Cara's pov
The following week went in a blur. No bomb scare, no reports of mangled bodies… the whole toxic mafia rivalry shebang. Life was back to normal, for now that is.
Brushing my hair at my vanity mirror, I watched my reflection. I looked… fine. I no longer had dark circles from the stress of worrying and my chapped lips were back to being moisturized. I side eyed Luca's distant reflection in the mirror as he got dressed. He, too, was losing the haunted look that day had left him with.
We were back to our ordinary lives. The only difference now was that Rico's has been temporarily closed. And I'd sweet talked–or in this case, sweet fucked–Luca into setting up Diana and the rest of the waitresses that didn't flee for the hills, in his other establishments. The fairly legal ones of course.
Diana now works as a waitress in Salato's and she was in love with the place. Even has a little thing going on for the sous chef.
The whole point was, things had gone back to its original setting. I no longer felt like I was in some fucked up crime movie with psychotic mob villains. I wondered how the Russian dude slept at night knowing he brutally murdered a family.
Maybe in a coffin or on an upside down cross. Maybe he didn't sleep at all like the evil bloodsucker he was.
Luca and his men have been working really hard, day in and day out in tons of meetings since the scary incident, talking about things I had no understanding of nor do I want to.
Aside from that, he's been trying extremely hard to appease me. There wasn't a single day after the scary incident where he didn't do something that made my heart flutter. And my word, he did know how to make a girl's heart flutter.
My cheeks filled with color in the mirror as I recalled the memories.
Four days ago, when I'd been dressing up for school, I mentioned wanting to have the chocolate-chip meringata we had on our first and only visit to Salato's. I'd said it in passing and didn't even think he was listening but later that day, I got a delivery of the dessert. My classmates had cooed and gushed and I'd blushed like I had the sun in my cheeks.
I set down my brush, it was new and worked extremely better than my old one. Luca got it recently. A day ago, I'd been grumbling under my breath because the old brush kept getting stuck in my curls. Luca had left silently only to return with three brand new hair detanglers.
"The store attendant said all three of them were the best." He had said awkwardly and I'd kissed him and he'd fucked me then combed my curls himself afterwards.
I really don't know what I did to have gotten this lucky. Maybe I was Mother Theresa in my past life. My step brother was too good to be true.
One time, I returned from school to a luxurious dinner setting. Luca had prepared lobster and deep fried dumpling soup all on his own. The man could really make a career out of cooking. We'd clinked glasses to the most expensive rose wine I've ever had before he presented me with a diamond studded Frederique Constant watch.
"I noticed you try out my watches whenever I'm not around." He'd said.
"Stop spying on me through the cameras, creep." I'd responded but with the biggest smile on my face. "I just liked how they feel big and heavy on my wrist, like a weapon."
He watched me as I put on the feminine sized watch and shook it around. "Well this isn't big nor is it heavy."
"It's perfect." I had said, my heart full with love and appreciation.
I was so happy that even his offhand confession of putting a tracker in the watch hadn't fazed me. I was getting really used to his proprietorial character. Plus, it helps that he could easily get to me if something happens.
The week had gone by with more random gifts and little acts of service and just like that, I'd become spoiled.
I suspected Luca's Romeo era also had to do with his fear of me leaving now I knew how dangerous the life he led was. But he had no idea. That was me ages ago, now I wouldn't be able to leave him even if I wanted to.
Luca slid up behind me and softly wrapped both hands around my neck. He dipped down and placed a kiss on the side of my head. "You're smiling so hard, what are you thinking about?" He drawled in my ear, staring in the mirror to watch my expression.
"You." I admitted, loving as his eyes glazed over.
"It pleases me to know I bring you happy thoughts."
I opened my mouth to respond but couldn't get a word out. Not when he was kissing the spot behind my ear with his tongue.
"Luca… if you continue with that. We might not make it in time."
"Mmm," he rumbled and I trembled.
"We'd lose our reservation." I reminded him weakly.
He was taking me out to dinner for the first time in some fancy restaurant and he refused to tell me where. I'd fretted about being out in public with him but he'd basically bullied me into saying yes. It was then it occurred to me that our relationship might have never been the level of "clandestine" I thought it was. We were always seen by his men and now we were going to be seen together by random strangers.
It was only a matter of time before we're caught by people that truly mattered. People like his family, my mother, Diana. I had no idea what I'd do once it came to that but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
"We can always come back another day." He countered, now kissing the corners of my lips, his hands dipping to the low cleavage of the emerald dress he'd insisted I wear.
The man seemed to be obsessed with green, most of the clothes he'd bought me were in a shade of the color.
I pulled away even though my entire body was begging for him to kiss me until I couldn't breathe. Turning around to face him, I spoke,"I won't have time for a while. My finals are coming up."
He stared blankly at me like it was taking him a minute to understand how that was important. Yeah, I get it. He probably didn't remember the last time he had to bother about school exams.
He released a deep sigh and stepped back. I was hit with a loss of warmth.
"Before we leave, I want you to wear this." He pulled a box out from his jacket.
My body thrummed in excitement as I registered the jewelry box. Luca opened it and took out a glittery necklace.
My jaw dropped. What that-
"This is the first diamond necklace I hand picked and purchased, intentionally." Luca said, giving me a pointed look.
I wanted to laugh and cry and maybe cry some more. Take that, Valentina!
He turned me around and clasped the sparkling piece around my neck. It felt lighter than it looked. I twisted to the left then to the right, watching as it glintered with each movement.
A diamond necklace, he'd gotten me a diamond necklace. This had to be over the top right? It's not like I had anywhere to wear it except this dinner. "I look like a queen." I half whispered, my eyes growing thoughtful.
Luca spun me at once. "You are. My queen. So don't give me none of that bullshit you're about to give me."
Ugh, he knew me so well.
"Oh, Luca." I said because I didn't know what else to say.
His eyes dipped to my cleavage and he swallowed tightly, looking a tiny bit pissed off. "As much as I'd want nothing more than for you to show me how pleased you are with my gift, we really should be going."
I grinned at him, fingering the lapel of his suede jacket as I told him something I've smugly pointed out a couple of times, "you're so obsessed with me."
His answering smile was heart stopping. "You have no idea."