Cara's pov
"He doesn't even let me go to the pool unsupervised. Can you imagine?" Gina said into the phone, her voice incredulous.
A smile worked up my face. Yes I could just imagine. I imagined her whining and pouting as Dante calmly explained to her why she needed to be guarded at all times.
We've been on this call that was basically Gina's complaints about her husband for the past ten minutes. But they weren't complaints per se, just one of those rants people in love made about their significant other even though they aren't actually ranting in annoyance but because they were feeling endeared by their actions.
It was just the cutest form of bragging about how awesome their partners were, and in this case, how awesome Dante was.
"I thought Luca and my papa were overprotective but Dante is on a whole different level." Gina muttered but there was a smile in her voice.
I switched my phone from one ear to the other as I got cozy in my bed. I've been in it all morning, hating to separate myself from the lingering scent of Luca's spicy cologne. The thought of doing so eventually to prepare for work made me forlorn.
I picked the pillow that had been used by him for the past three nights and put it on my lap before propping my elbows on the softness. "Maybe he needs a good lay to unclench." I replied Gina, deciding to play along.
Gina giggled. "Trust me, I've tried. But he always goes back to bodyguard mode right after."
"He's hopeless, I'm afraid." I joked even though I approved of my step brother in law's cautious nature. There were too many mad Russians running around. I was glad Gina had someone who considered her safety with utmost regard.
Gina sighed dramatically. "There's nothing more I could do unfortunately." She tsked. "I have no choice but to accept him just the way he is."
My chest vibrated with a chuckle as I related to her last sentence. I had gone from being unable to stand her brother to gradually accepting his cocky, overbearing ass and I wouldn't want it any other way either.
"When would you guys be returning?" I asked, shifting the conversation.
Gina hummed thoughtfully on the other line. "To be honest, I don't know. It's all up to Dante. Maybe I'd get an idea when he stops being a brooding bear whenever he gets updates on the war. The black mood he has after those long zoom calls is enough to know that things are still bad."
I meditated on her words and my own mood slowly dropped. I hadn't been too fixed on the war and when I was, it was solely because of the words I'd overheard from Luca's secret phonecall the other night. It didn't occur to me that Luca might be having a hard time with the situation, he was always chill and laid-back whenever we were together, blaming his exhaustion on a busy schedule.
I mentally smacked myself. Of course he would, he wasn't the type to wear his frustration or any other emotion on his sleeve for all to see. He wouldn't be a leader if he did. I've just been too clueless to peep the underlying signs.
What a useless fuck buddy I've been.
I straightened my back against the headboard. "How bad is it?" I asked Gina, hoping she had a bit of substantial information.
"Dante doesn't really say much-"
My stomach plummeted.
"-but he lets me on the general details."
Enthusiasm filled me again. I was glad to get answers from Gina. Asking Luca was always difficult for me and I always chickened out whenever I tried. I didn't want to come off as nosey, afraid that my questions would push him away. His profession was a very sensitive one and whatever he did as a result definitely wasn't fit for bedroom conversations.
You are also scared to know. A voice added in my head.
"Details like what?" I prodded, ignoring the voice.
"Um… give me a sec." There was a brief clanging sound like dishes being carted away before Gina continued. "So, my brother has been able to get back at the bratva guys for ruining my wedding party, I don't know how but he did. He also found out that one of the families' don snitched to the bratva and took care of him."
That was it?
"Okay…?" I prodded again, my eyes narrowing.
"Sorry Cara, that's all I can give you. Dante says it's better I don't know much."
She was right, the less we women knew, the less likely we'd attract the enemies. I fessed up to what the voice in my head had said earlier, this was also one of the reasons why I couldn't ask Luca about his job, I didn't want to know what could get me into trouble. I might be in a sexual relationship with him, against my better judgment, but I was serious about not getting involved in all of that mafia shit. I hadn't forgotten about my father.
I returned to the conversation. "I understand."
"Alright then, enough about me." Gina said in a heavy exhale. "How's it going for you?"
How was it going for me? Well except for the fact that I was fucking her brother and he'd been sleeping over for the past three nights I didn't know what other update of my life I could give her.
I cleared my throat, immensely glad she couldn't see the guilty blush I knew I had on my face. "Nothing much, just work." I mused about how cryptic that sounded so I added. "My stalkers had been doubled since the shootout."
"Stalkers?"
Oh. "Bodyguards." I clarified. "Stalkers is just my term of endearment for them." Getting Sergio and the others to loosen up was a lot of work but I was making progress. Lanky, for one, has starting smiling at my antics.
"Oh my goodness." Gina laughed. "It's just totally you to refer to your bodyguards as stalkers."
