Nick's POV
I sat on the couch staring out of the floor-to-ceiling windows to the black November night sky. Keeley was consuming all of my thoughts.
When I went to brush my hand over her neck, she- she fucking flinched. My baby sister, the one person I would give absolutely anything and everything for, thought I was going to hit her. Did she not trust me? Did she think I would actually lay a hand on her?
And her neck, God her neck looked like she was killed and brought back to life with the dark purple bruises that painted her skin. I would love to kill the fucker that did that to her, to my Keeley.
I'd never seen that much pain in her amber eyes before. She was suffering on the inside and I can't do a damn thing about it because she refuses to let anyone in. She was going to cry. Not once in my life have I seen her cry. Not one time, and when she came home tonight, it looked like that was all she wanted to do.
I let out a low groan as I raised myself off of the couch and tugged at the ends of my hair. I was beyond frustrated with how tonight had played out.
"Luca went up there to check on her," I hear Stefano's voice speak lowly from behind me. I shove my hands into my pockets before turning around to see the rest of the guys milling about.
"Finn," I heard my father's voice grunt from beside the fireplace, "I want you and Callan to head over to the big house and look into what happened to Keeley. Hell knows she's not going to say anything, so I want you looking into everything. I don't care how minuscule it is, if something happened, I need to know. Got it?"
They nodded their heads as the rest of us gathered on the couch. We waited till the door shut before anyone talked again.
"I think I'm going to go kill somebody now, yeah?" Giovanni stated as he began to stand up, but Stefano grabbed his arm and yanked him back down beside him.
"Keeley needs us right now and nobody is leaving unless I say so, understood?" my father grumbled. Everyone mumbled their own version of a "yes" as we turned to him.
"Is she going to be okay?" I look at Sam and I can see how his eyes are glassy with unshed tears. He may be the jokester of the house, but he takes these sort of things harder than the rest of us.
Donnie rubbed a hand on his back as Stefano's gruff Italian voice spoke up.
"Keeley is tougher than any of us, and that's just the damn truth. She's been given shit her whole life, yet every time, she molds it into a stepping stone and comes out stronger than she was before. None of us are used to seeing her so open with her emotions, but she trusted us with them tonight. She let us see that side of her because she allowed us to. Nothing we can do can make her tell us what happened because, at the end of the day, it's ultimately up to her. She'll be okay, Sam. It's just that even Keeley needs to cry sometimes."
None of us spoke as we were all hit with the impact of Stefano's words. No doubt he's 100% right. It's just that the truth sometimes sucks.
"What if-" Matteo spoke quietly after clearing his throat, "what if we did like a-a family thing tomorrow? She's in no shape to go to school, and maybe she just needs us to be here."
His eyes darted between all of us in anticipation of what we were going to say.
"What do you have in mind?" I asked. I saw his shoulders relax and a small sigh of relief escape his mouth.
"What if we did like a team thing? So we broke off into teams and then did a bunch of challenges and stuff? I don't know, it's probably a stupid idea-"
"No," my father interrupted as he stood up. "I think it's just what we need."
I raise my eyebrows at his enthusiasm, probably because I've never seen it.
"We'll divide up into small teams and just have fun. Fun- that does sound fun right?" His arms are spread wide as I think what's supposed to be a smile is spread across his face.
I give him an odd look as I slowly nod my head up and down. Everybody follows suit and Stefano tries to hold back a laugh.
"Okay, okay," he breathes out looking accomplished. "Gio, Nick, check on Keeley and Luca yeah? The rest of you, go on to bed. Lord knows we need some sleep."
Everybody files out of the living room as I walk up to Gio. He claps a hand on my back as we walk up the steps and down the hall towards Keeley's room.
"If I find your brother touchin' my sister again, I might hurt someone," I mutter as the two of us approach her door.
He snickers lightly as I twist the doorknob and walk in. I look at him and give him my harshest glare.
