“I don’t want any trouble. My car just broke down otherwise I never would have even stopped.”

  “How do we know that’s true? How do we know that you weren’t up to something and just happened to have car trouble?”

  “Because I’m telling you that I’m not and I’m not a liar.”

  The man scoffed. “All Venturi’s are lying scum. Our boss made it pretty clear that he didn’t want any of you on his property.”

  “And as much as he doesn’t want me here, I swear I don’t want to be here even more.” Luca tried to keep his tone calm, but I could hear his cool exterior wavering.

  I wanted to run to him and try to help but he’d told me to hide for a reason. Maybe having the don’s sister with him wouldn’t seem as innocent. Or maybe the don’s sister would be too much leverage for them to pass up. Either way, I thought it best to wait like Luca had told me to, at least until I saw more.

  “I think we need to teach this Venturi slime to stay out of our territory. What do you guys think?”

  The guys casually revealed baseball bats and a crowbar from inside their cars as they shut the doors and started to close in around Luca.

  “I don’t think that’s necessary.” Luca still remained calm, but fear had my ears muffled and my heart racing.

  The leader of the men struck Luca in the stomach with the crowbar and Luca doubled over. One of the other men hit him in the back with the baseball bat, causing him to crumple to the ground.

  “Luca,” I cried out and jumped up from my hiding spot to rush to help him when the mechanic showed up out of nowhere with a large wrench in his hand. He blocked me from moving, holding an arm out and wrapping it around my waist just enough to push me back into the little cubby where I’d been hiding.

  “I think it’s best if you stay out of this one and let them handle it.”

  “You can’t let them...they’ll kill him,” I argued and tried one last time in vain to get past him.

  “It’ll all be over soon enough. You just wait right here. Wouldn’t want a pretty little thing like you getting caught up in something so ugly. You might get hurt.” He looked at me up and down lasciviously and I shuddered, my attention going back to Luca.

  As one of the men went to kick him, Luca grabbed his leg, twisting, and the man fell to the ground. Another man moved to strike him with the bat, but Luca grabbed it, giving a sharp yank, causing the man to stumble. He took the chance to scramble to his feet, grabbing the crowbar as the leader tried to bring it down over his head.

  Luca twisted and the other man’s hands released the bar, allowing Luca to draw back and bring it around hard into the man’s ribs.

  Relief inched its way in as Luca gained the advantage, taking out one man after the other until the three of them could barely stand. He lifted the bar again and the leader flinched, holding up his hand in defeat.

  They exchanged words that I couldn’t hear from the garage bay. The men climbed back into their cars and drove away. It wasn’t until they were a good way down the road before the mechanic stepped out of my way and I ran to Luca, wrapping my arms around him in relief. He let out a pain-filled hiss and I quickly pulled back.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I hurt you.”

  “It’s okay. A hug from you is worth the pain.” I smiled and hugged him a bit more gently the next time.

  Luca pulled back from the hug before I would have liked. He nodded toward the garage bay, and we walked slowly back to the mechanic.

  “Are you okay? I don’t know what happened—” Luca whacked him one good time with the crowbar and the man fell to the ground. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. They would have killed me, burned down my shop...”

  “You sold me out to them without so much as a word of warning.”

  Luca held up the crowbar again and the man flinched, but Luca didn’t hit him. Instead, Luca grabbed him by the arm and forced him to his feet. We walked into the man’s shop, and Luca forced him to sit in the chair behind the counter.

  “Mira, would you mind grabbing some zip ties from the back?” Luca’s voice sounded casual, almost upbeat, which was a weird contrast to our situation.

  “Uh, sure. What for?”

  “You’re going to tie up our friend here.”

  Once I found the zip ties, Luca didn’t take his eyes off of me or the man as I secured his hands behind his back then to the back of the chair.

  “Thank you.” Luca walked calmly and slowly around the rows of boxed car parts, scanning the aisles until he found the radiator that he needed and plucked it from the shelf. “Here we are. This should be all we’ll need for today.”

  “Take it. Take whatever you want,” the man said nervously and flinched when Luca moved too fast but all he did was pull out his wallet.

  “Now, I’m not about to go and take something that I didn’t pay for. I’m all about paying my way and repaying what I owe someone so I’m going to pay you for the radiator.” Luca threw the money unceremoniously on the counter, his voice taking on an eerily threatening tone as he got up close to the man’s face. “And you just remember...I still owe you for what you did here today, and I always pay back what I owe.”

  Chapter 9

  Mira

  The morning after we got back from our trip to get the bassinet for Teo and Mia, I headed into the kitchen to see if Bianca was there yet but there was no one.

