De Luca

𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

I watched as Tobias held a phone to his ear, speaking into it. A look of seriousness fell on his face, as if he were arguing with someone. It took a minute before he was off of the phone but when he put it away, Valentino's men found their way out of the crowd and down a hall. My head snapped to Stephan's finding him looking around at his men leaving with a confused look.

A shrill whistle pierced the room, everyone faced Tobias who had caused the noise. The big doors to the exit were closed by Tobias's men, which was also followed by the doors to the hallway that Stphano's men went through. Which caused a wave of murmmers to uprise over the crowd of guests.

"As you all know this ball is supposed to unite us. But tonight I must break that tradition no matter what it means for my reputation. Stephan Valentino believes he can mess with me and get away with it, but don't forget, I am the Boss of all of you. Not only that but a scandal has been going on behind the scenes. Stephan Valentino is not the rightful heir to the head of the Valentino's he is only a mere street rat, which goes against my fathers rule."

I frowned, "What rule?"

"To gain the head of a mafia you must either be a direct descendant or the former leader has to put a person of their choice in their will," Elias explained.

"So tonight will teach you all not to mess with me," Tobias continued. "Women and children are allowed to leave in an orderly fashion."

"What is this Tobias!" Stephan yelled furiously, "do you forget that I have something of yours." A small circle of what men he had left circled around him.

"I would never forget. But that situation has been taken care of from a friend of mine, Elias De Luca."

Stephan's head snapped towards our table, glaring at us with a raging fury. "Fucking kill him!" He roared.

I was confused for a moment but then I noticed a man seated at a table close to ours, stand up. His hand reached into his suit and pulled out a hand gun, aiming it at Elias. I stood as fast as I could, causing my chair to tip back. Without another thought I jumped in front of Elias just as the man fired.

Everything seemed to go in slow mo, just like in the movies. Elias yelled, Vanessa screamed, my world tilted. I fell back into Elias's arms, I smiled at his panicked face as my hand went to touch my wound on my chest.

"Grace! You idiot! Why, why did you do that."

Through my whezzing I did my best to talk. "Because...you have... a family to... Go back to."

Tears fell down his cheeks onto my face, joining into my own.

"Your an idiot mi amore, you have a family to come back too as well, your a De Luca now."

"If I die... remember...  what you promised... okay."

He gritted his teeth. "Your not going to die Grace, I swear to you, I won't let you die. Now just hold on, please."

"Go save... the day Elias... Tobias... needs you."

"I won't let you go, you have to stay here with me. I almost lost you a week ago I'm not going to let that happen again."

"Im not giving... you a... choice Elias... these people... need your help." I looked at the chaos that surrounded us, children screaming, babys crying, mothers, aunties, brothers and sisters trying to console their children as well as others. Young and old men trying to get to Valentino's men who all had guns now and were shooting anyone who got close to them.

"She's right Elias, go now. I'll take care of her."

"I don't want to leave her."

"She won't die Elias, she's a Valentino. She has mafia blood running through her veins, she's strong."

"Elias," Tobias yelled as he fought in the front line, shooting at Stephan's men. A bullet caught his left leg, causing him to fall, it only took him a moment to stand back up and continue firing.

"I love you, Grace." he leant down to kiss my forehead.

"I love you too."

He lowered me onto the ground, my head in Vanessa's lap. He ran off a moment later, grabbing a gun from one of Tobias's men before rushing to the front line.

"Whatever you do don't kill them," Tobias order.

"Hold in there, Grace," Vanessa said, tearing some of her dress and balling it up to hold onto my chest.

"Grace?" Antonio said, concern lacing his soft voice as he poked his head out from under the table, the white table cloth laying atop of his head. He frowned at me, tears starting to well up in hi eyes.

With my limp hand I reached out to his and gave him a measuring squeeze. "Im fine... Don't you... Worry."

"Go back under the table Antonio, comfort your sister for me. Where's nana?"

"Under here, with us."

"Okay good, stay under there darling."

He nodded and poked his head back under the table.

"Vanessa... I want... To thank you–"

"No, do say anything. Don't thank me for anything. It sounds like a goodbye and I'm not letting you leave us Grace."

I gave her a weak smile, the best I could do in my state. "Okay then, I'll save it for later."