Velvet Lullabies

Niall shot the rest of his liquor down his throat. “No one touched that girl.” He spat. “And she runs around telling them that my boy beat her. That he ordered the hit on the Maranzano boy and Angelo.”

“Niall, I’m not ignoring your loss here, but both sides have lost enough, don’t you think?”

His eyes shot up to meet Lucians. “I’ll tell you what Luchese. I’ll end this war once you deliver me the girls head on a silver platter.”

Lucian felt sick to his stomach.

Niall O’Connor was clearly insane.

Lucian had been told as much, but still, he had higher expectations. He had no idea what he was going to do, but he knew he needed to keep Adelina safe.

He pulled up Enzo’s contact on his phone as soon as he was out of the crazed man’s house, texting him to send additional men. Adelina wasn’t going to be alone until this was over.

???

Lucian could watch Adelina sleep all night.

She was beautiful.

Lately, he’d been working while she slept for most of the night. Stumbling in later and passing out. But tonight, he just wanted to enjoy her presence.

“Theo,” his eyes jerked to her. She was still asleep. He had never heard her talk in her sleep before, and if he was being honest with himself, her saying that name was like a knife to his chest.

“Don’t, stop, please.” She cried out.

He wasn’t sure if he should wake her. She was still for another moment and then, “Theo, no!” she cried.

“Adelina,” he rocked her gently. “Baby, wake up, you’re okay.”

He eyes fluttered open taking in her surroundings. “Lucian?”

“Yeah, baby. You were having a bad dream.”

She nodded.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked, brushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

“No,” she murmured.

“You were crying, Adelina.”

“I’m sorry.” she whispered.

He tilted her head to look at him. “You don’t need to be sorry, I just want to know what happened.”

“It was just a bad dream.”

“Tell me about it then.”

She rolled away with him, dragging the comforter up and curling into herself. “I can’t.”

Chapter Nineteen

Gemma had been Adelina’s rock since they were kids. Every problem she ever had, Gemma helped her figure it out. The first time she ever had a panic attack, Gemma was there practicing deep breathing with her. Gemma had never once let her down.

Adelina felt guilt and shame at a level she had never experienced before.

This was all her fault.