  “That's strange.” I furrowed my brow, looking around at the kitchen that had clearly not been touched since Bianca had cleaned up after dinner. “Maybe she’s off shopping for Mira’s coming home dinner tonight.”

  I shrugged and made myself a quick breakfast.

  The house was quiet and very empty. My father was still active at the office even though he was no longer Don. I suspected that he was having a hard time letting go of some aspects of the family business and with Teo busy with Mia it was undoubtedly helpful to have the extra help and experience. But that meant that I was all alone in the house and the loneliness began to creep in.

  I wandered into the parlor and browsed the massive bookcase until one caught my eye. I was excited to revisit one of my favorites and was making myself comfortable on the sofa when the phone rang.

  “Ciao?”

  “Ciao, Mira?”

  “Teo, ciao.”

  His voice lowered to a whisper, and I had to strain to hear him. “We have a problem with the dinner for Mia tonight.”

  “Don’t tell me they are keeping her another day. Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine and no, they aren’t keeping her another day. Apparently Bianca’s sister has become very ill, and she called to let me know that she’s not going to be able to come in today. Lucia is away visiting family for the rest of the week which, unfortunately, leaves no one to prepare the special dinner you had planned.”

  “Oh, no,” I whined.

  “Mia has no idea that there even was a dinner planned so I figured it was best to just go on with things as they are. I can order dinner and have one of the drivers pick it up.”

  “Nonsense. Mia’s been living on hospital food for days. She deserves a good home-cooked meal tonight. I’ll cook it.”

  “I thought you said good,” Teo teased.

  “And it will be. I’ve learned a thing or two over the years. I may not be a great cook, but I can get by.”

  “Really? You? Cook?”

  “Sure. I can read and follow instructions. I graduated from law school. How hard could it be?”

  “I don’t know...”

  “Teo, I’m doing this.”

  “Fine. We have to wait on final approval from the doctor, then they will have to get paperwork together...you know how these things go so we will probably be home around six-thirty or seven.”

  “Perfect. That will give me plenty of time to go to the store and get everything that we will need for dinner.”

  “Are you sure you won’t let me just pick something up on the way home?”

  “No. Not another word about something so absurd. I am cooking dinner.”

  “I thought you said no more absurdities?”

  “Teo,” I scolded.

  “Okay, little sister. I’ll see you around seven.”

  And with that, he ended the call. I went into the kitchen and pulled out Bianca’s cookbook, searching for classic dinner recipes that didn’t look too complicated.

  “I am a Harvard graduate. I should be able to do this.”

  “Talking to yourself, Ms. Harvard graduate?” Luca’s unexpected intrusion made me jump and I dropped the cookbook on the floor.

  He walked farther into the kitchen and knelt down to pick it up for me with only a slight wince to hint at the aches and pains I was sure he still felt from the fight the day before.

  “Didn’t mean to startle you. What are you doing with this?” He turned the book over in his hands before I finally plucked it from his grasp.

  “Bianca and Lucia are both out today and we had a plan to give Mia a nice home-cooked dinner her first night back from the hospital.”

  “And you are going to cook it?” Luca raised an eyebrow skeptically.

  “As a matter of fact, yes, I am.”

  He let out a loud burst of laughter before covering his mouth, and I glared at him. “Sorry, but the idea of you cooking is hilarious.”

  “I can cook.”

  “What can you cook?”

  “I’m smart. I can follow instructions.”

  “Cooking is more than following a simple recipe. What makes a meal good is the personal touch. It’s a feeling more than something you can put in a book.”

  “You know how to cook?”

  “I do, actually.”

  I scoffed. “How is it that I’ve known you practically my whole life and I didn’t know that you could cook?”

  “You never asked.” Luca shrugged. “So, what are you going to make?”

  “I don’t know yet. I want something warm and comforting and homey for Mia’s first night out of the hospital.”

  “Warm, comforting, homey?” Luca pondered. “I think I’ve got just the thing.”

  “What?”

  “My grandmother’s secret Brasato al Barolo. You’re actually in luck. It needs to sit overnight or for a couple of days for the best taste. I made some last night to eat for the week, but I will sacrifice my roast for this special occasion.”

  “You cooked a roast?” I couldn’t hide the surprise in my voice.

  “Yes. I can get it from my house, heat it up, and it will be ready in plenty of time. We should even have time to go to the store and pick up ingredients to make an appetizer and dessert as well.”

  “Okay, who are you and what have you done with Luca?”

  “Oh, I’m just full of surprises, principessa.”

