gianna stroked my hair. A rare gesture for her, and it ignited my worry anew. “Gianna? Did Matteo do something?”
“Matteo didn’t do anything,” Matteo said in a hard voice. I jumped, my eyes darting to him. When his dark eyes met mine, I fought the urge to look away as fear bubbled up in me. I thought we’d settled things between us, but my body seemed to disagree. Matteo’s brows pulled together as he regarded me and I averted my eyes. I didn’t need Luca to pick up on the tense atmosphere between his brother and me.
“I didn’t ask you,” I said quietly. When Luca arrived at my side and clapped Matteo’s shoulder, I relaxed. “Good to see you again,” he said, and I could tell he meant it. He’d missed Matteo, his only confidante except for me.