13: Three words

Lucca

"26th street??" I said in confusion. What was Corbiniano doing in a residential area?

Ciro turns around in his seat and looks at me in disbelief and shock. But why?? What was happening? When I couldn't register the reason behind his expression, I looked at Francesco. He had the exact same expression as Ciro. Shock

"What's wrong??" I ask both of them as I look at each one of them in annoyance. What was the matter?? Why were they so pale like they have seen a ghost?

"Lucca, it's..." Ciro starts to speak carefully, but Francesco abruptly stands up and grabs both my shoulder in a strong grip but was very careful of my injured shoulder.

"You need to sit for this Lucca." He says as he turns both of us around and nudges me to sit down at the seat he just vacated.

"Francesco just spill it. You don't have to be fragile with me because I am injured." I bark at him. I just wanted to know what on earth happened that both my brothers are gone speechless. And suddenly my Angels face comes in my mind "Is it my Angel?? Did something happen to her??" I say as I try to stand from the chair. The fear of losing her causes my heart to squeeze with pain.

Francesco kneels in front of me and looks right at me "Lucca, I am going to tell you something but you need to hear it till the very end before you start throwing punches. Okay???" He asks in a firm tone, one I was very familiar with. Francesco always spoke less but when he did he always went straight to the point no BS. I nod in understanding.

"Last night when I went to drop Miss.Gabrielle back at her apartment I apologized to her for my mistake. And as a peace offering I gifted her a digital watch." I frown in confusion, how was this all related to Corbiniano but I decided to remain quite.

"I got a GPS tracker and mic installed in it." And hearing that my blood started to boil with anger. How could he do this when he literally promised me he wouldn't invade into my angel's life anymore? But before I could move out of the seat and punch him, he tightens his hold on my healthy shoulder "You need to listen everything first Lucca. Don't let love blind you, it has ruined my life once and I won't let it ruin yours."

My nostrils flared in anger but I let him continue. "I also asked K to keep Miss.Gabrielle under surveillance. To keep track of whom she meets and what she does during her off time."

I was getting more and more angry by the passing minute. How could he do something like this?just how on earth?? But when I notice he wasn't done, I said " And what else Francescco...what else did you do behind my back??"

After a minute of silence Francesco looks back at me with so much worry in his eyes.

"Corbiniano..." he exhales loudly and continues. "He just parked his ugly butt outside Miss.Gabrielle's apartment building." He said the rest of the sentence in a single breath and waits for my reaction.

His words felt like a bullet that pierced through my heart very slowly, squeezing the life right out of me. I could believe my dark side was effecting my angel. My pure angel. The light in my darkness. My angel.

I stood up abruptly and pushed Francesco to the side "Francesco, if Corbiniano will hurt her I will kill him, kill him with my bare hands." I growled loudly as I pushed him out of my way when he tired to stop me again. I needed to go to my angel protect her. Protect her from my darkness. She was the only good in my bad world.

After so many years of killing and living in darkness. I didn't care. I didn't have anyone who cared for me. But after my angel it all changed. She was my biggest weakness and also my strength. And to protect her I will do anything. ANYTHING.

"Lucca calm down nothing is going to happen to her." He says with so much confidences. "She works for CORBINIANO" He insinuated Corbiniano's name letter by letter.

"No she doesn't" I growl at him and grab the lapels of his suit jacket. He doesn't trust my angel, but that doesn't mean I have to trust his judgement. I don't care what he says. I believe in my angel.

"Oh really then tell me how does he knows about her. How does he knows where she lives? We just meet her 2 days back and now he is already at her place. How Lucca, How do you explain this?? How??" Francesco said.

"I don't know Francesco. I don't know. I have no explanation to your crazy theories but that doesn't mean you are right. I trust her and my words should be enough for you to trust her too Francesco."

"Okay, then let me prove it to you for once and for all." Francesco snails back at me in anger and pushes me off him.

