XXXVI

Luka was sitting with his back against the head board of his bed, trying to comprehend the events of the day before. Someone had tried to kill him, or at least that's the conclusion that made more sense to him,  for why else would they drive him off a bridge. Including the fact that he had woken up on his very bed instead of enemy territory made, it made him wonder.

It didn't help that he was yet to see Bella since he woke up hours ago, his brother having remained tight lipped when he had asked about her. All of it just didn't make sense in his mind and he could only rub at his temple in attempt to alleviate the pain within his skull. Only to be disturbed by the bandage around his head, about the only thing that has gotten hurt, for his head had not only smashed against the window, but the steering wheel as well when he had taken a plummet into the water below the bridge.

He had survived, and however risky, he wondered if whether whoever made an attempt on his life banked on that. For he had suspicion and with a sharp gut as his, he was near certain of who was behind it the more he thought into it. With that the motives all made sense and although a part of him wasn't surprised, another part of him was, at the lengths the person would go to with regards to keeping him in line.

"Oh good, you're awake" said a voice that prompted Luka to look up from the pages of a book he had been absentmindedly staring at for a while. He simply gave his uncle an expectant look for the grown man to continue

"How are you doing?" Giaovanni enquired simply for the sake of pleasantries, as he looked at the bedridden man.

"I'm fine" Luka shrugged feeling a slight sting on his torn lip through his words. The man simply stood at the end of the bed and nodded as if in approval, a serious contemplative expression on his face

"That's good. That means you can handle the reason I came here" his uncle said, hands in his pocket, powder blue eyes locked with his grey ones, he couldn't help but lift an eyebrow in question

"And the reason being?" Luka's tone was bored, wishing it wasn't the man before him but his Piccola,  at the sudden thought of her, he made to ask his uncle with hopes he would be more forthcoming with his response

"Before you tell me, where is Bella?" for he was certain there was no way she could have missed coming to see him, or seeing him in general being that they slept in the same room, which made him think that something was going on.

"Bella?" his uncle pulled a confused expression and when he gave him a blank look, the man's expression changed then

"Oh, you mean that ragazza you had in here" he sneered at the thought of her and said "She's gone and good riddance too." he flippantly added. And it was Luka's turn to be confused

"What so you mean she's gone?" feeling anxious and worried about her condition and whereabouts. He found himself stunned by the elaborate tale his uncle proceeded to tell him.

No bone in his body could bring itself to believe that the young woman had been the one behind the surprise attack. An elaborate plan apparently, set up by a Russian woman she was in cahoots with. He had to keep himself from laughing when his uncle told him of his piccolo's possible motives for her betrayal.  That it was her freedom in exchange for information on the Genovese crime family as well as his death. He found that the only reason it sounded ridiculous was simply because he felt he knew her better than to think her capable of such actions.

Therefore, although Luka played his part well,  of a scorned lover seeking revenge on the woman that had dared betray him, his uncle's words had served more proof to back up his conclusion on who was targeting him. Although he came to later question his own thoughts when his uncle mentioned an arranged marriage,  and not just to any Mafia crime family, however, a renowned Mafia crime family that was the ultimate OG, that had essentially paved a way to his Mafia family's existence.

For why would he have tried to kill him, when a planned marriage of his choice was already in place. A question answered no later than his uncle's announcement minute he had refused.

"That's not gonna happen" Luka said,  conviction in his tone that left no room for argument. In that moment,  a cold expression embraced Giovanni's face at the blatant disrespect and refusal from his nephew, he went to say

"You'll marry the woman I chose whether you like it or not. Because it's either that or you loose those precious companies you've slaved away for for years. Yes, I found interesting documents I'm pretty certain the Feds would love. And we both know what will follow. So don't test me boy.  You may be family, but I am the head and it's time you accept that" he had spat the words with agitated fury.

It was in that threat that all became clear to Luka, reason why he sat in bed with a bandaged head, his uncle had used that to stall him. He had been in his office when Brandon had called, although it had been bait, he hadn't expected his uncle to go to such extremes. He was certain the old man had found a way manipulate everything Brandon must have found, he could only hope that his friend was unharmed. He also knew that, where his uncle was involved, so was everything dirty, and if he tweaked such data in his favour, the Feds wouldn't hesitate  to lock him up,  and with such evidence,  it would be for a long time.

He didn't want to leave his younger brother by himself, not leave Bella unprotected, and therefore, he was forced to agree to his uncle's terms until he could come up with a way to escape the trap he had failed to forsee. He wondered then just where Bella was, if whether Torres knew about her leaving his premises and ultimately without his protection. He wondered if his uncle had men after her as well. The more he thought about it the more he felt he couldn't breath, he couldn't afford to have anything happen to her.

And so he groaned from beneath the sheets and left the bed despite the limp to his every step, with his shoulder aching from the bullet wound, he cared little for his barely dressed state as he took his phone from the night stand and called for his brother while limping out of his room.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" Mark all but exclaimed as he rushed to his brother on the last stair with intent to make him return back to bed.

"Did you get the car around?" Luka ignored his brother's exclaimed concern

"No. Because you are going nowhere, not when that bitch is out to get you" Mark said and Luka gave him a blazing glare and said

"I hope you aren't talking about Bella that way" Mark could only scoff and look at his brother in utter disbelief

"What the hell man, you're gonna defend the reason behind why you look jacked up right now. She tried to kill you, what part of that don't you understand" Mark hissed out, utterly angry at Bella and partially at his brother for his supposed idiocy. He hissed when Lula's fingers dug into his forearm he had offered to him for balance

"I'd stop talking if I were you right now fratelo."(brother) he gritted out and added. "If you don't want to drive me, I'll drive myself" chucking Marks forearm away from his hand, he limped for the door. Mark let out a sigh of defeat and said

"Can you at least put some decent clothes on, I'm certain the warehouse isn't going anywhere" no later than those words, Greta materialised out of nowhere with a pair of black slacks and black shirt in her hands. A knowing look on her face, she slapped the back of Mark's bead causing the young man to duck with a hiss

"What was that for?" he exclaimed

"For being an idiota" the old woman simply said and left the two men alone again.

"Am I missing something here?" he asked Luka then, a genuine confused expression on his face and his brother simply gave him a cold look as he made to button a few button of his shirt.

"The car, Mark. Now" and the young man fleetingly raised his hands in surrender and made to follow the order.

Luka foud himself proud of his sunshine when he came to discover what she actually did. He didn't doubt her capability to take care of herself,  however,  being the man that he was, he couldn't help the need to still protect her either way. He was furious at both his uncle and Deacon Torres, for having tried to capture her with no doubt, vile intentions, however he found solace in that she had escaped and that gave him enough time to call up contacts that's would further make certain that she isn't touched in anyway, and hid that behind the guise of going after her as his uncle expected.

He wondered then why she had chosen Italy, wondered what it was she had planned next, would she return for her said revenge as she had seemed most adamant to serve, or would she remain in his mother land. He didn't know which option he fancied most, and he found himself terrified of what her reaction would be towards his recent engagement. He could only hope she wouldn't find out and if she did, he hoped she knew him enough to understand.

For although neither of them had made any advances to address what it was that was between them. He knew she felt magnetised to him as he was to her, their care for each other was clear enough to make him certain that the news would hurt her. He knew he had never and never would come to feel as he did about her with anyone else, and he found himself barely frightened by the notion of possibly being in love with the young woman. Love, although he loved his brother,  he had never thought he could come to love another, to let another in and being vulnerable to the possibility of being hurt in the future.

He knew the kind of lifestyle he lived,  he understood it as he was born and bred by the Mafia, therefore he knew the risks of having such weaknesses, of loving and caring, that gave your enemies plenty to pin against you should they be given a chance. It didn't matter that she could wield a gun like it was a part of her, no one was immune to death. For death was a never ending plague ever present where his lifestyle was concerned. He wondered then if he could ever leave it all behind and simply disappear with her. He found he rather liked the notion, however, at the same time, the Mafia was a part of him he wasn't certain he could ever let go.

Only because it gave him power and that to him meant protection, protection for those he loved despite how it could easily place them in danger just the same. The world was plagued by evil, and he found he'd rather be the master of it than find himself at the mercy of it, at least in that sense,  he had control.