9. Luca

NINE

Luca

The room is dark, and the soft weight of Fiamma pressing against me is a comfort I didn't know I needed. Her breathing is slow, steady, the rise and fall of her chest peaceful in a way that feels at odds with everything going on around us. Her sleeping next to me is everything I could want in this instant.

My mind is on overdrive about how to handle this situation, how to protect her, how to fucking destroy the vile creature that is Marco Vitale. I've got to let Adrian know what is going on, now that I have a handle on it. He has been at some big snazzy formal holiday event all night. I texted him while Fiamma was in the bath, before our insane fuck-session, to let me know as soon as he leaves.

For a moment, I let myself stay still, enjoying the quiet warmth of her body next to mine, the lingering heat from the amazing sex we shared not too long ago.

My phone vibrates on the nightstand, cutting through the silence .

I blink, shaking off the fog of sleep that was threatening to take me in. My hand reaches out, fumbling for it while trying not to disturb Fiamma. I glance at the screen, the light casting a faint glow over the room. A text from Adrian.

Done with the party. Call me.

Shit. His timing is impeccable.

Marco's plans are moving fast, and if we don't act soon, the bastard will expect Fiamma to play her part in this. If she doesn't come through who knows what he will do. I can't let that happen, and I sure as hell can't let her get caught in the middle of it.

I need to talk to Adrian now.

Carefully, I slip out from under the blankets, doing my best not to wake her. Fiamma stirs slightly, murmuring something in her sleep, but she doesn't wake up. I grab my pants from the floor, pulling them on as quietly as possible, every movement slow and deliberate.

The soft glow of the fireplace from the living room is still going, casting long shadows across the doorway. Outside the bedroom window, the snow reflects the faint glow of the Christmas lights still on and twinkling in the distance.

For a second, everything almost feels normal. I know that will change the moment I talk to Adrian.

I run a hand through my hair, taking one last glance at Fiamma. She's sound asleep, her hair falling in waves over the pillow, her face peaceful despite everything .

With a quiet sigh, I step into the living room and pull the bedroom door behind me. I step into my bedroom to make sure my booming voice is far enough away not to wake her. She still needs a lot of sleep to catch up on what she went through this morning.

I sit on the edge of the made bed, press Adrian's number, and wait. The phone rings twice before he picks up.

"Luca," Adrian's voice comes through the line, heavy with the sound of someone who's had one too many drinks but is still sharp enough to handle business. "What the hell is going on?"

I lean against the wall, the cold wood pressing into my bare back. "Something's happened and it's moving fast. Can you come to Fiamma's suite in the lodge? I don't want to leave her but I don't want to talk on an unsecured line."

There's a pause on the other end, and I can almost hear the gears turning in Adrian's mind. "It's Marco, isn't it?"

"Just come, Boss," I mutter, my jaw tight. "We need to talk."

"Jesus," Adrian mutters. "Alright. I can be there in ten minutes."

The line goes dead, and I let out a slow breath, throwing the phone on the bed. Marco's not going to wait long, and neither can we. But as I stand here, alone in this vast bedroom, the only thing on my mind is Fiamma—sleeping just on the other side of this suite, completely unaware of what I've just set in motion.

Shit's about to go down.

I sit in the chair by the window, staring out at the snow-covered trees, my mind running through every possible scenario. The suite is quiet, Fiamma is out like a light in the other room. The weight of what's coming is heavy. I keep glancing at the door, waiting for Adrian.

A few minutes pass, and then there's a soft knock. I move quickly, opening the door just enough to let Adrian in without making any noise. He steps inside, his expression guarded, surveying the room.

"Why the cloak and dagger, Luca?" he mutters, his voice low, though there's an edge of annoyance there. "You could've just told me over the phone."

I close the door behind him, making sure it's locked. "I wasn't sure if Marco's got ears on us—or worse, the feds. Couldn't risk it."

I explain everything to Adrian: the kidnapping, Marco's fucked up idea about Fiamma, his plan to use her as a pawn and her idea to act like she was into him and could topple us from the inside.

"So is she bugged?" he asks, still unclear why I couldn't explain all of this on the phone.