  He winked at me, and I felt that familiar draw to him, but I quickly pushed those feelings away. It would never work, besides, you’re with Stefano now. Wonderful, sweet, thoughtful Stefano. I reminded myself and Luca looked at me curiously.

  “What?”

  “What do you say? Are you in to be my sous chef?”

  “Definitely.” I nodded and Luca grinned.

  “Good. Now, go grab your purse, shoes, whatever it is a girl needs to leave the house with and let’s go. We may have the main dish complete, but we still have to make the potatoes, vegetables, appetizer, and dessert.”

  “I’m going to let that bossy tone slide this time since you’re helping me out but you better tack on a please to that sentence if you want to get me to do anything.” I smirked playfully, grateful to have his help.

  “Fine then.” Luca rolled his eyes with a smile. “Please get your ass in gear so we can get to the store and have time to cook before the family dinner?”

  “Better,” I teased before running upstairs to grab my things.

  After a quick trip to the market and by Luca’s to pick up the roast, I helped Luca carry the groceries into the kitchen. Luca had led me through the market, teaching me how to pick the best produce, what ingredients we would need for the meal, as well as tips and tricks for getting the most flavor from the herbs. I was surprised by the new side of Luca. I thought I’d seen all his sides, or at least water-down versions of them. I knew I hadn’t seen how dark he could get. He was my brother’s lead enforcer and while I may not have known the details that his job entailed, I could use my imagination and was under no illusion that it was a glamorous job.

  I started to unload the bags, heading for the refrigerator with the ricotta and red bell peppers when Luca’s voice stopped me.

  “What are you doing with those?”

  “Putting them in the fridge?”

  “Don’t worry about putting everything up yet. We need to get things prepped.”

  “Whatever you say Chef,” I teased and placed the peppers and cheese on the counter.

  “Alright, we don’t have a ton of time before the dinner so while I’m getting the roast in the oven to reheat, why don’t you start washing the produce?”

  “That I can do.”

  “I believe in you.” Luca smirked and bumped my hip playfully with his.

  I took the peppers to the sink and turned on the water. “Now, do I just use this blue soap to wash the vegetables?”

  “You don’t—” Luca whirled around to see what I was doing.

  I pulled my lips between my teeth to keep from laughing but Luca just scowled.

  “So much for you believing in me,” I teased but Luca just glared, shaking his head at me before turning back to the roast.

  It was interesting to see him in the kitchen like that. He was so calm, confident, playful, and even a little flirty. It was hard not to think of Luca and our history when we were working so closely. Each little nudge or brushing against me as we passed each other in the kitchen was like electricity igniting through every nerve in my body.

  Time flew by and before long the entire house was filled with the warm, rich smells of a good, home-cooked meal.

  The phone rang and Luca answered it while I finished plating our appetizer of roasted red peppers with olives, capers and herbs on crusted bread. A moment later, he ended the call.

  “They’re here.”

  I gasped, filled with excitement. “Finally. Oh, no. I forgot to get the wine from the cellar.”

  “You take care of the appetizers. I’ll grab the wine.”

  “Thank you.” I hurried into the dining room and placed the platter of appetizers on the table and made it to the front door just in time to greet Teo, Mia, and little Elio as they climbed the front steps. “You’re here. The three of you are finally home.”

  I stepped out of the way so that they could come in, giving Teo and Mia hugs as they entered.

  “What smells so good?” Mia asked as she headed toward the dining room and placed the baby carrier on a chair.

  “That’s dinner.”

  “So, you did cook?” Teo asked in surprise.

  “I had a little help.”

  “Really? Who?”

  “Me,” Luca chimed in as he strolled into the dining room with a bottle of red wine.

  “The two of you cooked dinner?” Mia asked in disbelief.

  “Yes, well...Luca made the roast, but we made the rest together and it’s ready so please sit.”

  “Yes, let’s eat,” Teo said happily.

  My father joined us from his study just as we all settled in around the table for a delicious meal. We ate and talked happily. Teo and Mia seemed to be enjoying the meal and I was enjoying some time with my new little nephew who slept contently in his carrier in the chair right next to me.

  “Mira, Luca, this food is amazing. I can’t believe I didn’t know that either of you could cook,” Mia said happily between bites.

  “I didn’t know either.” I chuckled and the others followed.

  “Mira doesn’t give herself enough credit, she was good in the kitchen.”

  “Well, I had a good teacher.” I smiled at Luca, happy that the dinner was going so well, and happy to have had some time to spend with him without things feeling tense.

  Luca smiled at me, and my heart did a little flip. That feeling was a dangerous one. We couldn’t be together. If recent events had taught me anything, it was that Luca and I were better as friends, no matter how much my heart protested.

 

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