The two are pressed closer together than they were last time and it pisses me off. They're facing us, and Keely's back is pressed to his front. Luca's head is bent into the crook of my baby sister's neck as one of his arms serves as Keely's pillow while the other holds her tightly. Their legs are tangled together and they are just...undeniably close.
"Well, I would say they look awfully cozy, don't ya think?" I shoot Giovanni a look while he just smirks at my obviously irritated face.
"Let's just leave them, Nick. She obviously needs him tonight." I sigh one last time before walking out of the door.
"Tell your brother to lay off my sister, yeah?" I growl at him, the irritation rolling off of my body. His head falls back in laughter as he throws an arm around my shoulder.
"Oh Nick, the same could be said about her."
***
Keeley's POV
"Tesoro, baby, we've got to get up." I groan as I reluctantly sit up and untangle my body from Luca's. I rub my eyes with the back of my hands and blink a few times before I register Luca's bare chest beside me.
His voice was raspier than usual, and that combined with the warm sun shining in on him, he was a sight for sore eyes. His ocean blues were hypnotizing as his dark hair stuck up all over the place. I giggled to myself as I reached a hand out and ran it through his hair in an effort to try and tame it.
I didn't realize how close I had leaned into him until his hand reached up and he wrapped his fingers tightly around my wrist. Our noses were barely brushing and I could hear his breaths become noticeably heavier.
"Tesoro," he cleared his throat as his mouth brushed against my ear. He lowered my wrist until it sat on his leg.
"Ã un gioco pericoloso a cui stai giocando quando sei bravo come lo sei ora."
(It is a dangerous game that you are playing when you look as good as you do right now.)
I've never been one to get flustered easily, but his words have my stomach doing summersaults. Luca doesn't normally blatantly flirt with me, and the fact he does it in his heavy-Italian morning voice has my cheeks heating up and a chill running up my spine.
He chuckles deeply before brushing his lips against my cheek, causing my eyes to flutter shut.
I clear my throat as I gently pull away and try to stand up. I stumble a couple of steps due to my flustered state before Luca's calloused hands reach out and steady me.
I look up at his amused face and the confidence radiating off of him has me feeling funny.
Nothing to me is more attractive than seeing him confident in himself.
"Get changed into something comfy. Apparently, our families have decided on a mandatory family day." I nod my head while looking anywhere but his face because words at the moment won't seem to form. He lets go of my arms painfully slow as he backs away to the door.
"Gnocco," I half-shout. His head turns over his shoulder as he pauses midstep out the door. "I'll get you back for that."
He sends me a devilish grin and lowers his voice. "For my sake... I hope you do."
He shuts the door leaving me standing there completely speechless.
After a moment, I gather what's left of my dignity off the floor and stumble my way into the bathroom. I gaze in the mirror, and I have no idea as to why Luca said I look good. Hell, my hair is a tangled mess and my t-shirt looks like a raisin. I hate raisins. The bruise that Tommy so generously gave me was dark purple and slightly swollen. My eyes were a tad puffy from all the crying I did, but the color... they looked brighter than I had seen them in a long time.
I didn't shower due to the fact I took one last night, but I did wash my face.
After yanking a brush through my tangled hair, I threw it into a bun and slipped on a pair of military green workout leggings and a long sleeve, black dry-fit shirt. I slip on some socks and grey tennis shoes before grabbing my gun and a knife.
Gus wasn't in my room when I walked back out, so I'm only assuming he's downstairs. I walk down the hallway and to the living room where I see my family and the Moretti's chatting away.
Luca smirks at me, and I give him a sly smile and a wink. A flash of surprise flashes in his eyes as I no longer look flustered, but radiate confidence.
I change my focus from him to Nick where I see he's standing by the windows.
"Hey, Nicky?" I ask tentatively. I feel bad about last night and I want him to know that I did trust him and that I do believe that he would never lay a hand on me.
"Yeah, Munch?" His bright eyes search every part of my face as he stands there nervously.
"I just- I just want to say that I'm sorry for flinching." I look down at my feet in embarrassment as I struggle to continue. "I know that you would never hit me. I was just on edge last night and I'm sorry."
