Page 62 of There Is No Love

“Of course it is. I can't believe I didn't see it before. You look just like her.”

Hearing everyone tell me I looked like my mother was making me feel very strange. Part of me was happy that they could see her in me. But another part of me felt guilty, that it was my fault she was gone. Complications from her giving birth to me. Missing her, which felt bizarre since I also had no memory of her. He held his hand out to me. “Alora, darling I am so happy to meet you.”

I shook his hand and nodded. “Nice to meet you,” touching him gave me that same uneasy feeling. Luka must have sensed it, or perhaps it was something else because his grip on my shoulder tightened. I wanted to throw his arms off of me, but I didn’t. It felt like I needed to let him have this one, or maybe I needed to feel that protection, I don't know. “Okay, so I have a question.” I looked from Franco to Elio, “he is your son? Were you ten when you had him?”

Elio laughed. “Close, he was fifteen.”

Franco chuckled. “Yup I was young, but he was stupid like me and had Gia at fourteen.”

I crossed my arms to my chest. “Ok, that makes sense. I thought maybe you just hit the gene pool lottery.”

Everyone laughed. “Why wife, did you just tell an actual Bonafide joke?” Luka looked at me chuckling.

I shook my head, “Don't get used to it.”

He looked at me, laughed, and leaned in, kissing my cheek. “I wouldn't dream of it.” He turned his focus to Franco, as he started rubbing his thumb back and forth across my shoulder. Everyone was listening to Franco saying something, But I didn't know what. I couldn’t seem to focus. All I could think about was Luka’s thumb caressing my shoulder, the feeling of his words on my neck as he told me he wants to rip my dress from me. And dang it if I didn't want him to do just that. Arturo’s words played back in my mind. He was falling for me, don’t hurt him, give him a chance. Give him a chance, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I can't give him a chance, there is no love. I kept repeating it to myself. Letting him in, giving him a chance would only bring him and me both pain.

“Alora?” Luka broke me from my thoughts. I looked at him. “Did you hear Gia?”

I turned to see Gia sitting at the table now too. I hadn't even seen her walk over. “I’m sorry, no, what did you say?”

“I asked if you’re going to the fight tonight.”

“I don't know.” I looked at Luka.

“Like I said, it's up to you.” He squeezed my shoulder.

“You should go, give me someone to talk to beside this bump on a log.” She elbowed Arturo, who seemed annoyed by her teasing.

“Uh, yeah sure I’ll go.”

She looked at me. “Have you ever been to a street fight before?”

I shook my head.

“Oh,” she nodded, “you are going to love it. Hot sweaty men beating the crap out of each other. Blood, testosterone, it’s downright orgasmic.”

“Gia! Seriously,” Elio shook his head and stood up, “that is my cue to get back to work. It was good to see all of you again.” He looked at Arturo and nodded, then left.

“Well, I for one will not be going to the fight,” Voralie stood up. “I will have Tyler take me home. Gia dear, do you mind if these boys ride with you?”

“Of course not,” Gia replied, hugging Voralie.

“Do you want me to go with you,” Arturo asked?

“No, no,” she walked over to the two of them hugging, “you guys go have fun.”

Luka stood up and pulled her into a hug.

“You be careful tonight, promise me.” She stared up at him.

“I will,” he kissed her cheek.

“Alora sweetheart, you keep these boys in line. I would ask Gia,” she gave her the side eye, “but I am afraid she might just be the ringleader.”

Gia laughed, “guilty.”

I nodded. “I will try.”

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