Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 82: Chapter 82

LUCA
I stood outside the bathroom, fists still clenched at my sides.
Analide stood beside me like a well-meaning shadow. “You really should come with me,” she said, slipping her hand around my arm. “My father’s expecting you. It’s just a quick meeting. A toast and a handshake.”
A muscle twitched in my jaw. Was she asking me to meet her father right now? Couldn't she read the room?
Alina was in that bathroom, probably crying with wine all over her dress. The one she glowed in, when she first tried it on, and showed it to me when I came to pick her up.
And Analide thought I cared about some meeting with her father?
I pulled my arm free. “Not now.”
She frowned. “But he’s waiting.”
“I said not now!” I snapped, stepping away. But she followed, hurrying too fast behind me.
I stopped right in front of the bathroom door, just as it opened.
And of course Victoria stepped out because what better way to worsen my mood than having to deal with her?
She was smiling as she came out, but immediately she saw me, her eyes widened, and she sniffed delicately and touched her cheek like she was in deep pain.
Her voice shook as she looked up at me and sobbed. “I just, I went in to apologize to Alina, and she…she slapped me, Luca.”
My eyes narrowed. I knew she was lying. “Did she?”
“I didn’t mean to pour the wine on her dress. It was an accident. I was just trying to be kind…”
“If she slapped you,” I cut in, my voice icy, “then you deserved it.”
Victoria’s eyes widened. For the first time that night, she didn’t have a comeback. She started crying, her makeup dripping down her face.
Analide stepped towards her, fire blazing in her eyes. “I want you gone.”
Victoria gasped. “What?”
“I want you out of my event. You're not welcome here.”
Victoria turned toward me, desperate. “You’re going to let her throw me out?”
I didn’t look at her. I looked at Analide.
“She stays,” I said flatly. “She’s with Riot. If she leaves, he leaves. That creates more trouble than it’s worth.”
Analide’s brow arched. She looked up at me shyly. “Is that what you really want?”
What kind of question was that? It seemed strange, at that moment.
But I nodded. “Yes.”
She said nothing more. Just grabbed Victoria’s wrist and walked her down the hall like she was dragging out the trash.
I watched them go, turning to step into the bathroom. Analide hissed something as they rounded the corner.
“You didn’t have to ruin the dress.”
I stopped. Had I heard that?
Did she say that?
Or was it the wine and the rage messing with my head?
The door opened behind me.
I turned.
Alina stepped out, wiping her hands on a folded paper towel. Her eyes locked with mine, and what I saw there gutted me.
She looked furious and under that, her eyes were furrowed at the corners with sadness.
I moved fast, stepping into the bathroom before she could take another step forward. I pulled the door shut behind us.
“We can leave,” I said, reaching for her hand. “Right now. We’ll go. You don’t need to see any of them again.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Alina, stop being so stubborn. You've proven over and over that you're the strongest woman here. Let me take care of you now.”
“No.” Her voice was iron. “You have a meeting with Mr. Talciro. Go. I’ll sit with Analide. I’ll pretend none of this happened.”
I stared at her; this woman who had every reason to crumble, and yet refused to.
My heart missed a beat as I stared down into her beautiful face.
I was proud that she was mine.
“Alina…”
“I’m not running,” she said, chin raised. “Not from her.”
I liked her. I could agree with that. I liked Alina Costa.
I didn’t say anything.
I just grabbed her waist and lifted her onto the counter, her legs wrapping around mine on instinct.
I kissed her hard, mouth crashing into hers, hands buried in her hair.
She gasped against me, breathing faster, fingers curling against my shirt.
I didn’t stop until she melted into me, every inch of tension pouring into my body.
When I finally pulled back, her lips were red and swollen, her breathing very unsteady.
She looked better.
We didn’t say anything else.
I took her hand, and we walked out of the bathroom together.
Analide stood outside, waiting. She smiled eagerly, looking at me instead of Alina. “Feeling better?”
Alina nodded, blushing gently. “Much better, thank you.”
I glanced at Analide again, trying to push back the memory of her whisper to Victoria.
You didn’t have to ruin the dress.
Did she say that? Was it real? Or had she said something else?
I didn’t know.
I didn’t want to know.
The three of us walked back into the ballroom. The moment we stepped in, the air changed. Heads turned. People whispered again.
Every eye locked onto us like we were the final act of a circus.
I didn’t care.
Until I saw them.
Victoria was sitting in the seat right next to Alina’s. Riot beside her.
Both smiling.
No, smirking like they had both won.
I heard Alina’s breath stall beside me. Her grip tightened around my fingers.
She leaned toward Analide and whispered, “Why is she sitting there?”
Analide hesitated. “To apologize.”
“What?”
“My father saw what happened. He…ordered her to apologize.”
Alina laughed, though it was cold and bitter. “And that requires sitting next to me?”
“She won’t touch you,” Analide whispered quickly. “She’ll apologize and then she’ll leave.”
I wanted to punch something. Anything. Riot. Victoria. A wall.
But I just squeezed Alina’s hand.
“Go,” she told me, her voice low. “You have a meeting.”
I didn’t move.
“Go, Luca.”
I looked at her one last time, then released her hand and walked toward Talciro’s private room.
I walked away, but every instinct screamed at me not to. I didn't trust that bastard named Riot and I certainly didn't trust Victoria.