No.
I have to stay positive.
I have to believe that this wasn’t planned.
I have to believe this wasn’t planned and that they’ll have to move to a plan B or C.
Because otherwise, I don’t know how to survive, mentally.
I’m sure they’ve got backup plans for what to do if Luca managed to get away or if they couldn’t use him for some other reason. I’m sure.
But not having him under their control anymore must be inconvenient for them, right?
Right?
“This is Vera, she rescued us.” Luca’s voice breaks through my thoughts and when I look up he meets my gaze, a light blush on his cheeks. “Without her, we would all have been in a much worse situation right now. Two of her Alphas, Caleb and Jorge, were the ones who brought you here.”
An older man comes over to me, tears in his eyes as he grabs my shoulders, pulling me in for a tight hug. “Thank you so much. Thank you, so, so much.” His voice breaks and I can’t help my own tears. “We had no idea where he’d been all this time. Thank you so much for bringing him back.”
I nod, not able to say anything, as other members of Luca’s family crowd around me.
I’m suddenly very aware how special this is, not just for Luca’s family, but for Luca too. From what Riley told us before, no matter what you’re being told, if the Suits feel like it, they’ll get rid of your family, and you wouldn’t even know about it.
Luca finally has his family back and they have him back. Something that Mathew or Riley will never be able to get.
“Please, let us know how we can ever repay you.” An older woman touches my arm, her voice wavering. Their pheromones are strong, flooding around us, their emotions so clear, so painful. Relief that they’re all reunited, darkness for all the time they’ve been apart and will never get back.
“I’m just glad that you’re all okay and safe and that you’ve found each other again.” I push the words past the lump in my throat. “I know that this is all a shocking change. But we want you to be safe. That’s all we care about.”
“Mum, Dad.” Luca pulls their attention. “They prepared some rooms for you. Just until they find a safe place. Shall we move to them? I’m sure Vera would like to get the kids to settle down for the night.” His voice is quiet but insistent.
“Of course.” The older man lets me go, giving me a soft and apologetic smile that reminds me of Luca immediately, making my pheromones flare with longing. The man looks from me to Luca and back, frowning, but he doesn’t say anything. “Let’s get out of here so the kids can go to sleep. They must be exhausted too and I know how hard things get when kids don’t get enough sleep.”
He picks up the young boy they brought with them, Luca’s sister’s son. The man looks at me, nodding. “We’ll talk more tomorrow. Again, thank you so much.”
“Have a good night. Try to get some rest.” I give them my best smile, even though it hurts and I have no idea how much actually shows.
Automatically, I follow them to the door, until I realise that I’m now right next to Luca.
Fuck.
No matter how much I instinctively want to be near him, I can’t. I really can’t.
But, before I can move away, Luca hooks his pinkie around mine, holding me like that for a few moments. My heart races and no matter how much I try to suppress it, my pheromones flare. Internally, I curse myself for not paying more attention to what I was doing, wishing I could pull the pheromones back inside. But it’s too late.
Luca’s face pales and I quickly step away, breaking our connection.
No.
Fuck.
No.
A whine catches in my throat, not even letting out a peep, but from the way Luca looks at me, he doesn’t need to hear it. He knows what’s going on.
“I’ll help my family settle in.” His voice is soft, wavering, his pheromones full of pain, fear, and underneath it all, deep longing.
I nod, blinking fast to keep my tears away, but failing as I watch him walk down the hallway, glancing back at me every few steps, as I close the door between us.
