Page 248 of Kissing the Villain

Luca grabbed my shoulder, squeezed like he couldn’t believe I was real, and had to check. He hadn’t left my side since he woke me on the boat.

“Alex needs a bath and rest,” Luca said to Pops.

Pops removed a bottle of pills from his pocket and handed them to Luca. “See that she takes these for the pain.”

Luca glanced at the label on the bottle, then stuffed it into his jacket pocket. He carried me upstairs after Pops and the remaining Knights left the house and sat me on the toilet in his bathroom. As he filled the massive garden tub with soapy water, I breathed in the scent of vanilla and watched him in action.

When Luca thought no one was watching, he looked at peace, like the man he would have become if his mother were still alive.

“I’m not okay,” I whispered.

It was the first time I’d spoken since Luca had carried me into the house from the car. With the Knights and Pops surrounding me, I couldn’t process anything they said. All of them were speaking to me, but I just wanted to be alone with my Devil.

Luca kneeled in front of me and slipped his fingers between mine. “I know, baby. What I said to your grandfather… I didn’t mean to imply you’re broken. I know we will get through this together. I’m here for you, okay? And we’re going to come out of this stronger than ever.”

“Thank you,” I choked out.

“No need to thank me, baby. I’m just glad you’re home. There was a second when I thought I’d lost you forever.”

“Once the beatings started, I thought I was going to die. But I knew you would find me. I had faith in you, Luca.”

“It was close.” He raised my hand to his mouth and kissed my skin. “I know I’ve been hard on you. I haven’t always been the man you deserve. But losing you… It was the worst pain imaginable. I promised myself that if I got you back, I would change. I would be better for you.”

“I thought pain was just weakness leaving the body.”

He nodded. “Physical pain, yes. But I hadn’t felt emotional pain since my mom died. It took every ounce of control for me to hold it together.”

I stroked his short, black hair with my fingers. It was loose and messy as if he had been tugging at the ends. He usually kept it gelled and styled into spikes. But as our eyes met, he looked more like the damaged man I’d met ten years ago. The same man who was still in pain and trying to hide behind his carnival mask.

“I’ve always known, Luca.” I rubbed his cheek, and he leaned into my touch. “The night we met, I felt a connection to you when you let me touch your scars. You let me see the real you. Vulnerable for once. That’s not something you let anyone see.”

“No,” he admitted. “Never. You’re the exception to every rule. I would have torn apart the world looking for you, Drea.” He cupped my cheek and smiled. “My queen. I will give my life for yours, now and forever.”

“Sounds like someone has been rehearsing his wedding vows.”

He turned his head away, though a glimmer of a smile was still in place. Luca rose to his feet and helped me up from the toilet seat. My skin burned as he lifted my shirt over my head.

With his eyes on my bare chest, he shook his head. “Between the Knights and our Mafia friends, we’ve found most of Kurti’s known associates. You will get your revenge. I promise.”

“What are you going to do with them?”

“Kill them.” His eyes met mine. “But first, I will strip them of everything they love. Make them suffer.”

“Inflicting pain is your specialty,” I joked.

“Please, babe. You know you love my brand of punishment.”

I nodded. “But you’ll need to go easy on me until I heal.”

He removed the rest of my clothes. My body was covered in filth and blood. Luca cradled me in his arms and carefully lowered me into the bathtub. I groaned as the water hit my wounds. Pops had stitched the worst cuts, though the pain was still present.

“This will never be over,” I said. “Someone will always want to hurt us.”

He sank to his knees beside the tub. “Yes. But you’re safe with me. Just promise never to run from me again.”

“I won’t. That was a stupid mistake I will never repeat. But you had better stop keeping secrets from me. You know I hate when you lie to me.”

“I never outright lied.” He held my hand on the tub ledge. “More like concealed the truth.”

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