Chapter 17

Daisy refused to speak to Luca as she furiously packed her bags and tossed whatever she could find into them. She got into the car and let him deal with her bag in the backseat as she sulked the whole way to the new apartment. Even when Luca tried to speak to her, Daisy turned on the radio and closed her eyes as if that would convince Luca to leave her alone.

"Do you have a gynecologist?" He asked, turning off the music. "You need to start taking vitamins and scheduling your appointments. Have you considered a doula?"

"How do you know all this?" Daisy asked in irritation. "Do you have a secret child we don't know about somewhere in the hills of Italy?"

"No," Luca's face blanked. "Stella was pregnant before she..."

Silence filled the car. Luca turned away and cleared his throat as his gaze focused on the road with more attention then needed.

"Oh," Daisy turned her head to look at the man beside her. "I'm sorry."

The strangest feeling bubbled up inside Luca's chest. He didn't like the way his heart twisted as thoughts of Stella and Daisy mingled together in his mind. It felt wrong and unnatural, like some part of his life, his privacy was being invaded.

"Gia used to talk about her a lot," Daisy said quietly.

Her words only caused the discomfort inside of Luca to strengthen. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat as they neared the house and Luca began to itch to get away from the car. He was beginning to suffocate.

"You know what you're going to say to her?" Luca asked, trying his best to shift the conversation away from Stella.

"To who? Stella?"

"No," Luca felt his body recoil from hearing Daisy speak that name. "Don't ever say that name."

"I-"

"I was talking about Gia," Luca said. "You have no business talking about Stella. You didn't know her."

"Calm down!" Daisy frowned. "What is wrong with you?"

Luca's eyes locked on the deep set frown on Daisy's face and his heart contracted. He didn't know why seeing her so upset made him feel worse than he already was feeling. His insides sank as he drove up to the front of the apartment and parked the car.

"What is this place?" Daisy asked, her hand already on the car door.

"Somewhere my dad can't get to Gia," Luca said. "Stay in the car. I'll get the door."

Exiting the car, he began to make his way over to the passenger side, but Daisy was already stepping out. Luca stared at her as she ignored his eyes and slammed the car door shut with more force than necessary.

"Gently," Luca said. "I happen to really like this car."

Daisy paused to look back at the very expensive shiny black car. She had to admit, of all the cars Luca had driven, that one was definitely her favorite. It also didn't hurt that every time she saw the car, she was reminded of their kiss and other activities in the front seat.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, stepping forward and opening the door once more. Luca didn't know what she was up to until she swung the door shut once more, using all her strength. "Was that better?"

"Are you better?" Luca asked. "Did that make you feel better?"

"Slightly," Daisy said.

"You can't be doing shit like that anymore," Luca reminded her.

"And why not?" Daisy laughed. "Because you told me. Because you now think you can order me aro-"

"You're carrying a baby!" Luca reminded her. "Use your head!"

"Stop yelling at me!"

"I'm not!"

"Luca, you're stressing me out," Daisy shook her head. "Just take me to Gia and leave me alone."

"I want to," Luca said, turning towards the lobby. "Trust me. I really want to."

"You want to do what?" Daisy asked, following. "Take me to Gia or leave me alone."

"Both."

"That's not very nice," Daisy said. "Were you this mean to Stella?"

Luca's chest tightened again, "Stop saying her name!"

"So sensitive," Daisy muttered, earning a glare.

Luca chose to remain silent and pretend he didn't hear her. They rode up to the top floor without uttering any words to one another until Luca took out his keys and got ready to unlock the door.

"Wait!" Daisy called out, grabbing his arm.

"What?" Luca looked over his shoulder.

"I need a minute," Daisy stepped away from the door, her face pale and her eyes filled with uneasiness.

"For what?" Luca asked, impatiently.

"Stop being an ass," Daisy shook out her hand and began to back away from the door.

"What are you doing?" Luca asked.

"I just need a second before I see her," Daisy said. "I'm nervous."

"She's not your mother," Luca said. "What will she do? Yell at you?"

"I am very much aware that my fear right now is irrational," Daisy said. "But I can't help it."

"Come here," Luca reached for her hand.

"No," Daisy shook him off.

"Come here," Luca said sternly as he took her hand and pulled her forward. Before Daisy could protest, Luca grabbed her face and held her between his hands. "Gia loves you. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. She will be happy if you're happy."

Daisy nodded.

"Before leaving with Daniel, she kept asking about you," Luca said, unable to look away from Daisy's eyes. "I should have let her talk to you. You were right. She would have listened to you more and maybe she would have thought twice before running off with him."

"You live and you learn," Daisy said. "I'm not bad for her."

"I never said you were," Luca said. "You're just bad news for me."

"And you're terrible for me," Daisy said.

