Page 62 of Luca
As the celebrations continued, I spotted Anton and Marcie off to the side, their exchange seeming quite heated. Marcie’s face was flushed, her voice raised as she gestured wildly, while Anton looked like he was barely holding on to his temper. They were too wrapped up in their own drama to care about the fight, and when Marcie finally stormed out, Anton followed, leaving the rest of us to roll our eyes and get back to enjoying the win.
“They’re a mess,” Claire muttered, taking a sip of her drink, her gaze following Marcie’s retreating figure.
“They’ll sort it,” I replied, though I wasn’t entirely sure. Anton and Marcie’s relationship was a storm that never seemed to settle, but tonight wasn’t about them. Tonight was about us, about showcasing the Irish that we were a force to be reckoned with and always would be. It was about proving how beneficial an alliance between us could be and ensuring we forged a connection that would last.
Vlad joined us, a little worse for wear, but grinning like a madman. A rare sight. “That was fun,” he said, wiping blood from his split lip, his knuckles bruised and swollen. “Pretty boy Sean’s tougher than he looks.”
“He won’t be looking too pretty tomorrow,” Miki joked, pouring Vlad a glass of whiskey. “But you did good. You always do.”
“Cheers,” Vlad said, raising his glass. “Next round’s on me.”
The revelry continued, and I caught Claire’s eye, the warmth in her gaze igniting something deeper within me. I wanted this moment to last forever, a bright flash amid the chaos of our lives. As we clinked glasses, I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight was just the beginning of something extraordinary, the kind of night we’d all remember long after the fights had faded and the lights dimmed.
CHAPTER 35
CLAIRE
THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON – NEW BEGINNINGS
The soft morning light filtered through the thick curtains, casting warm patches of gold across the rumpled sheets. I stirred awake, my head pleasantly heavy, remnants of last night’s revelry clinging to me like a soft blanket. Beside me, Luca lay sprawled across the bed, one arm draped lazily over his eyes, his tousled hair giving him an air of careless charm. Despite the slight pounding in my temples, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him.
“Good afternoon,” I murmured, my voice rough around the edges.
“Mmm.” He shifted slightly, but didn’t uncover his eyes. “Are you sure it’s afternoon? Feels like the middle of the night.”
“Believe me, it’s definitely afternoon.” I propped myself up on one elbow and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “We really need to start taking it easier on the tequila.”
“Tequila? Was it tequila?” he mumbled, peeking out from beneath his arm. “I thought it was champagne. Or was it both?”
I laughed softly, the sound mixing with the dappled light in the room. “Both, definitely. And you were quite the dancer last night. Who knew you could dirty dance like that, Mr Orlov? You weren’t part of a male stripper group at any time were you? I’vegot to admit, I enjoyed it immensely and I’m sure that Miki and the guys will enjoy reminding you all about it for a long time to come.”
Luca groaned, “God, don’t remind me. I’m never going to live it down. I don’t know what came over me, you were just too sexy to resist.”
A laugh burst from me, making me wince from the pain in my head. “So, I’m to blame for your raunchy antics am I?”
“Definitely. And I might have to punish you for it later tonight. When I can see straight enough to do it,” he mumbled teasingly.
I smirked, looking forward to it. Teasing Luca like this was fun. “You were pretty damn sexy yourself, I’m surprised you didn’t attract more admirers.”
Luca chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “They were there, trust me. But I only had eyes for you.”
My heart warmed at his words, and I felt a rush of affection that chased away the morning haze. “Well, it’s nice to know I wasn’t just imagining it. Besides, I’m pretty sure you made quite the impression with your ‘intense mafia man’ vibe.”
He grinned, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. “Always a winning strategy.”
“I noticed Sean trying to copy some of your moves with that young woman he was all over.” I laughed, that had been funny to watch.
“What can I say? Learning from the best,” he sniggered and winced.
“Come here you. Quit your teasing, my head can’t take it right now,” he said, amusement lacing his voice as he shifted to allow me to snuggle in close.
As we settled back into a comfortable silence, my mind drifted to the conversation I’d had with Bradley earlier that day. The weight of my decision to accept Miki’s offer settledcomfortably in my chest. I was finally stepping into my own as a lawyer, breaking away from the shadow of my prior mentors—none of whom turned out to have been worthy of the role—and forging my own path. The prospect of running my own legal firm filled me with excitement, and I could hardly believe how much had changed in just a few short days.
“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” Luca asked, his voice a low rumble, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I was just thinking about my plans,” I admitted, turning onto my back and staring up at the ceiling. “I officially accepted Miki’s offer. I’ll be the Rominov’s lawyer after Bradley retires.”
“Really? That’s great!” His enthusiasm was infectious, and I felt a swell of pride at his support. “So, what does that mean for you?”