LUCA'S POV.Alessia visibly paled, her teeth dug deep into her lower lip while staring blankly at me."How… you…" she stuttered, losing track of her words while I glanced back at my brother, who seemed to have the same deadly glare passed at her. Maybe I needed to sit this one out. I'd hurt him way too much—my existence alone had been a hard pill for him to swallow, and I'd be damned if I ever let anyone stand in his way or cause him the slightest form of trouble."Don’t act so shocked, Alessia. You weren’t so pale—you seemed so sure of yourself when you lied to my face about a pregnancy. Remember?" Ciro asked again. She took trembling steps backward, but her shoulders were caught by Kirill, whose gaze lined with mine. I gave him a gentle nod before he shoved her forward."She tricked me, you know?" Ciro asked, glancing sideways at me. Of course, I knew a thing or two about her deceitful ways, but now it only raked up my curiosity. Desperate as I was to know why Alessia stood before u
.CIRO'S POV.My gaze narrowed past Luca and then to the crowd behind him, each one of whom I knew too well. From Antonio—his trusted ally and best friend—to Mancini, his current backbone. Isabella, the wife whom he loved way too much, more than himself. He blocked my line of sight from Isabella as if buttressing my point and reading through my mind. I shifted my eyes to lock with his, his defiant gaze burning through mine. But I didn’t falter. I’d pictured what this day would be—when we finally met, came to stand facing one another. I’d bet a million lives on it that he hadn’t expected this, and the expression on his face… it was golden. “Isabella, baby, please tuck Quincy in his room while we sort this out.” He spoke, his eyes never leaving mine. The murderous, hateful glint in his eyes sent chills down my spine. Isabella passed me a faint smile, being all courtesy and manners while she pushed her way past us back to the door. “Fuck, am I high, or is this really happening?”
LUCA.Flashes of cameras followed, loud murmurs erupted amongst the crowd as Isabella stared wide-eyed at me in disbelief.Oh, I knew what was going through her head at that moment. The thought that she’d suddenly become a mother overnight—she wasn’t prepared for it, but I knew she’d be the best.I always wanted a family, and although I’d derailed from the plan to begin with—I should have married Alessia, kept up a public-saving face just for the press—but standing there, exchanging those vows, barely seconds ago, I knew I couldn’t. I loved Isabella, and she’d be the only person to ever wear my Ricci ring on that finger.“You can’t do this to me! You can’t just toss me aside—the child is mine!” Alessia chanted, her words holding a loud echo. But I only nodded slowly, not having the least bit of empathy for her.“I can, Alessia, and I have,” I murmured, storming past her toward Isabella. I locked my fingers into hers, her widened gaze still fixated on me as she held my son closer to he
LUCA'S POV.I tensed seeing Isabella settled into the car with me. I’d gotten notified beforehand by Antonio about her joining in on the plan.Yet it hadn’t prepared me for this moment. I swallowed hard, trying to distract myself with the thought of Antonio also making an appearance to the Bratva about being alive too. For a billion and one reasons, I didn’t see today ending well by any means.“Good day,” I greeted slowly, my words hanging thin as I spoke. My heart raced in my chest, seeing how she locked her gaze with mine before moving them from my hair down to my feet and back up in a painfully slow motion that bothered me.“Can we please not do this, Isabella? I do not want to lose you, and I feel like an asshole for ruining what we’ve been building. But can we please…”“Start over again?” she asked, stealing the words right off my lips. I swallowed hard, my Adam’s apple bobbing. Yes, I was scared.I’d literally lied to her face, knowing full well she was a no-nonsense type of lad
ISABELLA.“Fuck no!” I snapped, swiping my arms away from his clutch. Antonio pressed harder against me, cupping my cheeks into his palms, his gaze filled with pity and pain. And as much as I knew he meant a lot to me, I'd not give in to this crappy plan of theirs.“Are you insane?” I asked through gritted teeth, trying hard not to yell. Luca had locked me up last night, and I'd seen that obsessive, control-freak-slash-psychotic look in his eyes.Imagine my shock when the door had creaked open for me to see Antonio. Yes, I was happy to have him around and talk some sense into me, but the joy-filled moment was drawn short after hearing their all-brilliant, dumbass plan.“Can you listen to yourself, for goodness' sake? You want to trick her into an adoption? What sort of monster does that?” I asked, now raising my voice as I spoke. Antonio sighed for the fifth time this morning, looking at me like I was some lost cause.“Isabella, this is the only way. You don’t know Alessia like we do,
LUCA'S POVI felt fucking terrible. My head banged heavily — one would think I'd gotten used to alcohol after my several binging episodes, but no. I still felt every painful hangover. My poor liver, having to put up with the toxic liquid I pour down into it every day.Drawing out a long sigh, I reached for the table, popping the ibuprofen into my mouth and gulping the water slowly before finally parting my eyes widely."Fuck! You scared me!" I screamed, jolting slightly before raking my fingers through my hair, seeing Macini standing awkwardly by the door, both arms crossed over his frame, leaning against the door."Got your head together? Because we have a lot of crap to deal with," Macini complained, his tone sharp. The events of last night sank into my mind, and I felt a stab in my heart briefly."Where's Antonio? I'd rather speak with him than you," I complained, pushing myself to sit upright in bed."Well, news flash, he isn’t home. I'm here and will be talking some sense into yo