Luca's POV
"Food's here!" I hear Fergus shout from the other room with his thick Scottish accent.
Me, Diangelo, and Emile all make our way off the balcony and into the kitchen where the pizzas we had ordered were being laid out. The four of us began to fill our plates before heading to the living room of my room to watch whatever was on TV.
Keeley and I would leave tomorrow, and she insisted that I get some guy time before we leave. The past few days had been well-needed. We hadn't had any work obligations, no brothers or fathers bossing us around and keeping their eyes on us, it had just been us. Keeley had fit in better with my friends than what I could have hoped for.
She and Fergus, I've realized, have the same smart-ass attitude and have been ganging up on me every chance they can get. Like the other day, Ilaria had the great idea to all cook together. It sounded fun, but then I felt Keeley's hands rest on the bare skin of my back under my t-shirt. Before I could even register the sly grin on her face and the trouble in her eyes, Fergus had completely covered my head in lukewarm nacho cheese and sent Keeley and everyone else into a fit of laughter. I still have to get her back for that.
Emile insists on working out with Keeley every morning, even though he can not keep up. He's still sore after his loss during the fight he and Keeley had the first day we were here. Or, really, Keeley just knocked him around until he cried. So to make up for that and in his effort to convince Keeley he's not weak, he gets up every morning to partake in Keeley's workout routine. He's a stupid fuck for that, considering I've done it and it's brutal, but he's a good stupid fuck.
I've had a hard time getting an idea of how the relationship is between Diangelo and Keeley. They talk, a lot actually, but never loud enough for people to hear. She talks timidly to him, but the truth in her eyes, while she does, makes me believe she's not holding anything back. Keeley is talking freely, and Diangelo absorbs everything she has to say before responding. He listens to her intently, determined to get the whole story before he asks his own questions. I asked Keeley what they talk about, and a meek smile tugged at her mouth as she shook her head. She just said "life."
And then there's Ilaria. It's been hard to get any alone time with Keeley because Ilaria insists on taking all of her time. Of course, that's just my jealousy talking, but it feels like that sometimes. Those two cackle louder than any two people I've ever met. When they're together, Keeley doesn't seem so tense, nor does she seem like she's got a thousand burdens weighing her down. She seems free. She laughs freely, and I've even seen her and Ilaria have an impromptu dance party at three in the morning. I know Keeley has Aubrey, but if I'm being honest, Ilaria will take that place in a heartbeat.
And then during the early mornings and late nights, it's just me and Keeley. We sit on the balcony, or on the couch, in the bed, or at the counter, and just talk. I don't think I've ever gotten to truly talk to Keeley as much as we have since being here. Yes, we talk every day, as we do live together, but not like this. We talk about life and the things that scare us. Our favorite memories and the ones that make us cry. The burdens we have to carry because of the life we've been born into. And then Keeley surprises me. The other night she opened up about her old friends from not so long ago, and how she and Brady met. She laughs when she reminisces, and sometimes she tears up to, but I take it all in. I take in everything she's willing to give me, and she does the same for me.
My mother called the other night, and after a terrible conversation with the woman, I told Keeley about her. I told her how she got tired of the life she lived and left us. I told her about my childhood and the memories I have growing up. I told her about meeting my friends and how we bonded. I even spoke of the things I've had to do because of being in the family I'm in, the things that haunt my days and my nights. She doesn't interrupt me and she doesn't give me advice on what to do or how to feel. Keeley doesn't try to change my view, she just listens. It's been a long time since somebody just listened to me and let me get things off my chest.
Ilaria practically begged me so that she could steal Keeley for the day and do some last-day shopping, as she called it. That on top of Keeley telling me I should hang out with the guys, I agreed. Of course, I'm not a fan of being without Keeley, but I guess I can survive a few hours as she maxes out my credit card I told her to use.
I'm almost done eating when the guys get quiet. I look up to see all of their gazes fixed on me and the half slice of pizza falling out of my mouth. Diangelo clears his throat before talking and I finish chewing.
