Destiny

Chapter Six

-Antonio

"I want him in the basement by dawn," Luca mocks as we head down the dimly lit stairs. "No excuses." Matteo, ever the instigator, chimes in with a grin, "I had to take Mia shopping. You should thank me." I roll my eyes, exasperated by their childish banter.

"You call her your mia moglie, but you don't treat her like one," Luca throws out, his tone laced with seriousness. I shoot him a glare, heat rising in my chest. 

"How so, brother?" I stop, turning to face him fully, arms crossed defiantly. "Never mind, we have business to deal with," he tries to deflect, but I'm not letting this go.

"That can wait, and you know it." I lean against the cold stone wall, the rough surface biting into my back. "How so, Luca?" I ask again, my voice sharp.

"You spent the whole day with her just to lock her up at night. Did you see how sad she looked?" His words cut deep, infuriating me. 

"But I was the one who suggested letting her visit the library, wasn't I?" I raise an eyebrow, daring him to challenge me.

"Yeah, after I said you can't just lock her up with nothing to do!" he shouts, his frustration bubbling over. And here I thought I was the hothead. They always say the youngest takes everything you do and amplifies it.

"Listen, Luca, we've had this talk. Don't tell me what to do with mia moglie, okay?" I step closer, towering over him, my voice low and steady.

"What are you going to do if I don't?" He inches forward, poking my chest with his finger, defiance radiating from him.

"Enough!" Matteo interjects, stepping between us, his presence grounding.

Luca huffs, looking away, his jaw clenched. "I'm going to bed." He storms off, his footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor.

"It's not like I needed you," I call after him, frustration spilling over. Matteo shoots me a look that clearly says, Stop being childish.

"He started it," I mutter, arms crossing tighter.

"Do you think I want to keep her locked up? No, but clearly someone failed to do their job and let a rat in," I scoff, bitterness seeping into my words. Matteo pats my back, a calming gesture.

"We're brothers. We shouldn't be fighting. Remember, whatever happens, we deal with it together." His voice is steady, a reminder of the bond we share. I nod, letting his words sink in, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. "I'll go talk to him. You get some rest. We'll handle the bastard tomorrow."

I sigh, turning away, the weight of the night heavy on my shoulders. 

As I pass through the dimly lit hallways, I feel the weight of the evening's tension slowly lift from my shoulders. The creak of the floorboards echoes softly as I approach her door. With a gentle click, I unlock it and step inside, careful not to disturb her.

She lies there, a serene vision, cuddling a pillow as if it were a lifeline. A smile breaks across my face at the sight. I can't help but brush a stray lock of hair from her face, my fingers lingering for a moment. Leaning down, I press a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Amore mio, ti prometto che non ti terrò a lungo in questa stanza." The words slip out like a whispered promise, and to my surprise, her body instinctively shifts closer to me.

Despite the nagging voice in my mind telling me to resist, I can't help myself. I slip off my shoes and carefully lay down beside her, the bed dipping slightly under my weight. Almost immediately, she instinctively clings to me, her warmth enveloping me.