Chapter 26

LUCA

Luca and Filippo were busy wrapping up some paperwork when the phone rang. Filippo answered it. His face turned pale, and he turned to Luca.

“Luca, Robin was involved in a hit-and-run.”

“What did you say?” Luca’s eyes turned dark, and his lips set in a firm line as he rushed over to Filippo and grabbed him by the collar.

“What happened? Where is she? Is she okay?” He flung question after question at him.

“She’s at the hospital. All I know is she and her bodyguard were struck down.” Prying Luca’s hands from his collar, he said, “Let me drive you to the hospital. You’re in no shape to drive.”

“Step on it,” Luca yelled and pounded his fist on the dash. “Fuck, I should have taken her myself. If anything happens to her, I’ll—I’ll—” His voice cracked, so close to breaking down.

“Luca, you can’t watch her twenty-four seven,” Filippo said as he put his foot all the way down, driving at an ungodly speed.

“Like hell. From now on, I’ll never let her out of my sight. I can’t lose her, Filippo. She has become my world, and one without her won’t be worth living.

“When I find out who ran her down, I will use my bare hands to choke the life out of them.”

It seemed to take forever to reach the hospital, and when they did, Luca didn’t wait for the car to come to a full stop.

He opened the door and jumped out, dashing toward the swinging doors to the emergency entrance.

His heart was pounding and felt as though it would burst out of his chest; with his muscles tense and breathing heavily, he made it to the reception desk.

“My wife, where is she?” he bellowed out, scaring the people around him.

The man behind the desk looked up. “Who is your wife?”

“Robin Mariani. She was brought in with another man, Shane Smith.”

“Oh, the hit-and-run.” He checked his computer while Luca waited impatiently, drumming his fingers on the counter. “The doctor is in with your wife, and Mr. Smith is in surgery.”

“Tell me where my wife is. I need to be with her.”

“Sorry, you’ll have to wait till the doctor is done examining her.”

“Look, you little punk,” he hissed, reaching over and pulling the man up, “I want to know where she is.”

He could feel the thin man with the dark-rimmed glasses tremble under his touch.

A hand gripped Luca’s arm. “Luca, let go of the man. You have to let the doctors do their job. Come, let’s sit,” Filippo said, tightening his grip.

“I don’t want to sit,” Luca said, and letting go of the man, he pushed Filippo’s hand off him.

“I’m calling security,” the shaken man said, picking up the phone.

Filippo placed his hand over the phone. “Don’t do that. He is just worried about his wife.”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his wallet, took out a hundred-dollar bill and set it down in front of the younger man. “Let’s just forget this happened, shall we?”

Grabbing the money and stuffing it greedily into his pocket, he adjusted his glasses. “If it happens again, I will call security.”

Filippo went over to Luca, who was running his hand through his hair and pacing back and forth, lines of worry creasing his forehead. “I’m sure she’s going to be okay.”

Before Luca could answer, a nurse came over to them. “Are you Mr. Mariani?” she asked, looking at Filippo.

“No, I’m her husband,” Luca barked.

“Your wife is asking for you. Follow me.”

“Tell me, nurse, is she okay? I need to know.”

“The doctor will be right with you,” she answered and opened the door for him to walk in.

It felt as if a vice grip was squeezing his heart when he saw Robin lying on the bed. She had a bandage on her forehead and a cast on her arm; she had cuts and bruises all over her.

When she turned her head his way, with tears in her eyes, she cried out his name. She reached out to him, and he ran to her, taking her gently in his arms.

“Thank God you’re alive.” Tears formed in his eyes as he held her close to him, and she sobbed.

“Luca, what about Shane?”

Pulling back, he wiped her tears away. “I don’t know yet. He’s in surgery.”

“He saved my life, pushed me out of the way, and I remember seeing him lying on the ground, so still, covered in blood. He’s got to live, Luca. He has a family and is such a nice man.”

“I’ll see he gets the best of care,” he said, stroking her face. “Tell me, are you in pain?”

“My head is killing me, and my arm, not so much now.”

Their conversation was cut short when the doctor walked in, carrying her chart.

“Mrs. Mariani, how are you feeling now?”

“I’m okay, but please tell me if Shane is all right,” Robin said, looking at the kindly and older doctor.

“He’s in surgery. He sustained some serious injuries, but we won’t know till later if he will survive or not. But I promise we are doing everything in our power to save him.”

“Thanks, Doc,” Luca said. “But my wife, tell me she will be okay.”

He looked down at the chart. “Broken arm, a bump on your forehead and cuts and bruises but no permanent damage.”

“Thank God,” Luca said and let out the breath he was holding in.

“Yes, you’re very lucky, and it’s my greatest pleasure to tell you that the baby is perfectly fine.”