"Keeley's great, Luca," he speaks softly, his fondness of my girl evident in his tone of voice.
I smile to myself and wipe my mouth with a paper napkin. "She is. I love her a lot."
"Is she-" Emile begins before stopping and rethinking his words. After a minute, his gaze turns back to mine and he starts again. "We've all noticed that she sometimes seems a little- for lack of a better word- sad, haunted almost when she's lost inside her head. Is she okay?"
I'm at a loss for words momentarily. They're worried about Keeley, but I know they wonder if she's going to be a repeat of the last girl I dated. Her name was Antonia, and she was beautiful, but like Keeley, her past loomed over her like a stormcloud. Her father hadn't been a nice man, and growing up, he was an abusive drunk. Antonia had let men treat her like shit her whole life. When we started dating, she always thought I was going to flip a switch or something and act just like her dad did growing up.
She was out of that house when I was with her, but old habits die hard. She didn't trust me, and often would become irrational or scream if I had to work because she knew what I did. She told me I was no better than her father when I had to get information out of somebody. I lost a bit of myself trying to always reassure her and earn her trust. I walked through hell trying to keep her happy, but it was never enough.
We broke up the day she laid a hand on me. We had been together a year and a half at that point, and things had been tense for a while. Of course, I loved her and when she was okay, it was fun being together. It was fun being in a relationship and getting dinner or seeing a movie. But behind closed doors, it wasn't all it seemed to be. I showed up for a date with bruised knuckles from the night before. We had been attacked, and I had to do what I could to live. I killed three people with my bare hands that night, but it was not by choice.
She freaked out. She called me names and insulted my family, and I just soaked it in the whole time, eager for her to just drop it. I don't remember what she said exactly, but it didn't sit well with me. I raised my voice and her hand immediately shot out connected with my face. I told her we were done and I walked away.
My friends had been there through the whole relationship, and they saw the toll it took on me having to constantly prove myself to her when I had done nothing to her in the first place. Antonia had issues, and I know Keeley does too, but I've never had to prove myself to Keeley. I've never had to be someone I'm not. Keeley accepts me for who I am and what I do. She accepts me, scars and all, and I do the same for her.
"I appreciate you all worrying, I do," I tell them quietly. "But Keeley is not like Antonia, and that's not me just trying to get Keeley on your good side. I've never had to prove myself to Keeley because she knows and accepts me for me. She's hurting from something in her past, but we all are. The only difference is that her hurting looks a bit different to us only because we can see it laid across her back. I love Keeley, and I don't think I've seen her act this freely in a long time, if ever. She hasn't had anybody, and her opening up is going to take some time. But I have no doubt in my mind that she's it for me."
All of them look at me before Fergus claps a hand on my shoulder.
"That's what we thought too. We just wanted to make sure that's how it really is. She keeps you on your toes, that's for sure," he laughs as we all join in.
"I can't believe that you found the one girl who can actually take you down," Emilie spoke up while reaching back and touching the bruise on his back.
"She's good for you, Luca. I haven't seen you look at anybody like that in a long time. Hell, probably ever." I smile at Diangelo's words as the guys start talking about Keeley like they'd known her her whole life.
I'm about to throw in one of my own stories, but I'm interrupted as the sound of my phone ringing cuts through the air. Keeley's name pops up and I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion as I answer the call.
"Keeley? Are you-" my words are cut off by the sound of gunshots firing. They must be as loud as I thought because the guys automatically turn to me and halt their conversation.
"Luca, we're at the State Street mall parking garage on level C. Ilaria and I are surrounded by at least fifteen men. I can't get a shot out without getting my own head blown off. The moment I have an opportunity to go after them, I'm going to do it, but we need help. Like now."
The only reason I'm not panicking immensely is due to the control she has over her voice. She's calm and can hold her own, but I imagine only more men are going to show up as time passes. I'm standing in an instant and shoving my gun into my waistband. Emile, Fergus, and Diangelo are already in motion loading up and heading towards the door.