It was also totally me to enter a clandestine affair with my step brother but who cares.
"So," Gina continued, her tone conspiratory. "Is there anyone we need to help you seduce? Like a hot guy at work or something."
Yes, your brother.
I shut my eyes, my cheeks growing hotter. Jesus Cara, get a grip.
Shoving the unwanted thought to the back of my mind, I pondered on what answer to give Gina. I considered cooking up some nonexistent guy but decided against it. I was not a liar.
Mostly.
My answer came in a scratchy voice "No, unfortunately."
Gina clucked her tongue. "Well that's too bad." A pause. "The truth is that I feel bad for all my babbling about Dante when you're not in a relationship yourself. It feels like I'm bragging or something."
A smile touched my lips. She was such a cutie. "Well, I'd have to be sad about my single state to be bothered. But I'm not." I said, trying to lessen her unnecessary guilt.
She still wasn't convinced. "Doesn't make me feel any less terrible."
"Hey, I'm not complaining."
"Things would be so much better if you also had a partner to rant about, then it wouldn't feel like I'm boring you."
I rolled my eyes. I might have felt a little wistful on a few occasions but I definitely wasn't bitter about her cute stories. However, she was convinced otherwise and I found myself saying something else. "To be honest, I might have a little something going on at the moment." I froze, wondering why the hell I said that.
Gina's excitement was palpable through the phone. "Oh my God, for real?"
I wanted to take the words back, to tell her I'd been joking and there wasn't anyone but I didn't, even when I should. "Yes."
"Is he hot?"
The question brought a sardonic smile to my lips. "Very."
Gina purred into the phone. "So how serious are you guys?"
I wish I had an answer to that. Were Luca and I serious? He did say he wanted to be exclusive. I swallowed before responding. "We're still taking things slow."
A cooing noise traveled down my ear. "Does he work with you?"
"Yes." Technically.
"Do you like him?"
Obsessed might be the word but, "I do."
"Oh my God. Cara!"
Sprinkles of giddiness settled in my chest. I was really enjoying talking about Luca like he just some cute crush, more than I'd like to admit.
"I'm so excited for you. I really hope you guys work out."
I refused to ponder on how much I wanted that as well. "Thanks Gina."
"It's nothing." She said dismissively. "So am I getting a name?"
All the thrill and butterflies died at the new question. Shit, of course she'd want to know who it is. I racked my brain on what to tell her, drawing up with nothing. I really didn't want to give her a fake name.
But Gina, beautifully tactful Gina, saved me the horror by saying. "It doesn't matter, we can call him 'the mystery guy' instead."
Gawwwdd, I love her and I despised myself for deceiving her.
"Thanks sweetie." I said, beaming.
"Again, it's nothing. Just be sure to update me on everything. Dante barely lets me do anything so I'm bored out of my mind. A cute romantic build up story would do wonders for my boredom."
I considered it for a second before asking. "Gina, sono pazzo di te, what does it mean?"
A long silence stretched between our conversation and my pulse quickened with nervousness.
Was it something bad? Like 'ugly whore'? Did Luca call me a horse? Or a church rat? A stupid b i t c h.
I almost jumped out of my skin when Gina suddenly squealed. "Oh my goodness! Mystery guy has it bad for you!"
Goosebumps rose on my sensitized skin. "Does he?"
Gina's answer was full of conviction. "Yes, it means he's mad about you."
My heart might have grown wings and fluttered away. I was hot all over yet a slight shiver coursed through me.
Oh my God.
My smile was splitting when Gina added, "I think you might have an admirer."
Luca was mad about me. I wanted to float forever.
I was yanked back to the harshness of reality when Gina spoke again. "So your mystery guy is Italian."
Fuck. I'd just unintentionally exposed the information. I pressed my lips into a thin line. I needed to be careful. "Yeah," I said in a heavy breath.
"Great then. He might not be mafioso but being Italian would increase his chances of getting accepted by my brother."
I couldn't help it, I laughed.
"What?" Gina asked and I knew she was scrunching her nose.
"That's too far Gina. It's not like I'm going to marry him." I found the whole thing hysterical. Luca trying to win over Luca. Madness.
Gina sounded confused. "You don't want to get serious?"
A long breath escaped my lungs. How do I explain to the mafia princess that sometimes, a relationship was based solely on temporary fun. "Gina, we'd cross that bridge when we get there." I said, tired of talking about a guy that was Luca yet not Luca.
Fortunately, she let it go. "Alright then."
I pulled the phone away from my ear and tapped it on for the time.
Shit. I jumped out of the bed. "I'm sorry baby but I have to hang up now, I'm going to be late for work."
"Well we can't have that." Gina said. "It's been nice talking to you."
