Filed to story: No Escape From The Mafia Kings Embrace
“Luca, I’m not scared to die, and I wouldn’t blame you”, I said honestly. Luca’s hands shot out and gripped the sides of my neck and face, drawing our faces close together. “I am and I would”, he growled through gritted teeth. “I can’t lose you. Not since I found you”, he uttered, the side of his nose was pressed flat against mine, our eyebrows touched and lips brushed. “Luca”, I whispered. “Uhn-uh”, he mumbled, before closing his mouth over mine. His lips roughly claimed mine, as if he feared if he let go I would disappear. I recuperated his kiss as best as possible, it being difficult to keep up with his fast pace. My hands gripped his sides, letting him feel my presence to try and calm him.
Luca only released me when the car door was opened by Cal, signaling our arrival at home. “Come, pricipessa (princess)”, Luca said, as he slid from the car and outstretched his hand to me.
Marabella’s POV
We were met at the front door by his mother and brothers.”Are you okay?”, Luca’s mother was frantic as she approached us. “Yes, ma”, Luca answered, a small grin on his lips. “Not you, goodness. Marabella?”, his mother waved him off and cupped my face. Making Luca chuckle and me giggle. “Yes, ma. I’m okay.”, I answered. “Look at your beautiful dress, all ruined”, she tsked, as she looked down at my soot and dirt-covered dress.
Luca’s eyes traveled down the front of my dress and he frowned. “That’s my fault, mother. I’ll get her cleaned up”, Luca said, remorsefully, as he tugged my hand toward him. “Luca”, I said softly, “It’s okay. It’s not the dress that matters, you know that, right?”, I asked, gently, as he led me up the stairs. “It matters to my mother. She doesn’t want you to get hurt. She expects me to protect you, to shelter you. I want that, too”, he admitted, his expression pained. “Then your mother and I need to have a talk. You did protect me and shelter me today. But, you can’t always be there to do so, and it’s not fair to put that on your shoulders”, I said solemnly, as I stopped in the hall to face him.
Luca faced me, his expression stoic. “I really don’t like it when you remind me of that”, he confessed. My stern face dropped, “It’s only to remind you that it’s okay, and not always your fault. I don’t want you to feel responsible for me.”, I answered. Luca frowned as he took a step toward me. “I am responsible for you. You are my wife, or do you not know what that entails?”, he asked, tilting his head to the side, seeming almost irritated. “Of course I do”, I answered softly. “I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, piccola (little one). I really do, but you are my responsibility now. Your safety, your wellbeing, your happiness, it’s all my responsibility as your husband. And it’s a responsibility that I want. So stop trying to take it from me”, he uttered gutturally. I swallowed hard and nodded, “I’m sorry”, I whispered. “Don’t be, baby girl”, he murmured, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.
“Where is the first aid kit?”, I asked as we entered our bedroom. “Under the sink”, Luca replied, pointing toward the bathroom. I immediately went to the bathroom sinks, looking in the cabinets and drawers, until I found what I was looking for. When I walked back into the room, Luca sat at the end of the bed, shirtless. His fingers were clasped and his elbows rested on his knees. His head hung low as he stared hard at the ground.
The sight of him shirtless took my breath away, but the look and feeling of defeat that surrounded him broke my heart. I slowly approached him, when my bare feet came into his view, his eyes traveled up the length of my body until his eyes met mine. Luca smiled softly as he reached out for my hand. “Are you okay?”, I asked, as I slipped my hand into his.
Luca sighed heavily as he pulled me close to him. “It just scared me today, and I’m glad to be home now. That’s all”, Luca muttered, as he nuzzled my stomach. I ran my fingers through his hair, as my other hand rested on the back of his neck. “You don’t strike me as a man that gets scared easily”, I whispered. Luca looked up at me, his hand gently stroking my lower back. “I wasn’t, until I met you”, he uttered.