"Okay, we are on our way right now, don't worry. Are either of you hurt?" I ask as the elevator opens and we all rush inside. Her voice is drowned out my voices and more gunfire. I can feel my heart beating in my throat as the numbers on the elevator seem to tick by at a snail's pace.
"We're both a little scraped up from running for cover, but we aren't seriously hurt- Ilaria!" And then the phone cuts off. I pull the phone away from my ear and look down and see that we had been disconnected. I call her again, but it sends me straight to voicemail.
"Fuck!" I yell just as the elevator doors open. We start running towards the cars. "We got disconnected and I think Ilaria is hurt. There are at least fifteen men with automatics on level C of the State Street mall parking deck." I hurry out as we reach the blacked-out SUVs.
"I'm calling for backup right now. They should be there the same time we arrive," Diangelo tells us all as he and I get into one car and Fergus and Emile get into another.
We peel out of the parking lot and speed down the strip, running red lights and breaking traffic laws left and right. But it doesn't fucking matter because my two favorite people are being gunned down across town.
I'm coming, Keeley. I'm coming.
***
Keeley's POV (15 minutes earlier)
"Ilaria, if I have one more bag, I swear my arms are going to fall off," I laugh as she takes her card out of the chip reader.
"Eh, you've got muscles. You'll be fine." She takes the bag and receipt from the cashier as we walk out of the store and into the crowd.
We'd been at the mall for a couple of hours, and with Luca's credit card in my pocket, I've collected quite the array of bags. I wouldn't normally take Luca's money, but we're in Vegas, so why not. Plus, I found some things for him that I think he'd like. Sure I bought them with his money, but details-shmetails.
Spending time with Ilaria has to be one of my favorite things. I've had girl-friends before. I've had Lexi and Alice, and now I have Aubrey, but Ilaria is different. She gets the world I live in because she lives in it too. She's incredibly funny, witty, a smartass, and one-hundred percent a badass. I feel like I can be my honest self around her, and that I don't have to hold back. She's friends with me because she likes who I am as a person: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
"Do you want to get a pretzel before we leave?" I ask as I see a place called Pretzel Shack up ahead.
"Um, of course. I would give my left tit for a cinnamon-sugar pretzel right now." I laugh as she makes a beeline towards the counter. I'm glad no one else was in line because I fear she would have run them over.
She buys the two of us pretzels and cherry slushies before we push our way through the people and toward the parking garage. It takes a while to get there, and even longer to find the car.
"Tell me again why we had to park so far away?" I groan as we finally reach her fiery red Ferrari and she pops the trunk. We shove our bags in the car and close it.
"I can't have anybody scratching up this baby. Do you have any idea how much I paid for-"
Bang Bang Bang
Her words are cut off as we fly to the ground and bullets rain down on her car. The two of us are pressed up against each other as the bullets continued to fire onto the other side of the car. They were coming from the exit, and there would be no way to get out of here even if we could make it into the car.
"Who the fuck are those people?" Ilaria shouts as she grabs her gun out of her purse and double checks the clip. My own gun is situated in my hand and I manage a quick glimpse at the people firing before I nearly get my head blown off. I could only see for a moment, but a moment was all I needed.
Those cars weren't black, they were charcoal grey. And those men, some fifteen or twenty men, weren't wearing tactical gear, they were wearing suits. And I know I only caught a glimpse, but I would know that fucking emblem on their car anywhere.
Fucking hell.
Bullets continue to fire through the air as I pull my phone and dial Luca.
"Keeley? Are you-" I cut him off immediately.
"Luca, we're at the State Street mall parking garage on level C. Ilaria and I are surrounded by at least fifteen men. I can't get a shot out without getting my own head blown off. The moment I have an opportunity to go after them, I'm going to do it, but we need help. Like now."
I try to keep my voice calm so I don't freak him out, but on the inside, I'm screaming. I'm absolutely terrified.
"Okay, we are on our way right now, don't worry. Are either of you hurt?"Â Â I take in the sound of his voice and how I can hear all of them moving around and coming to us.
Luca's coming. It's going to be alright, Keeley. Just breathe.
