Chapter 18 Celebrate

Chapter 18 Celebrate
I woke up to weight pressing against me. I opened my eyes so fast, I sliced air. It was my favourite small, warm weight pressing into my ribs, a knee digging into my stomach, hair tickling my face. Then I heard the giggle.
“Mummy.” Lucia was sprawled across my chest. Lyla had claimed my legs like a dragon guarding treasure. Both of them grinning down at me, their hair wild, and their eyes bright. For a moment, I forgot I was in Sicily. Until I shot upright. “What are you guys doing here? How did you even…”
“Mummy!” Lyla squealed, bouncing. “We flew!”

My heart slammed. I swung my head toward the door just as it opened.
Liam leaned against the frame, arms crossed, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
“Surprise!” he said with a stupid smirk on his face.
I stared at him. Then back at the girls. Then at him again.
“You brought them,” I said, voice thin.
He nodded once. “Gia helped me.”
“Gia?” I echoed, still disoriented. I have never been a morning person.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was from Gia.

'He wouldn’t stop asking questions. I told him where you were. Don’t kill me. Love you'

I exhaled sharply and rubbed my face.
The girls were exhausted once the excitement wore off. I bathed them myself, the familiar routine grounding me. I don't want to sound ungrateful for this. But this was too dangerous for Liam to do. Warm water, sleepy chatter, then tiny arms around my neck. Liam helped me with them. The routine seemed so familiar, as if we had been doing it together ever since they were born.
“We’re going to sleep forever,” Lucia yawned.
“Please don’t,” I murmured, kissing her hair.
They were out within minutes.
I locked the bedroom door behind Liam and me.

“I’m happy,” I said finally. “I’m so happy I could cry.”
“Then be happy" Liam said, that smirk still on his face. He knew what he did. I trust him. But sometimes he makes me want to throttle him.
“And terrified,” I added, eyes snapping to Liam. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”
He didn’t joke this time. He stepped into the room, lowering his voice. “I do. I wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t prepared. The girls just really missed you."
My chest tightened, but I shoved it down. He didn't come for me. Ouch.
“How?”
“I have a private jet with a rotated crew. I have someone working for me across every country I frequent. And the ones I might visit in the future.” He paused. “They were never unprotected.”
I blinked. “You have a private jet.”
" That was all you got from that?” he said mildly, “ but yeah. I made a lot of money.”
I stared at him for a long second, then laughed once, breathless. “Of course you did.”
“I’m grateful,” I said quietly. “Truly. But we leave soon. Sicily isn’t safe.”
“I know, mission accomplished. I can't stand in that house without seeing your face anymore." My heart soared. He came for me.

I nodded. No words to explain what I feel.

We flew the next morning.
The jet was everything I imagined and more. It was quiet luxury, soft leather. A space that hummed with money and control. I wasn’t new to this world, but I’d never owned it like this.

...
Julian was already at the house. So were Alyssa and Gia.
Liam glanced around the living room, arching a brow. “Do you all have homes? Or is this a commune?”
Alyssa snorted. “Don’t be jealous. We make this house bearable for Lucy"

