Chapter 136: Only Way Out Is Death

“Only way out is death, isn’t it?” Luca said.

“Well…” she faltered, searching for the words, her mind swirling. The logic of normal life felt alien here. Her pulse thudded in her ears as she tried to articulate the impossible.

“Are you changing your mind?”

“What? No! But…it’s a child…a living, breathing being that we will both be responsible for.”

“And?” Luca’s brow arched, genuine confusion lacing his tone. He didn’t understand. How could she hesitate when the idea seemed like the only thing that made sense to him?

“Luca, in the time we have known each other, I have been held at gunpoint three times, twice by you, you have been stabbed, I have been beaten by one of your men, and ninety percent of the time, we are fighting. You want to raise a family?” Her hands dropped to her sides.

“Me holding you at gunpoint doesn’t count. You snuck up on me. And everyone who has threatened you and touched you, I have killed or maimed.” He leaned closer.

“Exactly my point, Luca!” She almost shouted now, frustration boiling over. Her entire body trembled, from the intensity of the emotions that had been building since the moment they had started this conversation.

“Are you saying I am unfit to be a father?” He was challenging her, demanding that she name him incapable, forcing the truth out of her, no matter how uncomfortable.

“Luca…I am saying what you do makes us unfit to have kids. What kind of life would our kids live?”

The chaos in his life, the danger that defined every choice, seemed distant for just a second as he regarded her, trying to measure her fear, her resolve, and the impossible love they both shared.

“I turned out fine.” Luca argued.

“Did you?” Vee raised an eyebrow.

The look alone was enough to stall him.

Luca dragged a hand through his dark hair, the muscles along his arm tightening. His jaw flexed. “You have something to say, Vee. Say it!”

Vee sucked in a breath, steadying herself. The man was standing half naked in the middle of her bedroom, a dangerous creature, and somehow he was talking about raising children. “I don’t want a fight, Luca.”

“I’m not fighting.”

“I cannot have a child with you.”

“With me?” Luca repeated slowly, as if he needed to hear the words again to believe them.

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s good to know. Looks like I am meant for fucking alone.”

“That’s not what I meant. Besides, that’s the only amazing skill you have.” Vee said, rolling her eyes.

Luca gawked at her. Then a crooked grin tugged at his mouth. “Only? Sweetie, I will have you know that I can carve a man’s heart out of his chest blindfolded with one hand behind my back.”

The boast came easily. That was the problem. Violence for him wasn’t shocking. It was routine.

“And tell me what kind of skill is that?”

Luca spread his hands slightly. “I have great shooting skills, fighting skills..”

He began counting them off with mild pride. Assassin. Enforcer. Soldier. The Scalese bloodline had never exactly produced accountants or school teachers.

“You are not selling this starting a family thing well, Luca. You are only helping me make my own solid points.”

Luca’s mouth tightened. “Well, fuck you.” He turned away from her before she could see too much of what flickered through his expression. His broad shoulders rolled with restrained irritation as he moved toward the bed.

Vee chuckled and bounced on his back. The sudden weight of her body forced Luca to lean forward slightly, his reflexes kicking in before she could even wobble. His palms slid around to brace her thighs, fingers tightening instinctively to steady her so she would not topple off him.

Even when she caught him off guard, his body always moved first when it came to her. Protect first. Think later. Her laughter warmed the room. It was light, teasing. “How about we pretend to make a family without actually making the family?” she kissed his neck. Her lips brushed the sensitive spot just beneath his ear, and Luca exhaled.

“I’ll never say no to that.” He moved quickly after that, shifting his weight and catching her by the waist. The mattress dipped as he dropped her onto the bed. Luca wasted no time climbing over her, his hands already busy, his focus narrowing completely onto the woman beneath him.

*****

Ricardo arrived at the Commissioned building that housed Luca’s offices just after midmorning. To the outside world it looked like a club. Inside, however, everyone who worked there understood that Luciano Scalese’s influence stretched far beyond expensive dancers and alcohol.

Ricardo stepped into the basement with his hands loosely tucked into the pockets of his jacket. He had spent most of the night replaying Luca’s message in his head, trying to figure out why he had been summoned here instead of at home, where they both lived.

Luca hated discussing business under his own roof.

That rule had been drilled into everyone around him for years. Home was private territory. Work stayed elsewhere. Which meant the moment Ricardo received instructions to come to Commissioned, one conclusion had settled firmly in his mind.

This was business.

Marco was already waiting.

The large man gave him a brief nod before turning down the hallway without a word, expecting Ricardo to follow. Marco had stood at Luca’s side for years. He rarely spoke unless necessary, but nobody in the building questioned him either.

They reached the office door. Marco opened it and stepped aside, allowing Ricardo to walk in first before taking his usual position.

Behind the heavy desk sat Luca.

He leaned back comfortably in his chair, one arm resting along the armrest while the other tapped lightly against the desk surface.

“Luciano…” Ricardo greeted.

“Sit.” Luca said.

Ricardo lowered himself into the chair across from the desk. Even though he tried to keep his posture relaxed, there was still a faint tightness in his shoulders. Being called in like this usually meant something had caught Luca’s attention.

(This is to 200 power stones. Can we do 400?)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep