DAMIEN: Book 2 of The De Luca Brothers Series [COMPLETED]

33:

"Come on you two," Says Leone as he proceeds to kick our seat and promptly wake both of us up. Gufo lurches forward and since I unplugged the seatbelt after take off, I fell off of him. Landing on the ground with a solid 'thud', I cast a cold glare at Damien but with his sleepy haze he doesn't even realise. Well, that is until I punch his shin.

He grunts and looks down at my position and offers me a sheepish grin before extending a hand for me to take. I smack it away and get up myself, brushing off imaginary dirt from the back of my jeans before following Leone out of the jet. The walk Italian air hits me and sunshine graces my skin as I talk my first step down from the plane, I let out a deep sigh of relief knowing we're safe here.

"Come on hot stuff, get that cute little ass moving before I do something that I know I'll enjoy," Damien whispers behind me and I jump, whirling around to hit is arm.

"Don't spook me like that," I grumble.

He wiggles his brows, "Of all things I want to do to you, spooking is the last thing I had in mind."

I hit him again and stomp down the steps before trotting behind Leone blanking Damien. I hear Toro and a sleepy Zac greet Gufo but I continue to ignore them, rather joining the second eldest, "So, what're we to do now?"

"Lets go somewhere safe and secure before we begin talking," he responds flippantly, leading me to a black minivan. A man with black hair slicked back, an earpiece and shades opens the sliding van door before stepping aside for us to enter.

It's like the one we used for escape, only there's less space and no removable roof. I go to sit at the back, Leone sits behind the passenger seat and the other three join us, Gupo and Toro sitting side by side whilst Gufo sidles up next to me with a dopey grin, "Hi."

"How are you feeling?" I ask him seriously and it pains my heart to see his goofy smile falter.

He clears his throat and looks away before shrugging, "I'm good. Grande. Fantastic."

I cup his cheek and turn his face so he's looking at me, only he's staring at his lap. "Look at me," I whisper and he does. "You don't need to lie to me. If you want things to work out, just like I do, we need to be honest with each other."

He inhales sharply before shrugging, "I guess I'm as okay as I can be..."

"See? Not so difficult now, is it?"

He offers me a weak smile, "I suppose so."

The minivan pulls out and eventually we're out of the airport and weaving through narrow streets with brightly painted buildings, each with their own personalities and decorations. I'm practically glued to the windowpane, drinking in everything that Italy has to offer. One of my biggest life goals is to travel the world, explore each continent with the same level enthusiasm to learn new things.

I glance at Damien to see him staring at me with a tiny smile on his face, I flush red and hesitantly look away. I feel his hand grab my thigh and I jump. Sensitive thighs. A small noise escapes my lips and I can see him snicker as Zac turns around with narrowed eyes.

"No naughty business back there please. You're both nasty."

I gasp and instantly go into denial mode, "Hell no, I'm not Gufo! He's the one—"

"Stop acting so innocent Chloe, they all know you want me. Or should I say my d—"

"Gufo!" I sharply intervene as he tilts his head back with booming laughter.

Even Zac fights a smile, tying to feign disgust. As he quietens down and pulls me into his side, I head Zac whisper to Toro about 'shipping' and 'us'. That little bastard.

We eventually pull through a pair of gates and a gape at the beautifully maintained gardens as we set down a central granite path. We drive around the circumference of a gorgeous water fountain before pulling in front of steps leading to a mansion. The mansion is even larger than the one back home, with more of a Italian architectural theme compared to the modernised one.

"So, you're about to meet my parents," Gufo smiles.

I blink once. Twice. Three times before smacking his arm once more. He whines and grasps my wrists, "Damnit woman, what's with you and the whole hitting thing?!"

"I'M MEETING YOUR PARENTS!?" I yell and everyone in the car turns to stare at us. "You do realise you even told me they'll not like me, right?! I was a stripper, they wanted you to date someone worthy of you, I have a terrible family- that's pretty damn shitty to me! Not only that, they're homophobic, I hate homophobes! God, Gufo, do you seriously just not thi—?"

He captures my lips in a heart stopping kiss and my breath hitches. My arms wrap around his neck and I pour out all of my frustrations into moving mine against his, feeling our chests press together yearning, wanting, needing. I'm pretty sure if we weren't in the car he'd take me right now.

Reality quickly settles in and I pull away from him and press my forehead against his. Everyone had left the car and we're here alone.

"You'll be fine," he promises. "If you guys clash then we'll get a hotel. Okay?"

"Okay," I mumble. "It's a nice place you've got here."

He shrugs, "Yeah, it's alright."

"How are things with your parents and Toro?"

Damien sighs, "Tense. They already disliked him for being gay, let alone getting an actual real life boyfriend."

"It's so sad," I whisper.

"I know it is. Think how I feel, having my very own parents dislike the LGBTQ community. Is it weird for me to say I still love them?"

"No, not at all. Just because they have their flaws and disagreements doesn't mean you shouldn't love them any less."

He smiles and pecks me on the lips, "You always know what to say."

"'Cause I'm just so wise."

He grins before taking my hand and pulling me out of the car, up the steps and through the grande double doors.