Sold to Moretti Mafia

Lucca

The days pass in slow motion. I don’t sleep, I barely eat, and all I can think about is killing every person with the last name Volocove. My hatred for them knows no bounds. I want to eliminate them, rid the earth of their bloodline.

Just the thought of Claire in their clutches has bile rising in my throat. I need to get her out of there. I have to protect her, the way I’ve always protected her.

I just wish it was as easy as it was six years ago…

I push the button to roll the passenger side window down. “Hey!” I call to get Claire’s attention. Her head comes up and her eyes connect with mine. “Get in. I’ll drive you home.”

She gives me an indecisive look, not slowing her step. “I’m fine. I always walk home.”

“Claire, get in,” I repeat, driving next to her slowly. “You ran away the other day without answering me. Now you don’t have an option. I’m not leaving you alone until you tell me what happened to your arm.”

“I told you, I fell.”

“Claire, get in,” I command in a tone I would normally not take with her.

“No.” she shakes her head, making a sharp turn into the park and away from the road.

“Claire!” I yell after her, which only makes her feet move faster.

Fuck!

Pulling my car to the side of the road, I park and get out. With long strides, I follow her into the park, hoping I’ll be able to catch up with her in time.

The air stills in my lungs as I watch five guys circle Claire like vultures would their prey.

Those fuckers.

“Stop!” Claire’s frightened voice reaches my ears and my chest constricts. She tries to pull out of his hold, but the asshole pulls her further away. Someone else grabs her other arm, and they both pull her away from the park path.

I will kill them. All of them.

“Please,” she begs desperately, digging her heels to the ground. Her feeble attempt to get away from them only seems to excite them more.

The guys are so busy toying with Claire, they don’t even see me approach.

I wrap my hand around the guy’s throat who grabbed Claire first. He lets go of her wrist, and his friend lets go a second after.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“You fucking punk,” I grit through my teeth. My anger is blinding, my rage all-consuming.

I keep one hand wrapped around his throat while smashing my other fist into his face. I see the fear in his eyes, feel bone crushing beneath my knuckles, I hear his pleas, and I enjoy all of it. I revel in his suffering.

His friends try to get me to stop, grabbing my arms to pull me off, but I shove them away.

I’m vaguely aware of two of the guys running off, leaving their friends behind without a second glance.

All the while, I pummel down on this fucker’s bloody face until his body goes slack. Only then do I let go of him and watch him crumble to the ground.

“Fuck, man! You killed him,” one punk yells as he pushes himself back on his feet.

“He isn’t dead, but he will be, and so will you. If one of you fuckers ever touch her, talk to her, or even think of her, I will end you,” I growl, already thinking about all the ways I can hurt them. “I will find you, and I will kill you in the most painful way I can think of, and trust me, I can think of a few.”

The guy on the ground is coughing and gasping for air, while his two remaining friends look at me with pure terror in their eyes. With pale faces, both nod before helping their friend to his feet and dragging him away.

Reining in the remaining anger, I turn to Claire. She is staring at me like she doesn’t even know me. Her whole body is trembling, and she folds her arms over her chest in a protective manner. Shit, I terrified her.

“Are you okay?” I ask, taking in her frightened face. “Claire, talk to me. Did they hurt you? Let me see your arms, kiddo.”

Keeping my voice low and soothing, I step in front of her and reach for her wrists. Gently, I push up her sleeves and inspect her wrists one by one.

I catch the blood on my knuckles and silently curse myself for losing my shit. She shouldn’t have seen that. I should have taken her away and dealt with these punks later.

“This will never happen again,” I say, keeping my voice even and calm. “You should have told me. I could have scared them sooner. They won’t bother you again. I’ll make sure of it.”

“I thought you were going to kill him,” Claire admits, still a bit shaken up.

“I just wanted to scare them, Claire,” I lie. I wanted to do so much more. Hell, I still might. “He’ll have a bruised face, and a bruised ego, but that’s all. Hopefully, he learned his lesson. Come on, let me take you home.” I hold my hand out to her. She looks at it for a moment before reaching out and placing her small hand in mine.

I sigh in relief. She isn’t scared of me. She still trusts me, and I won’t ever break that trust.

I will always be here to keep her safe.

I haven’t broken my promise, I’m still here. The only difference is now the monsters I’m fighting for her are more vicious and dangerous.

Picking up my phone, I dial Petro’s number and hit call. He answers on the third ring.

“Lucca,” he greets me with fake cheeriness, “what can I do for you?”

“I sent over what you asked for. I want to see Claire today.”

“You coming to the house again is too risky. I don’t think that’s a good idea-”

My blood pressure spikes. “I don’t give a fuck what you think. I want to see her today, and you’re going to make that happen.”

“Don’t forget who you are talking to.”

“Don’t forget who you are talking to,” I quip. “You might have been born into this world, but I’ve killed my way into it. There is more blood on my hands than you will ever see in your pathetic lifetime, and let’s not forget that you still need to get to Julian. So let’s not play games. I’m seeing Claire today. Make it happen.”

The line goes silent for a few seconds, and I briefly wonder if I took it too far. I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do if they hurt her. There is only one person on this fucking planet I would give anything and everything for, and it’s her.

“Come back to the house tonight,” Petro tells me, his voice eerily calm. “I’ll tell my men to let you in.” The line goes dead, and I drop my phone onto the passenger seat before I crush it with my bare hands.