Chapter 11 - The Ticket To Rome
Luca frowned, his hand still extended holding the thick envelope.
“Hannah, be reasonable. You need security. I won't be here to make sure you and your mother are protected.”
I took a step closer to him, completely ignoring the envelope.
“Why are you running away?” I asked.
His jaw tightened. He lowered his hand, the envelope resting against his side.
“I’m not running away. I have responsibilities to the family.”
“You’re the head of the Commission now,” I challenged, my voice shaking but refusing to back down. “Matteo told me yesterday that Don Falcone gave you complete autonomy over the Midwest. You don't have to go to Rome to ask for permission. You’re choosing to leave.”
Luca looked at me. The composed, untouchable mafia boss facade began to crack, revealing the raw, desperate man beneath.
“Yes,” he admitted, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “I’m choosing to leave.”
“Why?”
He threw the envelope onto the desk and closed the distance between us. He was so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body.
“Because look at what I brought you into!” Luca said, his voice laced with agony. “Look at what happened in the last two weeks! You were almost blown up in a cellar. You held a gun. You watched a man bleed to death at your feet.”
He reached up, his hands hovering inches from my face, afraid to touch me.
“You are too good for this world, Hannah,” he whispered. “You are light. And everything I touch turns into blood and ash. If I stay near you, I will drag you down into the dark. I have to go so you can have a normal life.”
I stared up into his dark, tortured eyes.
He was trying to protect me. Just like Frank had protected my mother. Just like my mother had protected me.
But I was done being hidden away.
I reached into the pocket of my jeans.
I pulled out a small, folded piece of paper and pressed it flat against his chest.
Luca looked down.
It was an Alitalia boarding pass.
Flight 402 to Rome. Departing at 8:00 PM tonight.
The name on the ticket was Hannah Collins.
Luca’s breath hitched. He looked from the ticket back to my face, completely stunned.
“How did you get this?” he asked.
“I asked Matteo for your flight details this morning,” I said, my voice steady, filled with absolute certainty. “I bought it with the last of my savings.”
“Hannah, you can't—”
“You don't get to make this decision for me, Luca,” I interrupted, grabbing the lapels of his sweater. “You don't get to decide what I can handle. I survived Marcus Bellini. I survived Vanessa. I can survive Rome.”
I looked deep into his eyes.
“You aren't the dark, Luca. You’re the man who saved a fourteen-year-old dog in the freezing rain. You’re the man who saved my mother. You’re the only light I want.”
Luca let out a shuddering breath, completely undone.
He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and pulled me flush against him. His mouth crashed down on mine, fierce, desperate, and filled with a love he had been trying so hard to deny.
I kissed him back, pouring every ounce of my heart into it, anchoring him to me so he knew I was never letting go.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless.
Luca rested his forehead against mine. He was smiling. A real, brilliant smile that reached his eyes.
“You are terrifying,” he whispered.
“You better believe it,” I smiled back.
A sharp knock on the study door interrupted us.
Matteo poked his head in, looking slightly out of breath.
“Sorry to interrupt, Boss,” Matteo grinned, clearly seeing how close we were standing. “But a courier just dropped off a telegram from Don Falcone.”
Luca straightened up, his protective instincts instantly returning. “Read it.”
Matteo opened the telegram.
“To Luca Moretti. The Commission has reviewed the transition of the Bellini ports. All territories are secure. Your presence in Rome is no longer required. Stay home. Build your family. Falcone.”
Matteo folded the paper, winked at me, and closed the door.
Luca looked at me, a profound sense of relief washing over his face.
“Well,” Luca said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “It looks like we have an extra ticket to Rome we don't need.”
May you like
I smiled, resting my head against his chest.
“We can always use it for a honeymoon,” I whispered.