"Look at that," the corner of Luca's mouth curved up. "We agreed on something."

Daisy couldn't help but shake her head as a light laugh bubbled out of her. The warmth from Luca's hands reached her heart and spread all over her as they stood near each other, sharing the same air. Luca slowly titled Daisy's head to one side as his eyes dropped to her lips.

"We shouldn't," Daisy held her breath. "I can't."

"It could be the official last kiss," Luca teased.

"That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard," Daisy said.

"Let me kiss you," Luca smiled. "For the last time."

Daisy felt her heart skitter. She gazed up at him and sucked in her bottom lip between her teeth as if battling her own mind. Luca felt a burning hot punch to his gut as his eyes lingered on the small action. He wanted to be the one to be sinking his teeth into her full lip.

"For the last time..." Daisy said, making sure their terms were clear as she slowly leaned forward. "Because I can't keep doing this. We have to sto-"

Luca captured her lips as he crushed her chest to his. He could feel the way her heart pounded in her body as she melted in his arms and he slipped his tongue into her mouth. She was as soft as a pillow and as sweet as his favorite candy. Luca walked her back against the wall, deepening the kiss as if he needed her mouth on his to breath.

All the tightness in his chest, all the stress on his mind, and all the tension in his body all vanished with a flip of a switch. Luca never wanted the kiss to end. He never wanted to face reality. All he wanted was to keep feeling Daisy's rising pulse against his hand.

But all of Luca's desires were short lived as Daisy placed her hands on his chest and gently nudged him back. Luca stilled, lips still brushing against her. His heart pounded inside his chest as he stared down at Daisy's swollen lips.

"We should go inside," Daisy announced, clearing her throat.

"I can't pretend this didn't happen once I walk through that door," Luca said. "I can't pretend there's nothing between us anymore."

"Luca, I can't keep doing this," Daisy shook her head. "I don't know what you want and I can't go through the heartache of trying to figure that out."

"You know what I want."

"No, I don't," Daisy stared up at him. "Do you know what you want? Do you want to be with me?"

Luca's chest tightened. The thought of saying yes to Daisy frightened him to the point where his mind blanked and he began to feel numb standing before her.

"See..." Daisy said, her face falling with sadness. "You don't want that...but you keep making me think that you do."

Luca's pulse began to rise as he gazed down at Daisy and watched the light in her eyes dim. The urgency in his system began to blow whistles like a train conductor headed for disaster but he was powerless to stop any of it. All he could do was watch as Daisy chewed on her bottom lip once more and shrugged.

"I'm not going to be some booty call," she said. "Someone you seem to think will always wait around for you whenever you have an itch to scratch."

"That's not how I think of you," Luca managed to say.

"Let's see. We've been sneaking around my boyfriend's back and your family's back. You're hot and then you're cold. You treat me like I'm the only girl in the world but then you go and leave me in the rain after I begged you to tell me to stay," Daisy counted down the events. "Oh and then you showed up to my house in the middle of the night as if I would drop everything for you and leave when you have given me no sign that you're serious about any of this and that you will not change your mind in the morning. If anything, that's all you've been doing. You've been constantly leaving me stranded and I can't deal with that anymore. Not with a baby on the way."

Each word Daisy spoke caused Luca's insides to twist. He felt an undeniable need to hold her in his arms and tell her how seeing her too far made it difficult for him to breathe. He consumed his thoughts like no one ever had. When she looked at him, he felt the darkness in his life waver for the first time in years. But Luca couldn't speak. He stood motionless and silent as Daisy shook her head.

"This ends here," Daisy said. "Whatever this is or was. I seriously cannot do this anymore."

Luca nodded.

"Don't tell Gia about any of this," Daisy said. "I don't want her to ever find out."

"I know," Luca said. "She can't know."

"So we're clear on this ending as soon as we walk through this door, correct?"

"Correct," Luca took a step back.

"Is there anything you want to say to me?" Daisy asked, a speck of hopefulness in her voice.

Luca shook his head.

"Okay..." Daisy took a deep breath. Her eyes watered and the tip of her nose turned bright red. Luca's eyes widened as his hand began to reach up but Daisy shook her head. "Just pregnancy hormones."

Realizing he couldn't touch her anymore, Luca slowly lowered his hand. His fingers balled into fists as the first tear slid down Daisy's face and she wiped it away quickly.

"Open the door," she said, her voice uneven.

"No," Luca couldn't stop looking at her.

"I need to see Gi-"

"I need to stand here with you for a minute longer," Luca said. "If we're ending everything once we walk through this door then please just give me two more minutes."

"I can't," Daisy shook her head as she wiped her nose with the sleeve of her shirt. "I can't stand here another second with you."

"Sunshine..." Luca's hand rose without his permission. He only managed to touch the edge of Daisy's face as she jumped back and furiously shook her head.

