14. Fiamma

FOURTEEN

Fiamma

Luca stands near the window, staring out at the snow-covered streets below. His hand rests on the sill, fingers tapping lightly, the sound barely audible over the crackling of the fire behind us. There's a calmness in the lodge now that Marco's dead, but I can tell Luca is still on edge, his mind running through everything that still needs to be handled.

"We're heading into the home stretch before Christmas," he says, almost to himself. "With the gala coming up, we need to make sure there are no surprises."

He turns toward me, his expression serious. "I've got a meeting with Vin in security to go over everything. I want to make sure all the threats were eliminated when Marco was taken out. Why don't you come with me?"

I raise an eyebrow, leaning back against the sofa. "You think there are still threats? I thought all the concern for me was because of Marco. He's no longer a threat. "

Luca's jaw tightens, and he crosses his arms. "We did, but I want to be sure. Vin's checking for any remaining Vitales or their men in town. It's still my job to keep you safe."

I can't help the small smile that tugs at my lips. "You've been doing a pretty good job of that already," I wink at him and run a finger along his square jaw. "Why don't we go our separate ways for a little while, it will give me some time to catch up with Arianna, and then we meet back up? I don't want to go sit in some security meeting."

He gives me a look, his eyes narrowing. "Come with me, Fiamma. It'll be quick."

"I want to go have lunch with Arianna," I say, trying to keep my tone casual but firm. "I haven't seen her in days, and I could really use some girl time. It's just lunch."

Luca's expression hardens. "I'm not sure I'm totally comfortable with that yet. Let's have this meeting first."

I cross my arms, standing my ground. "Luca, come on. Please? It's an hour, two at most. I need it."

He doesn't answer immediately, his gaze searching mine. I know he's weighing the risks, always thinking about what could go wrong. I step closer, placing a hand on his arm. "Didn't you tell me to trust you? Well, why don't you trust me? I'll meet you afterward, wherever you want."

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But you have to promise me you'll meet me in the town center at two, sharp. And keep your phone on you, no exceptions."

I grin, feeling a small sense of victory. "Deal."

Luca steps closer, his eyes locking on mine. "I mean it, Fiamma. Don't mess around. If anything feels off, or it seems like someone is following you, you call me. Immediately."

I nod, feeling his intensity as he grips my shoulders lightly. "I promise."

He lets out a breath, stepping back. "Alright. I'll meet you at two. Don't make me regret this."

I give him a playful salute. "Yes, sir."

He rolls his eyes but can't hide the small smirk as he grabs his coat and heads toward the door.

As soon as Luca leaves, I grab my phone from the coffee table, excitement bubbling up in my chest. It's the first time in days that I actually have some freedom, and I'm not wasting a second of it.

I scroll through my contacts and tap on Arianna's name. She answers on the second ring, her voice bright and slightly surprised. "Fiamma! Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you! I thought you died on me."

I laugh, shaking my head. "You weren't too far off. I have a lot to catch you up on. Life has been interesting, I'll just leave it at that for now."

She hums, intrigued. "Sounds juicy. Where are you? Can you meet up?"

"Actually, that's why I'm calling," I say, glancing at the door to make sure Luca's really gone. "Luca finally gave me a hall pass, so I'm free for a bit. Lunch?"

Arianna doesn't hesitate. "Perfect. Let's meet at that little sandwich shop on the corner of Main and Pine. The one with the good soup. Fifteen minutes? "

My excitement grows. "Yes! I'll be there. Can't wait. Oh, and also, please bring my clutch that you never dropped off! I will need it for the gala coming up."

"Sorry, I was trying to reach you before coming out there. I'll bring it. See you there!"

I hang up, practically buzzing with the thrill of it all. It feels like I've finally been let out of jail after days of being shadowed by Luca. I throw on my coat, grab my purse, and head out the door, feeling lighter than I have in days.

Finally, some normalcy. Finally, some time with Arianna.

