“Sorry. I have to do this to get the swelling down.”
Nodding my head, I didn’t say anything. Partly because he had ice on my lip, but partly because looking at him simply had me lost for words. His face was like a masterpiece of art. I felt like I could sit and admire it for hours upon hours and still never tire from staring. It didn’t help the fact that he was staring just as hard as I was.
“You’ve ensnared me.”
Those three words had me spellbound. “What?” I whispered.
He touched my face so tenderly that the feel of his hands on me made me close my eyes.
“I can’t stop thinking about this beautiful face. It’s been engrained into my mind ever since I saw you—ever since I came into your office yesterday.”
“You mean barged.” I snorted, making Luca chuckle.
“Yes, I suppose I did.”
He moved the towel a little causing me to wince again. “Your beautiful lips. How dare he touch these beautiful lips? I’m going to kill him.”
I could see his anger begin to rise again, and it soon brought mine to an immediate stop. “I’ll heal, Luca. I’m fine. Really.”
“I can’t abide by any man hitting a woman. Women are to be loved and taken care of. Not abused.”
I could see the fire in his eyes, and it made me wonder what had made him like this. All men should feel this way, but with Luca, it seemed to be a deeply rooted passion. Something in his eyes told me he was being tortured by memories.
It made me frightened for Michel’s life. “Promise me you won’t hurt him.”
Luca’s eyes now focused back on mine. “What?”
“Promise me you won’t hurt Michel.”
He looked stunned. “How can you say that after what he’s done to you? How can you be that forgiving?”
“It’s one thing for him to have consequences for his actions, but it’s another entirely when those consequences involve ending up dead.”
He smiled a little. “So what do you think I should do?”
“You’re asking me?” He nodded. “You’re really asking me?” He nodded again.
I sighed. I really didn’t know how to answer that. “I think what you did was enough.”
“So, you think he deserved it?” Luca smiled again, causing my heart to flutter.
I smiled back. “Maybe. Just a little bit.” I gestured with my thumb and finger just how little I thought he deserved it.
Luca chuckled. “I’ll make a gangster’s moll out of you yet.”
“‘A gangster’s moll?’ Was this your dastardly plan all along?” I couldn’t believe I was now joking with the man who was keeping me hostage in my own home.
“My plan was simple. Until I barged through your door yesterday.” He took the ice off my lip and inspected the cut. “How’s that?”
“A bit better, thank you.”
He totally surprised and then floored me by taking my hand and kissing it. The surge of heat and electricity through that one kiss had my senses running into overdrive. I could feel every touch on my skin, feel the way his soft lips brushed against my hand, and I could hear every breath that left his beautiful lips.
His eyes soon met mine, and there we sat—locked onto one another like dance partners in action. I couldn’t seem to break away from it… I didn’t want to break away from it.
Leaning in slightly, Luca brushed his lips against mine.
It was only a hairs whisper, but it was enough to start a war in my panties. My God, I was on fire.
He held my stare and gently placed a lock of hair behind my ear. “I can’t even kiss you now. That little fucker made sure of that.”
The fire in his caramel eyes was back again. Even I was getting pissed off with Michel now. The bastard had stolen my kiss from me.
Another knock soon sounded on my door breaking the moment we had between us.
Standing up, Luca swiftly answered it. “What?” he asked in an unamused tone.
Another man I didn’t recognise was stood timidly in the doorway. It amazed me that—despite how big all of these men were—they bowed down to Luca like he was their god.
He whispered something in his ear causing, Luca to turn to me. “Where are they?”
I knew immediately who he was referring to, and it made me smile. I did owe Thomas a lot now. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You know exactly what I mean, Clara. Now, where are they all?”
I just shrugged. “They’ve got the day off.”
He stepped closer. “You’re lying to me.”
“Then, why ask me?”
He shook his head. “They can’t hide forever, you know. We will find them.”