He doesn't say anything and for a moment, all I hear are the sounds of our household yelling at each other over something stupid.
I look up reluctantly to see him staring directly at me with so much love and adoration, that a warm feeling envelops my body all over. He reaches out and pulls me tightly into his chest in a bone-crushing hug, but I don't mind.
"You don't have to be sorry. I understand." I know he doesn't actually understand what happened, but his willingness to go forward means a lot.
"Okay, listen up!" I let go of Nick and turn my attention to my father. He's in sweatpants and a t-shirt, and for once, he actually looks like a normal father.
"Today is family day! That means no friends, no cell phones, and no serious bodily harm." He looks at me as he says the last part and I just shrug my shoulders innocently. A ghost of a smile appears on his face as he turns back to the group.
"I'm splitting you up into teams, and those teams are who you're going to do the challenges with. So: Samuel, you're with Donovan; I'm with Stefano, Matteo and Finn are together, Giovanni's with Luca, and that leaves Nick, Callan, and Keeley on the last team."
"Are you trying to kill us?" Sam gasps while gesturing wildly. "First, Nick, who more than likely has killed people just by looking at them. And then Callan, who technically is two people. And then Keeley, who really should be on a team by herself with the way she is!"
The three of us laugh as the others shout out their protests to my father. His eyes are wide in amusement like this was the reaction he was actually hoping for.
"Aww, are you really that insecure of your abilities, Sammy?" I coo at him. His jaw drops as his head snaps to me.
"Oh, I'm gonna hurt you," he growls before launching himself at me.
We tumble to the ground as laughter pours out of my mouth. I wrestle him for a minute before Sam is yanked off of me by Callan.
I wanted to keep laughing, but the pain in my throat had me sent into a coughing fit. Nick's eyes grow wider as he rushes to get a water bottle for me. I sit down on the couch and gulp down a few drinks before I can finally manage a couple of steady breaths.
"Are you sure you're okay to do this, Keeley?" my father asks from where he's now crouching in front of me. I look up and see concerned looks across everybody's faces.
"I'm fine, don't worry. I just want to have fun today. What's the first activity?" My father eyes me skeptically before standing back up and clapping his hands together.
"Okay, let's get started."
***
"Stay focused, Munch! Don't let him win!"
"Don't let her beat you, Giovanni! Get your head in the game!"
Giovanni and I were the only two left standing. Each round of this game had been brutal. I've been kicked, slapped, pinched, and punched, but somehow, I had managed to make it to the final round despite being the smallest. Gio and I were crouched and circling each other with our eyes on the prize. I had to win this to make my team tie with his and Luca's, and I'll be damned if I let pretty boy win this one.
The music started up again and I sat my gaze on the creaky chair in front of us. I've never played such a ruthless game of musical chairs.
"C'mon Keeley! You've got this!" I hear Nick shout. A thick layer of sweat covers his forehead, but I'm not sure if it's from the game or his stress.
"Woo!" Callan shouts while awkwardly shaking his wrist. I have to hold in the laughter from his oddly deep voice and funky movements.
My father and Stefano stand at the stereo watching the two of us carefully. I wait for the music to cut off, and when it does: I pounce.
Gio and I both dived for the chair. My body hits his as I manage to kick the chair away. I attempt to jab him in the gut, but he rolls over quickly and squishes me on the floor. He uses the momentum to jump off the floor, but I grab his pant leg and yank it, causing him to face plant into the hardwood. I stifle a laugh as I pick myself up and run to the chair. I can hear the shouts of everybody as I'm about to grip the chair, but then I'm falling.
I land with a groan as I watch Giovanni stumble his way towards the wooden chair. I kick my leg out and connect with his shin. He goes down hard, and before I can even comprehend my own movements, I'm up and running full speed. I throw myself at the chair when I see him start to stand. I angle my body and hope I make it to the chair.
I open my eyes, as they had been closed, just before my butt hits the seat of the chair.
Holy shit, I won.