I step into the sandwich shop, the warmth hitting me instantly. It's cozy in here, the kind of place you'd expect to find in a small town during the holidays—quaint wooden tables, garlands hung with care, and the soft, cinnamon-scented air that feels like Christmas.

Through the windows, the snow blankets the street outside, with twinkling lights strung up between the lampposts. People walk by, bundled up in coats and scarves, the holiday spirit alive and well.

I glance around and realize I've beaten Arianna here. Perfect. I find a small table in the corner, one with an unobstructed view of the street, and sit down, shrugging off my coat. My eyes wander to the beautiful tree set up in the corner of the shop, its soft lights casting a warm glow over the space. The place feels like a holiday wonderland. It's the kind of spot where everything seems a little too perfect .

As I settle in, my mind drifts back to Luca. Part of me still feels guilty for asking him to let me out of his sight, but I needed this. Time away from him, time with Arianna—my friend, my normal.

Not long after I'm settled, Arianna walks in, her hair tucked under a knitted hat. Her face lights up as soon as she sees me. She waves, making her way over, and I can't help but smile.

"Fia!" she says as she slides into the seat across from me, pulling off her hat and shaking out her hair. "I've missed you! God, this was supposed to be our holiday together!"

"I've missed you too," I say, genuinely happy to see her. "What the hell have you been up to? I'm sorry I missed your calls."

Arianna rolls her eyes, grinning. "Girl, you have no idea. I've been at the club every night, and let me tell you—I met the hottest snow instructor."

I raise an eyebrow, feeling a pang of jealousy. "Oh yeah?"

She nods, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh yeah. He's got these perfect abs, and he's been teaching me things that have nothing to do with snowboarding."

I laugh, but it stings a little. Here she's been, living it up, while I've been stuck in the lodge, dodging bullets—literally. I think about telling her about Luca, about everything that's happened between us, but something stops me. Instead, I lean forward. "You lucky thing. I'm so jealous. Give me all the details."

Arianna winks. "You should be. You know I've been missing you. You should've been there with me, dancing the night away. "

"Believe me, I would've if I could."

She smirks, her eyes narrowing playfully. "So… does that mean you're going to fill me in now? What's been going on with you? You sounded so cryptic on the phone."

I open my mouth to start telling her everything, but before I can get a word out, the waitress appears, interrupting us with a cheerful smile. "Hi there! Can I get you two anything to drink or start with some appetizers?"

Arianna waves her hand casually. "I'll have a hot cider, and I'd love your house sandwich special of the day, please. It looks too delicious on your Instagram I stalked this morning."

I nod in agreement. "Same for me, and maybe a side of fries too, please."

The waitress jots it all down and hurries off, leaving us alone again.

"I haven't seen the Instagram, but your excitement is contagious. It better be good!"

"I'm glad to know you trust me!"

"With my life!"

"Hey, I've got to run to the restroom before I have an accident. When I get back I want the whole rundown."

"Hurry. I'm on borrowed time. Meeting back up with Luca at two."

Arianna excuses herself to go to the restroom, sliding her chair back with a playful grin. "I just have to pee, geez," she teases, tossing her scarf over her shoulder as she walks away .

As soon as she's out of sight, I pull out my phone, curiosity getting the best of me. I scroll through Instagram, trying to find the restaurant page so I can see this sandwich that Arianna keeps going on about.

But as I swipe, a notification catches my eye.

Luca. His name at the top of the screen, followed by a message that sends a chill down my spine.

Don ' t say anything to Arianna about what ' s gone down these past few days. I ' ll explain everything when I see you. Tell me where you are right now, I'm coming to you.

My heart skips a beat, and I stare at the message, trying to make sense of it. Why wouldn't he want me to tell Arianna anything? We've been through hell, and Arianna's my friend—she deserves to know. Unless… unless Luca knows something I don't.

I chew on my lip, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Is this Luca being overprotective again? Overreacting? Or is something else going on and telling her could put her in danger somehow?

I glance toward the restroom, where Arianna disappeared. I wonder if I should warn her? But I can't say anything if I don't know what in the hell is going on.