"Not exactly. I had the place swept, but just in case." I shake my head and gesture for him to sit. "I didn't want to risk giving anything away. I wanted it to seem like Fiamma's up to something in the event he was listening. It may be for naught, but better to be safe than sorry. I certainly didn't want to give it away that she tricked Marco."

Adrian leans back, folding his arms. "So, what's the plan? "

I take a breath, running a hand through my hair. "He told Fiamma he wants to take down you and Massimo while we're all here on holiday."

"A real life Grinch in an expensive Armani suit."

"He's convinced she's helping him. She played along to make him think she's infiltrating the family to take us down from the inside."

"What exactly does he want her to do? Are you sure she isn't in on this."

"One hundred percent sure. He was going to hold her for ransom, thinking he could use her at Christmas to get Massimo to bend to his demands. That is when she suggested finding out a time and place he could ambush Massimo, instead. She convinced him she is in love with him."

"Hmmm," Adrian takes in everything I'm telling him. "How is all of this supposed to get relayed to him if you're watching over her? Did he give her a burner, or something?"

"She's supposed to leave him a note telling him how he can get into the lodge to kill Massimo. Apparently, he doesn't trust someone isn't listening in on a phone. He told her to find out Massimo's schedule tomorrow and leave it along with instructions to access him for one of his guys to pick up at Frost Café, hidden in a specific place. He told her to have it there by noon."

Adrian's face hardens. "What the hell, Luca? Are you fucking kidding me? What is this, The Hardy Boys? He's lost his fucking mind. "

"She was clever to come up with this on the fly," I say quickly. "She told him what he wanted to hear, knowing it was the only way to get out of there alive. He believes her, but now we've got a clock ticking. He's expecting something from her tomorrow, so we need to give it to him, set him up."

Adrian nods slowly, processing the information. "So what's the plan?"

"We give him a time and place to get to Massimo."

"And?"

"We lie in wait," I say, my voice flat. "We have to do it in a way that doesn't tip anyone off. If Marco's expecting her to help, he might have a tracker on us already. There has to be someone on the inside, how else did he get in to snatch Fiamma? We need to tell as few people as possible to pull this off. We can't make a wrong move."

Adrian frowns, rubbing his chin. "We'll have to lure him into a situation where he's vulnerable. Can't take him down out in the open. He's too paranoid to fall for that. But if we can make him believe Fiamma's feeding him something valuable—something that would make him think he's about to win—he'll come running."

"And when he does," I say, leaning forward, "we make sure he doesn't leave with his head intact."

Adrian nods, a sly smile spreads over him. "So we need to give him what he wants: a time and a place and access to kill Massimo. And we can be ready for an ambush."

I think for a moment, piecing it together. "Fiamma told him Massimo gets daily massages. That could be the perfect set-up. "

"Right," Adrian says, his mind working just as fast. "That is the type of scenario that he will show up alone. He'll think Massimo will be there alone, unarmed. That will probably give Marco the extra incentive, getting to catch him with his pants down, literally."

I nod. "It's a perfect scenario for a trap. We'll have a decoy on the table with his head down and I'll be in the shadows ready to blow his head off when he shows. I'm going to fuck him so hard he won't know which way is up."

Adrian smirks. He's almost enjoying this. "Sounds personal. You okay, man?"

"Yeah. I just hate the fucking Vitales. Who the fuck pulls this shit at Christmas?

"Just keep your head on straight. And make sure Fiamma doesn't fuck it up."

"She can handle it," I say, my jaw tightening. "She will stay out of it with the exception of delivering the note."

"Hiding a fucking note," Adrian laughs. I still can't get over that one. Whatever it takes, I guess.

Adrian stands, rolling his shoulders. "Alright. We set the trap, take him down, and make it clean. No mess, no noise. And no more Marco."

"One last thing. Do we need to let Massimo know?"

"No, you're right, let's keep the circle on this one close. No need to ruin everyone's holiday. I'll get a guy for the decoy, one for the masseuse, a couple of guys on lookout, and then you, me and Fiamma. That's it. I don't want anyone else knowing. Set it up in the spa for tomorrow at three. The rest of the family will be at the parade and I'll make sure the spa is locked down. Except, of course, the back entrance that will be conveniently unlocked for Marco."

