Luciano Fierri [Book #3]

Chapter 25

Luciano's POV
"Damn it Val. If you would just let me explain-"

"Vaffanculo(fuck off)! She shouted, flipping me off and storming into the house.

I tried chasing after her, but when she reached our room she slammed the door in my face, and locked me out.

Shit.

I was about to knock when Leonardo appeared. "Is everything alright?"

I ran a hand through my hair. "Everything's fine."

Leonardo made no attempt to move. "I was there when your mother gave birth to you. You can tell me anything figlio(son)."

Son?

"You're not my father," I snarled.

For some reason hearing him use a term that I've tried so hard to hear from my father upset me. It shouldn't have considering my father was never a father to me, but that didn't mean I wanted to replace him.

"You're right. I'm not." His voice remained calm, unfazed by my disrespect towards him. "And I'm not your brothers either, but that doesn't mean you can't confide in me, Luciano."

"Like I said before, everything's fine," I snapped.

It's not that I didn't respect Leonardo. I respect him very much. It's just that I wasn't in the mood for someone to play the role of father. I've tried the father-son thing before and it didn't work out. So I have no intention of trying again.

Finally taking the hint, Leonardo left me alone. I turned my attention back to Valeria. I knocked several times, hoping she would answer. But of course, she ignored me.

"Valeria, please talk to me."

I was met with silence.

The sound of my phone vibrating in my pocket filled my ears. Stepping away from the door, I pulled my phone out of my back pocket. I didn't bother looking at the caller ID as I answered the phone.

I just assumed it would be Cesare, or one of my other brothers. But the voice that spoke wasn't either of them.

"Pensi che io sia stupido, Luciano Fierri(Do you think I'm stupid, Luciano Fierri)?"

Samuele Pescatore.

"No, but I think you're a sadistic son of a bitch, who thinks abusing women will somehow make you a man."

He paused. I knew I had hit a nerve with that one. Which brought a satisfied smile on my face.

"Ridammi mia moglie(Give me back my wife)," he growled into the phone. "Lei mi appartiene(She belongs to me)."

I simply laughed, wishing it were in his face as Niccolo does everyone else. That only angered him more, Italian curse words flying out of his mouth.

I just kept laughing, finding humor in the little temper tantrum he was throwing. "You can't have her, because she belongs to no one," I told him in English. The smile on my face widened, stretching from ear to ear. "But if she were, then she would belong to me."

"Is that so?" He questioned in English, confident in himself.

"Sì(yes)." I decided in that moment that I really wanted to get under his skin, to finally knock the fucking bastard off his high horse. "Last I recall, it was my name she was crying out while she came on my cock... several times I might add."

His voiced boomed, rage evident in his tone. "Che cazzo hai appena detto(What the fuck did you just say)?"

"You heard me, Sammy. Go near her and I will personally end your life." All I heard next was the dial tone. The damned coward had hung up.

****

"So you still aren't talking to me?"

Valeria stood with her back to me, brushing me off coldly. I was seated at the dining table, finishing the rest of my Granite and brioche for breakfast while she silently drank her cup of orange juice.

She downed the remaining bit of her juice, before placing the glass in the kitchen sink and leaving.

So she's clearly still pissed at me.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

"She's still ignoring you, huh?" I turned my attention to the other entrance of the dining room, Vivian, striding in and taking a seat in the chair across from me.

"Yep," I replied, sighing heavily.

She reached over, grabbing the pitcher and pouring herself a glass of the orange juice. "Well, what are you going to do about that, Luciano Fierri?"

"I've tried talking to her, Viv. She doesn't want to hear anything I have to say."

"That's my stubborn sister for you," Viola chimed in, joining me and her older sister at the table.

"You're her best friend, Luci. Figure it the fuck out." Vivian was always so cold, but I knew that she meant well. She reminds me of Niccolo at times, only less of an asshole.

"Thank you for the pep-talk."

She nodded, taking a sip of her juice and smiling. "Anytime."

****

"Luci!" Leonardo shouted down the hall as he rushed towards me. He stopped in front of me, panting, his face covered in a thin layer of sweat, and his cheeks a tinge of red. "She's gone!" He forced out through labored breaths. "Valeria is gone!"

I felt like my heart had dropped into my ass. "What the hell do you mean she's gone!?" I could feel the panic attack coming on. I know she's upset with me, but I didn't expect her to leave.

She could be anywhere. Which also meant that she's at risk of Pescatore finding out she's no longer under my protection.

Cazzo(fuck).

I wasted no time, hopping into a car to find her. I called her phone numerous times, but they all went straight to voice-mail. The longer I didn't see or hear from her, the more I felt I was going to lose my mind.

I fiddled with one of the rings on my finger, scanning each and every person we passed by as we drove through the city.

"We're going to find her, Luci," Leonardo said beside me, pulling to a stop in front of a red light.

We better, because I refuse to lose her again. I'll tear this city apart if I have to. And I won't stop until she's back safe in my arms again.