They didn’t let me rest.
“Why are you guys here?" I asked them, amused.
"Because we are saving a girls night out" Alyssa screamed in my ear. “Shh. Don't wake the girls," I shushed her.
" Sorry”
“You’re celebrating,” Gia said, already pulling me toward my room. “You are a queen, and besides, we have to have it tonight. I am back in business”
"Me too,” Alyssa added.
“I’m tired,” I protested weakly.
“Too bad.” They dropped my bags on the floor and pushed me into my room to change. They even got me my dress.
It was a black sheer dress that showed off my curves so well. I looked too good…my makeup Smokey and ready to go.
Liam saw me and growled. His hands curled into fists as he kissed me senseless. Leaving me dazed.
" Don't party too hard now”
And I just nodded, dazed. My brain turned to mush.
" Damn”, Alyssa and Julian said at the same time and glared at each other immediately after.
Liam has lent us his Land Cruiser to take us to the club.
The club was loud, expensive, and unapologetic. Sweaty bodies grinding on each other. But we didn't waste any time and went to the VIP room. We are three people who hate people, and that is why we click the most.
We ordered champagnes and vodka. And kept the drinks rolling in.
“To Luciana,” Alyssa announced, raising her glass. “For terrifying old men and not dying.”
“To power,” Gia added.
I laughed and drank.
Too much.
Too fast.
We decided to go dancing. When some dude who doesn't understand the concept of "no" came. Hands brushed where they shouldn’t. Warnings were ignored.
Alyssa didn’t hesitate. She punched first.
Everything exploded: shouting, security, chaos.
Then silence.
Alfred appeared like an annoyed ghost. Not so shocked to see me.
“Alfred. It’s been so long. How are you doing?" I hugged him. My drunken self is stumbling. This is the kind of mind-numbing I love.
He gave some orders, and the men were kicked out immediately.
My phone rang.
Liam.
“Why is Alfred calling me about a brawl involving my wife?” he asked calmly.
“I’m not…" I hiccupped. “..your wife,” he sighed. I could almost picture him pinching the big nose of his.
“Stay where you are.”
He arrived with Julian minutes later.
Alyssa squinted at Julian. “You’re… tall.”
“I get that a lot,” Julian said patiently.
She climbed him. “British horsey. Run, horsey, run”
Gia burst into tears. “I have no man.”
Then immediately pulled a gun from her purse and pointed it at Alfred. “You. Butler.”
“Miss,” Alfred said carefully, “please put the firearm down.”
“Do you know Batman?” Gia asked. Gun still pointed at him.
“Why do you want to know?” Alfred asked. Hands still raised. An amused smirk on his face.
“To see if his dick is as big as his body,” Alyssa supplied.
“You have a lot in your hands", Alfred said to Liam.
“Thanks, man"
“I should get this. This will be gold," Julian brought out his phone camera. Taking pictures of us. I posed for him.

Then, suddenly, Alyssa started crying, and that triggered all three of us to start crying.
“I love you,” Alyssa sobbed, hugging us both. “We should buy an island.”
“No men,” Gia agreed.
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose. “Get them home.”
I fell asleep in the car.
Woke up halfway, draped across Liam’s lap.
“You want to fuck me?” I murmured, climbing his lap like a monkey. He packed the car.
" What the hell luciana. We could have died”
" But we didn't", kissing his jaw, grinding lazily in his thighs. My stockings are getting soaked.
He groaned. “Luciana.”
I kissed him again. “I’m hot for you. It won't be long"
I kept grinding on him. Not missing a beat. And he grained kissing me back.
“Trust me, we will be very long. But you’re drunk.”
“So?”
“We can’t.”
I pouted. “You don’t want me?”
“I want you too much to make sure you get it when I know you will remember it”
He got me out of the car. The night air made my head all woozy, and I vomited on his shoes.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. Groaning. Using the back of my hand to wipe my mouth.
“It’s fine,” he lied. But patiently held me until I got inside.
Inside, he changed me, fed me soup, tucked me in.
I held his hand.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “For leaving. For not telling you everything.”
He stilled.
“I wanted to protect you,” I whispered. “I know I’m stubborn. I know I do things alone. But I love you.”
He didn’t answer.
I fell asleep.
I woke with my skull splitting open. Ugh. I should have just stayed in yesterday. I got up to use the bathroom when I saw the Advil and water. Beside the bed.
I smiled despite the pain. I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, and washed myself. Did my skincare routine.
Then finally went downstairs.

I was greeted with Liam shouting.
“How did she escape?”
I ignored it until he was done with the call.
“Good morning"
“Good morning. Are you good?"
“I just want food", I poured Lyla’s favourite cereal into a bowl. And say to eat.
He watched me. " I made breakfast” he said casually. "
I will have it. This is my coffee.”
“Cassandra escaped,” he said, breaking my silent eating.
Almost making me spit out my cereal.