Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 68: Chapter 68

LUCA
The car ride home was quiet.
Alina sat curled up in the back seat, her legs pulled up onto the leather, her body angled toward the window.
She looked half-asleep already, her head tilting slightly, her fingers resting loosely in her lap.
I watched her tiredly. The last few days had been difficult.
Everything had happened so fast; Riot, Valerie, Daniel, and we’d barely had a second to breathe, let alone talk.
And now that things were finally settling, now that the adrenaline had seeped out of both of us, I realized something.
I had no idea why that hit me now, in the back of this damn car.
But I missed her.
Which made no sense because we had spent the vast majority of time with each other, fighting. It had come to me when Daniel had pointed that gun at her.
I would have killed him without any care if he had dared to shoot.
I cleared my throat. “What do you want to do with Valerie?”
Alina blinked, as if pulling herself back to the present. She shrugged, eyes still half-lidded. “Whatever she wants to do with herself.”
I frowned slightly. “You don’t care?”
“She’ll probably want a new identity and leave the country,” she said, stretching her legs out a little. “Or she might want guards and decide to stay. That’s her choice.”
I watched her for a second. I leaned back against the seat closer to her. “Are you worried?”
“About what?”
“Valerie.”
She gave me a look, her lips pressing together slightly like she was holding back a sigh. “Why would I be worried about Valerie?”
I studied her. “Because I know you’re thinking about your father killing her father.”
Her body went completely still. A long pause. Her eyes flicked to mine, something cautious in them.
I sighed. “I already knew, Alina. Pietro told me.”
She turned her head fully to me now, her brow furrowing slightly. “Did Pietro tell you why?”
I shook my head.
She was thinking about it. About him. About her father. Her eyes were blinking slower now, sleep trying to pull her under. She widened her eyes, trying to keep it off.
“You’re sleepy,” I murmured.
“No,” she mumbled. “I’m fine.”
She wasn’t. She looked like she could pass out any second.
I reached out, my fingers brushing lightly against her wrist. “Come here. Sit with your head against my shoulder.”
She frowned, pulling her arm back slightly. “I don’t need to.”
Of course, I expected that.
Instead, she shifted even closer to the window, as far from me as the car would allow.
I let out a slow breath. Then, without another word, I reached for her, dragging her against me.
She made a small, tired sound of protest, but she didn’t fight it. I pressed a slow kiss to her forehead, letting my lips rest there for a second.
Why was I feeling this soft and sentimental? Why did I care if she was tired? This was a contract, and it didn't include caring about her as a person.
She stiffened slightly. I could feel her trying to decide whether or not to argue with me. Then she just exhaled, her body relaxing into mine.
“I’m tired,” she muttered.
I smiled a little. “Yeah, I figured.”
She shifted, pressing her cheek against my chest. Her voice was softer now, like she wasn’t fully awake. “I haven’t had a rest since I married you.”
I laughed, resting my chin lightly on top of her head. “I warned you that marrying me would be a terrible idea.”
She made a small noise of agreement. “It is terrible.” A pause. Then, quieter, “Has me wondering how much worse it would be if I was alone.”
Something in me stopped. My heartbeat picked up, the words settling into my chest.
Did she really agree with me?
That I’d been useful to her? That maybe, just maybe, she didn’t completely hate having me around?
I opened my mouth to ask her to explain, but she was already asleep.
I laughed, pulling her closer so she could be more comfortable.
For a long time, I just sat there, holding her, listening to the quiet sound of her breathing.
Something twisted in my chest. Something I wasn’t ready to name. So I ignored it, and held her closer.
Alina didn’t wake up when the car pulled into the driveway.
She was still leaning against me, breathing slow, her face soft with sleep. I barely had the heart to wake her, and honestly, I didn’t want to.
So, I didn’t.
I slid my arms under her and lifted her gently, pressing her against my chest. She murmured something, barely awake, but didn’t open her eyes.
The house was quiet as I carried her inside.
I moved through the hallways to our room. I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been the last few days, not until now, when the weight of it finally started to lift.
This whole thing with the Alvarados was over. At least for the moment.
I pushed open the bedroom door with my shoulder and stepped inside, laying her carefully onto the bed.
She made a small noise as she shifted, her head pressing into the pillow, but again, she didn’t wake.
I felt my hands hover over her clothes, considering.
I knew she’d be more comfortable without it. That was all.
I undressed her slowly, peeling the fabric from her body, my fingers brushing against her skin as I dragged my arm down the curve of her legs, my cock waking up and pulsing in my pants.
I swallowed hard. What the fuck was I doing?
She was asleep, for fuck’s sake. I shook my head and stepped away from her.
I pulled the blanket over her, pressing a kiss to her lips before walking away, my cock aching.
The room was dark as I shut off the lights, the soft, white light of the moon throwing the room into shadows.
I stood there for a second. Then I sighed and stretched, rolling my shoulders.
The Alvarado mess was behind us, but I wasn’t stupid. I knew I’d made an enemy. A strong one.
It didn’t matter.
I decided that I was going to move back into our bedroom.
I should never have moved out in the first place. I hadn't even been able to ignore how much I wanted her with how busy we were.
I could imagine how much more difficult it would be with the both of us in the same space and relaxed.
Sleeping in separate rooms had never been a good idea.
I climbed into bed, closing my eyes. My last thought before sleep took me was simple.
I didn’t want children. I didn’t want love. But I wanted my wife, and that was enough.
I could keep it simple. Just want her. Just touch her. No feelings, no mess.
Right?
Right?