Crossfire Queen

44

The moment Luca walked into our room I panicked. He was covered in blood yet he didn't look angry. "You're safe" he said as he came over and scooped me up into his arms. "You're bleeding" I stammered but he shook his head. "It's not my blood" he said breathlessly as he held me tight. "Whose is it" I stammered looking at him as he shook his head and let tears flow down his eyes. "Luca whose blood is it" I said with a shaky voice. "Why didn't you tell Me" he choked as my heart plummeted. "You wouldn't have believed me" I whispered as he shook his head, looking at me broken. "I'll always believe you Bella" he said looking devastated. "Not when it comes to him. He was your everything" I said as I wiped away his tears. "No he was my cousin, my friend. Maybe at times he felt like a brother. But you. You're my everything" he said looking at my eyes softly. "He meant a lot to you, I didn't want to take that away" I sighed as I trailed my fingers on his chest as he held me. "You mean a lot to me, you could've been taken away" he said sadly. "I thought it was the better option. If I wasn't here you'd have him. Your life would resume." I stuttered slightly. "My life could never resume if you were killed because of my lack of awareness. Because of Me" he said glumly. "You loved him, you don't love me" I found myself saying. "He was family" I added. "You're my future Sofia. My future family. You're all I want. No i don't love you right now, am I falling yes. Would I kill everyone in this house if it meant keeping you safe yes. A million times yes" he professed as I sat looking at him stunned. "You mean everything. Our unborn child means everything. Never put yourself in danger to protect me" he said firmly. "Promise me" he begged as I gulped. "Promise" I whispered looking down at my hands. "I'm sorry" I said after a moments hesitation. "You have nothing to be sorry for Sofia" he sighed holding me tightly. "You had to kill your friend. Because of me" I said solemnly. "I had to kill him because he was deluded and a threat" Luca corrected "there's a difference" he said firmly as I sighed. "Next time please come to me" he said sadly. "You're right it sucks, but it sucks even more knowing you felt safe enough to tell him but not me" he said looking at me deeply. "I didn't tell him, he and lou worked out every-time we were in the same room I fitted" I sighed feeling exhausted from it all. "What about the ones in the last two days" he asked confused. "Largely bought on by me thinking about him being awake and coming to get me" I said feeling stupid. "I'm glad he's dead" Luca said firmly. "But I know there will be others who try to harm you, and I can promise you sweetheart, I'll kill them all if I have to" he said looking deep into my eyes. "I won't let anything bad happen to you" he said promisingly as he held me tight. "Thank you" I said as relief washed over me.
He held me for what felt like eternity. I couldn't help but feel relaxed in his arms knowing Romero was dead. I almost felt untouchable. "You ok if I go shower" his voice pulled me away from his chest. "Sure, I can run you a bath if you'd prefer" I said softly. "I have maids for that Bella. You're not meant to be lifting a finger" he said gently as I kissed his cheek. "I'm still yours though. I want to be helpful" I said honestly. "Your far from being mine. But thank you" he said kissing my nose. His words stunned me slightly. If I wasn't his, whose was I? Had Marco claimed me back or something. He left me sat on the bed confused. Deep in thought I pondered why he'd said it and couldn't come up with anything each time. "Knock knock" Louisa's voice chimed as she waltzed in. "You need to be careful coming in here like that, your brother was naked in here minutes ago" I said as she smirked at me. "Thank you for that mental image" she frowned at me. "Just saying" I chuckled lightly as she sat besides me on the bed. "How you feeling" she asked softly. "Better I guess. At least he can't hurt me from the grave" I sighed as she nodded. "Sorry Marco put a timer on it" she said looking sad. "It needed to be done. I wouldn't have told him regardless" I said simply as she nodded. "Any vomiting? Any light headed ness" she asked getting to business "nope, nope and no seizures" I informed her as she nodded. "Panic attacks" she asked as I shook my head. "Fresh as a daisy now" I joked with her as she smiled. "Good cause I need to check them stitches and change your dressing" she smiled widely as I groaned. "You couldn't have told me that earlier. I really fancied a bath" I huffed with a pout as she smirked. "Sorry Sof" she said amused before laying out her kit and gently removing the dressing. As she peeled off the adhesive I felt myself flinch. "Ow" I said feeling like my skin was being ripped open. "Its just the tape" she chuckled as she continued. "It hurts" I pouted at her. "It will" she said easily as I heard the shower turn off in the bathroom and prayed that Luca would put a towel round him and not just wander out here naked. "It's looking great" she said when she finally peeled the dressing off. "How long till the stitches come out" I asked curiously. "They're dissolvable so they stay in. You just can't get them wet for atleast another two days." She said as I frowned. "If they get wet and dissolve all your guts will hang out" she said as I made a face, the bathroom door opening simultaneously as Luca walked out, thankfully towelled, Drying his hair. "Lou?" He questioned. "Just changing her dressing don't stress" she smiled at her brother as she opened the fresh packet. "Thanks" Luca said. "For everything" he added looking at his sister. "What's family for eh" she said as she gently redressed my wound before clearing up her mess. "You went beyond family" Luca Sid pulling her into a hug when she beelined for the bin. "You're all wet" she said annoyed as he held onto her. "I know" he smirked at me, you could see how much fun he was having by winding his sister up. "Luca please" she said trying to writhe free of his grasp. "Fine" he said letting her go. "But only because I prefer to have Sof in my arms these days" he said as he walked over and scooped me up. "You make me sick" Louisa grimaced at us before walking out, calling "dinners at 6" as she went. "What time is it" I turned to Luca who glanced at his phone. "5.30" he smiled back. "Perfect" I said crashing my lips onto him. I now didn't have to worry about rushing our sex because of Romero, but it didn't mean I didn't want the pleasure again. My hand lowered to where he'd wrapped his towel. "Let me prove I'm yours" I said as I flickered my fingers underneath the cotton. "Nope" he said before pulling his lips away. "I'm annoyed I let my emotions take control earlier. I should've waited and given you the perfect evening" he sighed looking frustrated. "You gave me the perfect morning instead" I smirked at him. "I wanted to make it special" he said as he kissed me endearingly. "Let me make it up to you tomorrow" he asked softly. I felt my cheeks redden...was it a date or was he just scheduling sex again. I couldn't help but still feel somewhat rejected though. Was our sex bad, was he just trying to find a cover up for it. Had I done something wrong, maybe he blamed me for Romero. Understandably so. Saying that, if I'd just been forced to shoot Alessia I wouldn't be in a very sexual mood either. Perhaps I was just overthinking.
