28. Luca

CHAPTER 28

LUCA

THE FOLLOWING DAY – brEAKFAST IN BED

T he early morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I lay in bed, acutely aware of the warmth beside me. Claire’s long blonde hair spilled across the pillow like a silken cascade. Her face was peaceful in sleep. A wave of affection surged within me, mingling with the remnants of last night’s adrenaline. After the incident with that Turner guy, I had held her close, offering comfort in the only way I knew how. The heat of our bodies had entwined, melting away the tension, and we’d found solace in each other.

I watched the rise and fall of her chest as she lay sprawled across me, and the situation I’d found her in the evening before replayed in my mind. When she’d called, I’d been on my way back from work myself after a meeting with the manager of one of our restaurants. I’d known she’d be working later so she could attend the after-work drinks for the retiring partner, and I’d been content in the fact that Vlad was waiting for her outside. But when she’d called to say she hadn’t left yet, I’d got Trigger to head there so I could surprise her. And I couldn’t be more glad I had.

It hadn’t occurred to me that Claire would be in danger in the office where she’d worked for the last few years. A place where she should have been safe. The fact that one of her colleagues would dare to attack her galled me. The man was a problem. His image invaded my mind. Damien Turner—his bruised face hopefully a reminder not to touch my woman, or any woman for that matter. Though I doubted it.

Someone who would try to force himself on a woman was an A-grade arsehole in my book. That thought filled me with a primal rage, just as seeing her dishevelled appearance and frightened look after he’d tried to attack her had made me nearly lose it completely. If she hadn’t been there, hadn’t pulled me back, I would have killed the guy. I’d taught him a bit of a lesson, but I doubted it was one he’d remember for long.

As we’d left the office, I’d noticed the glint in his already swelling eye. I’d seen the look before. The one that promised revenge. I would need to keep a close watch on the bastard because I had a feeling last night’s incident wouldn’t be the last.

Body tense, I bit down hard on my growing anger, not wanting to wake my Little Miss Sexy Ass up yet. After the day she had yesterday, and with the worry she must be feeling over the future of her employment at Turner and Hanson, she needed her rest.

I hated the idea of Claire needing to work there with that guy again. The thought of that bastard being anywhere near her sent another pulse of anger through my veins. But I knew how hard she’d worked to get where she was, and how much she’d set her heart on becoming one of their partners in the next couple of years. So, if she wanted to remain working there, I’d do all I could to ensure her safety from now on.

Vlad had been shadowing Claire since her car had been vandalised in the prison car park. Until last night, he’d kept her safe. However, at her request, he’d been discreet about it. That ended now. From today, I’d ensure he made his presence known, dogging her every step as a warning to anyone else who might try to harm her. Whether or not she liked it. Although, after the experience of yesterday, I suspected she wouldn’t fight me on that any longer.

I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. She stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. For a moment, she simply gazed at me, her blue eyes soft and inviting, as if I were the only thing in her world that mattered. It made me feel powerful and vulnerable all at once.

“Morning,” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep, yet it sent a jolt of desire straight to my core.

“Good morning, beautiful,” I said, leaning down to brush her lips with mine. “How are you doing after last night?” I asked, concern lacing my voice as I noticed the slight trace of worry in her eyes as she peered up at me.

“Last night was intense,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but I could hear the underlying tension.

“Yes, it was, but it’s over now and you’re safe. I’ll make sure of it,” I said, my hand drifting up to gently stroke the back of her head.

She nodded, a slight smile lifting the corners of her mouth, but I could sense the shadow lingering in her mind. “Usually, I can take care of myself. My mum brought me up to be independent. I’ve done several of the classes Derrick runs for women in self-defence, and I have to admit, they helped last night. But I was still vulnerable. That’s not something I am used to feeling. Not me, the Ice Queen, who can shut a man down with just one look. If you hadn’t arrived when you did, I’m not sure if I could have continued fighting him off. It was a humbling experience to know that I can’t always rely solely on myself after all.”

