XXVII

Bella couldn't comprehend it all but she knew one thing for sure, the reason that she loved chocolate ice cream as she did, the reason she had a thing for sunflowers, it was all because of the boy that was just about the only person that was kind when she needed it. The boy had been her light, fuck knights in shining armour, for her knight was a light in yellow petals and loving eyes riding on hope that she needed, little as she was at the time.

The part she couldn't comprehend was the fact that the boy had now turned a man, a man that yet again took care of her and right on her time of need. A man that she now knew had truly cared for her to the point he had felt broke without her. It seemed impossible yet Greta's words were clear and fit the puzzle too perfectly.

She had wondered about the boy most years of her life, knowing nothing but the name he had given her…at the thought, Bella wiped away her tears and looked at the worried old woman

"Andreas" the name was but a whisper, one loud enough for Greta to hear, and her reaction was enough proof for Bella to be certain and she couldn't help but chuckle along with Sin's words

[Maybe fate doesn't hate you that much.] And she agreed. Bella had been glad that the voice still remained in her mind, her first comment having been mainly about Luka's physique and magical fingers, despite what Sin stood for, with it, she never felt truly alone.

"Oh dear!" the old woman gasped out in both disbelief and shock, for not only had she finally spoken, she said a name only one woman had ever used to address her boy, despite him being a grown man. Cradling Bella's face in her hands,

"You're her?" she asked in a whispered disbelief and Bella simply nodded, both their eyes nothing but fragile glass.

The old woman all but gave Bella a tight hug, and her squeamish nature at being touched lay forgotten when her nose hot a whiff of the citrus scent of the old woman, Bella loved anything citrus, and therefore, she returned the hug, letting out a sigh, for the woman felt like home, a motherly home, comfort she hadn't felt for decades. Detangling from one another along with wiping away the moist from their faces, Greta was first to say

"Well then" in a breathy sigh a smile on her lips, "I believe this calls for a celebration" she announced

"Can you not make it obvious just yet?" Bella questioned, her throat scratchy having not been used for so long. The old woman nodded

"Of course dear" a knowing smile on her lips. "I'll make some herbal remedy for your throat" she added patting the young woman's knee before picking up the tray ready to leave with it. Except Bella reached for the almonds first and took the off the tray, and gave her a nod to leave.

As she sat on the couch, watching the outside dim, she realised that it made sense. Why the way he would look at her felt familiar, for he had looked at her that way before. She could still remember the first day they had met, clear as day. She had been seven at the time, her second year living with her foster family. She had hated them so much for a little girl, an emotion no little girl should ever experience. That day, her foster brother had been so angry with her that he had locked her in her closet of a bedroom, a literal coat closet in the foyer.

Still afraid of the dark, her foster brother having such knowledge, he and his friends had tormented her. It was when she had heard a new voice question him, that things had begun to change.

Later that day, her door had opened only to reveal an unfamiliar face, she had cowered away at the corner afraid that he would be just like the rest of her foster brother's friends, oh how wrong she had been.

"Hey, what your name?" he had asked, and she had wearily peaked up at him as he crouched by the door. Nodding, the boy encouraged

"Come on don't be scared, you can tell me" yet she had remained quiet, afraid it was a trick to get her to talk only to punish her later. It was when he had said

"Okay, how about, if you give me your name, I brim you a surprise next time I come visit?" she had perked up then, intrigued and curious about the notion of a surprise, for no one had ever given her a surprise. Still naïve despite being cautious, she given him a hesitant nod.

"I'm Bella" her voice had been sweet and tiny and he had smiled at her then and introduced himself as well

"Well Bella, my name is Andreas" offering his hand out, she had shook it. She could still remember how big his hand had felt over her small one.

That had been the beginning of an unusual friendship, filled with secret rendezvous and sunflowers. When he had come the next day, he had brought her her first sunflower as a surprise. A thing that had turned into a habit. One time he had found her sad with tear streaks on her cheeks, he had asked her what's wrong, though it had been obvious, she had said nothing, the following day, he had snuck her out and into the backyard, having not been allowed to step outside for weeks, that had been an amazing experience for little her.