Francesco goes to his laptop and opens up a new window and sign in to some account. Then two seconds later a GPS app opens up and showing a red blinking dot. "Ciros hack into the CCTV footage of Miss.Gabrielle's apartment." Francesco says as he pulls his phone out from his pocket and calls someone.

"K keep an eye on them and stay on line." He says as he places his cellphone on table and mutes the call. So K can't hear our conversation until we want him too.

"Ciro now. Move." Francesco orders Ciro again when he notices Ciro hasn't move from his spot. He looks at me and I nod in agreement. Then he hurries back to his laptop and starts typing in furiously.

Francesco looks back at me and then presses the spacebar of his laptop and I hear my angel's voice. I look up at him in confusion "It's the mic that I installed in her smart watch." And I just roll my eyes to that.

"Done" Ciro says as he moves the screen so all three of us can see. I move closer to Ciros laptop and then increase the volume on Francesco's so I could hear my angel's voice. All three of us quietly hear their conversation and watch the CCTV video on Ciro's laptop.

"Mr.Corbiniano I think you are mistaken. I am just a paramedic and not a doctor or nurse who can promote your brand or the drugs that you are selling."

"Oh no dear. I am not here for that. I am here to talk you regarding a personal matter. So if you could spare me some time, I would really appreciate it."

"Personal matter??"

The moment Corbinano mentions personal matters and asks to talk in private we all share a look but remain quite. But when my sweet angel agrees to talk to him in private in a coffee shop. I see red.

"She is not going anywhere with him." I growl at both of them and circle around the table to grab my cellphone and call my angel and warn her. I had enough of this drama.

"Lucca waits. K is there with her, and we got our eyes on them. Also, we need to know what Corbinano is planning that..."

I don't let Francesco finish before I have him by the collar and out of the seat. "You listen to me Francesco. I am not putting the love of my life in danger, so you could figure out some plan. Beside we have established that she doesn't work for Corbiniano. She doesn't even know who the hell he is, you heard it."I growl back at Francesco.

And when he starts to talk, I circle back to him and stand in front of him "And don't tell me that she is acting because she didn't you placed a mic in her watch."I scream at him.

I was ready to punch him when I felt Ciro's hand on my shoulder. "Lucca calm down." Ciro says from behind me but I ignore him and continue to stare at Francesco with anger.

Francesco has never does anything like this ever before. He always runs his idea by me and waits for my approval. But this was new, totally unexpected and I had no idea why was he acting up now. After I specially warned him about my angel. But before anyone of us could say anything Corbinano's words from Francesco'c laptop stops both of us and we both look in the direction of Ciro laptop.

The screen was still showing the outside of angels apartment building. But my angel and that stupid Corbinano were not there.

"You look just like her. Your mother has the same coffee color eyes as yours."

Mother??? Eye color??

All three of us move in the direction of the laptops and Francesco orders Ciro to open the coffee shops CCTV.

I sit in the seat that was previously occupied by Francesco and hear the rest of the conversation.

"Here done," Ciro says as he moves his laptop screen in my direction.

Francesco comes and stand behind my chair and all three of us look at the screen and hear the audio. None of us say a single word and just listen to Corbiniano explain my angel how he is her father. Nothing was making sense and I could believe a single word that Corbiniano was saying.

My angel was Corbinano's daughter.... my mom had cancer...... my dad tired kidnapped my angel.... Dante was in it with my dad...... Nothing on earth was making sense. Everything was wrong. It was all big fat web of lies.

"What the actual hell bro?? This just makes no damn sense." Ciro says in frustration once we were done hearing them.

I just silently nod in understanding and move out of the chair and start pacing the floor of my study.

"They have been keeping an eye on us since the incident Francesco, since the last 2 days." I growl in frustration as I run my fingers roughly through my hair. I could believe how we didn't notice them tailing our car, how Francesco didn't.

"Lucca, I have been very careful every single time we left the premisses. And from what Corbiniano just said it only means one think."Francesco says and I stop pacing and look right at him.

"What??" I ask in frustration.

