Cara's pov
Luca had insisted that the reception be held at the Salvatore mansion for security reasons even though the Cosa Nostra families hardly ever celebrated outside the safety of their residence.
I didn't know much about the war but from the bits of gossip I heard, it was messy. The Russians or whoever was the enemy were unpredictable and ruthless. An attack at an event hall would be a piece of cake for them.
I stepped onto the beautifully decorated patio that was the venue and the place looked completely different from the last time I was present. The recliners and deck chairs had been removed, along with the dining table set. Multiple wrought iron tables now occupied the lawns, with most of them already occupied by guests.
Gina's red peonies sat in a vase on every table along with luxurious gold plated tableware. More flowers in tall, white flower pots were placed strategically around the space and fairy lights draped low from open patio shade.
The place looked like a piece of heaven. Straight out of a fairytale.
The guests settled in, some of them dancing to the jaunty tune of traditional Italian music.
Gina and Dante were having the time of their lives, the both of them exchanging sick puppy eyed looks that made me equal parts happy and equal parts bitter.
The atmosphere became more and lively as everyone was filled with the good spirits of the celebration
Everyone excluding me.
I chugged down my fourth glass of negroni before biting into a taralli. The two tastes mixing weirdly in my mouth. Valentina had been attached to Luca for the past hour, already playing into her role of Donna Salvatore even though she was still far from it.
Nonetheless, she played it so naturally and convincingly that anyone who didn't know better was sure to write her off as Luca's wife.
My stomach churched darkly as something uncomfortable scratched at my skin. I took another chug of my negroni.
Luca looked over to me and I averted my gaze. This was one silly game I've been playing since the church ceremony, staring at him and pretending not to when he noticed. It was indeed silly and I'd even admit it was quite pathetic, but I wasn't going to let his astute ass read the blaring jealousy I knew was permanently etched into my expression.
New guests flocked and my heart pulsed faster when I recognized the Irish family amongst them. Cadain's eyes scanned through the guests before lighting up when they landed on me. He flashed me a grin that I returned then followed his brother to go greet Luca and his father.
I hoped they kept their conversations to congratulations and wellwishing and everything that didn't involve me. I needed a taralli refill so I signaled to the server standing closest to me.
He glared at me and I recoiled.
The glare disappeared the next second, replaced by a smile. "What can I help you with, Signorina?"
I blinked at him. "Er… I need more tarallis please." I leered at him as he took my plate, flashing me a friendly smile before disappearing.
Well that was weird.
I paused in thought, shit was I already tipsy? I had just imagined a friendly server giving me a murderous stare for fuck sake. I mean, I have to be a little drunk to do that.
I sighed and rose to my feet, I needed to do something else or I might end up drinking and eating the night away.
The dance floor was pretty crowded and it made it easier to blend in. The music was not my kind of style–I was a pop and hip pop type of girl–but the Italian folk music would do. So I danced and I danced, losing myself in the vibrancy of the tune, having the time of my life with the rest of these strangers.
"Brava! Brava!" Someone was cheering and it bolstered my movements. I twirled, I skipped and I whined. My eyes found Gina and I moved over to her and pulled her along, she laughed heartily as the two of us danced, the rest of the guests cheering us on.
I was bursting with energy and not even Luca's hot gaze on me could douse it. I danced even harder, moving my hips just the way I knew would affect him and I took every muscle in my body not to turn and find the dark look I knew I'd find.
I danced with a couple others, mostly men of the Cosa Nostra, ranging from old to young.
The guests erupted into applause when my performance finally came to an end and right then, I felt like Beyonce. I suddenly grew shy from all the attention so retreated back into the mansion for some time alone and maybe a glass of water. I had long lost interest in my taralli order.
I hoped the server wasn't too pissed.
It wasn't even up to a minute since I stepped into the large kitchen before my alone time was disturbed.
"You never told me you're quite the dancer." Luca's deep drawl rumbled into the space.