"We're both a little scraped up from running for cover, but we aren't seriously hurt- Ilaria!"
My phone call is no longer my priority as I hear a scream tear through Ilaria. I pull her towards me as crimson starts to ooze from the top of her shoulder. Bullets begin to come at us from the other direction, and I realize they must have gotten Ilaria. I yank her back into me, accidentally crushing my phone under my foot as I do so.
"Fucking hell, that hurts like a bitch," she bites out as I rip my jacket off and press it into her shoulder. She hisses through her teeth and moves to hold the jacket in place. "Where are they all coming from?"
"I have no idea," I mumble out as I try to think. We are both going to be filled with bullet holes soon if I can't hold them off till Luca gets here. I take in a few deep breaths and look around. I need to get the shots away from Ilaria. They might not kill me, but they sure as hell will kill Ilaria.
As of right now, we are stuck between her car and a small black sedan whose windows have been blown out and covered the floor in glassy shards. If I could just get closer to them without seeing me, I'd be fine.
And then it clicks.
"Ilaria, do you trust me?" I ask while shifting her weight from me to the car. I make sure she's situated as I pull a knife out of my shoe.
"Yes, but by the way your eyes are way creepy right now, I'm second-guessing myself."
I let a slow grin appear across my face as the familiar numbness washes over my body.
"Shoot anyone who comes over here. And I swear, Ilaria, if you even move so much as one step from here, I'll blow your kneecaps out with my gun and I won't be sorry. Do you understand?"
"I can help you, Keeley. In case you've forgotten, we are both a part of this life," she yells like I'm crazy. But I don't care. If she dies, that'll be four friends I've gotten killed, and I'd really rather not add to that tally.
"I don't give a fuck, Ilaria. You've been shot in your dominant shoulder and can barely fire a gun. I'm going to hold them off until Luca gets here. Just- trust me."
And then I hear it: the brief pause when they're forced to reload their guns and I have approximately two seconds before one of them begins to fire. I ignore Ilaria's protests as I squeeze between the wall and the front end of the sedan. They reload quicker than I'd hope, but I don't stop moving. I keep pressing forwards towards the people who shot Ilaria. I'll have fun killing them.
Bullets come rapid-fire in my direction, but by the way they're angled behind me, I know they can't see me. And when I peak around a light blue minivan, I see all of their attention is focused behind me. I don't even think before I'm raising my gun and firing bullets into all of their heads.
Shit, there's more of them than I thought.
When enough of them are down, I run. I let all rational thoughts escape me as I push towards them. I catch the first one by surprise and swipe my knife across the front of his neck, his body going down immediately.
Their bullets come to a halt as they risk shooting their own men in an effort to get me. They come quick, but I try not to think as I let my body run on autopilot, doing whatever it needs to survive. The sting of a knife throws me off for half a second, allowing one of the attackers to land more than a couple of hits on me.
A strong metallic taste fills my mouth, and for some reason, it makes me angry. Don't get me wrong, I'm already frustrated and angry because they shot Ilaria, but when the people who hurt me for so long cause me to hurt again, I'm fucking livid.
I don't even know what happens, but when I hear the sound of more engines coming to life, I snap out of whatever I was in. Those stupid charcoal grey SUVs are speeding out the exit like bats out of hell.
And then- there's silence.
Below me lay the bodies of more than a dozen men. My hands are coated in their blood, and my normally pristine knife has been chipped at the point and is painted crimson. It takes me a second to realize I killed them all, not even realizing the vastness of how far my anger went.
Ilaria.
I do my best to run over to Ilaria, but I'm already coming down from whatever the hell that was, and my body fucking hurts. When I make it to her, I nearly collapse seeing she's okay.
"Oh my god, you're okay," I breathe out as I lean against her car. A weight lifts off my chest when I see her able to stand. She's really okay.
But when I look at her face, there's something wrong. Her hand is shaking as she reaches out to me, a piece of white paper crinkled in her hands.