"They have been keeping an eye on Miss.Gabrielle and not us. That's why they knew I was there to drop her last night because there is no way they have been tailing us and our men didn't notice that."

His words make me realize he could be right because out men were trained by the best and they know what will happen if they ever fail at their job.

"But why on earth is he keeping tabs with my angel Francesco??" I fire back with the question that has been annoying me for so long. What does Corbininao wants from my angel. Why is he after her and tempting her against me.

"I think I know why??" Francesco says.

"Would you like to enlighten us Francesco?

"I know you are going to hate this part but bro she does look somewhat similar to Corbiniano and it could be..."

I don't let him finish his sentence "Francesco she doesn't work for him and if you say that one more time I will literally punch the hell out of you. We all heard her defending me and taking in the news about him been her father. She had no idea and don't tell me you think she is faking it, because she had no idea you placed a mic in her watch" I snarl at him as I come and stand in front of him.

Francesco raises both his hand in surrender "I was just going to say it could mean that she is in danger too and Corbininao could be using her to get to you. Maybe that's why he is telling her all this lies and stories, because we both know its not the true." I nod as realization hit me.

He was right Corbiniano is planning to use my angel against me but I won't let him. I will tell her everything about Corbiniano, every single thing.

I circle back to the big table and take my seat there. Both Francesco and Ciro close their laptop screen and look at me expectedly.

"So here's what we are going to do." I start as I look at Francesco first and then at Ciro.

"We are going to get my angel here and tell her everything about Corbiniano, so she doesn't fall for his trap." They both nod their head in agreement.

"Then we are going to find if Corbiniano is really my angels father or not. And if yes, then what's his plan and why did he approach her now of all the time. And if no, why is he faking it and what does he want from my angel. I swear if her hurt or even think about hurting her I will peel his skin off slowly and the strangle him to death."I say and wait for their response.

"Agreed," they both say in unison, and I pull my phone out of my pocket to call my angel.

"Lucca wait." Francesco says and I stop.

"Tell Miss.Gabrielle, that I will come to pick her up in 20 minutes and to pack a overnight back." I nod,"Also tell her to use the emergency exit and not the main exit. If Corbiniano men's are keeping an eye on her they would be waiting for her at the front and not at the back near the emergency exit." I agree with his idea.

"I agree, let the think that she is still in the building."

He nods and then grabs his phone,"I will tell K to keep and eye for any suspicious car at the entrances and to circle around the block to see if he finds any other suspicious look man."

"Okay," I say as I dial my angels number and wait for her to answers. She answers it right away "Hello."Her voice was filled with so much pain, and I wanted to hold her in my arms and take all the pain away from him and shower her with happiness.

"Angel." I say softly.

"Omg Lucca " and she let out a soft sob, and it breaks my heart.

"Angel please don't cry, please angel. It's killing me." I couldn't handle her crying over the phone when I couldn't do anything. I needed her here next to me so I could engulf her in my arms and calm her down.

After a few seconds have passed which felt like a minute my angel gets her breathing under control and says "Lucca I need to talk to you. It's very important and ...."

I cut in "Angel I know, I heard everything." I say not wanting to wait any longer for her. The sooner she packs a bag the sooner she will be in arms.

She sniffs a few times and asks "What do you mean Lucca, you heard everything??"

"Do you trust me?" I ask her.

"Yes." She replies within a second, and I smile. She is it for me; she doesn't know that but she is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I won't loose her.

"Thank you," I reply because I needed her trust and I needed her more.

"I am going to send Francesco to pick you up, and he will be there in 20 minutes. I want you to pack an over night back and tell now one where you are going, not even your roommate." I say.

"Lucca, you are scarring me, is everything alright?" My angel asks in weak, fragile voice, and I hate it.

"Angel, everything will be alright. I promise you I will explain everything to you once you are here. But first I need you to do exactly what I said. Okay?"

"Yes I understand." God she was prefect. She trusted me more than anyone she has ever done and I swear on my life I won't let her down.