I hop out of the chair and jump up and down in victory. A chorus of cheers and hollers fills the living room as Callan picks me up and places me on his shoulder. I throw my head back in laughter as Nick taunts the victory in Gio's unamused face.
I pump my fists in the air and I don't think my face could stretch any wider with the smile I have on. All of my brothers chant my name in victory and if I'm being honest, my heart feels like it's going to explode with how happy I am at the moment.
My eyes travel to Luca, who's got that stupid smirk on his face. I stick my tongue out at him and all he does is just shake his head.
Callan lowers me from his shoulders as the two Capos approach us.
"Well then, I guess we have a tie for first place," my father chuckles.
So far, we had done five challenges: jump rope, giant Jenga, Nerf guns, four square, and then this, musical chairs.
Donnie and Sam had won the Nerf war, no surprise there, and Gio and Luca had won four square and Jenga. My team had won the remaining two.
"We have one final challenge, and it will go to the top two teams," Stefano explained. He shoved his hands in his sweatpants' pockets before continuing.
"This is the last one for all the marbles, and it will be between one member of each of the leading teams. The two will wrestle. We'll go outside in the grass, and whoever taps out, is knocked out, or is pinned, loses. The other will win and their team will win the choice to pick dinner."
In this house, picking dinner was the greatest prize anyone could ever get. Nobody could ever agree, so getting to decide- this was huge.
"Teams, choose your player."
I turn to my brother's and they're already looking at me with sheepish grins.
"Are you serious?" I groan. "I just got thrown around in fucking musical chairs, and now you want me to wrestle, I'm guessing, Luca?"
"It's just," Nick starts, "it's just you're so much better at it. Plus, neither one of us has a chance. Don't get me wrong, Callan's big, but he's not that fast."
Nick gives me a tight-lipped smile accompanied by a nod while Cal just looks offended.
"I could take him," he mumbles while lowering his head.
"I know you could, Bubba," I told him reassuringly. I sigh while leading my team outside and down to the backyard. We climb down the deck stairs and meet the others a little ways out.
"Who's wrestling?" Stefano smirks. Everyone looks directly at me as I shake my head and walk towards where Luca's standing.
"Alright, you two, the rules: none of that funny business you two do, no serious bodily harm, no weapons, and no crazy eyes."
I roll my eyes at my father's words as a gust of cold air blows against my body. The grass is starting to turn brown, but the sky is clear blue for as far as the eye can see. A few, pillow-like clouds are scattered in the sky and the bright yellow sun makes everything shine.
I look at Luca who's still got that stupid smirk on his face.
"Fight!"
I slightly crouch as Luca and I start to circle one another.
"You know, your face will freeze like that," I tell him. He lets out a low chuckle that I'm sure if I wasn't ready to fight would have sent my knees shaking.
"Would that really be a bad thing, Tesoro?" I don't know what has gotten into him today, but my normally sweet and awkward Luca had taken on a completely new alpha-male thing, and if I'm being truthful, it's attractive as hell.
"Yes, yes it would." And I attack.
We both go flying to the ground and I get a mouthful of dirt, and I assume Luca got the same considering the loud groan I heard.
I throw a punch his way, but it barely grazes his cheek as he rolls to the side. He sends out a kick and it connects with my gut causing me to fall back down. He's on top of me in a second and I cross my arms in front of my face to protect myself, even though I doubt he would actually hurt me like that.
I throw my hips up and he loses his balance falling to the side of me. I lock my arms around his neck and squeeze, hoping he'll tap out. Although with Luca, I know it won't be that easy. He swings his head back and I hear it before I feel it hit my nose. I let go abruptly and scramble away. I lift a hand to my nose, and although it's not broken, it hurts like hell. Not to mention the cut on my lip busted open again.
I stand up on shaky knees as I feel my body start to tire. Between the blows I had been receiving all day and the bruises on my neck from last night, I was having quite a bit of difficulty breathing.
"Why don't we make this a bit more interesting?" He says while slowly approaching me.
I take a few solid steps back and regain my composure before replying.
"Like what?"
"If you win," Luca states while tackling me to the ground, "I'll do anything you ask."
