Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

LUCA
I took the bullet from Alina’s hand, turning it between my fingers. The name carved into the metal was smooth under my thumb. Hers.
The meaning was clear. Someone had marked her for death.
A bad omen.
I nodded, barely looking up as I slid the bullet into my pocket. That person had another thing coming. “Where did this come from?”
She crossed her arms, chin lifted. “It was delivered to me, wrapped in silk. With a note calling it an early wedding gift.”
I should have expected that answer, but the rage still licked up my spine. Someone had the nerve to threaten my wife—my wife—and they thought I’d let it slide?
Not fucking likely.
I was handling three things at once. A shipment had just come in, my phone was vibrating with back-to-back calls, and now this.
My men were moving around the warehouse, checking crates, counting bullets. And in the middle of it all, Alina stood there, almost glowing.
The fire in her eyes, the set of her shoulders. She wasn’t afraid. She looked alive.
It did something to me.
She was supposed to be shaken, worried, something. But instead, she was standing in my workspace looking like a goddamn warrior. And I had no idea if that made me proud or furious.
“Whoever sent this thinks they can scare me,” she said, voice sharp. “They better have another thing coming.”
I glanced at her. “You’re not running around trying to catch whoever it is.”
Her mouth pressed into a thin line. “Excuse me?”
I turned my attention back to the shipment, grabbing a box of bullets, inspecting them. “You heard me, Alina. This isn’t your fight.”
“My fight?” Her voice rose, full of outrage. “Luca, that bullet has my name on it.”
I clenched my jaw. “And I’ll handle it.”
“No, you won’t.” She stepped closer, fury rolling off her. “I can take care of myself.”
I dropped the bullets back into the crate and finally looked at her. “No, I will take care of you.”
Her nostrils flared. “Being married to you doesn’t mean I need managing.”
“I’m not managing you.”
“Really?” Her eyes flashed. “Because it sure as hell feels like you think I need to be locked in a tower while you handle things.”
I swore under my breath, running a hand through my hair. “Alina…”
“No. You listen to me, Luca.” She jabbed a finger into my chest, and fuck, I wanted to grab that hand, pull her into me, kiss the hell out of her until she forgot every argument she ever had. “I am not a woman who needs permission to fight her own battles.”
A muscle in my jaw ticked.
God, she was stunning when she was angry. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wild, her lips parted like she was ready to take a bite out of me.
I wanted her. Badly.
But I wasn’t going to touch her. Not when I knew what it would lead to. Not when I was barely keeping myself in check.
“I’m not locking you away,” I said, voice lower now, rougher. “I’m keeping you alive.”
She let out a sharp breath. “You don’t trust me.”
“I don’t trust them.”
We stared at each other, the air between us thick, hot. My hands curled into fists. If I reached for her now, I wouldn’t stop. And I knew—I knew—if I let myself have her, I’d ruin her.
She thought it didn’t matter that she was untouched. That we were married, so it made no difference. But it did.
It fucking did.
And if she had any idea what I wanted to do to her right now, she’d be the one running.
She shook her head, frustrated. “I’m not helpless, Luca.”
“I know that.”
“Then stop acting like I am.”
I dragged in a breath, trying to cool the fire under my skin. “You’re not getting involved in this, Alina.”
She clenched her fists. “And what happens when the next bullet arrives? Or when they stop sending threats and come for me instead?”
I took a step closer. “They won’t get the chance.”
She tilted her chin up. “And what if they do?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.
Because if anyone so much as breathed wrong in her direction, I’d burn this city to the ground.
I looked at her one last time, at the stubborn fire in her gaze, at the way her chest rose and fell too fast, her lips slightly parted.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
With a growl, I grabbed her waist and yanked her forward, crashing my mouth onto hers.
She gasped against my lips, but then she was kissing me back, her hands fisted my shirt, her body pressing against mine.
It was fire.
It was too much.
Alina melted into me, her body soft and warm as I deepened the kiss. I felt her moan, felt the way she held my shirt like she was trying to keep herself steady.
It did something to me, the way she gave in and held on at the same time.
I slid my hands up her back, feeling the curve of her spine under my fingers.
Her breathing was uneven, her body pressing into mine as if she couldn’t help it.
I pulled her closer, swallowing her soft sighs.
Her fingers ran through my hair, nails scratching lightly against my scalp. I groaned, dragging my lips from hers to trail along her jaw, down the line of her throat.
She gasped when I sucked gently at her pulse point, her body arching into me.
"You're playing with fire, Alina," I murmured against her skin, my voice rough.
She shivered. "Then burn me, Luca."
I crushed my mouth to hers again, my fingers tight around her ass as I walked her back until her legs hit the table. She dropped onto it, her hands pulling me with her.
I followed, holding my weight above her, pressing my forehead to hers.
I could stop. I should stop.
But I didn’t want to.
I ran my fingers down her arm, over her wrist, feeling the pump of her blood under my touch. Her eyes were on me, dark and waiting, her lips parted.
I slid my hand lower, stroking her waist, holding her hip before tracing my fingers over her thigh. Alina gasped, her back arching slightly as I moved higher.
I leaned down, kissing her again, swallowing the soft moan that escaped her lips when I slipped my hand between her legs and into her.
She clenched around my fingers, her body tight, hot, perfect.
Her breath came in sharp little gasps, her fingers digging into my arms as I moved slowly, teasingly, feeling every reaction she gave me.
"You're beautiful like this," I whispered against her mouth.
She let out a small, desperate sound, her hips pressing into my touch. I pushed my fingers into her again.
She was very tight, her body locking around my fingers like she would never let go.
I watched her head tilt back, her eyes closing as she came in my arms, sighing my name. “Luca!”
I covered her mouth with my hand as her orgasm wrecked her. Her teeth sank into the skin of my palm, sharp and hot, and it sent a stab of something dangerous through me.
Damn.
I didn’t move for a moment, letting her ride the waves of pleasure, feeling the way she shuddered under me.
My chest was tight, my body on fire, and it took everything in me to pull back instead of taking her right then and there.
I dragged my hand from her lips, brushing my fingers over her cheek. She looked up at me, still dazed, still catching her breath.
I smiled, wiping a stray tear from the corner of her eye. Why was she crying? "You bite, little wife."
She swallowed, her cheeks burning. "You told me I was playing with fire."
I dropped my forehead to hers. "And I’m trying damn hard not to let you get burned."
She reached for me, fingers stroking my jaw. "I’m not afraid of you, Luca."
I groaned, pressing one last hard kiss to her lips before pulling away. "You should be."