Shadows of Redempthion

Chapter Nine

Luca's P.O.V

It had been a few days since that night at Elena's apartment. The night I showed up drunk and vulnerable, something I rarely allowed myself to be. I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache and a heavy sense of embarrassment. Elena had been gracious, but since then, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had crossed a line.

Work at the family business kept me busy, but my thoughts were constantly drifting back to her. My uncle had noticed my distraction and was growing increasingly irritated with me. I couldn't blame him. I wasn't fully present, my mind divided between the demands of the mafia and the pull I felt towards Elena.

I had tried to put some distance between us, hoping it would help clear my head. But every time I saw her name flash on my phone, a small smile tugged at my lips despite myself. Her messages were simple, mundane updates about her day at the bookstore or something amusing she had read. They were a lifeline, pulling me back to a sense of normalcy that I craved.

Yet, there was a distance in her messages that gnawed at me. She was friendly, sure, but it was a safe, cautious kind of friendly. I knew she was protecting herself, and I couldn't blame her. But it made me restless, agitated. I wanted more. I wanted to be around her every second of the day, to protect her, to make sure she was safe.

One afternoon, sitting in my office, I stared at my phone, her latest message open on the screen. She had sent a photo of a quirky book display she had created at the bookstore, her pride evident in her words. I typed out a response, then deleted it, then typed it out again. Why was this so damn hard?

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. Giovanni, my right-hand man, stepped in, his expression serious.

"Luca, we need to talk," he said, closing the door behind him. "You've been distracted lately. Antonio is getting suspicious. You need to focus."

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. "I know, Giovanni. I know. It's just... complicated."

He raised an eyebrow. "Is this about that girl? Elena?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

Giovanni sighed, sitting down across from me. "Look, I get it. She's important to you. But you need to find a way to balance this. Our business can't afford any slip-ups."

He was right, of course. I knew he was right. But it didn't make the pull towards Elena any less intense. "I'm trying, Gio. I really am."

He nodded, standing up. "Just remember what's at stake, Luca."

After he left, I stared at my phone again, Elena's message still open. I couldn't keep doing this. I needed to see her, to talk to her, to bridge the distance that was slowly driving me insane.

I typed out a quick response, asking if she wanted to grab a coffee later. I hesitated for a moment before hitting send, a mix of anticipation and dread churning in my stomach.

Her reply came almost immediately. She agreed, suggesting a little café near the bookstore. Relief and excitement flooded through me. I needed this, needed to see her and maybe, just maybe, find a way to move past the embarrassment of that night and figure out what we were to each other.

The rest of the day crawled by as I juggled work and thoughts of Elena. When the time finally came, I made my way to the café, my heart pounding in my chest. She was already there when I arrived, sitting at a small table by the window, a soft smile on her lips when she saw me.

"Hey," I said, sliding into the seat across from her.

"Hey yourself," she replied, her eyes sparkling. "How have you been?"

"Busy," I admitted. "But it's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, Luca."

We talked, and for the first time in days, I felt a sense of calm settle over me. The agitation that had been gnawing at me eased, replaced by the simple pleasure of her company. She told me about her latest projects at the bookstore, and I found myself smiling, genuinely smiling, as I listened to her.

When we finally parted ways, I felt a renewed sense of determination. I couldn't let my feelings for Elena become a distraction, but neither could I push her away. I needed to find a way to balance both worlds, to protect her while maintaining my role in the mafia.

And somehow, I would. For her, I would find a way.