It was when he had brought her, chocolate ice cream, of course it was a small one that she could finish and have him leave with the container so as to not give her away, that she announced her undying love for him and he had promised to get her out of there. Although she had had a spark of doubt, it hadn't distracted her from hoping. 

Until the visits stopped and she never saw him again, but she still cherished all their memories for he had gotten her through some of the toughest time in her young years, even with a mere thought of him, until he was but a faded name in the back of her mind. Until the moment Greta had told her the tale.

Hours disappeared in Luka's day, too preoccupied with work he almost pressed a snooze on his alarm he had set as time for his departure. Having been summoned for dinner, when he arrived, he walked straight towards the dining room only to walk through stifling tension, considering the man seated at the head of the table. Although the men respected Luka more than their Don who was his uncle, they too were beginning to question Luka's recent behaviour.

However, it didn't matter either way, for having seen his care for the mystery young woman, neither of them would ever dare say a word in challenge or attempt something on the girl. All except the head of the Genovese family, that had powder blue eyes, the only resemblance he bore to his late younger brother, father of the man he was glaring at with furry filled eyes, although his reaction betrayed nothing.

Luka felt his gaze as the server placed a plate before him and he made to dish out for himself, having little trouble picking from the different options of food splayed out on the table, in a sense one would think they were having a feast. Nothing but steak and some mash with a pea purée remained on his plate as he settled back in his chair. It was when he made to slice his steak, being irked by his lack of attention towards him that the uncle spoke up.

"I see you've finally decided to grace us with your presence" he spoke, his tone a cold kind everyone was used to. Luka said nothing knowing where their conversation would lead, and he took a bite of the juicy half-done piece of meat.

"Care to tell me what was so important that you sent amateurs to deal with shipments, something they of course fucked up" the man's voice beginning to rise, Luka looked up then, confusion on his face, his eyes landed on his brother, who all but sheepishly shrugged.

"Didn't get the time to tell you, but yeah, someone else had the guts to actually steal three of our containers from us, but it was before we arrived because we found just ten left" Luka's jaw clenched then and he fisted his cutlery, grey eyes turning darker at the notion that someone had had the nerve to mess with them, he questioned

"Who was it?" although his tone sounded cool and calm, his little brother knew better, scratching the back of his head, he gave another sheepish answer

"We're still looking into it" Luka tried not to loose his cool then, he knew his little brother was best when it came to what he did, but he also knew that he was careless as a child sometimes and took things lightly, knowing that he was there to help him out should he mess up. Letting out a sigh, quite used to it by now, however, also near the edge of losing his patience. He nodded

"Everything should be on my desk in an hour" he said his gaze on his plate of food, only to rise up so his greys clashed with powder blue eyes of his younger brother and emphasised on the words

"Everything" he heard his uncle scoff then, a sigh of his own, he said

"Do tell me if you don't want your position anymore, and also, do keep in mind that I've never liked distractions on you young boys, so don't make me deal with this one, too" the last word was what stuck with Luka more, for he was confused as to what the old man meant when he said "too", for it implied a lot.

The old man himself all but had a sinister glint in his eyes as he took in the man's expression from his words, knowing fully well what he meant. He had plans brewing in his mind, plans he had waited a long time to execute, and now it seemed he gained yet another pawn he would use to his advantage.

For he wasn't blind to the fact that his men still respected his nephew more than him, like they had done with his deceased brother. At the thought, he smirked, he had dealt with that, and now he would deal with his boy. By the time he'll be done, his men will be a hundred percent loyal to him, be it by fear or respect. He was a man that cared little for honour, but more for his puppets that did his bidding, as he sat perched on the throne watching chaos unfurl.

Luka also didn't miss his uncles threat, and although enraged by it, for he'd be damned if he let anyone hurt Bella again, he said nothing as he took his plate of barely eaten food and walked toward the kitchen. The head didn't care to stop the young man, knowing his words were delivered. He was more curious than anything, of just who it was that had caught his nephew's attention for this long like no one ever had.

All he knew was that some woman was found dropped off at the gates by none other than Deacon Torres and that she was in bad shape. Having never witnessed the young man's hero complex, he was indeed truly curious and most intrigued.