"He- he told me to give this to you," she whispers while scanning her eyes up and down the length of my body. I swallow as I reluctantly reach out and take the note from her grip. In the background, I hear tires squealing into the garage.
Luca's here.
"Who?"
"Um, an old bald guy. He had a thick accent but I couldn't tell what it was."
Not Adrik.
Ilaria walks past me and to the cars, Fergus immediately sitting her down and tending to her shoulder. But all I can do is stare at the note with the chicken-scratch handwriting.
Я ÑÐ²Ð¸Ð¶Ñ ÑебÑ.
My worst nightmare was no longer confined to my dreams, but now ever-present in my reality.
"Keeley!" I manage to shove the note in my pocket just as Luca reaches me. I turn around and look at him, and I think I can physically hear him suck in a breath.
"Are you hurt?" he asks, not sure if he should touch me or not. And that alone causes tears to begin welling up in my eyes. This is all... a lot. Why is he watching me? How did he know I was here? What the fuck just came over me to where I could kill all of those men and not even remember it?
I don't even have to say anything, because when Luca sees me struggling to come up with words, he pulls tightly into him and wraps me in his arms. I squeeze him, desperately trying to ground myself before I have a full-on freakout.
I'm not sure how long I stand there clinging to him, but by the time I finally pull away, his clothes are stained red and I feel like I could collapse from exhaustion.
"Your father's going to kill me," Luca says as we begin to walk over to where the others are, some on security and some loading the dead bodies of those wretched men into the back of their cars.
"Yeah, probably."
***
"Well, you should be okay. That's a nasty gash along your cheek there, but it should heal okay now that it's been stitched up. Other than that, keep an eye out for any nausea, and I would suggest an ice bath to soothe your bruises. Don't overwork yourself for a couple of weeks or until you're feeling strong enough."
The doctor smiles at me before walking out of the room and leaving me in a room full of irritable men.
Apparently, when Diangelo had called for backup, Stefano had been notified. He, my father, Luca's brothers, Brady, Finn, and Callan had immediately flown down here. I don't think my father or Stefano have stopped staring daggers into Luca since they walked into the room a minute and a half ago.
The room is tense as we all sit here awkwardly. I'm in a lot of pain at the moment, but I'll be damned if I set off this ticking-time-bomb.
We were all saved from any more tension as Brady burst through the door, his eyes frantic until they land on me.
"Oh, thank God," he breathed out as he pushed forward and wrapped his arms around me. "I would have killed you twice if you went and got yourself killed."
I chuckled as he pulled back and frowned at the gash on my cheek that I knew was going to be a pain in the ass.
"It was an ambush. Nobody," I annunciated while staring at my father who had shifted his gaze to mine, "could have prevented it. Let's just get out of here. I hate the smell of doctor's offices."
"I agree. Get your stuff and then the plane leaves in thirty," my father spoke while checking his watch.
"Wait, we're leaving tonight?" I ask.
"Keeley, in case you've forgotten, you were just brutally attacked. I think it's safe to say we're going home."
"I'm not leaving," I tell him plainly. Stefano gave me a what the fuck are you doing look, but I ignored him and my brothers who were matching his gaze.
"Like hell you aren't," he tells me, this time looking at me while he talks. He's got bags under his eyes and his dress shirt is completely untucked and wrinkled. My father's hair is unkempt, and for the first time since he walked in here, I can see how tired he really is.
"Listen," I begin softly, trying not to sound rude, "we've all had a long day. Dad, no offense, but you like shit. As do all of you," I say while taking in the state of my family. "I'm sure you all could use a drink, and I sure as hell need a shower. Why don't we just relax tonight, and leave tomorrow morning?"
Everyone waits for my father to speak, but all he does is stare at me. I hold his gaze until he agrees and shoves his hands into his pockets.
"Fine, but you stay in your room tonight."
I breathe out a sigh of relief as I watch my father and Stefano walk out of the room. "When did you start letting her call the shots?" Stefano whispers.
"Hell if I know."
