And in ways I didn't understand that prospect made me happiest of all.
13
Vienna
I clutched my duffle in my hand trembling with anticipation. I knocked on the door and waited. Leah had tried to talk to me out of it. She told me I could stay with her, that there was no reason to go back. That she would help me raise my baby. But I couldn’t do it. I had to own up to the truth with Luka, I had to give him a chance to prove himself. He was going to be a father after all. I used the last of the money he gave me to buy a new outfit, after leaving a couple hundred dollars for Leah. I wanted to help with rent and she wouldn’t let me, so I waited until she left for work and put it in her bedroom. I would miss how good she had been to me, but I wouldn’t forget it. She would be this kid’s godparent for sure, and I would make sure Luka’s family helped take care of her.
The door flew open in front of me just as I was about to knock again. Luka’s eyes grew wide as he continued to talk on the phone.
“All that I'm saying is you better make sure the warehouses are clear, Marco. That's your job as the muscle. I'm doing my part, and you have to do yours.”
He waited for Marco's response.
“Fine, I’ll see you on Friday night. And don't forget mass on Sunday. My mom is gonna blow a gasket if we’re both not there.”
He clicked off the call and put his rough hands on my face and pulling me into him. A hastened kiss fell upon my lips before he put my bottom lip between his teeth and ground it gently. “I missed you,” he said as we broke away.
“I'm here now.”
“You are. Come in.”
He was so soft with me, totally different than he had been with Marco. I was surprised, I expected him to be angry, but honestly I thought he was too surprised to be mad. “What was that all about?”
He rolled his eyes. “Just business.”
“They already have you working again?”
He shrugged. “There's no vacation in this business. Besides, I have a lot to catch up on. So what about you? I like your new outfit.”
I turned around and started to show off a little in front of him. “I hope so, you paid for it.”
He leaned back against the couch, unbuttoning his jacket. “It looks good.”
We stood awkwardly in silence for a moment. Finally he spoke, “You left.”
“I did.”
“Why? I promised I’d protect you. I’ll keep you safe Vienna, I wasn’t lying when I told you how I felt.”
I chewed on my lower lip. I couldn't tell him what I'd done. He had no idea that I was part of the Agnelli family. He had no idea that my mother had died at the hands of the mob only for me to join another one. I couldn't tell him that some of his biggest rivals were my blood. So I continued with my lie.
“I know you weren’t but I was afraid. I don’t want to lose you.” So that part was true, I was afraid, afraid of my feelings for him. Afraid that I couldn’t complete my job. And now I was carrying another secret, his child.
He pulled me close to him. “You don’t ever have to be afraid again. Stay, stay with me.” Against my better judgement I melted against him. “Tell me all your secrets,” he whispered in my ear.
I stiffened. Did he know? About who I was? About the baby? Or was I paranoid?
I tried to play it off.
“I brought groceries, I was going to make dinner.” I walked back over to the door and held up a bag of groceries.
“We can still do that, after.”
“After?”
“Don’t think you’ll get away with walking around in an outfit like that. Strip.”
I set the groceries back down next to the door. “Excuse me?”
He loosened his tie around his neck. I watched his hands carefully, scars etched into his knuckles, imprints of his past. “I said strip. I don't think I stuttered.”
So was this how it was going to be? I did his bidding, undressed on command?
I tried to muster up some sort of disagreement. To attempt to say no. Who the hell was I kidding? All I wanted to do was say yes. I was back in Luka’s arms. I knew it was a bad decision, I knew I had to tell him why I was back. But for right now, I just wanted his hands on my skin, to let the rest of the world fall away.
I turned away from him and slowly removed the hot pink top first. I tossed it back at him and covered my bra with my arms. I turned back around and leisurely let my hand fall to the side. I also bought new lace underwear. A matching set. It was a coral color with white accents. I watched his eyes go straight to my breasts. I trailed my fingers down the skin of my stomach until they reached my waistline, where I unclasped the bottom of the tight jeans and unzipped them. I slowly shimmied my way out of them, stepping out of my flats and tossing the jeans to the side. He didn't move. Well, his limbs didn't anyway, but I could see his cock straining against the fabric. He wanted me.