you're mine

Chapter 51

Luca's point of view

My heart could beat right out of my chest with the anger boiling inside of me. How could she go against my word after everything? After she told me she loved me? After I killed and risked my life for her?

I had never felt happier in my life than when she spoke those three simple words. This is what I have been working towards, I thought. This is why I done all of this. For her. But The moment all of this pays off and she finally feels the way I do, she betrays me.

I blame her, but not entirely. I blame Chris (and a little bit, I blame his daughter). He made her feel welcome, he made both of us feel welcome. And I hate him for that.

The truth is I hate him because i like him. I don't want to like him but I do. In a way, i respect him and who he is as a person. I respect the way he treat us without knowing a thing about us and how he raises his daughter, doing all the things that's best for her. I always wanted to have someone like him growing up. Of course, I had my grandfather But not often and not for long.

But now.... all I want is Emilia. And anyone who gets in the way of me having her to myself isn't worth my time. I don't want a father figure anymore, I don't need one either, like Emily thinks I do. I got over that by the time I was fourteen. She thinks it's the best thing for me, being around Chris. In reality, the best thing for me is her. God, I love her so fucking much.

But right now I am so mad at her I could almost.....

"Sure. We will stay for longer." I flash my signature straight smile.

"Perfect." Chris replies with a bigger smile of his own. Like I suspected, when I look over at Emilia she isn't smiling at all.

Her confused gaze is fixed on me, her eyebrows slightly pulled together and her doll lips parted. If anyone else was to examine that expression, they wouldn't see anything different. But as someone who stares at her at all times - even when she is sleeping- I can tell.

After a moment, her face loosens up and returns to normal with a small smile which read thank you. Though I don't fully trust it, hiding behind her smile is a look of uncertainty.... Fear.

"Well Ella and I are going shopping today if you both would like to join me?" Chris asks.

"What are you shopping for?" Emilia responds with.

"Ella needs new shoes. And we need groceries. I could buy you both some clothes, if you like? Or anything else you may need."

"We are okay, thanks. And we will stay here whilst you two go shopping." I speak before Emily can, not wanting her to cause anymore damage than she has. "Let you have some father daughter bonding."

"Ookay well we are going to head out pretty soon to beat the traffic." He checks his watch and raises an eyebrow. 

"What time is it daddy?" Ella questions, peering over her dad's watch.

"You don't know time yet, Ella." Chris states.

"Yes I do!" Ella protests.

Chris chuckles slightly. "It's a quarter to nine, darling."

Ella leans over to my girl and whispers. "What is quarter to nine?"

....

Chris and Ella finish up their breakfast and go their separate ways to get dressed, Chris heading into Ella's room two minutes later to help her put on her white stockings when the girl yells out for help from her father.

My mouth only opens to drink my cup of coffee and finish my pancakes. Emily makes a few comments but doesn't bother holding a conversation when I don't reply to her small talk.

Eventually she wanders off to sit by the fire with a book in her hands. By the time Chris and Ella leave to go shopping, I walk over to her small frame.

Her big eyes look up at me in wonder.

"Why did you do that?" I ask.

"What?"

"Don't play fucking dumb. Answer the question."
My tone shows my impatience.

"I felt bad. He clearly wants us to stay." She admits. "And I want to stay."

"You want to stay?" My eyebrow raises.

"Yes." Emily gulps lightly out fear. She tries not to show it; not wanting me to know my effects on her. The bad ones, at least.

"Why? Why would you need anything else? I have given you everything."

"They are nice." She explains but it isn't enough. How could it Be? Her explanation of needing someone else other than me is 'because they're nice'?

"Stand up." I demand.

Her head nods slowly, processing my words but before she can stand, I grab her wrist pulling her up with me.

"Give me a real answer, Emilia." My grip on her hardens, terror flashing in her eyes.

"Please- I'm sorry Luca. Okay? I'm sorry. I will tell them I changed my mind." Emily nods her head and smiles.

I resist the urge to smack the smile off of her face. A breath deepens in my lungs before I speak again.

"I don't want an apology, baby." I whisper, almost condescendingly. "I want an explanation."

"I just thought it would be good for you; for us to be around other people."

"Why did you think you could go against my word? I told you exactly what I wanted and you went against that. I told you not to get attached and here we are."

I can feel her fragile bones against my palm, almost as if there was no flesh around them.

"I'm so sorry I just wanted you to be happy." Emilia's eyes begin to water but she doesn't look sad. She looks scared.

"All I need is you. And you only need me. I won't repeat myself on that again."

My eyes bore into her, making her shiver against my touch. Once I am sure I made myself understood, I pull her by her wrist into a tight hold against me.

"I love you." I speak into her hair, rubbing her shoulder with my thumb.

"I love you too." Emily mumbles.