"Well, we'll get out of your hair then and see you bright and early tomorrow munch," Finn says while coming over and kissing the part of my forehead that isn't stained with dried Russian blood. Matteo and Giovanni follow, leaving Callan for last. His gigantor frame looms over me as a frown covers his face.
"You look like you got run over by a bus on its way to hell," he mumbles. I can't help but burst out laughing at his bluntness. He kisses my head and leaves, leaving just me, Brady, and Luca in the room.
"Do you want to come over to the hotel with us tonight?" Luca asks Brady and I nearly get whiplash from turning my head too fast. The last time I knew, Luca wasn't a fan of Brady. "My friends are coming over with Chinese food, and I think they'd like to meet you if you mean so much to Keeley."
I'm glad Luca wasn't talking to me, because for the second time today, I can't find the words to speak. Brady looks as taken back as I am, and his brown eyes flicker from me to Luca before responding.
"Yeah, I- that'd be great," he stuttered, his hoarse voice making him seem even more caught off guard.
Luca clapped his hands together. "Alright then, let's go."
***
I bite back tears as my body screams at me to stop. I didn't think I'd have a hard time showering considering my back and shoulders weren't injured, but they ache like hell, and trying to even lift my arms above my shoulders burns. I manage to get my body clean, but I know there is still blood caked onto my scalp and laced through my hair.
I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around my body, already regretting and being highly embarrassed about what I'm going to do.
"Luca!" I whisper yell as I peek my head out of the door. When he doesn't respond, I call his name a bit louder.
He comes running in with his eyes positively wide, scanning the room until his eyes land on mine.
"Are you okay?" he asks while walking over to me.
"Do you- can you help wash my hair? I can't get it," I whisper looking at the luxury tile beneath my bare feet.
"Of course, Tesoro."
I step back from the door as he walks in and shuts it. He had taken a shower in the other bathroom, and my guess is he hopped out when he heard me call his name. He's wearing a pair of dark sweatpants that sit lowly on his hips and nothing else. Water droplets fall from the ends of his hair and I can't help but watch as they trail down his tanned chest and over his stomach, traveling lower until they reach-
"Keeley?" he asks breaking my trance. I snap my eyes back up to his. Luca raises an eyebrow as a suggestive smirk tugs at the corners of his lips. I can physically feel my neck and face turn red.
"See something you like?"
"Shut up. I was told I killed eighteen men today, what's one more?" I try to look mean, but really it just lets him know how badly he affects me. I ignore his triumphant smile.
"So, how do you want to do this?" he asks me, this time his eyes lingering a little too long on places that weren't my face.
I look around the bathroom and try to think of the best way for us to do this. The only way I can think of doing this is with me sitting in the bathtub, and that scares the fuck out of me because I hate those fuckers, but I don't see any other way. I pull my towel around me.
"I have an idea," Luca speaks quietly, like he already knows what I'm thinking, before walking out of the room. He returns in a moment holding my freshly washed swimsuit bottoms.
I smile at him as I take them from his hands and slip them on when he turns around. I climb in and sink slowly into the bottom of the massive tub. I sit in the middle facing the wall and pull my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them in the process so that Luca won't get a good look.
"Okay, you can turn around now," I whisper hesitantly while settling in. I hear him take a few steps till he kneels down and runs a hand over my shoulder.
"If it gets too much for you, just let me know, okay?"
I nod my head as he turns on the water and then the shower head attached to the tub. He moves it slowly over my head, the warm water trickling down my face and running down my back. I'm trying not to freak out as I feel the water, but it's damn hard. I focus instead on the feeling of one of Luca's hands running through my hair and the way he touches me gently.
He sets the showerhead in the tub before pouring shampoo in his hands and massaging my scalp.
I've never felt so exposed to Luca as I do right now. I'm practically naked, and even though he's seen me in a swimsuit, I know he's never seen the degree to which the scars extend across my skin. I can tell he's trying to avoid touching them, but his hands brush over them every time he works his hands through the ends of my hair.