“Baby,” both said at the same time.

“You didn’t know?” the doctor asked.

“No, how do you know I’m pregnant?” Robin said, grabbing Luca’s hand.

“We always do a pregnancy test before giving a young female any medication.”

Seeing the surprise on their faces, the doctor smiled. “You, my dear, are four weeks along. I’m going to send you home with strict instructions that you have complete bed rest for a few days.

“I’ll go sign your release papers and make sure to set up some appointments.”

When the doctor had gone, they stared into each other’s eyes. Smiles plastered on their faces.

Out of all this horror, something wonderful had come out of it—a sweet, innocent baby.

Taking her face in his hands, Luca said, “We’re having a baby.”

“I’m not surprised, are you? After all, we’ve been doing it like rabbits since we married,” she said, crying tears of happiness.

“I love you, baby,” he said, kissing her.

“You called me baby. That’s the first time. Usually you call me ‘little bird.’”

“I know, but you hate it when I call you that.”

“To be honest, I kind of got used to it. Now I like it.”

“Then I will continue.” His mouth went to hers, his kiss passionate and showing her how much he loved her.

But their tender moment was interrupted when Filippo walked in, a bouquet of flowers in his hands. “Hey there, sorry to barge in like this, but I couldn’t wait any longer to see how you were doing.”

“Thank you, Filippo, they’re beautiful,” she said, taking them from him. “Is there any word on Shane?”

“He’s out of surgery, in bad shape, but he’s going to make it,” Filippo answered.

Luca stood, looking down at Robin. “I’m going to go see him.”

“Yes, go. Tell him thank you for saving my life.”

“Stay with her till I get back,” he told Filippo, and leaving them, he went to Shane’s room.

He was shocked to see the shape he was in, his one leg held up in the air, one arm in a cast, and it was easy to see how much pain he was in.

“How you doing, pal?” Luca asked, standing by his bedside.

“I’m going to live, boss, but I may not ever walk properly again. How’s your wife doing? I’m sorry I pushed her as hard as I did.”

“You saved her life, and for that, I’ll always be grateful. We both are. Listen, Shane, you don’t have to worry about anything.

“I’ll take care of all your medical bills, we’ll get you the best doctors money can buy, and I’ll see to it that your family is financially taken care of.”

“Thanks, boss.”

“I’ve got to get back to Robin. I want you to be the first to know. Robin and I are going to be parents.

“So you see, you not only saved her life but that of our unborn child. I’ll be back to check on you once Robin is feeling better.”

As he was leaving, Shane stopped him. “Boss, I don’t think that was an accident. To me, it looked like he was aiming for your wife.”

“What makes you think that?” Luca went back over to his bedside.

“It’s more of a gut feeling, but the way the car swerved in her direction, and there was something familiar about that vehicle, I feel as if I’d seen it before.”

“If you remember anything, anything at all, you call me. I want the bastard who did this,” Luca said as he placed his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Take care, I’ll be back to see you.” He left to go back to Robin.

Arriving back at Robin’s room, Filippo was sitting next to her but rose when he entered. “Let’s get you both home and into bed.”

“Both?” Filippo asked, his eyebrows lifting.

Luca smiled at him and looked back at Robin, taking her hand in his and giving it a kiss. “Yes, we just found out we’re having a baby.”

“That’s really great news, you two,” he said, going over and shaking Luca’s hand and leaning down and kissing her cheek. “Congratulations, Robin, I know you and Luca will make wonderful parents. I am so happy for you.”

“Bring the car around, will you?” Luca asked.

“Sure, I’ll meet you outside.” He picked up her flowers. “I’ll carry these out for you.”

Luca carried her out and gently put her in the back seat and got in next to her. Putting his arm around her, he placed his lips on hers; they forgot about Filippo being there and necked like a couple of teenagers.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, Filippo smiled and shook his head.

Once home, Luca carried her inside and up to their bedroom, leaving Filippo to fill Grazia in on what happened.

Laying her down, he went and fetched one of her nightgowns and helped her to put it on. Covering her up, he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

“I love you and this little child you are carrying,” he said, his hand rubbing her belly. “You heard the doctor, you must get plenty of rest, and I’ll not allow you out of this bed till you are feeling better.”

She looked at him with eyes that were starting to close. “You got me just where you want me, confined to bed.” She giggled at her own joke.

“I love you so much, Luca.” Her eyes closed, and within minutes she was fast asleep.

His eyes teared up, and he sank to his knees by the bed, taking her hand in his. He shed tears right then. His heart ached, his stomach was in knots.

He was so close to losing her and made a silent vow that he would never let anything or anyone hurt her ever again.

She had brought sunlight into his home and love into his heart. No amount of money could make him as happy as she had in the short two months he had known her.