“That’s not a bad thing, Claire. You’re strong, but it’s okay to rely on the help of others now and then. It doesn’t detract from your capabilities or make you any less independent. Believe me, I know. In my world, I’ve had to grow strong too and rely on that strength and my wits to keep me safe. But there are times when even that isn’t enough, and I’ve needed someone to have my back. That’s usually been Miki and the rest of my Brotherhood. But recently, it’s also been you, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

She kissed my chest and sighed. “You’re mine now, Claire, and I won’t ever let anything happen to you. Not while I have a breath left in my body. I will always have your back and you can rely on me for anything,” I told her, letting the sincerity come through in my voice.

I could feel her smile against my chest, and in that moment, the heaviness of the night before lifted.

“You know, I never expected to wake up like this,” she said, glancing around the room as if it were a new adventure.

“Waking up next to me is a privilege,” I replied, teasing her with a wink.

“Right,” she laughed, her eyes dancing with mischief. “What are you going to do to convince me of that?”

“Hmm.” I pondered, pretending to think seriously as I pushed her hair behind her ear. “How about I start with this?”

With that, I rolled her onto her back, leaning down to capture her lips in a heated kiss. It was soft at first, a gentle exploration that quickly ignited into something deeper. Her hands slid around my neck, pulling me closer as I pressed my body against hers, the cool sheets contrasting sharply with the heat radiating between us.

When I broke the kiss, I looked down at her, breathing heavily, feeling the urgency of desire pulsing through me. “What do you think?”

She grinned, her cheeks flushed. “I think you’re becoming an addiction.”

“Well then, I’d better give you your next fix.”

With a swift movement, I climbed atop her, the weight of my body pressing her into the mattress. She laughed, a sound that filled the air with a lightness I cherished. I leaned down, kissing her again. This time, it was hungry, desperate—a culmination of our fears and the lingering echoes of last night.

Claire’s body responded to mine, arching up against me. I felt her breath hitch in her throat. The intimacy of our connection enveloped us, for the moment drowning out any remnants of anxiety that dared linger.

Our movements became a dance—timed, passionate, and electric. I relished every gasp and sigh, in the way her body fit perfectly against mine, as if we were two pieces of a puzzle that had finally found their match. As we lost ourselves in each other, I felt a possessive surge rise within me. A primal need to claim her, to ensure she knew she was safe here with me.

Moments passed, the outside world fading away, and all that remained was us. I held her gaze as I explored every inch of her body. My lips trailed down her neck, her collarbone, worshipping her in a way I hadn’t thought possible. She was more than just the Ice Queen; she was my icebreaker, melting away the coldness of my past and filling the void with warmth.

When we finally succumbed to the heat between us, it was a moment of pure bliss—a culmination of everything that had brought us to this point. I buried my face in her neck, inhaling her scent, a mix of vanilla and something uniquely her.

In the aftermath, as we lay tangled together in the sheets, I traced idle patterns on her skin. My mind still circled back to Damien. The thought of him stirred my protective instincts, a reminder that this peace was fragile. Claire was strong, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that our fight wasn’t over.

“Hey,” she said softly, drawing me back from my thoughts.

“Yeah?”

“I’m yours, huh?” she asked, her grin taking on a wicked gleam.

“You are,” I grinned back.

“And are you mine?” she questioned, but I could see she already knew the answer by the teasing glint in her eyes.

“Definitely,” I replied, wondering where this was going.

“And would you do anything for me?” She twirled a lock of her hair, pouted, and batted her eyes.

I chuckled, hoping her playfulness would lead to naughtiness. “Of course.”

“Well, I thought you’d like to serve me breakfast in bed.”

Oh. “Sure, babe, what would you like?” I asked, moving out from under her.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“To get you something to eat. Do you want some toast? Or something more substantial?”

“Oh, definitely something more substantial, but I don’t think you understand what I have in mind,” she replied, kneeling up, the bed sheets pooling around her.

My jaw dropped, and the semi I’d been sporting since I’d woken, shot to full mast.

The glint in her eyes was wicked as she tugged my hips towards her and her mouth descended. My eyes widened in a shock for a second before my mind processed what she’d been implying. God, I was a lucky bastard.

“Well, eat away, you need your sustenance after all,” I told her, my voice strained as I tried hard to maintain control through the ecstasy of her exquisite attentions mouth around my cock.

As she lapped, sucked, and licked me to release, I held her head gently, fighting the urge to thrust my cock into the back of her throat, unwilling to do anything other than enjoy how much she wanted me.

