RUTHLESS KING

39 A TICKING TIMEBOMB

Luca
Two days left.
The pit of unease grows in my gut with every passing moment. I haven’t
left Stella’s side since the Met Gala. I spend half the day working and the
other half fucking her across every surface of my penthouse. I was right all
those weeks ago, she’s instilled warmth in not only my home but every
crevice of my dark heart and soul.
The idea of losing her is inconceivable.
Which is why I had Magda buy her this. I flip the white box around in
my palm and stick the red bow my housekeeper bought on top of the gift.
“Stella?” I call out. She should be dressed by now. After I fucked her in the
shower, I left her to get ready while I went to grab the present from Magda.
She’s made herself scarce again like she has for the past few days since
we’ve been screwing like rabbits. But I catch her knowing smiles. She’s
happy for us, and I don’t know why it matters, but it does.
“Coming!”
I set the box on the marble island, the bright red bow standing out
against all the white of the kitchen. Stella walks, in and her gaze darts to the
gift. A heart-stopping smile parts her damned fuckable mouth, and her eyes
lift to mine. “What’s that?” “A present. Long overdue.”
Her brows furrow as she regards me.
Inexplicable heat rises from my neck and spreads across my jaw. “Just
open it.”
So she does, like a good girl, for once.
When she pries the box open, her eyes light up. “A new phone!” She
lunges at me and wraps her arms around my neck as she bounces up and
down.
“It’s got a new number too so none of your exes can harass you.”
Namely, Bo. She nods quickly and flips the power on so the sleek device
flickers to life. “I already put Rose’s number in there.”
“Thank you!” She eyes the phone then me again. “So I can call her?
Call whoever I want?”
“Yes.”
She lets out a squeal, and my stupid heart staggers before firing back up.
“I’m going to call Rose right now. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Sure, go for it. I have to make a few business calls too.”
She spins toward me and plants her lips against mine. Her entire body
leans in, and my cock is instantly rock hard. She must feel it because she
grins against my mouth. “Save it for later, Signor Valentino.” With a wink,
she saunters down the hallway, hips swaying to an invisible beat. It takes all
my willpower not to run after her. I watch as she pauses at her bedroom in
the hallway, then continues on to mine.
A storm of emotions batters my chest, a mix of ridiculous happiness and
mind-numbing fear. I knew if I let Stella in, it would be over. One taste
would never be enough. Now that she is in my life again, I couldn’t let her
go. But men like me don’t get happy endings, we sure as fuck don’t deserve
them. And if I hurt her somehow … like Vinny … I’d never forgive myself.
I release a howl of frustration and bury my face in my hands. The ding of my cell phone distracts my dismal thoughts, and I eye the
screen.
Tony: It’s not looking good boss. The shithead is trying to take out another
loan with the Red Dragons to cover what he owes you.
Merda. Of course, Liam McKenzie would try to find an easy way out.
Owing the Red Dragons will only put Stella right back in the thick of it.
Me: Go to Jianjun and tell him to refuse. Under no circumstances is he to
make a deal with him and spread the word around the city. No one is to give
Liam McKenzie a loan, or they’ll have to deal with me.
Tony: Got it, capo.
Fuck, why can’t it just be easy for once? I stomp to the refrigerator and grab
a beer. It’s only noon, but I have a feeling I’ll need it to get through today.
Glancing at my phone again, I stare at the string of texts from Dante.
My coglione of a brother isn’t taking no for an answer. He’s insisting on
apologizing to Stella, and I don’t want him anywhere near her. Not now.
Not when everything between us is so new and up in the air.
And perfect.
Not perfect, I remind myself as I press my palm to my heart. How many
more times can I fuck her with my shirt on before she sees my tattoo? It’s
not just the sex, sleeping together complicates things further. I like to sleep
naked, or with boxers at most. Falling asleep with a t-shirt every night feels
suffocating. Dark memories surface, the ones I’ve tried for years to forget. Pinned to
the mattress. Shirt over my head. Trying to scream but my words are
muffled by the fucking pillow.
I’d known getting initiated into the mob as a teen was going to be hell,
but I’d never expected that. Or the rest of it. I squeeze my eyes shut, driving
back the pain. After that day, I’d vowed never to be weak again.
And that’s how I became the King.
I chug down a long gulp from the bottle, the bubbles going straight to
my head and pushing away the grisly memories. I’d been tortured, beaten,
and nearly raped. But somehow, I survived.