I sit like that for a long time, and to my dismay, I actually enjoy the feeling of the water running down my hair and back. Luca's hands are gentle, and though neither of us speaks, I know the both of us acknowledge how much trust I'm putting in him right now. I know people have seen me and the cruelty Adrik had laid across my back, but there is something incredibly intimate about the person you love taking care of you, and even if he doesn't know it, healing those old wounds.
I'm almost sad when Luca breaks the blissful silence shared between us.
"The blood in your hair is gone, but you missed a spot on your back. Do you want me to get it for you?" His voice is low and gentle, and if I hadn't killed anybody today and wasn't hurt, I might admit that I'd let him talk like that to me a bit more somewhere else.
Instead, though, I nodded my head and leaned forward. I felt his hands flutter across my back, the hesitation in his movements evident. His hands trace over one particularly long scar, stretching almost the complete width of my back. Adrik's hand was hateful and merciless when he did that, but Luca's is the exact opposite. He heals parts of me that I didn't know could be saved.
He washes my entire back with a washcloth, his movements agonizingly slow yet deliberate.
"Alright, baby, I'm done. Do you want help getting dressed?" he asks while turning the water off.
"If you don't mind," I respond. He grabs a clean towel and wraps it around me in order to help me stand up, his eyes never straying from above my shoulders. Ever the gentleman he is.
Once I'm standing, I dry off my body as he gets a change of clothes for me to put on. He gives me a moment to rub lotion onto my skin and make myself decent again before walking in.
I'm embarrassed when he hands me my underwear, the thought of him going through my bag like that causing my neck to heat up. I think he notices my embarrassment because he says, "Don't worry. I just closed my eyes and reached in."
Liar.
He shoves one of his hoodies over my head, the evergreen, woodsy scent causing my body to immediately relax. I slip on a pair of joggers before turning to him, the look in his eyes something I haven't ever seen from him. And before I can even ask him what's wrong, he gently cradles my cheeks and presses his lips to mine, my hands grabbing onto the waistband of his pants.
This kiss is different. It's not sweet but it's not needy. It's not heated nor gentle. It's just... it's intimate. I once read that intimacy wasn't sex, but it was actually trust. Nothing has ever felt more true at this moment, because I don't know if there is anybody else on this planet I trusted more to take care of me than Luca.
When he pulls back, I fall in love with him all over again.
"What was that for?" I ask him softly as I lean into his hold. He smiles at me like he knows something I don't before pecking my lips one more time.
"No reason."
I was about to ask him again, but I start to hear voices from the living room and internally groan.
"I guess we better go see them, shouldn't we?" I ask him as I rest my forehead on his now, unfortunately, clothed chest.
"I mean, they did bring you Lo Mein."
My head snaps up and I'm pushing away from him and heading into the living room. I hear him laugh as I see his friends spreading out the food in the kitchen. Ilaria sees me first, and the moment she does, she's running towards me. I wrap my arms around her as she wraps her good arm around me.
"Keeley, I'll literally kill you if you ever do that to me again," she spits out while sniffling.
"Let's hope there won't be a next time. And how's your arm?" I ask while stepping back and looking at her. She had showered since I saw her last and it was different not seeing her totally dolled up, but she looked rather... normal. Or, well, as normal as Ilaria could look. She's frustratingly gorgeous.
"Turns out, it just grazed the top of my shoulder pretty bad. I didn't need surgery, but I did need stitches. Although, my stitches look like a grandmother's needlepoint compared to that Frankenstein shit on your face."
We both laugh and it hurts to smile, but I do it anyway.
"Wait, what about your car? And what about my stuff? Hell, I didn't even get to eat my pretzel," I shout while throwing my hands up, although I quickly regretted it once the ache in my muscles intensified.
"My car is in the shop for a long while," she sighed, clearly disappointed, "and I made sure all of your stuff will be on your plane tomorrow. And I bet if you ask, Luca will happily buy you a pretzel at the airport."
I hug her one more time before the guys walk up to us.
"You are one tough bitch to beat, aren't you? You're much better than Luca when you lose your shit," Fergus laughed while pulling me into his side.
