𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

Chapter Eighty-Five

LUCIANO
MARIANO

I took a slow sip of my coffee, feeling the bitter warmth settle in my chest as I leaned against the counter, watching her. Adeline's back was to me, her posture tense as she stood over the stove, stirring something with quick, determined motions. Kill was beside her, nudging her with his snout, whining softly for her attention. But she ignored him, just like she'd been ignoring me.

"Kill, sit," I ordered, my voice firm. Kill obeyed, but he didn't take his eyes off her, just like me.

"When are you going to stop being mad at me?" I finally asked, my voice soft, almost hesitant. I didn't want to admit how much it bothered me, this silence, this distance.

She didn't answer. She kept her back to me, shoulders stiff, focused entirely on her cooking. I clenched my jaw, frustrated but knowing exactly why we were here. That night...I'd gone too far. I could still see the look on her face, the shock and hurt in her eyes as I lost control. The memory clawed at me, each moment as clear as if it had just happened: the vases I'd shattered, the sharp slice of pain as I'd accidentally cut my hand, the shouting, my anger spilling out without restraint. I could still see every flinch, every tear that had slipped down her face. She didn't deserve that, but I'd been too far gone to see it in the moment.

"Don't ignore me, Adeline." I stepped closer, keeping my tone gentle. "I'm sorry for what I did, but you crossed a line too."

Finally, she spoke, her voice soft and strained, "I didn't do anything wrong, Luciano. I was trying to help Mia. And then you showed up and blamed it all on me. You...you scared me."

Those last words cut through me like a knife, but I forced myself to close the space between us, reaching out to take her hand. Her fingers were cold, and she tried to pull away, but I held on, turning her to face me.

"Hey, hey," I said, keeping my voice calm. "Look at me."

Her gaze was guarded, the usual warmth missing. It hurt more than I wanted to admit. I kept her hands in mine, squeezing them gently. "I know I went too far. I was in a bad temper, but I swear it'll never happen again. I love you, dolcezza. I'm sorry I made you feel that way."

Adeline's eyes softened, just a fraction, and she nodded. "I'm sorry too. But it's by time you accept I'm capable of doing bad things. Mia wasn't alone in that, I was helping her and so was Angelo. I'm capable of doing stuff that are wrong too, Luciano. Mia is a victim herself in this."

Relief washed over me, and I smiled, brushing my thumb over her knuckles. "Good girl. I'm not asking you to stay away from Mia. If you want, tomorrow, I can take you, Damiano, and Christian out. Valentina too. But only if Mia behaves."

Her lips curved slightly, the hint of a smile. "I'd like that." She hesitated, then kissed the back of my hand. "And...I love you."

"I love you more," I murmured, pulling her close, lifting her up onto the countertop. She wrapped her legs around my waist, a playful spark returning to her eyes as she shook her head.

"No, me more," she challenged, pouting just slightly.

I smirked, my hands sliding to her hips. "I know I won't win this argument, but I'd like to think my heart knows just how much I love you."

She laughed, soft and teasing, her fingers threading into my hair before trailing down to my chest. "I thought you didn't have a heart," she teased, her hand pressing over where my heart beat beneath her touch.

I gripped her wrist gently, holding it against me as I leaned in. "I have a heart that beats only for you," I whispered, letting the words settle between us, "and for our future kids."

Her cheeks turned pink, and she glanced down, embarrassed. "I want so many kids with you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But...I'm terrified of giving birth. It hurts so much."

I chuckled softly. "You can get a C-section if you want." I paused, my tone turning serious. "And if you decide you don't want kids at all, I'll respect that, Adeline. I just want you."

She grinned, a flash of determination in her eyes. "I'd go through it to have a mini version of you running around, driving us both crazy. I just...thought about a C-section, and my mom...she's against it. She made Bridget want to have a natural birth, said it would 'ruin our bodies.' She also had Bridget naturally. Not that her opinion matters, but...I don't know. Sometimes it gets in my head."

I felt a surge of anger at the thought, but I softened my expression, cupping her face. "Dolcezza, I've told you this a million times, and I'll say it again. Your body is yours. I love every inch of it. A scar from a C-section would only make you more beautiful to me because it would mean you brought our child into the world. Every mark, every part of you is perfect."

She blushed again, glancing away before meeting my eyes with a small smile. "Let's not talk about kids until I have a ring on my finger," she teased.

The irony made me smirk, but I didn't say anything. The ring was already waiting; I'd ordered it weeks ago.

Instead, I closed the space between us, capturing her mouth in a deep kiss, my fingers sliding under the fabric of her jacket as she sighed against my lips. Her legs tightened around me, pulling me closer. I was vaguely aware of Kill barking beside us, probably jealous, but I ignored him. The world narrowed down to just her, the taste of her lips, the warmth of her body. "You're so small and breakable that I'm always craving to bite, bruise, mark, and kiss you everywhere until you can't take it anymore, dolcezza." I gritted out while bitting her jaw.

"I love it," Adeline whimpered against me, her legs tightening.

Suddenly, there was the sound of footsteps, and we both froze. I pulled back just in time to see Carlo standing in the doorway, his face contorted in disgust. "Ew, that's nasty," he muttered before turning and calling out, "Guys! The 'innocent couple' is fucking in the kitchen!"

Adeline's eyes widened in horror, and she slid off the counter, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Oh my God," she hissed, burying her face in her hands. "This is so embarrassing."

I couldn't help but laugh, slipping an arm around her waist as she squirmed. "Let them talk. As far as I'm concerned, they can deal with it." But as I looked at her, laughing through her embarrassment, I felt that familiar surge of love. She was mine, and nothing would change that.