Now I’d focus all that anger, that rage, on protecting Stella. I’d never let
anyone hurt her again. Unless she gets hurt because of you. That dark voice
echoes through my mind, and fear’s claws dig into my heart.
The sound of laughter drags me from the darkness and into the light of
Stella’s smile. She walks toward me, grinning so big my breath catches. She
must still be talking to Rose. I lower the bottle of Peroni onto the countertop
and wrap my arms around her middle. She giggles as I nuzzle her ear.
“Okay, Rose, I gotta go,” she rasps out between fits of laughter as I dig
my fingers into her sides.
“Remember, no hot Italian babies!” Her friend’s warning reaches my
ears before Stella ends the call.
Her cheeks flame as I regard her. “No babies, huh?”
“Not yet,” she squeals. Then the enticing crimson hue only intensifies.
“I mean, I wasn’t saying we’d ever have babies … I just mean—”
I cut off her adorable ramblings with my mouth. The sick thing is
nothing would make me happier than having a part of me growing inside
her. To see her belly full with my child. The momentary joy is smothered by
gut-wrenching fear. It’s the number one reason for all my rules. It keeps
everyone at a distance. If I don’t care about anyone, I have nothing to lose. And now with Stella, I have so fucking much to lose the terror is
paralyzing.
She pulls back, eyes locked to mine. “Are you okay? You just went stiff
on me.” She reaches between us and cups my dick. “And I don’t mean in
the good way.” A flirty smile flashes across that gorgeous mouth, and it
settles the growing unease.
When I don’t say anything for another long moment, Stella’s hand
envelops mine and she drags me to the couch. She pushes me down then
crawls into my lap. The crushing pressure in my chest starts to relent.
“Tell me what’s wrong.” Her soft hand cups my cheek, and I’m filled
with the most overwhelming desire to spill my darkest sins.
“You’ve often asked about my rules…,” I begin.
Her lips purse, and something like fear flashes across the tranquil sea of
blue.
“There are reasons for them.”
She nods hesitantly.
“With the life I lead, love is weakness. Caring for anyone, sharing a life
with someone, it only paints a target on their back.” I pause and draw in a
breath. “It’s why I moved Ma outside the city, and I keep her far from the
spotlight. And it’s why I’ve always insisted on casual relationships.
Ultimately, I inevitably hurt everyone around me, Stella. I closed off my
heart so many years ago to keep the ones I love safe.”
She shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes. Her hand slides off my
cheek and rests over my heart. Directly over the date of Vinny’s death. Dio,
the guilt will drag me under if I don’t admit the truth soon.
“You worry so much about others—who is there to take care of you?”
“No one, princess.”
“Not anymore, capo.” Stella brushes her lips against mine, and it’s so
achingly sweet and fiery, the layer of frost around my heart shatters. I want nothing more than to give in to this woman, to make her mine
forever. I know I don’t fucking deserve her, but there is nothing I want
more. Except her safety. For her to live a long, happy life. After all the shit
she’s been through, she deserves so much better.
As if she’s read my thoughts, her mouth releases mine. A tear traces the
perfect curve of her cheek, and I reach out to wipe it away. “Don’t do this,
Luca.”
“Do what?” A jagged edge lingers in the air between us.
“Pull away from me in some misguided attempt to protect me.”
The ghost of a smile tugs up the corners of my lips. She knows me too
well. It’s all at once disturbingly frightening and yet oddly satisfying.
“I’ve lost so much in my life,” she whispers. “And at some point in the
last four weeks, you became one of the few remaining things I can’t bear
the thought of losing. Please don’t leave me. Especially not for my own
good. There’s nothing good left in my life without you.”
Her words gut me. They carry the weight of all the pain she was forced
to bear. Largely because of me. When Vinny died, not only had I robbed her
of her brother, but also her substitute protector. I ran like a coward. Even
after I’d heard her grandfather had died, leaving her truly unprotected, I
never went back to check on her. I left her at the hands of fucking drunk
Liam McKenzie. Somehow, I thought she’d be safer without me.
I was a complete stronzo. Seventeen and stupid.
No wonder she completely erased me from her memories.
“Promise me, Luca. Swear I won’t lose you.”
“I promise to always protect you, no matter what happens.” It’s the only
vow I can make right now.
She eyes me for a long minute as if she’s understood the difference in
what she’s asked and what I’ve promised. But she finally nods, somehow
making peace with it. I press my lips to hers and show her how much I need
her in the only way I know how.