"Got it."

I nod, the plan settling into place. It couldn't have fallen into place more perfectly. Now, all I have to do is keep Fiamma safe—and make sure Marco doesn't see what's coming.

I feel her fingers first, tracing lightly over my skin. A soft, deliberate touch that moves across my back, following the lines of the tattoo that stretches from shoulder to shoulder, an eagle with its wings spread wide.

I don't open my eyes yet, savoring the moment. Her touch is gentle, soothing and invigorating. This isn't the normal chain of events for me when I have the odd hookup with a woman. I'm not usually a touchy-feely kind of guy, and I certainly don't hang around after the deed is done. The fact that I came back to her bed after Adrian left instead of retreating to my own is aberrant.

"Mmm," I murmur, still half-asleep, but the warmth of her fingers keeps me tethered to this moment.

"You're awake," she says softly, her voice playful, almost teasing.

Before I can respond, I twist, catching her by the small of her back, pulling her down toward me. She squeals, laughing as I start to tickle her, my hands dancing along her sides. Her laughter fills the room, a sound I didn't realize I loved until now .

"Good morning," I say, pressing my lips to hers in a quick, playful kiss, her laughter still bubbling against my mouth.

She pushes against my chest lightly, still giggling. "Okay, okay, I give up!"

I let her go, leaning back against the pillows, my arm slipping around her as she snuggles into my side. Her head rests on my shoulder, and for a minute, we're quiet, just enjoying the warmth of the bed and the peace of the early morning.

Outside, the pillowy blanket of the muted white snow reflects off the windows, the faintest shimmer of lights still twinkling from the roof's edge above.

"You seem alive again," I say, running my fingers lightly through her hair. "Do you feel better this morning?"

She nods, her cheek resting against my chest. "Waking up beside you sure does help. It's amazing what a little sleep and some amazing sex can do for a person."

I laugh softly, squeezing her closer. "I'm glad. Turns out the sex was good for both of us. You needed rest and I needed the release."

"You're a pig, you know that?"

"What? I'm just being honest."

Her eyes meet mine, her gaze soft but curious. "What about you? You were up last night, weren't you? I thought I heard you in the living room talking to someone. Is everything okay?"

I nod, my expression growing more serious. "Adrian came by after you fell asleep. We talked about Marco. I told him everything you went through and what he wants you to do. We have a plan"

Her brows furrow slightly, but she doesn't pull away. "And what's that?"

"We're going to set a trap," I say, keeping my voice low, even though it's just the two of us. "You're going to plant the note like Marco told you to do. Your idea about the massage is a perfect set-up. You'll tell Marco he has a massage at three when the family will be gone."

"And when he shows up?" she asks, her voice steady but laced with tension.

"We'll be ready for him," I say, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "We've got everything set. Adrian's handling the decoy, and I'll be waiting to take Marco out. All you have to do is write the note and hope Marco or one of his goons picks it up as planned."

She's quiet for a moment, and I can see the wheels turning in her head, processing it all. But then she nods, and her face hardens with determination. "I can do that. I was worried it was too quick when he said it had to be today, but the sooner we take him out the sooner we can all try to put this behind us. I'm ready, let's do this."

I smile, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "It turns out that the holiday season he thought would be the best time to catch Massimo and the rest of us off guard will actually help us lure him to his demise."

We lie there for a while longer, the warmth of the blankets keeping us wrapped up in our own little world. Scents of pine and cinnamon wafts through the air, mixing with the faint crackle of the fireplace from last night. It's a quiet reminder of the contrast between the sacred time of year and the brutality that we have to maintain, regardless.

"Maybe it's time for us to start getting ready to go to the café?" I ask, my voice soft. "I know I want to get a quick shower before we go and you'll need to write the note."

She looks up at me, a small smile playing on her lips. "I was thinking I needed a shower, too…."

"I would hate to shower alone," I demure. "Perhaps we could save some water?"