“I’m perfectly fine, Luca. You were the one hurt”, I frowned, noticing some bruising on his back. “This time”, he uttered, burying his face in my stomach and gripping me tighter. “Luca, don’t think like that, please”, I said softly, slowly pulling myself free from his grip. Luca frowned and grabbed my hips in protest. “Let me treat your wounds, please”, I said, cupping his face. “Kiss me first”, he whispered, desperation laced his tone. I smiled and leaned in, capturing his lips with mine, in a slow soft kiss.
When I pulled away, I placed a kiss on his forehead before climbing up onto the bed behind him. Luca chuckled and shook his head. “You are too sweet, principessa (princess)”, Luca mumbled. “Is that a problem?”, I asked softly. The bruise on Luca’s back made my breath stutter. It was the size of a small beach ball. “No it’s not”, Luca uttered, watching me in the mirror on the wall in front of him. “Luca, did something hit you?”, I asked breathlessly, as my fingers skimmed over his skin.
“Not that I remember, bambina (baby girl). It’s probably just from the force of the blast”, Luca answered gently. I looked up at the mirror, immediately locking eyes with him. “It’s bad.”, I uttered, concern etched into my features. “I’ll be okay, gattina (kitten). Just put some cream on it for me”, Luca assured me.
I swallowed hard and took a deep breath as I sifted through the first-aid kit for a rash cream. My hands shook violently, as the thought of Luca’s injuries played in my head. What if it’s an internal injury? What if he dies from it because it isn’t properly treated? “Marabella?”, Luca called out to me, as he turned to cup my face with one of his hands. “What’s the matter, gattina (kitten)?”, he asked with furrowed eyebrows. “It’s just now registering that you told me about me being in danger because you are always in danger. Fucking stupid, I know”, I confessed, shaking my head, and trying to pull away from him.
Luca’s hands gripped mine, keeping me from succeeding. “No, it’s not”, he said sternly. “It’s not stupid”, he said softly. My face scrunched up, “Why are you in danger, Luca?”, I whispered, choking up slightly. Luca sighed softly as he wiped my tears. “It comes with the territory, bambina (baby girl). I’m sorry.”, he apologized. “And this”, Luca said, turning his back to show me the large bruise, “Is something you’ll have to get used to seeing as my wife.”, he finished.
Marabella’s POV
I frowned as I put cream in my hand to rub onto his back. “What if I don’t want to get used to it?”, I mumbled, as I applied cream to his bruise. Luca’s muscles tensed, “If you want out of this marriage, I’ll allow it. I won’t be happy about it, but I’ll let you go”, he gritted out. My eyes were already locked on his in the mirror. “That’s not what I meant”, I frowned deeply, my voice small. Luca’s muscles relaxed and his face softened some. “Then what did you mean?”, he asked. “I don’t want to get used to seeing you injured, Luca. I mean, fuck, how would you feel if this was me?”, I asked, my hands gesturing as I talked.
Luca’s eyes darkened and a growl reverberated in his chest. “Oh, I’ll be checking you for injuries next. Don’t you worry”, he said, his voice guttural with vexation. I sighed, as I shook my head and continued applying cream to his bruise. “You’re missing the fucking point”, I said with irritation. “First of all, enough cursing, piccolo ragazza (little girl). Second,”, Luca began, turning enough to grab my waist and pull me into his lap, “I do see your point. You don’t want to see me hurt as much as I don’t want to see you hurt. However, unfortunately, that’s not how our world works, bambina (baby girl). So no more attitude from you, please”, he ended gently. “I’m sorry”, I whispered. “It’s okay, gattina (kitten)”, he uttered, leaning in to connect his lips to mine.
I clung to his shoulders as I reciprocated his kiss. Luca broke the kiss and brushed his nose against mine. “Your turn, stand up”, he ordered softly. I frowned at the implication of his demand. “Luca-“, “Don’t make me repeat myself, gattina (kitten). I do not like it”, he interrupted me. I stood from the bed and faced him. “Turn around, amore (love)”, he commanded, motioning with his finger. I took a shaky breath and did as I was told.