"Thank you angel. Thank you so much. "I say as I sigh with relief."Francesco will call you when he is downstairs and makes sure to use the emergency exit in the back of your building. He will be there waiting for you."

"Okay, I got it." She says sounding scarred.

"Just come to me angel; I need you next to me." I say and didn't realize I said out loud until she replies. " I need you too Lucca, I need you too."

I close my eyes and wait for a few seconds before saying bye and ending the call. I place my call on the table and glance at Francesco who just ended the call with K.

"Anything." I ask him.

"There is a black SUV parked at the front entrance and nothing in the back. We are all clear there."I nod and he continues." Ciro any luck with the file??"Francesco ask Ciro.

"What file??" I ask as I curiously look at both Ciro and Francesco.

"Ciro found some personal file in Corbiniano's work laptop at the Pharmaceutical company he used to work. Apparently its highly password protected and he has been working on it since yesterday to crack it."Francesco explains.

"Oh yeah, I was done just before the breakfast but didn't time to go through it and then after that we had this all drama to deal with. I completely forgot about it." Ciro says as he quickly opens his laptop and gets busy.

"Okay lets go through them and see if we can find any link there." I say to Ciro, wanting to do anything just to kill the time until my angel comes here.

"I will head out to get Miss.Gabrielle." Francesco says as he heads out the study.

"Francesco be careful." I say and look right at him. He stops in his track and comes back to me and stands in front of my chair. Then he gets down on one knee and comes within eye level of mine.

"Lucca, I know I have not welcomed Miss.Gabrielle with kind heart and didn't give her the respect she deserved. But I swear on my life that from this moment on I will do anything in my power to protect Miss.Gabrielle. She is important to you who make her very important to me. And also I promise I will never do anything behind your back."Francesco says in pleading tone.

I think for a second and see him waiting patiently for my response "I will forgive this last time Francesco and I am holding you to your promise. You better protect the love of my life with your hulk type body," I joke remembering my angel's reference to Francesco looking like Mr.Hulk and then pat him on his back and ask him to hurry.

"Thank you so much Lucca and I promise you that." He says as he heads out the study.

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I have been pacing in the front of entrances for the last 5 minutes because I couldn't just wait inside anymore. I have asked the housekeeping staff to clean my room and one guest bedroom too, in case my angel needs a room to herself. But I hope that she doesn't and stays with me in my room. I even asked the chef to prepare a big lunch for my angel, because I bet she hasn't eaten a single thing since the morning.

After 2 minutes, I see the front gate opening and Francesco's car coming in. I sigh with relief and wait impatiently for Francesco to park his car. And the moment the car stopped my angel was in my arms. Her body was tensed in terror, and exhaustion was clearly visible on her face. She wrapped her hands around my neck in a tight grip and buried her face in my chest and sobbed softly.

"Angel, it's okay, everything is going to be okay." I said as moved my hand up and down on her back. But she was still crying and small tremors were constantly running through her body.

It was killing me seeing her like that, all broken and scarred. "I don't know what to do Lucca. I don't know." my angel murmurs close to my chest, her voice raspy from crying. "I can't Lucca, I don't want to leave you and I don't trust him." She says and moves closer to me and tighten her hold around my neck.

"Angel I will not leave you neither I will let you leave me. You are mine now, only mine." I say in firm tone letting her know that she was safe with me and nobody was taking her away from me, father or no father. She was mine now and I was hers. Period.

She lifts her head up and looks at me with her teary red eyes. "You really mean it Lucca, that you are mine. Only mine." She asks me and I cup her cheek and bring our faces close to eachother. Our nose were touching each other and we were looking right into each others eyes. "Bella Gabrielle I love you and I will do anything for you. ANYTHING." I say those three words with so much ease and confidences. It was like they were always meant to be hers. I was always meant to be hers.

I feel her body relax in my arms, and she looks up at me with so much emotion in her eyes. I know she loves me too and I know she is not ready so say it back. But I will wait for her to say back to me, even if it means a lifetime.