My knees buckled, and I just barely caught myself from collapsing as the last of my cum shot into her throat and she gave my sated dick one last lick before pulling her mouth off with a loud slurp.

“Hmm, now that’s the best breakfast in bed, I’ve ever had,” she said, grinning wickedly as she licked the final drops of me off her lips.

The sight went straight to my groin and my cock was suddenly awake again. “Time to return the favour,” I told her, pushing her back onto the bed. “Time to melt the Ice Queen,” I teased, a grin tugging at my lips.

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. “And yet, you can melt me so easily.”

I chuckled, the sound echoing in the quiet room. “It took a while to figure out how, but now that I know. I’ll be keeping this delectable little body of yours so hot with need, they’ll have to start calling you the Flame Queen. There will be no doubt in anyone’s mind that you could spontaneously combust with your passion for me at any second. In fact, you’ll be so hot that you’ll scorch people with the heat from your body, instead of that icy look you usually give them.”

“You’re such a fool.” Her laughter mingled with a sigh as she snuggled closer, resting her head against my chest. I savoured the moment, tracing small circles on her back with my fingertips, relishing the feel of her skin against mine. It was a luxury to have her here, to feel her warmth and the steady rhythm of her breath.

She giggled as I dived between her legs, intent on eating my own breakfast. Soon, her giggles had turned to breathy moans.

A few hours later, sated after our mutual breakfast had turned into yet another full-blown sex session, we dozed, wrapped up in each other, enjoying the peacefulness of a lazy Saturday morning.

Claire sighed and shifted in my arms. She was thinking about the incident with that fucker again. I could practically hear the thoughts whirling around her head.

“You’re thinking too loud, babe,” I said, forcing my eyes open.

“Sorry. I’m still processing everything, I guess. I hate that I have to face with him again. How are we going to manage to work together after that?”

“Yeah, about that.” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “I don’t like it either. I’m going to look into him.”

Claire lifted her head, a spark of concern in her eyes. “Luca, I appreciate the thought, but?—”

“No buts,” I interrupted, my voice firm. “You deserve to feel safe, and I won’t let some piece of shit threaten that. I won’t interfere or tell you not to work there, but I want to know just how much of a threat the man is. From now on, Vlad will be with you to ensure he can’t threaten you again. Hopefully, he will have learned his lesson and that won’t be a concern in the future. But for now, we’re not taking any chances. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” she said with a cheeky salute. My eyes blazed with lust.

“Sir… hmm, I like that. Brings all sorts of wicked thoughts to mind. We’ll have to see what we can do with that later tonight,” I said, licking my lips and winking.

She giggled. “You’re incorrigible.” She shook her head at me, but I could see the speculative glint in her eye. I wasn’t the only one interested in exploring that particular kink. Role play hadn’t been something I’d ever been into before, but suddenly the idea had me hard again. Unfortunately, such explorations would have to wait, as I had a meeting to attend.

After reluctantly extracting myself from Claire’s warm embrace, I showered and dressed before kissing her goodbye.

“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” I asked.

“I’ll stay in bed until lunch, then grab something to eat. After that, I’m going to find a nice comfy spot in that fabulous library you guys have here, curl up, and read Gracie’s book. Maybe I can get a few pointers from the book boyfriend for you,” she teased.

“Ha, ha. I’m better than any book boyfriend,” I said, unable to keep the trace of indignance from my voice.

She laughed. “That’s what they all say!”

I pouted at her and her eyes softened, her smile turning wicked again. “But in your case, it’s true.”

“Glad you think so, I was beginning to think I’d have to throw you back onto that bed and teach you the error of your ways,” I said, kissing her on the top of the head and valiantly avoiding doing exactly that.

“I’ll be sure to remind you of that fact again later tonight. Have a good day and when you’re reading Gracie’s book, I know who you’ll be picturing as the lead guy,” I told her with a wink as I strode out of the bedroom, adding a touch of swagger to my walk.

Her laughter rang out behind me. “You wish!”

Oh, she’d pay for that! A good spanking was in order and that would fit nicely with a little sir, naughty girl, role play.