A cold stillness fell over me.
He appeared beside me, taking the glass of water in my hand and setting it on the countertop. I hadn't even realized I'd still been holding it.
Warmth slithered up the place he had touched and I pushed out a breath and looked up at him. "I haven't told you a lot of things." My voice was a whisper.
Humor danced in his eyes and they scanned my face. "You'd have to show me some of your moves one day."
A cheeky smile played on my lips. "Mm, a private show?" I asked and I instantly wished I didn't.
Something dark pooled into the depths of his grey orbs as his gaze raked down my body. "And a little less clothing."
An involuntary image of me dancing before him in nothing but lingerie flashed through my mind and I forgot how to breathe.
Luca inched closer, his body warmth intruding into my space. "Yes, micetta. It's going to be just as hot as you imagined. Better even."
His hand grazed my waist, sending teasing tingles straight between my legs. Outside, a wedding reception thrived on with the whole of his family present along with a hundred other guests but all I could think of was him feeling me up and doing more.
"Luca," I protested for proprietary sake even though I was caring less and less with each touch of his big hands.
Luca inhaled into my hair and it occurred to me that he might be obsessed with it. He was always sniffing or fisting or caressing it. "I've been wanting to fuck you since the moment you walked into the church looking so beautiful." He drew back to stare into my eyes, something vulnerable yet inexplicable shimmering in his grey eyes. "You're so devastatingly beautiful."
Heat bloomed in me and across my face and my heart cartwheeled in my chest. He thought I was devastatingly beautiful. I felt like giggling like an excited schoolgirl.
His thumb brushed against my bottom lip. "It drove me crazy seeing you dancing with those men." His features deepened darkly. "I don't want you dancing with any man that isn't me."
I bit back a cheeky grin, jealous Luca was my favorite Luca and I was unhinged for it.
His eyebrows pulled together. "I'm serious, bambina. I'm the only one for you."
I'm the only one.
The one.
I pulled out from his hold as Valentina's words came flooding back in my head, and everything suddenly became wrong. Us here, his words, everything.
"No." I said.
He frowned, angry. "No?"
I fixed him a hard stare. "No. Go back to where you belong, with Valentina." My gaze snapped away in annoyance. "You think I don't know? That I won't find out?"
He stepped closer but I sidestepped. A muscle ticked in his jaw as he ground. "What the fuck is your problem now?"
Something red and forceful flushed through me. "You're fucking Valentina that's what! And you think you can fuck me as well, have the best of both worlds." I let out a mirthless laugh, growing hysterical. "You probably were never going to call off the marriage with Cadain. You probably just wanted to have me to yourself for a while before sending me off and marrying the real woman for you; Valentina."
I was just speculating and throwing assumptions at this point but I was certain that there was still a sliver of truth somewhere in my wild hypothesis.
Exasperation seeped into Luca's expression, he shut his eyes for a moment. "Cara, where the fuck did you learn this from?"
"Don't act like it isn't true!"
Luca looked like he wanted to smother me. He ran his hand through his dark hair, his jaw tightening in restrained anger.
His voice was a deathly growl when he spoke. "This would be the last time I tell you this: you're not marrying Cadain."
I sawed on my lip and waited for the next bit.
"It would also be the last time I'd tell you that I and Valentina are not together."
Elation sprang up my belly and bounced around. Relief eased into my tensed muscles and I fought back a sigh. It was so stupid how that declaration made me. After all of this was over, I was going to analyze just how far gone I was with this man.
I stilled my erratic heart before speaking. "But she definitely doesn't see it that way."
His reply was immediate. "Not my problem and neither should it be yours."
I wanted to tell him that I didn't want to deal with a crazy ex hovering around when it was still uncertain what our relationship was. I wanted him to tell me what we were, I wanted to unblur the lines like I had desperately wanted to for a while now but all that was interrupted by the sudden female laughter that streamed into the kitchen.
People were coming.
