Sweet Temptation

“A man would be dead for threatening me.”

“I’m not a man.”

Luca took out his phone. “I’m going to call Cassio now and you’re returning home with your bodyguard.” He pressed the phone to his ear. “Hello, Cassio, I need you to come over.” Cassio said something on the other end, and Luca’s answering smile made my blood run cold.

He shoved the phone back into his pocket. “Your husband is already here. Your bodyguard called him the second you entered this suite.”

“Please,” I said hoarsely, tears stinging in my eyes. They didn’t move Luca. Compassion wasn’t one of his character traits.

A knock sounded and Luca motioned for me to stay where I was. He pulled his gun and headed toward the door. My mind whirled, trying to figure out a way out of this.

“Good evening, Luca,” Cassio said calmly.

Luca stepped back and let Cassio pass then closed the door. Cassio scanned me from head to toe then stalked toward me. He pulled me against him, his expression anxious. “What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I wanted to help and ruined everything.”

Cassio searched my eyes before his gaze cut to Luca, who regarded us as if he was trying to decide if we were friend or foe. The change in Cassio’s body was immediate. He tensed, and the look in his eyes became predator-like as they watched one another. He was armed of course. Two guns and at least the same number of knives. Luca didn’t take his eyes off Cassio and regarded him in the same way as Cassio did him.

Cassio squeezed my hip gently then kissed my temple. “Let Elia take you home.”

Was he serious? I wouldn’t leave this suite without him.

“Cassio—”

He nudged me in the direction of the door. I glanced between Luca and him. “Cassio, Luca knows about Gaia and Andrea,” I whispered imploringly, trying to get through to him.

Cassio nodded. “I know. Your brother called to warn me about your father’s plan.”

I froze. “What exactly did he say?”

Cassio stroked my hair gently. “That you’re fighting like a lioness to protect Daniele and Simona and me.” His mouth pulled into a wistful smile.

I searched his eyes. Did that mean he knew they weren’t his kids? I didn’t ask from fear of revealing more than Christian had revealed, but his words led to only one conclusion. “I know you didn’t want to find out.”

Cassio nodded then glanced back at Luca, who was watching closely, the hand with his gun hanging casually at his side. “You need to leave now.”

“That she should. We have matters to discuss,” Luca said coldly.

Cassio tried to nudge me in the direction of the door again. I stepped back. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”

“Giulia, everything will be fine. Let Elia take you home so you can have some rest.”

I sidestepped Cassio’s tall frame to fix Luca with a stare. “Will everything be fine, Luca?”

Luca’s gray eyes remained emotionless pools. “I think you should leave now like your husband said.”

“I don’t care what you think, and I most definitely won’t leave until you swear that my husband will return to me.”

Cassio hugged me to him. “Giulia, you will leave now.” I didn’t miss how he positioned his body between Luca and me as if he worried my disrespect might cause Luca to strike me down.

“No,” I snapped and let my legs drop away from under me. Cassio was startled and barely managed to soften my fall. I sank down on the ground like a stubborn child—or a very heavily pregnant woman determined to save the man she loved. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here. You’ll have to drag me out.”

Cassio shook his head but his eyes reflected his admiration. He bent down and picked me up without trouble despite my protests. He carried me toward the door and set me down, his arm slung around my waist so I didn’t try to sit down on the floor again. I clutched at his shirt, wrinkling it. He cupped my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Go home, honey.” His voice was silky and imploring.

Tears blurred my vision as I clung to him. “Swear you’ll return to me.”

Cassio looked back to Luca and for a moment they simply stared at each other. “I swear.” Elia appeared at my side and at a sign from Cassio, he wrapped his arm around me and dragged me away. I looked over my shoulder at Cassio. He gave me an encouraging smile before he closed the door. Had Cassio lied to me about returning home?

I closed the door on Giulia’s terrified face before facing Luca, who was still holding his gun. Despite the almost irresistible urge to pull my own, I didn’t. I respected Luca and he appreciated me more than most of his other Underbosses. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t kill me. There wasn’t a man or woman that Luca wasn’t capable of killing, except for his wife and children—maybe.