Humming a tune in happy anticipation of fulfilling that scenario tonight, I climbed into the back of the SUV where Miki and Ash were waiting. Ash was grinning and whispering into his phone, no doubt talking to Gracie.

“Great day to go for a pub lunch,” I said, grinning.

Miki snorted and raised his eyebrows at my happy demeanour and I could tell he was about to tease me over my obvious infatuation with my Little Miss Sexy Ass just as I’d often done him when he’d first succumbed to Eilidh’s charms.

“Shut it!” I told him and he laughed but said nothing. His chuckle lingering in the air as we made our way into London and our highly anticipated meeting with the O’Briens.

As we stepped into the bustling family bar and restaurant owned by Sean’s family, my eyes quickly scanned for threats as they always did, and I was glad when everything appeared normal. In fact, there was a cosy, welcoming feel to the place that brought a smile to my lips. I liked it immediately. The smell of food was strong, and banter of the clientele loud, reminding me of the strength and loudness I associated with Sean and Finn. I liked it immediately and the warm, friendly atmosphere boded well for this alliance being something beneficial for all concerned.

Miki smiled next to me, and the tension I’d hardly noticed he was carrying loosened. The scent of hearty Irish fare made my stomach rumble, and I looked forward to sampling some if everything went according to plan.

Sean greeted us at the door. “Great to have you here, come meet my da,” he said, hustling us over towards a large, formidable figure behind the bar.

“Da, our guests have arrived,” he said to the man before turning back to us. “This is my da, Cormac O’Brien,” he said, pride evident in his voice.

“Mr O’Brien, I’m Luca, this is Mikhail Rominov, his brother Ash and their cousin, Romi,” I introduced us all.

“Cormac, please,” he replied, a grin splitting his face as he stepped up to shake our hands.

“And this is my son Sean and nephew Finley,” he introduced the pair.

“Cormac, Sean, Finley, it’s good to meet you all,” Miki said, before turning his attention to Cormac.

“Luca has told me of how helpful your lads were to him when he was in need. He also suggested we might have a chat,” Miki said, obviously eager to get things moving on.

“A chat is just what I was hoping for. Shall we go to my office?” Cormac responded pleasantly.

“Sean, Finn, you two stay here and keep the other lads company while Mikhail and I have our chat,” he directed before quickly adding, “If that’s alright with you, Mikhail?”

“Of course, and it’s Miki to my friends,” he replied, a trace of challenge in his voice as he stared at the man who might become our newest.

“Well, Miki, a friendship is exactly what I seek,” Cormac said with a firm nod, the gleam of understanding and respect in his eyes as he returned Miki’s gaze a relief. Things were going well. “Let’s go talk, then we can all enjoy a good meal afterwards. The rest of you lads, take a seat, have a drink and get to know one another.”

He waved us toward a table at the back of the room and we sat down.

“I’ll get us some whiskey,” Finn said.

“Coke for me, I’m driving,” Romi shouted to him.

He nodded before hurrying around behind the bar, returning quickly with a bottle of whiskey, several glasses and a can of coke for Romi.

“Cheers,” Sean said as he poured us each a couple of fingers of the golden nectar the Irish loved so much.

Lifting the drinks, we replied, “Nostrovia!” as we downed took our first sips. The burn in my throat felt refreshing, I wasn’t usually a fan of whiskey but this was good stuff.

“It’s great to see you again, Luca,” Sean said.

“You, too, guys,” I replied.

“When’s your court case?” he asked.

“In a few weeks, but I’m hoping it might not get that far,” I told him.

“Good, court’s a fucking nuisance,” Finn said.

“It’s not something I’ve dealt with before, as you know, and I hope it isn’t something I need to deal with again once this is all over,” I told them, praying that would be the case.

“Here, here,” they both said, raising the glasses to me.

I smiled at the pair, both of whom looked a little rough around the edges, but had an undeniable spark of loyalty and fire. The sort of blokes you wanted in your corner. I liked them.

“Heard you guys had a bit of trouble of your own, how did that go?” Ash asked.

“Sorted,” Finn said, a hint of a smirk on his lips. “Just a couple of posh lads who thought they could play rough in our pub. Naturally, we had to teach them the error of their ways.”

“One of them ended up in hospital, which was how we ended up on remand. But hey, they started it. We just finished it,” Sean added.