We wrestle a bit more till I finally am straddling him and have his arms pinned across his chest.
"And if you win?" I ask with heavy breaths. His ocean blues sparkle with mischief as he stares into me.
"And if I win, you have to do anything I ask." We wrestle a bit more and when I manage to stand up, I speak again.
"But what do you want?" At this point, I'm struggling to breathe and a couple of black dots have clouded my vision. Luca catches onto my dazed state as a winning grin covers his beautiful, Italian face.
"Oh, Tesoro, just you wait." I don't see him move, but I do feel the ground when I hit. The wind this time gets knocked out of me and it's all I can do to tap the ground three times.
I fucking lost.
I hear shouts approaching me as more dots fill my vision. I feel someone help me sit up, and based on the warmth radiating from this person, I immediately know it's Luca. He pats my back a few times while I feel cool water being poured over my head.
"The fuck don't you get about the rules, Luca?" I think Nick yelled, or it could be my father. I'm not really sure.
More yelling follows but I focus solely on Luca and I match my breathing to the beat of his heart. After a few minutes, the pain has subsided and I can breathe.
"You realize," I groan while leaning back into his chest, "that I'm beyond pissed at you, right?"
I feel his chest vibrate as a low chuckle escapes his lips.
"I'm highly aware."
"So," my father shouts to quiet everybody. "Giovanni, Luca, where shall it be for dinner?"
I look at the two of them as they exchange silent words between their eyes.
And at the same time, they both speak: "Antonio's."
***
Antonio's was a highly expensive, black-tie, Italian restaurant about an hour south of here. I remember once when I was ten, my father took our family out here for business and we had eaten there. I don't remember the food, but I remember watching couples dance on the massive dance floor in the center of the dining room, wishing someone would one day do that with me.
I stepped out of my shower, after shaving and washing every part of my body, and dried myself off with my towel. I slipped on my silky black robe and looked in the mirror.
Only a couple of new bruises on my torso, but nothing too bad. The only thing aching besides my neck was the cut on my lip to my nose that Luca had so generously reopened.
I cleaned up the cut before taking out my blow dryer and drying my hair. I pulled my now dry, long blonde hair into some fancy bun-thing. I took out my makeup bag and covered up my wounds before attempting my best at what I think a smokey eye is. I paint a dark, reddish-black on my lips as I look in the mirror. I step back, and might I say, it doesn't look half bad.
I walk into my closet to find something to wear. Stupid Luca and his fancy clothes and that devilish smile. And what could he possibly want from me?
I run my hands over the various dresses in my closet before one catches my eyes. I slip it off the hanger and onto my body. I struggle with the zipper, but after contorting my body into ways I didn't know it could, I finally got it up. I slipped on a pair of tall, open-toed black heels and a simple silver necklace that rested below my collar bone.
I turned to look in the mirror, and I barely recognized myself.
The dress I had chosen was a satiny-black material that draped a bit lower in the neckline and had two thin straps. It swooshed up into what is like a slit, except it was replaced with black lace. It hugged my body and ended about the bottom thigh on one side, and quite a bit higher up on the other. With the slit on my left side, a bit of my tattoo was showing, and the one on my shoulder and neck was on full display. I did a slight spin and could see our family's tattoo on my back along with the scars.
I felt conscious of my scars, I hated when people stared. But tonight, tonight I would be confident and try something new.
I slipped on a weapons strap to my thigh that could carry a couple of knives before placing my phone, wallet, and keys into a sparkly silver clutch. With one last breath, I walked out of my closet and out of my room. I could hear the clack of my heels echo off the walls as I walked down the stairs, making me feel powerful.
"Merda santa," I heard Luca mumble as I stepped around the corner from the stairs. Everybody's eyes darted to me and just stared. I ran a hand over my dress to flatten it and to check if anything was wrong, but nothing was.
(Holy shit)
"Is-is there something wrong?" I ask shyly, not being used to all of the attention.
Nick clears his throat and this seems to snap everybody out of their trance.