I gave Luca a wide berth and wittingly grabbed the box of tissues sitting idly on the kitchen island as the women strode in. I hoped to God I didn't look like how I felt, which was a child caught stealing snacks past her bedtime.
I acknowledged them with a nod before darting out of there, goosebumps breaking out on my neck.
"Cara!" Luca's voice called after me and I cursed him to hell in my mind. The man just simply didn't know when to give a fuck and when not to.
"Fuck! Cara!!!" His voice was very much louder now and annoyance and panic bubbled inside me. Was he trying to let everyone know?
"Dio!"
Another voice yelled and I stopped in my tracks.
"Dio! Dio! Dio!" A woman chanted.
"Tutti si nascondono!" someone else was shouting.
I spun around, confused at what the commotion was about and I met the sight of about fifteen heavily armed men in staff uniforms. My eyes narrowed in on the server that I had asked for a taralli refill and his cold gaze was on me.
His lips curved up in a devilish smile that chilled my bones and I knew then that I hadn't imagined the hostile look he gave me before.
In the next second, chaos began.
"Porca miseria!!" Someone screamed.
I dropped to the floor, yelling as gunshots erupted around me, sending shattered glass and wood flying. Everyone scrambled to the floor, seeking cover but my stupid body was frozen when I was curled up on the floor, fear holding me down like lead.
People screamed around me and I was finding it hard to differentiate if it was out of fear or pain. A man dropped to the ground beside me and I let out a screech.
Dead, he was dead.
And I was going to die as well, I was going to get caught by a stray bullet or more just like he did. I was going to bleed out here on the lawn of the Salvatore mansion.
I was going to end up like my father.
Dread settled deep in my belly. Luca, where was Luca? Please God let him be safe, let Gina be safe.
Let him be safe.
I began to crawl, protecting my head as I frantically scanned through the chaos for his familiar form but there was so much happening.
Please let him be safe.
A large body dropped on me and I fought to fight it off.
No, no, no. I chanted in alarm. Not another dead body.
"Stay still, goddammit!" An angry male voice ground out and I immediately seized my struggles.
I glanced up at Luca's beautiful face and my heart sang songs of relief and assurance. He was fine, he was safe, he was here.
I buried my face into his chest and held on tight, my heart threatening to beat out of my chest. I tried to still my trembling body in his cocooning embrace, assuring myself that we were going to be alright.
A soldier rolled over to us, refilling his bullets as Luca spat rapid fire Italian to him. He nodded at whatever was said, shooting at an approaching armed server before disappearing just as quickly as he had appeared.
I screamed into Luca's chest as the shit resounded over my thumping heart and Luca held on to me.
"You're safe, bambina. I will never let anything happen to you." I shook my head but he adjusted above me, freeing one hand to grab my chin.
"Never." He reiterated, his voice vehement and firm.
I couldn't speak so I nodded and he released me.
"Now I need you to follow me closely. Stay hidden behind me, okay?" He instructed as he readied the gun in his hand.
"Luca, no! We can't make any movements, not now!"
"I promised you, I won't let you get hurt."
I shut my eyes in frustration. "I'm not afraid for me for fuck sake!" When I opened them, he was staring at me with a warmth, adoration and I was lost in his gaze.
"Do as I say, bambina." He finally said and with no energy left to argue, I nodded.
We darted across, stopping to take cover every time we were shot at. Luca had taken out a total of four men when we finally slipped into the mansion.
He pulled me up the stairs and through a hallway, stopping at a door before kissing me hard. "Stay here." He commanded. "I'll be back."
My anxiety began to pulser faster, panic ate away at my chest. I grabbed him as he was about to leave. "Luca!"
He paused, waiting expectantly.
I gulped and forced myself to make out words. "Please," I squeaked out. "don't get hurt."
I was given another breathless kiss.
"I won't."
He left me and marched back downstairs and as I walked into the door to meet the scared faces of Gina, my mother and some other women, I tried not to let fear incapacitate me.
I failed.