Mafia Betrayal

Chapter Twenty Eight

Luca

When I woke up the next morning, I was alone in my bed. For a brief moment, I thought I might have dreamt everything that happened last night. The conversation Charlotte and I had. Agreeing to give our relationship another shot. Making love to her until she was so exhausted that she fell asleep in my arms. The entire thing felt like a dream, but the scratches on my shoulder from her fingers nails told a different story.

Oh yeah, it was real.

I felt lighter today, and after getting a second chance from Charlotte, there was no shot I was going to fuck it up. I'd do anything I could to make her happy, and to make sure she got the life deserved.

I rolled out of bed, heading to Layla's room to see if either she or Charlotte were in there, but it was empty, so I headed downstairs.

Before I even got to the bottom of the stairs, the sound of their giggles filled the air, and I couldn't help but smile. I breathed a small sigh of relief. When I woke up alone, I had a fleeting thought that she might have left.

Angelo appeared at the bottom of the stairs. "Hey Luca."

"Hey man."

"How is Charlotte? Did you get her settled after yesterday?"

"All things considered, I think she's okay. We talked about it a little last night, but she was exhausted."

He smirked. "Talked?"

I rolled my eyes. He was so fucking nosey. "Yes, we talked like normal human beings."

Angelo's face darkened for a second. "Please tell me you kept your anger in check."

"Yes. And there's going to be no more of that." I ran my fingers through my hair. "I'm committed to making this work."

Angelo looked pleasantly surprised. "I'm glad to hear that. You both deserve for this to work out."

"Thank you. And thanks for talking to some sense into me when I needed it."

"Anytime." He smirked. "You know I love any opportunity to prove you wrong."

"You're hilarious." I rolled my eyes as we went into the kitchen.

Layla leapt off the counter and threw herself around my legs the second she saw me. "Daddy!"

"Good morning, princess." I bent down and kissed the top of her head.

"Can you take me to the pool? Let's go play!" She grasped my hand and tried with all her might to lead me out of the room again.

"Layla, let daddy breathe." Charlotte smiled, tilting her face up and kissing my cheek. "Coffee?"

"That would be great." I slid onto the barstool next to Layla, and Angelo sat next to me. He shot me a taunting smirk, but I was too caught up in Charlotte to care.

She was the picture of perfection this morning as she danced around the kitchen, making breakfast for Layla and coffee for me. There was still the softest flush to her cheeks from last night, and she looked so relaxed and at ease. My heart felt like it was going to burst seeing her that way, knowing she wanted to be here and she felt comfortable. A massive, welcome shift from the last few weeks.

"Here." She handed Angelo a cup too. "A peace offering for nearly killing you yesterday."

"No apologies needed." Angelo chuckled, happily took the coffee.

"Come on, Daddy." Layla whined, stomping her tiny foot. She was still at the age where her temper tantrums were cute—most of the time, anyway.

"Layla, you and I have a special mission today. Why don't you go change out of your PJs and we can go?"