Chapter 6LucaCiara

Chapter 6

Luca

Pacing Ciara's living room, I was worried that she might be doing something drastic. She should not be alone, and I had no idea where she'd gone. I awoke to an empty apartment where her motorcycle keys were missing. I still thought we should inform the Boss, but it was her call. At least I'd try to round up a few guys that we could trust and have them find out whatever they could. Having our own investigative team on the streets, meant that finding the one responsible for this was a piece of cake. Once I sent word out on the streets, about a dozen men returned my call right away.

Now it was the middle of the night and Ciara had left without saying a word. Knowing her, she was out there hunting her brother's killer alone when I should be with her. I was also afraid that our love making was too soon. We hadn't discussed anything of the sort before and I wasn't sure where her headspace was. I wanted her to be mine, but she'd shrugged me off anytime I got close.

Close to daylight, the key turned in the door and I rushed to it. She looked up at me surprised as though she wasn't expecting me.

"You're still here?" she quipped.

"Yes," I returned. "You left without saying anything. I was worried."

Brushing past me, she dropped her keys on the side table and turned to face me. "Why?"

"Ciara, it's the middle of the night and you just left like that."

She scoffed. "You don't need to worry just because we had a moment."

"A moment?" I repeated disbelievingly. "A moment."

"Yes. What did you think it was?"

"Shouldn't we talk about what happens now between us?"

Ciara sighed. "Look Luca. I'm tired, and there is nothing to discuss. There is no us. It was a moment, nothing else. Okay?" She began to walk away.

"Ciara…"

"See you in a few hours. Close the door behind you."

She disappeared down the passage and I heard the bedroom door slam shut. Although I wasn't surprised, her words still stung. She was a different person from earlier that night. I picked up my jacket and walked to the door, pausing and looking down the passage before stepping out and closing the door behind me.

"Fuck!" I muttered.

I knew she was grieving, and I should have controlled the situation rather than giving into my base desires. But damn, the woman was sexy, and I was falling in love with her. Now, she may never want anything to do with me.

I rounded up the men I spoke to earlier and met them at a twenty-four-hour bar downtown. They all knew ad liked Ciara as the only female on our team, and they were willing to do whatever it took to help her. Nico was a Mexican who was known to be trigger hungry. Damien and Matthew were black, and we all knew how protective as fuck they were. They came with blood in their eyes and ready to do damage. Micheal was the only white dude, but he was quiet and didn't talk much. I could see that he was angry and kept touching his gun.

"Guys, you know Ciara," I said after we'd ordered a few beers. "We know the boy from Cory's school is responsible, but there's got to be more to it. Find out whatever you can."

"We're on it," Damien said.

"Don't do anything without me. Got it Michael?"

He raised his head to look at me and nodded.

We had a few more beers before leaving the bar. I was of a mind to return to Ciara's and bring her breakfast as it was now approaching five thirty in the morning. I waited a couple of hours and ordered through Door Dash. This way I could still support her while not annoying her. Although I'd rather be there for her, I saw how upset she was earlier and didn't want to further cause her anger. This didn't mean I was giving up on her. It meant that I was giving her space to process her grief.

Ciara

Riding was the only thing that could clear my head at that hour. Sex with Luca should have helped me, but it only made me more confused that I had to get out of the apartment. I rode around the city for hours trying to get a grasp of what happened to my brother and deal with these post sex feelings. The cool breeze hitting my face, thinking about my next move did me some good.

Sex with Luca was amazing … more than I thought it could be. However, it could never be more than what it was … sex. I could not allow his thick dick and the way he made me feel distract me from my mission of finding the shits who murdered Cory.

I fell asleep immediately after taking a quick shower and climbing into bed. When I awoke, I felt refreshed and ready to take on the day. An invisible machete was wedge permanently in my chest, but I knew it was something I had to live with. It was as if someone was twisting it whenever I passed by Cory's room, or whenever I looked at his photo, or when I saw his cup in the kitchen sink. This pain was what would keep me grounded and determined to do this.

Coffee. That's what I needed to get a start on my day. I was still expected to work, and I needed to. Work would help me gain some ground as I could ask questions, to find Marco and his gang's hideout. So far, the bastard had disappeared, he and his friends. But based on what I gathered, this was much bigger than a high school gang.

I watched the coffee drip into the jug as I was lost in thought. The sound of the doorbell startled me, and I jumped. Annoyed, I rushed to the door to see a Door Dasher there. He handed me the food and bade me farewell. I took it cautiously and the smell of Jamaican food wafted up to my nostrils. It smelled divine, but I had no appetite now.

"Luca," I muttered.

Thoughts of last night entered my mind and my body involuntarily reacted. What was wrong with me? My pussy walls twitched with the memory of our love … no, it was sex, just sex – I told myself. This dude was always sending me food. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be annoyed or impressed. What was he doing to my already confused mind? Where was he anyway. Usually, he would take me the food, but now he's sending it over?

I set the bag down on the kitchen table and returned to the bedroom for my cellphone. I then proceeded to call Luca while returning to the living room and was surprised to hear the phone ringing outside the front door. I stalked over and yanked the door open to see him leaning against the opposite wall in the corridor.

"What are you doing?" I demanded. "Why did you send the food and not take it yourself? Why are you standing outside? What…"

He rushed across the space and engulfed me in his arms, pressing my head against his chest. I felt like I was out of breath as I stood there motionless, all manner of thoughts running through my head. After a few minutes, I twisted out of his arms.

"I must get dressed. We have collections to do."

He gripped my shoulder and willed me to look into his eyes. "No. You're gonna breathe, slowly in and out for me. Do it."

I took a large breath and let it out slowly. Luca encouraged me to do a few more and I did as was told.

"Now look into my eyes," he said. "From now on, I'm not leaving you. I know it's too soon for us to date, but as a friend, I'm not going anywhere. Kapeesh?"

I could only nod and allow him to lead me to the sofa. He went into the kitchen, returning after a couple of minutes with a mug of coffee as well as the food he'd bought. I accepted the coffee and refused the food, but he insisted that I eat.

"You'll need your strength to fight the Dragon Crew."

My head snapped up from sipping the coffee which burned my lips. I set the cup down on the coffee table and turned to face him. He was sitting beside me on the large sofa.

"What did you say?"

"I have some men on the streets checking out a few things. Marco, the boy from Cory's school is brother with Crazy Carlos, the beta leader of the Dragon Crew. They hang out at Little Johnny's bar across town."

This was the kind of info I needed to find and here was Luca feeding me with just what I needed. I sighed and leaned my head on his shoulder. Somehow, I felt safe when he held me. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer.

"Thank you," I whispered. "This means a lot to me."

"Anything you need, I'll be right here."

"I'm sorry about this morning. I'm just not in my right headspace now."

"No need to apologize. I know you're grieving right now. But I'll still be here."

I raised my head, cupped his face and kissed him. "Thank you."

"Now you gotta eat your breakfast."