“It’s been a hard day. I think you were having a panic attack.”
I groan, rubbing my face with both hands. “I haven’t had one of those in years.”
“It’s okay, baby. Things like this happen. It doesn’t mean you’re not strong.”
I stare at him in surprise. “You really think that?”
“Of course. Panic attacks are just a symptom of trauma. You don’t choose to have them.”
I bite my lip to keep myself from crying. “Everyone thought I was so fucked up those first few months after it happened,” I whisper, the ache in my stomach beginning to relax. “Dad didn’t know what to do with me. Raf was kind of an asshole. He just kept saying, you’re alive, you’re alive, what are you complaining about? But he wasn’t the one trapped in that room for three days. He didn’t run out of water. He wasn’t starving. He didn’t have to sacrifice everything to keep his sister going. That was me. And sometimes it’s like I’m still in that room. I’m still trapped.”
His hand brushes against my thigh. He leans closer, hugging me across the center console. “You’re with me now, Fiorella,” he whispers, his mouth brushing my neck. “I’ve got you. I’m sorry that happened, but you’re safe. You’re really safe.”
I believe him. That’s the worst part. Even if every inch of my body wants to drive this car as far away from here as possible, I know that he’d die for me. He’d kill, maim, torture, and destroy anyone that tried to hurt me. Luca would do that without even hesitating.
For the first time in my life, I’ve found a man who cares about me.
And all I want to do is get away from him.
It’s so fucked.
I pull back and stare into his face. He looks back, strong and focused, handsome lips parted, and suddenly I can’t help myself. I kiss him hard, holding myself against his lips, needing him to comfort me, needing his touch so badly it hurts. The kiss covers my body in goosebumps as shivers rush along my muscles, and slowly I start to unwind. My heart slows and my breathing steadies, and when I pull back from him, his taste lingering on my tongue, I feel steady again.
“Take me home, please,” I say as he strokes a finger down my cheek.
He nods once. “Anything you want.”
Chapter 25
Luca
“Have you found him yet?” I lean against a truck next to Enzo. He’s drinking from a to-go coffee cup and scowling across the street toward Fiorella’s makeshift garage.
“Still looking. Delco’s a big place.”
“Not that big. Turn the whole fucking town upside down if you have to.”
Enzo’s jaw works, but he nods. “I will. Honestly, at this point, it’s a matter of professional pride. The fucker gave us the slip after the funeral.”
“How’d that happen?”
“Leo was supposed to tail him, but Corrado changed cars at some point on the way, and we lost him. The tracker Davide cooked up wasn’t much use after we found it on the ground in a random parking garage.”
“Crafty old fuck.” I take a deep breath to steady myself. It’s not my team’s fault Corrado got away. He’s been in this life a longtime, and he knows what he’s doing. But that doesn’t mean he can avoid us forever. “We’ll find him, and when we do, we’re moving on him.”
“You sure that’s a good idea?”
“I don’t care anymore.” I push off the truck and look back at my second-in-command. “If you don’t like where this is going, tell Adriano. I won’t hold it against you. That way, if this blows back on us, I’ll take the blame.”
Enzo’s head tilts to the side. He seems to be seriously considering it. But he only sighs and takes a long drink of his coffee. “That’s not how we do things.”
“No shame in covering your ass.”
“Not at your expense. When this first started, I assumed you and the girl were just going to tolerate each other at best, but it’s more than that now.”
I lift my shoulders, ready to deny it, but don’t bother. “It’s that obvious, isn’t it?”
“You’ve never given a shit about someone before. You can keep on using the wholeshe’s my wifeexcuse, but we know that’s just a cover. You like her.”