"Same here hon. Let me know when you get back okay?"
"I will." She assured me before hanging up.
I dashed for the bathroom and began showering with the speed of light.
I didn't bother with blow drying my hair once I got out instead I roughly rubbed a towel through it until it was a damp mess. A few strokes of my brush later, the locks became presentable enough.
I padded into the living room and put the TV on, the sound droning in the background as I dressed up then headed to the kitchen to fix myself something to eat. It was then I noticed the take out on the countertop with a note that said: here's some real food for you, the state of your fridge worries me.
I was smiling like a fool when I went through the plastic bag. My heart tingling at the expensive looking Italian dishes; chicken cacciatore, risotto, focaccia and even steak. Luca really outdid himself with this order.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to sit and eat the delicious looking food so I packed them up with a sad sigh and moved to the fridge. I'd have it when I got back.
I was greeted with another note when I opened the fridge door: Don't even think about it.
"Oh my God." I gasped in disbelief. It thrilled me that Luca knew me this well but I was even more thrilled by the fact that he'd stolen my sticky notes to leave me two messages while I'd been dead asleep. I imagined him filling my couch with his big body as he wrote them and my entire body grew warm. I mentally noted to send him a spicy thank you text.
I took the food to the living room and sank down on the couch, digging into the mouth watering plate of the chicken cacciatore and sighing at the supreme taste.
A news reporter was yapping on the TV and I grabbed the remote to tune up the volume.
"The local authorities have yet to speak on the fire outbreak three nights ago but we have reasons to believe it's the work of clashing street gangs…"
I chomped down on a focaccia as the strawberry blonde reporter went on about the details of the fire. The names of the five business establishments that were burnt to the ground showed up and I nearly choked on the bread when I spotted the third name.
"Hey, I know that one." I said, squinting at the TV. It was the club Diana had planned to host her birthday party.
"The owner of all five businesses is still missing and we are urging the Chicago police department to do something about these gang violence activities. The people are panicking."
The screen cut into a fabric softener ad but I lingered on what the newscaster had said, five businesses burnt to the ground. It might have been the work of local gangs but I couldn't help but worry about the war with the Russians. I couldn't help but wonder about the missing owner and what might have happened to him. It made me fear for Luca.
A loud pounding on my door brought me out of my head and I took one last bite before padding to the entrance, taking Luca's safety advice by calling out first.
"Who is it?"
"Cara." Mr Edwards nasal voice spoke through the door.
Ice skittered down my spine.
Something chilly twisted in my chest as I opened the door. Was he here to evict me? Why did he have to come in person when he could mail the eviction notice to me?
"Mr Edwards," I squawked. "What a surprise."
The man gave me a tight smile. "A surprise indeed. You obviously should have been ready for my visit, seeing as you refused to pay me my rent."
I took a lung full of air before speaking. I was sure I'd need it. "About that, I apologize. I almost have the complete sum and I'd pay you as soon as possible."
His nostrils flared. "And when you say 'as soon as possible' how soon are you talking about?"
My throat tightened in hesitation and the lie squeezed out. "Next week?"
Mr Edwards let out a harsh bark of laughter before pinning me with a hard glare. "Sorry princess but your time's up." He nodded to his side and before I knew what was happening, six big men pushed past me, knocking me out of the way and barging into my apartment.
My eyes grew twice their original size when they started touching my things, yanking at them and tossing them out in the hallway.
No.
I dashed for one of them, slapping at his back as I wrestled for my coffee mixer in his hands. "Let fucking go!" I shrieked.
I noticed another one reaching for my TV and I ran in front of it, blocking him from taking it. "Don't fucking touch my TV." I seethed in warning but he elbowed me hard in the ribs with unnecessary force and shoved me aside, so hard that I fell to the ground.
I watched in helpless dismay as he carelessly pulled at the plug, snapping it out of the socket and carted it away.
No. No, no, NO!
My ribs burned. Tears streamed down my face, dread burned deeply in my blood as I got up and tried futilely to stop the bigger men, my heart beating out of my chest and my body bursting with rage.
"Don't touch that!" I yelled at the men hellbent on thrashing my apartment, my space.
My home.
Loud footsteps thundered into the apartment and I sighted the familiar faces of Sergio and the others. They fought at the men and soon had them subdued to the ground, while Mr Edwards got a slap to the face when he questioned who they were.
But it was already too late, my TV was lying in the hallway and so was my vanity chair, my bedside table and a whole lot of things. My curtains had been ripped down, my rug upturned, my crockery smashed to the ground and worst of all, my delicious food was now a discarded goop on the floor. I didn't even get to finish up the cacciatore.
That was the last f u c k ing straw.
I fell to the floor and began to cry.