My mind races, torn between trusting Luca and not wanting to leave my friend in the dark. My stomach twists with unease, and I quickly put my phone away, deciding not to reply to Luca. Not yet.

I'll wait until Arianna gets back. As far as I'm concerned, we will enjoy our lunch and I can meet Luca at two. Then we can get to the bottom of whatever has him all hot and bothered .

As soon as Arianna slides back into her seat, her eyes light up with curiosity. "Alright, give it to me," she says, leaning forward with a grin. "Where the hell have you been hiding the last few days? You sounded like some wild shit was going down when we talked."

I freeze for a second, my mind racing. I can't tell her the truth—not with Luca's warning still fresh in my head. I force a smile, trying to keep things casual. "Oh, you know… just roped into a bunch of family stuff. You know how it is during the holidays. Elio has been relentless and Luca won't let me out of his sight for more than a second."

Arianna's eyes narrow, her grin fading into something more skeptical. "Come on, Fia. That's not what you said on the phone. You made it sound like something serious happened. That I wasn't far off when I said I thought you'd died, remember?"

I laugh, though it sounds forced even to me. "Yeah, well, I was being dramatic. I just meant that I've been stuck inside, dying a slow death. Needed to get out and breathe."

She doesn't look convinced. Arianna's gaze stays locked on mine, searching my face like she's trying to figure out what I'm not saying. The air between us feels thick, tension creeping in despite the festive warmth of the restaurant.

I shift in my seat, playing with the napkin in my lap. "I'm serious. It's just been family drama. Luca's been overbearing, basically I've been in hell."

Arianna leans back in her chair, her eyes still sharp but she doesn't press further. "If you say so," she mutters, but I can tell she doesn't quite buy it .

Just as the awkward silence stretches between us, the waitress arrives with our sandwiches, placing them in front of us. The smell of melted cheese and fresh bread hits me, and for a moment, I'm grateful for the distraction.

"Oh, thank God," I say, picking up the sandwich and taking a bite. "This is exactly what I needed."

Arianna takes a bite of hers too, and her expression softens. "Told you this sandwich would be the bomb."

I nod, savoring the flavors, the tension easing ever so slightly. "You weren't wrong. Good call."

For a few minutes, the conversation shifts to safer ground, both of us focused on the food. But in the back of my mind, Luca's message lingers, a knot of worry tightening in my chest.

As Arianna and I finish the last bites of our sandwiches, the door to the café swings open with a loud jingle, and in strides Luca, his face set in stone. He doesn't even glance at Arianna, his eyes fixed on me as he strides over to our table.

"We have to go. Now," he says, his tone rushed and clipped.

I blink up at him, caught off guard. "What? What's going on?"

Arianna looks between us, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. "Luca, hi… nice to see you too."

But Luca barely acknowledges her, throwing a crumpled hundred-dollar bill onto the table, his focus still on me. "Fiamma, get up. We're leaving. "

I glance at Arianna, feeling the tension radiating off Luca like a storm about to break. My stomach knots as I try to diffuse the situation. "What's going on? Why are you being so strange? We're just having lunch."

Luca leans closer, his voice lowering dangerously. "Either you get up and come with me now, or I take you by force. It's not up for discussion."

Heat rushes to my face as I look around the café, feeling the weight of curious eyes on us. I'm embarrassed and angry at the way he is suddenly doing exactly what all the other men in my life do. "Luca, seriously, this is?—"

"I'm done talking, Fiamma," he growls, cutting me off. The intensity in his voice sends a shiver down my spine.

Arianna's eyes widen, clearly not expecting this level of tension. She forces a small laugh, trying to temper the situation. "Whoa, calm down there, cowboy."

But Luca doesn't waver. His entire body is rigid, coiled with urgency.

The heat of embarrassment washes over me, and I stand up quickly, smoothing my coat. I look at Arianna, forcing a smile that doesn't reach my eyes. "I'll call you later, okay?"

Luca's voice cuts in, low and cold. "No, she won't."

"Bye, Ari," I say softly, turning away before she can ask more questions.