Page 13 of The Virgin and Her Bodyguard

“I don’t want it to come to that,” I say, and Luca lifts a brow, surprised at my response.“At this point, I’m willing to do anything to get my father out of here.”I grab my shorts off the floor and wiggle them on.

“We still need to talk about you not wearing panties.You only do that shit when it’s the two of us.Understand?”Jealousy lights up his eyes.

Why is his anger so damn hot?“It's sexier than my stupid cotton panties.I don’t have anything nice like those—” I don’t want to mention the women from last night, so I wave in the direction of the party.

Luca snags me around the waist, pulling me flush to him.“You could wear a paper bag, and I’d still want you more than anyone else.”He brushes a piece of hair out of my face.“You had me cumming in seconds.I fucked you bare.I don’t do that shit.”He shakes his head.“You’re not like everyone else,amore.”

Whoa!

“All right, I’ll wear panties,” I agree, making him smirk.

“When we get out of this place, I’ll take you to buy whatever the fuck you want.”

“That sounds kind of fun.”I’m not a shopper, but I think I’d enjoy trying on things for Luca.The man is good for my confidence.“Afterwe get out of this, though.We can’t quit until then.”

“I’ll handle your father,” Luca pushes, and I can tell he’s on edge.I am too because I know we’re about to part ways, and I hate it.He has to get back to the main house, and I need to check in with my father before he realizes I’m gone.

“It’s more than that, Luca.These men need to be taken down.I get that this world works outside of the rules of the law, but you all still live by a code.These people don’t.Renzo Benecci, Marco, Bruno, they all hurt innocent people.”I’m sick of knowing what’s happening here.There have been girls that went missing and I was unable to do anything about it.Now is the chance to stop them.“You and Vitaly could take them down.”

Luca lets out a few curse words in Italian.

“What if I was one of those girls in there?”Again, I point to the house.

“Don’t.”His hold on me tightens, and I know it’s because he doesn’t want to imagine it.

“Please.”I place my hands on his chest and give him a pleading look.

“You’re already using the control, I see.”Some of the tension leaves his body, but I know I’ve got him.Luca is a good man, and I don’t think he wants to leave Marco standing either.This whole place needs to be taken down.

And my Luca is going to be the one that does it.

ChapterEleven

LUCA

It’s been twenty-four hours since I’ve seen Nolia, and I feel like I could come out of my skin.Since I left her yesterday at dawn, I’ve been with Marco and his men going over plans.It’s clear that Renzo isn’t going to ever fully recover from Vitaly cutting his tongue out, so Marco is planning his ascension to the throne.He’s the right hand, and although he isn’t next in line by birthright, Renzo had no male heirs, and his only daughter is married to his enemy.

Pru won’t be upset when her father dies, and that could be any day now.The problem is the chaos that will follow once this happens.Marco is looking to make a play for Vitaly and his territory, and I’ve had to tell him how to do it.

“And you’re sure we can set the ambush here?”Marco asks again for the tenth time.

“Like I’ve told you, every Thursday at three.He’ll be there.”I sigh and rub my eyes with the heel of my hand.I haven’t slept in almost twenty-four hours too, and it’s not helping.

“I had some of my men check to make sure you aren’t lying.”Marco looks across the table at me.

“And?”I raise an eyebrow.

“As far as they can tell, all the information you’ve given us is trustworthy.”He seems skeptical, but I’m playing my part well.“I wasn’t sure I could trust you at first.”

“I can understand why.”I tap my finger on the table and lean closer.“But I told you, men like us have to take what we want in order to gain power.We can’t have it handed to us like the rest of them.”

Marco nods thoughtfully.“And you understand that taking power means eliminating Vitaly?”

“Of course.”I’ve learned over the years how to control my emotions, and right now is the true test.“Losses are inevitable when power changes hands.”

“His pretty bride will need to go.”Marco says it like he’s talking to himself.“It’s a shame she’s already pregnant.I would have liked to keep her for myself.”

It takes all my strength to keep my breathing even.“We can’t leave the Benecci line active,” I say without emotion.