Undressed By The Mafia God novel Chapter 91

Chapter 91: It’s Been So Busy Today

When he saw her, his eyes lit up at first. It was automatic. Warmth flashing through the blues.

Then he saw the bruise.

The warmth died.

His gaze sharpened instantly, tracking from her cheek to her eye. His body went still in a way that was far more dangerous than shouting.

He sucked in a breath.

"Luca... you’re here." She forced a smile that felt brittle. "Give me a minute. Let me just pack up."

"Come here." He commanded absolutely. Luca did not raise his voice to be obeyed. The command lived in his posture, in the way his shoulders squared, in the stillness that settled around him. The shop felt smaller when he spoke like that.

"I just want to..." she began, gesturing vaguely toward the counter, toward anything that would buy her a second.

"Come... here."

Vee swallowed and crossed the space between them quickly. "Its nothing," she said, forcing lightness into her voice. "It’s been so busy today, I wasn’t looking and a door hit me right in the face. Clumsy, haha." The laugh was wrong.

Up close, Luca studied her face carefully. He was tall enough that she had to tilt her chin slightly to meet his eyes. Those blues. God, one could drown in them.

Luca calmed at her explanation. Or at least, he allowed his features to soften.

"You should put ice on it," he said evenly.

"I didn’t know it would be hard enough to bruise. I’ll do that as soon as I get home."

"Come on. Pack up. Let’s go."

She nodded quickly. She shot Rosa a pointed look. Do not speak. Do not breathe wrong.

Rosa nodded subtly, eyes wide.

Vee gathered her handbag from beneath the counter, fingers steady despite the tremor beneath her skin.

She joined him again.

He placed his hand at the small of her back as they walked toward the door.

His car waited at the curb. Luca guided her into the passenger seat.

The thing about Luca is, he sees everything. He reads silence. He had seen the way she rushed through her explanation. He had seen Rosa’s expression too, tight with fear.

But he said nothing.

He slid into the driver’s seat.

As he pulled away from the curb, his hand settled on her thigh.

His fingers spread slightly over the fabric of her jeans. A reminder that she was within his reach.

Her body reacted anyway. Heat blooming low despite the bruise throbbing on her cheek.

"You’re quiet," he observed.

"So are you."

"I’m thinking."

"What are you thinking about?" she asked carefully.

"Whether I believe you." His gaze remained on the road, calm and focused.

"It was a door," she insisted softly. She turned her face toward the window, watching the city blur past. She felt trapped and safe in the same breath. Wanted and cornered. Loved and owned.

Vee was quiet all the way home. Her hands rested in her lap, fingers loosely intertwined, but her mind was working through possibilities.

Inferi would not stop.

She had to deal with it before it escalated.

The car glided through the gates of the building. Armed guards nodded subtly as they entered.

When they stepped out, Luca walked beside her without speaking. His stride was relaxed, but she knew that was surface only. He had not forgotten the bruise. He had not dismissed her explanation. He was cataloguing everything.

He walked her to the door.

"I’ll like to be by myself tonight," she said carefully. "I just want to have a bath and sleep. It’s been a long day."

It was a reasonable request. It should have been harmless.

He studied her. "Something’s wrong," Luca said calmly, his hands sliding into his pockets.

"Nothing. It’s nothing."

"I’ll let it be," he said finally. "But if I eventually find out you are lying to me, you know what I will do."

"Really, I’m just exhausted, Luca. That’s all." She held his gaze steadily this time. If she faltered, he would push.

After a moment, he gave a slight nod.

He stepped closer and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Rest," he said quietly. Then he turned and walked toward the main building, coat draped over his arm.

Vee watched him until he disappeared around the corner.

Only then did she exhale.

Meanwhile, Luca pulled out his phone. "Hey," he said when the call connected. "Do you think you can find out from Valentina if anything weird happened at the pizza parlour today?"

Marco responded. "Yeah. I’ll handle it."

Luca ended the call without another word.

Something had shifted. Between the time she called him that afternoon and when he picked her up, something had changed. The energy in her voice earlier had been lighter. Teasing. Now she was guarded.

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