"Yeah, just um-what are you wearing? Because I think the other half is missing."
"I agree," all of my brothers, including Matteo and Gio, spoke at the same time.
"I think," my father boomed as he walked up to me. My eyes went wide at his sudden proximity. "I think she looks lovely."
He leaned down and kissed the top of my head before taking a step back. Stefano did the same and it just left Luca standing there with his mouth slightly agape.
Nick slapped the back of his head and nodded his head toward me. Luca's eyes widened before he turned to me.
"Oh-you look, um, you look very-uh, nice." I raised one of my eyebrows at him as the tips of his ears turned bright red, and I took that moment to really look at him.
Like everyone else, he was dressed in a suit, but on him, it was a whole different thing. His ebony hair was styled just right to where it was slicked back, but somehow still messy, and the thin silver chain I had grown to love sparkled against his tanned skin. The color of his tucked-in button-up just happened to be the same color as my lipstick and the top couple of buttons were undone under his suit jacket. His black pants accentuated his strong legs and lead to sharp-looking dress shoes on his feet. This man with the slight stubble across his chiseled jaw and the captivating blue of his eyes had me completely and utterly under his spell.
My father cleared his throat and I felt my own cheeks get warm. He gives me a knowing look before gesturing to the door.
I slipped on my long black coat before following them out. We were instructed to go to the same cars as last time, but considering mine had been towed by my father's men, I didn't have one. I turned to look at Luca, but saw that he was already leaning against an expensive-looking, blacked-out Ferrari parked in the driveway.
"Where the hell did you get this?" I ask while walking up to him in astonishment.
"I had it shipped from Italy. I couldn't leave my baby all alone now, could I?" A lazy smile sits on his face and I just shake my head as I get in. He shuts the door after me and gets in the driver's side.
He turns on some quiet, Italian music as we follow our families down the long road ahead of us. I turn to look at him and I admire the way the setting sun makes his tanned skin golden and his black hair shine.
He looks over at me and gives me what I think is the most adoring look I've ever seen in my life. I let my head fall against the headrest and continue to openly stare at him. He doesn't look at me again, but that's okay because his right hand moved and situated itself on my bare knee, his thumb rubbing small circles into it. I could have driven forever like this: just the two of us with some quiet music, not needing words to talk because everything we needed to say was told between our touch and between our eyes.
***
"I forgot how fancy this place was," I muttered in agreement with Giovanni as we were lead to a large table, only a few tables away from the dance floor where couples were dancing to the swing music.
The room itself was dark and was only illuminated by the yellowish table lamps and the few chandeliers overhead. A few trees that I knew were fake but looked real were scattered about, and the tall, arched ceilings made me feel like I was in Italy. The tables were long and round with velvet bench seating around them. This place had to be one of the classiest places I know.
Luca helped me with my coat as we were some of the last to file in. The two Capos sat on the ends, and Luca sat next to his father with me on the other side. The rest of the guys filled up the other seats.
Our menus were placed in front of us, and I found it funny how some of my brothers couldn't read them since they were in Italian.
"Ciao, my name is Vitaly and I'll be serving you tonight. Can I get you started on something to drink? Here is our wine menu." Vitaly's voice was heavily accented and he looked with his dark hair and matching eyes.
He went around asking the men what they wanted, and when he got to me, he looked slightly taken back.
He cleared his throat before talking. "E per te bella?"
(And for you, beautiful?)
Luca's arm immediately slid behind me on the bench and rested there protectively. I shook my head at his antics.
I looked to my father and he nodded his head slightly at me, already knowing my question.
"Prendo un bicchiere di champagne, per favore." The waiter didn't even question it as he walked away from the table.
(I'll have a glass of champagne, please.)
The table falls into easy conversation as I look at Luca. His grip on the back of the bench is tight, showing off the veins in his hand. He's looking across the room at Vitaly, and if looks could kill, this man would 100% have a bullet in his head.
"Ho occhi solo per te, Gnocco," I tell him softly as I run a hand across his five o'clock shadow.
