Undressed By The Mafia God novel Chapter 458

Chapter 458: Help Me Understand

"I do." Luca said.

"Then please," Vee said, her voice softening, "help me understand."

"I believe she blames me for every bad thing that has happened, Vee," Luca said.

"Surely, she cannot truly believe that," Vee said.

Luca’s eyes stayed on the skyline.

"You..." She stepped closer, searching for the right words and hating that she had to defend him against her own sister, even in theory. "You saved us. Yes, in your own brutal, weird way. You came into our lives like a violent hurricane, yes. But our lives are better." Her voice softened. "She is married to a good man. I have you. We have everything we want. We do not have to work our nails to the bone anymore. We are safe—"

Luca looked at her sadly and the word died in her throat.

Safe.

What a fragile, ridiculous little word.

"Protected..." she corrected herself.

"It’s good you are focusing on the positive," he said. "I love that you can do that. I love that after everything, you still manage to look at the ruins and point out the flowers growing through them. But a lot has happened since we met," Luca continued. "How many people have we lost? How many times has your life been threatened?"

"Val basically had to drive the car that was supposed to somehow get you to safety and to medical attention because of me. My family." His jaw tightened. "She has been through you getting shot. She had to watch you bleed. She had to sit with the possibility that this world I dragged you into would take you from her."

"You didn’t drag me."

"Vee."

"You didn’t."

"But I opened the door." He turned back to the sky, one hand resting on the balcony rail. "Her baby’s father is dead. And hell, I don’t know how familiar she was with Cassidy, but he is dead too."

The night breeze brushed between them. For a moment, neither spoke. Val could be happy and still be hurt. She could love her life and still resent the road that had led her there.

"Luca," she said.

He looked at her.

"She is my sister." Her throat tightened. "You are to be my husband. If the two of you do not get along, how do I live with that?" she asked. "How am I supposed to split myself between the woman who has been my home since childhood and the man who is my home now? How is it even possible? We have family gatherings and you both stand at opposite ends of the room?"

"Hey..." Luca said softly. "Like I said, give it time. Let the baby come and we see how it goes."

Vee looked at him, unconvinced. "And in the meantime?" she asked.

Luca’s expression tightened. He preferred direct questions, and immediate solutions. Emotional distance? Family tension?

That, apparently, was harder than war.

"I will do my best to stay away from her," he said.

Vee scoffed and sniffed a bit, looking away quickly.

"Bambola."

"I’m fine."

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