Save Me

10- The Darkness

"Before we begin," I say as I guide Lucy over to the bed, "I have something for you."

She looks up at me with nerves dancing on her face. Five years ago, Lucy looked up at me with absolute trust and certainty, but now, there's an uncertain flinch waiting on her features.

"It's good, Stellina, I promise." With a slight chuckle, I bend down and peck her forehead, forgetting myself for a second, and then leave the room.

In the room next door sits Sophia, on her lap, a mangy old black cat.

"This is her?" I ask, feeling my lip curl in disgust at the sight of the animal. I am apparently not a cat person.

"Yes, this is her. Isn't she a sweetheart?" Sophia coos as she ruffles her ears, the cat closes its eyes and leans back into the affection.

Alex watches with a soft smile and chuckle as my sister dotes on the old cat.

"Give her here then." I demand, crossing the small distance and scooping the cat around the middle with one hand. It's demeanour instantly changes as it begins to hiss and growl.

Ignoring it, I walk back to where my lovely lady is waiting for an explanation. I have one last chance to win her back, if I fail, my life will be over.

"Oh my goodness!" Lucy exclaims, her accent adorably English, "you bought Catisha here?"

Lucy scurries from the bed and eagerly lifts the stinky cat into her arms. The thing instantly begins to purr in contentment.

As she walks back to the bed, I swear that thing shoots me with an evil smirk. I give it a bad look in return and I'll be damned if the mangy thing does roll it's eyes at me.

"So," Lucy says, her voice as soft as a heartbeat, "let's talk?"

Sighing, I walk over to the bed and sit beside Lucy. My fingers twitch to hold her hand, but I'm going to have to wait.

"As you probably know by now, the business I inherited from my father because of his illness was not exactly squeaky clean..."

Lucy scoffs but then instantly looks guilty, "sorry. Continue please."

"I am the capo of our mafia..." I pause and look expectantly at her for her reaction.

"Yes, I know." She says, making me look at her in surprise, "I did some research on you and your father and your business a few years ago after I drank too much..."

Catisha clambers onto Lucy's lap and settles down, purring happily. Lucky dumb cat, I wish I was there.

"And while I don't exactly condone your world, I recognise that it is more complex than I could ever understand... and that you are a good man, Enzo Russo."

Swallowing hard, I nod my head and take a deep breath.

"About the last few weeks of our relationship, I want you to know that I would never, ever cheat on you. That woman, it was an alliance I had to secure to protect you and my family from the Bernardi family..."

Lucy's brow furrows and I realise I have given her too much information in one go.

"The Bernardi family put out a hit on my family and all associates thereof five years ago, and they successfully targeted Sophia... the day I stood you up... I was in the hospital with her and then... then I was getting revenge."

"Oh, Enzo." Lucy's eyes are damp with tears, "why didn't you tell me what was going on then?"

"It was stupid but I wanted to protect you, Luce." I grab her hand fervently and hold on tight, "I thought that if I kept you ignorant of the darkness, it would keep you safe. But in the end it was my darkness that got you..."

"But it didn't!" Lucy exclaims, shaking her head and giving me a kiss on my knuckles, "the darkness didn't get me Enzo, it wasn't the mafia or you or the Bernardi family. We broke up because you didn't communicate with me and because you were impossible!"

"How is that not darkness?" I demand, "all I'm hearing is how fucked up I am."

Frustration takes over and I drop Lucy's hand. Leaping off the bed, I pace. Rubbing a hand through my hair I take a deep shuddering breath.

Dainty hands wind their way around my middle, calming me instantly.

"Those are normal problems Enzo. Our relationship ended because of normal darkness, not the mafia or anything else. You shut down and wouldn't communicate with me, that why I broke up with you."

"Really?" I mumble, spinning around and letting Lucy's little hands clutch at my white shirt.

"You-you mean the darkness didn't spoil you?"

"No baby." Lucy says sweetly, shaking her head at me with a rueful smile, "the darkness didn't get me."

I stand, heart thumping in my chest as Lucy raises onto her tiptoes, her lips rosy and delicious.

"Hey." She murmurs, our noses pressed together.

"Hi." I reply softly, heart thudding in my throat, "am I forgiven?"

"You're forgiven." Lucy says, nodding her head before licking her lips nervously, "I need some more time and effort to trust you again."

Even though her words hurt, I have to understand that it was my immaturity that led me here and if it means now I have to pay my dues, I will.

"I will earn your trust again, my Lucia."

Bending down, I close the distance between our lips and devour her hungrily. My hands clasp at her delicious softness with primal need. In the last five years, Lucy has developed even more sexy curves and dips and my hands love every new inch of her.

Lucy moans and whimpers as I suck and nip my way down her neck. Before our kisses turn into anything else, I am cockblocked by a loud meow.

"Oh god," Lucy giggles and pulls away from me despite my frown. We both turn around and see Catisha staring at us, her tail  flicking angrily.

"Alex!" I yell, my voice booming out of the room.

Seconds later there is a curt knock on the door making Lucy spring even further out of my reach.

"Enter." I reply and the door opens to reveal my sister's bodyguard whose hair is looking unusually unkempt.

"Is there something I can do boss?" Alex asks, "Sophia and I were just watching a film together."

"Look after the cat for me." I order, pointing to the grumpy looking demon. Alex's expression colours with embarrassment as he realises the reason behind my demand.

He complies and gently scoops the cat into his arms. It stretches out over his shoulder happily as he leaves the room.

Turning around, my eyes feast on the slightly disheveled Lucy as she sits on my bed, chest rising fast with desire.

"I've got a pussy of my own to take care of." I whisper against her lips as I push her back on the bed.

Lucy immediately erupts into laughter which is strange as I was only half joking.

"God you may be a mafia boss, but you're still my dork."