Finn leaned in, a conspiratorial look on his face. “A bit of friendly persuasion from some of our lads and they dropped the charges,” he grinned.

“Glad to hear you both came out on top,” I replied, lifting my glass.

“Here’s to not letting anyone walk over us,” Ash said, before downing his drink.

“Sean, Finn, can you give me a wee bit help in the kitchen?” a woman called.

“Sure, Ma, I’ll be right there,” Sean shouted back.

“Duty calls. You two lads enjoy your drinks. We’ll be back soon,” Finn said before the pair disappeared.

I turned to Romi who’d been sitting quietly, observing the pair as we’d conversed. Keeping my voice low. “So, what do you reckon? These O’Briens’ seem solid enough. I like them anyway.”

“Me, too,” Ash added.

Romi nodded, his brow furrowed as he considered. “They’re not afraid to get their hands dirty, and they’ve got connections. I think it’s a smart move.”

I glanced at Sean and Finn, who were currently delivering meals to a large table of customers who seemed to be celebrating a child’s birthday. They laughed and bantered with the party and the sight heartened me. “They seem like decent blokes. They’ll be good for us.”

Ash, sitting across from me, raised an eyebrow. “But can we trust them? No offense, but they’re Irish. You know how these things can go.”

“True,” I admitted, “but Miki’s discussed the O’Briens with Jim and he wouldn’t have accepted this meeting if he didn’t see potential. Besides, they’re not looking to muscle in on anyone’s turf right now, just looking to take over what we inherited and don’t want. So, it makes sense. These guys are here to stay, so it’s best we become allies, not enemies.”

Moments later, Miki returned, his expression serious but pleased. “We’ve struck a deal. The O’Briens are on board.”

A wave of relief washed over me. “That’s good to hear.” We were another step closer to getting rid of all the illegal shit we did, except the white collar stuff and it couldn’t come quick enough for me.

Cormac rejoined us, his smile wide and genuine. “You lads are now part of the O’Brien family. Come join me at the family table and we’ll have that meal I promised.”

Drinks were poured once again as we all settled down together in the O’Briens’ private dining area at the back of the restaurant.

Miki raised his glass once more. “To new alliances.”

“To new alliances!” echoed around the table, and for the first time in a while, I felt truly optimistic about what lay ahead.

As we settled into the meal, Cormac poured us his finest Irish whiskey, the smooth liquid gliding down my throat and easing the tension from earlier. Miki and Cormac excused themselves, disappearing into the back office for what I presumed were negotiations for our alliance.

“Now, what about that fight we were talking about?” Sean said.

“Alright, lads, let’s make it happen. Finn, you ready to take on Vlad?” I asked.

“Always ready. Just tell me when and where,” he replied with a cheeky grin.

“How about Glitz? It’s our family club, and we can set it up for one of our quiet nights, probably a Thursday, in a few weeks’ time. Plenty of space, and we can control the crowd.” Ash suggested.

“Glitz sounds perfect. We’ve been meaning to check the place out. We heard it’s stylish though, and a private club, are you sure you want to lower your standards and let us Irish in?” Sean teased.

“I’m sure we can do that for one night,” Ash teased in turn.

“Well, I will look forward to spraying its walls with your man’s blood.” Finn laughed and winked.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Vlad’s been itching for a good fight, and he’s never lost. I’m afraid he’s liable to wipe the floor with you, Finn,” Romi said.

“Yeah, my money’s on him,” Ash said with a nod.

“Don’t bet on it!” Sean said with a chuckle.

“That’s exactly what I intend to do,” Romi chuckled in turn.

“Well, this will be interesting,” Cormac said with a grin.

“Definitely,” Miki agreed.

The easy banter continued as the afternoon ran into evening. Laughter and stories flowed freely, and I felt the weight of the future lift just a little. With both Glowacki and the O’Briens at our side, we could offload the areas we wanted to and still retain strong allies who’d have our back. Between our new alliance and my burgeoning relationship with Claire, life was looking up. All I needed to do now was fuck up Damien Turner, get rid of the MP, and regain my freedom.

And then, life would be peaceful at last and I’d finally get the holiday I’d been dreaming of and introduce Claire to my family. Or so I hoped.