"I was stupid for ever thinking I could beat you, wasn't I?" Emile was facing the ground and his cheeks were tinged pink.
"It was a good effort," I tried to console, but it only made Fergus and Luca laugh.
I'm led further into the kitchen, and as everybody begins to fill their plates, Diangelo walks up to me.
"You good, Keeley?" he asks me while leaning against the countertop. He's dressed far more casually than I'm used to, in fact, they are all. And I like that, it's just a group of friends hanging out and eating Chinese food on a Saturday night. After a very unique day, it's good to feel a sense of normality.
"Yeah," I smile as I look at everybody laughing and calming down even after the day we've had. "I am."
I hear the elevator ding, and I'm immediately moving to meet Brady. When he sees me, he scoops me up into a hug and spins me around. That's always been our thing since we've felt comfortable enough to hug each other. And when he surprised me on my birthday not too long ago, I was glad to see that hadn't changed.
"I'm glad you're here, Brady," I tell him as he sets me down.
He smiles that charmingly crooked grin at me as he slings an arm over my shoulder.
"Well, my best girl's boyfriend who I thought hated me invited me over to meet his friends. How could I say no?"
We both chuckled as I walked us into the kitchen.
"Everyone," I spoke out successfully gaining their attention, "this is Brady. Brady, that's Fergus, Emile, Diangelo, and Ilaria."
And it was just that simple. Brady immediately clicked with everybody. In fact, for the rest of the night, I don't think there was any pause in chatter. Everyone liked Brady, and I could tell Brady liked everyone, even Luca. Those two joked around all night, and seeing two of my favorite people finally get along, it made everything seem to fall into place. Of course, there's still Adrik to worry about and the realization that he's coming for me quicker than I thought. But tonight, tonight I'll just have fun with my friends in Vegas because, for people like us, nights like these aren't easy to come by.
***
Adrik's POV
"She's stronger, a lot stronger," my father mumbled from beside me as we rewatched the footage from our ambush on Keeley this afternoon.
"She is, but I'm stronger," I tell him while shutting the laptop and leaning back in my chair at the kitchen island.
"You better hope you are because that girl is a hell of a lot different than the girl that got away. She might actually have met your level, Adrik."
I'm well aware of the amusement in his voice but I ignore it.
She is good, a lot better than what I originally thought, and hell if that didn't make me grin. Keeley's feisty side and determination had always been my favorite things about her. I loved watching her dedicate herself to the fight and putting all she has into it. Watching her singlehandedly take down all those men, even if they did work for me, made me smile like a mad man.
Blood dripped down her face and covered her body, and the look in her eyes, that dark dangerous look, is what I've missed about her.
After my run-in with the little boy toy, I made sure to keep close tabs on him. And when I saw him and Keeley flying to Vegas to mend their relationship, it made me furious. He doesn't deserve a girl like her, not one as perfect as she is.
I do not throw the word perfection around for it holds a specific connotation that is hard to achieve, but Keeley, Keeley embodies that word like she does her confidence. She loves with everything in her, and her passion drives her. She's incredibly intelligent and equally selfless. And if you call, she will be there in a heartbeat to pick up the pieces. But, more than that, she listens. She's calculated and she fucking cares about those who nobody has ever cared about.
Keeley may make mistakes, but to me, she will always be as good as it gets. I don't deserve her, that I know, but she loved me at my lowest. I crave her love and gentle touch. Sue me for wanting that back.
I smiled when I thought of her opening that note: Я ÑÐ²Ð¸Ð¶Ñ ÑебÑ.
I'll be seeing you.
Luca may have comforted her this afternoon. I may have let him live. I even spared her friend. But I hope she does not confuse my selfish acts to draw this out and torture her for me playing nice because I am not a nice man.
And until I have her back, I'll gladly play the devil.
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Hey guys! I hope you loved this chapter like I did! Sorry for the long wait, school is completely time-consuming (perks of being a STEM major, am I right?)
Anyway, please tell me what you all think! Happy Reading!
Final Word Count: 7158