"Sorry to disturb" Tony's voice said softly from the doorway. I hadn't heard him knock but assumed he probably had given Lucas ease with the intrusion. "Lorenzo would like to see you in his office Sofia" he informed me as I nodded and rolled myself off the bed.
Seeing Lorenzo wasn't high up on my agenda, I didn't want to hear how upset he was about Romero, how he felt I was in Marcos pocket. I just couldn't be bothered for the lies, the fake innocence and the lack of trust. Nevertheless when you were called to his office, you went. I also knew better than to keep him waiting and so I scurried as fast as my damaged body would carry me, leaving luca to change on his own in our room.
As I approached the door to Lorenzo's office, a maid knocked on my behalf before opening the door for me to enter through. "Good you're here. I didn't know whether you'd be available given yours and Lucas earlier rendezvous." Lorenzo smirked humoured. "Doing as I'm told for once." I said simply not wanting to discus my sex life with Lucas father. "I'm glad to see it" Lorenzo smiled with a nod. "In fact, I'm rather hoping your submission will continue though-out this next conversation" he said lifting a brow. "Is that an order or a request" I asked, my voice void of emotion. "Thee wedding, you must take someone with you. I do not care who but they must be a Marchetti and you must convince Marco" he said as I nodded. "I'll take Louisa. She's the least likely to cause them Anxiety, but she's also very protective of her family" I justified as Lorenzo nodded. Great, I'd clearly passed that test. "You are making the outfits no" Lorenzo asked as I nodded. "I'll need the groom and his ushers to come in at some point this week to check the suits fit. Same with the girls dresses." I explained as he nodded. "I will have men present with you and stationed outside. Make sure to tell me in advance of the confirmed date and time" he said shortly as I nodded, at least that had been easy to sort. "Now that is sorted" he said with a heavy sigh as he looked at me almost painfully. "I need to remind you that you are part of this family. Issues you have should be raised to me" he said looking at me knowingly. "They shouldn't just be raised to Luca or Louisa" he added. "I cannot resolve issues I don't know about" he continued firmly. "And id appreciate if next time you kept the Di Rossi out" he concluded firmly. "Okay" I said, I hand nothing else to tell him. Nothing he'd want to hear and so I opted for the east way out. "That's all you have to say" he queried as I nodded. "You wish I'd come straight to you, as per the rules of the family I should've done" I shrugged as he looked at me confused. "Then why didn't you" he said almost angrily. "Because I know how little you regard me, I know you regarded Romero higher. You were quick to dismiss my mother, I figured you'd do the same to me" I said as he looked at me hurt. "I never dismissed your mother." He said sourly. "You betrayed her, made her life such a shit show she took it. You stripped me of a family once before Lorenzo, I wouldn't have been surprised if you'd have told me I was a liar and stripped me of family again" I said as I stood up to leave. Not wanting to get into this with him. "You do not speak to me like that" he spat. "You do not up and leave without my say so" he roared. "You moan at me for not talking to you. You moan at me for talking to you. I can't win, and I'm fed up of trying. Stop pretending to like me, you never have, you never will. It wouldn't surprise me to find out if you had Romero hurt me as a warning" I accused as he marched over to me and flung me against the wall, holding me there by my throat. "I may be a sick fucker Sofia and you may not believe me, but hurting you wasn't on my agenda. I need you, Luca needs you" he gritted at me. "And once I'm used, I get thrown aside like my mother" I ground out with wide eyes. "That depends on how much loyalty you show me. Right now you're making all her mistakes. The first being your unwavering trust in the Di Rossi" He spat as the door opened unannounced. "Put her down" Lucas voice said firmly. "You do not tell me what to do son" Lorenzo said not moving his eyes off me. "I do when it comes to Sofia." Luca said raging. "Let her go" he added as I saw a vein in Lorenzo's neck bulge. Finally I felt his hold loosen, my body slumping slightly in relief. "Maybe now you can see why I trust him more than I do you" I spat at Lorenzo, hoping he'd know I was on about Marco and not Luca. Either way, he was at the bottom of the trusted pile. "Sofia" Luca beckoned me authoritatively. I nodded at him and followed him out, a huge sigh of relief leaving my lips as we exited.
"You want to tell me why he was choking you" Luca said with dismay. "He asked me why I went to Marco. He didn't like my answer" I said simply as he nodded. "What was your answer" he asked looking at me worriedly. "That despite my loyalty to this family, I knew the families loyalty to mine has always been questionable. How did I know he would believe me. How did I know I wouldn't get shunned like my mother" I said firmly as Luca nodded. "I can see why he was angry. I can also see why you would question us" he sighed looking distraught. "Please know Sofia, you're my number one priority. I'll do everything I can to protect you." He said softer as he looked into my eyes. "I know, it's not you I don't trust" I said with a soft smile as he nodded, before kissing my forehead. "I need to go do some business before dinner. Will you be ok" he asked as I nodded at him, before making the decision to go and finish the attire for the wedding that was now only a week away!