(I only have eyes for you, Gnocco)
He looked at me with his eyes swarming with every variation of admiration in them.
"Dance with me." I'm taken back at his words, but before I can protest, he's already pushed his father off of the bench. I shoot him a "sorry" before stumbling after Luca.
(If you want, scroll back to the top and play the song so you can listen as you read. Otherwise, the song is here too. I highly recommended listening to the lyrics, it fits these two quite well.)
Frank Sinatra's "Nice N' Easy" starts to play the moment we step onto the floor. No one else is out there and it's just the two of us. His hand falls to my hip as the other takes my own. He immediately starts to move us around the dance floor.
I've always loved to dance, but with Luca, it's something else entirely. My body is pressed up against him as he spins us all over the floor. My head falls back in laughter as he spins me out and back in. Our steps are quick and our gazes are locked as Frank Sinatra sills our ears.
It's like in a movie where you see the two dancers moving in unison and their surroundings are spinning fast but they aren't. That's what this feels like.
Right now, with Luca, as he moves us with grace across the dance floor, is where I've always wanted to be. In his arms, I feel completely at peace. I feel like it will never get better than it is right now. And for the first time in a long time, I know one thing for certain: Luca has me in the palm of his hand. Words can not explain the feelings I have for him, and I'm finally okay with that.
The song slows to a stop and I'm suddenly dipped and staring up at Luca's beautiful eyes. I can tell that he feels the same way I do.
A round of applause fills the room as we are snapped out of our own little world. Luca stands me back up on my feet and I give him the biggest smile I can. He smirks as he leans down to kiss my forehead before leading us back to the table.
The waiter didn't look at me the next time he came to our table.
***
"I don't think I can eat for the rest of my life," Sam grumbled as he clutched his stomach. The front door shut behind us as everyone shuffled into the house.
"Please, you'll be finishing off the tub of ice cream in the freezer before the end of the night," Finn scoffed. I giggled to myself as Sam's eyes lit up.
"We have ice cream?" He ran out of the room with Donnie and Finn hot on his heels shouting at him about how he'll regret this decision.
"Thank you for dinner," I tell my father and Stefano. They each give me a hug and a kiss before mumbling their goodnight and walking off to their bedrooms.
My brothers, as well as the older Moretti siblings, followed suit, leaving just me and Luca.
"I've got to get these shoes off of me," I groan as I lift my foot up to try and undo the buckle. However, this doesn't necessarily work because the next thing you know, I'm falling.
I close my eyes in anticipation of meeting the hard floor, but yet again, I'm instead met with the familiar strength and warmth of Luca Moretti.
"Well, Ms. Keeley Harris, I think it's safe to say that you just fell for me." I let out a hearty laugh at his comment as he stands me back up to my feet. He places his large hand on my lower back as he picks up my shoes that had fallen off with his other.
He walks me all the way up the stairs and to my room.
"Well, Tesoro, I would say today was fantastic, and I wish we could do it all again. But alas, we can not, so this will have to suffice." I giggle at his words as he dramatically bows and reaches my heels out to me. I take them from his hands as he stands back up.
"Well, I had a lovely time, Gnocco, and I too would love to do this again."
It falls silent as we stare at each other for a moment, completely lost in one another. The hallway is dark, but the moonlight from the windows allows us to see. His hands are placed on either side of the doorway as I stand directly in front of him. I watch as he has an inner battle in his eyes, over what though, I'm not sure.
He clears his throat and brings us both back to reality. "Well, goodnight, Tesoro."
"Goodnight, Luca,"I whisper softly. I watch him as he walks towards his room, and just as he is about to open his door, he turns back towards me and hesitates for just a moment.
"Ah- fuck it."
He moves back towards me with so much determination that it causes me to step back a little and drop my shoes. It wasn't until he was right in front of me that I registered what he was about to do, and I was okay with that.
I grabbed onto the collar of his suit jacket as his hands grasped my face and his lips were on my own.
He had finally kissed me.
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Omg!! This chapter was an absolute blast to write and I love it so much.
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Final Word Count: 6493