Chapter 51 Tell Me Everything !
Alex’s POV
Usually, my penthouse suite panoramic view of Sicily calms me when my thoughts are chaotic, but today it is not working. The last phone call with Luca has left me as taut as a copper wire, ready to spring at the slightest nudge. I could barely hear him above the roar of the motorcycle engine and the rushing breeze, but his tone was enough to set off the warning signals. He sounded breathless and as if he was panicking. Luca rarely panicked; he is always the life of the party. Something must have happened at Padre’s, and that something was coming for us.
I turn away from the view and settle on the lounge chair facing the door. My eyes stay fixed on it, even though he has not arrived yet. After his frantic call, I had swung into action, calling the Ferrini mansion and asking the guards to get Lucia to pack a suitcase for Alessia and her laptop.She should be ready to move at any moment. I also called the pilot, and he is on standby at the rooftop private airspace.
Alessia stirs, sensing my inner turmoil. “Alex, what is the matter? You keep staring at the door as if you are expecting someone to spring an attack on us.”
I turn to her, giving her a curt smile. “It’s nothing, just expecting Luca to arrive any moment.” She opens her mouth to say something but seems to change her mind. She is sitting on the love seat; reluctantly, she returns her attention to her open laptop on the side table as she watches her second lesson on her coven and the birth of La Rosa. She stares at the screen, scrunching her eyes, trying to concentrate. She is calm for now only because I have not told her anything yet. I will, but not yet. It is as if she feels my heated gaze on her still, and she looks up once more.
“Alex, are you sure you are okay? And it’s only Luca on your mind.” Smart woman. There is no downplaying how tense I am right now. I feel the need to get on my feet and pace around the room once more, but I swallow the instinct, folding one leg over the other instead.
“Yes, I am fine, Cara Mia. Make sure you pay attention to your lessons. The knowledge may very well be needed sooner than you think.”
She raises her eyebrows at me in question.
“Like how?”
I sigh, contemplating just how much to share with her. Even though once Luca arrives it will all come out. “Just focus, please.”
She holds my gaze for a moment before nodding and returning her attention to the screen.
I tilt my head and ask, “But are you understanding the history, especially your lineage?”
She nods. “Yes, Alex. I am quite fascinated by it all. It seems like a fairytale book, hard to believe it is real.”
I smirk. “It is very real. Let me know if you have any difficulties.” I pause. I wanted to add we will be on the hunt for the La Rosa soon and whatever you learn about Natura’s Coven and La Rosa may be the only thing that keeps us alive, but I do not want to distract or terrify her. Rather, I pick up my phone, reading Luca’s message again: “Stay inside the suite and increase security detail.”
I watch her for a moment, admiring her profile, when my phone buzzes in my pocket again. It is the guard on duty at the reception.
Message:
Signor Ferrini, Luca just arrived at the private entrance with Anto. Both of them are fine, and he is heading to you.
I exhale deeply as the guards stationed in the lobby knock softly and come into the living room.
“Signor Ferrini, the Madam’s suitcase has arrived. We placed it by her room door.”
I nod. “That is good.” My voice comes out more gruff than I intended.
Alessia looks up, surprised. “Alex, are we not returning to the mansion?”
I steady my voice and face her once more. “When Luca gets back, we might have to move.”
She scrunches her face in worry. “Where are we moving to? Did something happen?”
Before I can answer, I receive another message. Upon checking, it is from Luca.
I am coming up.
I slip the phone back in my pocket.
Time is almost up
No more hiding .
I face her, my voice low and urgent. “No more questions for now. Just trust me, Cara Mia.”
She snorts and returns her attention to the blue screen in front of her. Good girl.
I rub my back, rotating my neck slowly, trying to loosen the knot forming there. Luca mentioned the Mafia lords were on the hunt for Alessia, and in extension, me. He thinks Marco will mention where I am. If any one of them arrives before Luca gives me all the intel…
I hitch my breath. No. That will not happen. This place is tighter than an army facility for now.
I get up as I hear the slight ping of the elevator coming up. Walking to the door, I open it wide and stand in the doorway. My pulse is quickening steadily. Luca is coming.
I hear Alessia closing the laptop slowly. “Is Luca back?” she whispers softly.
“Yes. He is on his way up,” I answer her without turning around.
I feel my pulse start to race again, because I know whatever news he has is explosive.
As I watch the elevator, there is a soft metallic sound, and the doors slide open. Luca steps into the hallway, his breathing coming out hard, jacket covered in dust and hair ruffled by the wind. His eyes meet mine. They are sharp with a kind of urgency I have never seen in his eyes before. My stomach feels as heavy as a stone. I straighten, my jaw clenched tight, watching him as he approaches, mentally preparing myself.
“Luca, glad you made it back in one piece.” He nods, his mouth in a tight line. “Now tell me everything.”