"No," Daisy said.

Luca slowly lowered his hand. His eyes were full of mixed emotions Daisy couldn't decode. She watched him until he slowly turned away and unlocked the door. With another deep breath, Daisy followed behind.

As soon as Luca entered the home, his eyes fell on his sister. She looked up with heavy broken eyes that made him wonder how he looked to her. Gia had seen him at his worst when Stella had passed away. The heartbreak left a permanent mark on Luca and he wondered if what he was feeling inside would do the same to him again. Surely, the way his heart burned and pained would leave some kind of damage.

Upon seeing him, Gia began to wipe off the tears in her eyes just as Daisy had done a few seconds ago outside. Luca stepped aside to let Daisy pass, hoping the reunion would be good for both of them. He felt a tiny amount of the pain inside his body ease as Daisy walked past him and lifted her gaze to catch his eyes.

He knew she was right to put her feet down. He admired her even more for it. But he just wished he was able to tell her how wrong she was. If Daisy thought Luca saw her as some hot piece of ass he could throw around whenever he needed a quick fix then she couldn't be more wrong.

Luca could never look at a woman like that. He was old fashioned when it came to things of that matter. He believed in the strength between a husband and a wife, two pieces of the same whole. Growing up he watched his own father be a terrible husband. Luca always wanted to do better than Angelo. He knew he could do better. But after Stella, that desire, that motivation...it all vanished as if she had locked them in the trunk of her car before she drove off the cliff.

So instead of telling her how much he wanted her because it was a terrifying thought to speak those words aloud, Luca remained silent. Daisy lowered her gaze and turned away as she walked past him and redirected her attention towards Gia.

"Hey," Daisy said quietly as she dropped her bag on the chair beside Gia and wrapped her arms around her.

"Hi," Gia's voice shook.

"I'm so sorry, G," Luca heard Daisy whisper.

"Carla," he cleared his throat and looked towards the woman standing by the stove. "Come with me for a few. Let's give them some space."

Carla looked at Gia and then back at Luca. She didn't understand what was going on but she could feel the tension in the air like a fire. Luca waited for her to turn towards the study at the back of the apartment before he began to follow her out of the kitchen.

"What's going on?" Carla asked as soon as they stepped into the study.

"Did dad call you?" Luca asked, pulling out his phone and checking Dr. Ford's messages.

"Yes, but I didn't answer," Carla said. "Where did you find Daisy?"

"She called Gia's phone," Luca walked towards the wooden table.

"It was a smart idea to bring her here," Carla nodded. "Dee is a smart girl. She will be able to help Gia."

"Do you know any good gynecologists?"

"What?" Carla asked in confusion.

"Anyone on your list or maybe a co-worker you would recommend," Luca asked. "What about a doula? I think those are very popular right now. Are they actually beneficial?"

"Why are you asking me all this?" Carla shook her head with great confusion. "What's going on?"

"A whole lot," Luca sighed. He looked down at his phone once more and messaged Dr. Ford for the next earliest appointment. "I feel like I'm losing my mind."

"You need to stop running around," Carla said. "Stay here. You need rest too, Luc."

"Don't call me that," Luca frowned as his aunt used Stella's nickname for him.

"I'm sorry," Carla apologized.

"Do you think I would have made a good husband?"

A deep frown formed on Carla's lips as she stared at her nephew. Her brows knit together in concern as she wondered why he was acting so strange.

"Why are you asking me such random questions?" She wondered.

"Just humor me," Luca shrugged.

"I don't know," Carla slowly walked over to the table. "Marriage is hard work and it takes both people to make it work. You can't be a good husband to a bad wife. And a bad wife can't be a good one to a terrible husband. But that's just my view on it."

"Do you think Stella and I would have made a good team?" Luca couldn't believe he had actually managed to speak the question aloud. His heart beated incredibly fast inside his chest as Carla turned to look at him as if she too was shocked.

"I...I think so," Carla said. "You two loved one another, right?"

"Right..." Luca wanted to laugh.

Stella never loved him. As painful as it was to admit that, Luca knew it was the truth and nothing but the truth.

"Luca..." Carla placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Why are you asking about her? Is this about Daniel and Gia...?"

"No," Luca shook his head. "It's not."

"Then what is it?"

"I've just been thinking about her a lot more these days."

"Why?"

"I don't know," Luca confessed.

"Are the dreams back?"

"The nightmares you mean?" Luca huffed. "Yeah. They're back....but they're different."

"How so?"

"They're more painful now."

"Have you spoken to Dr. Ford?"

"Soon."

"Please take the time to d-"

"No! No!" Daisy's panic screams barged in through the doors, startling Carla and Luca. "Luca!"

Hearing the terror in her voice, Luca felt his blood run cold. He ran out of the room and down the way in search of Daisy to only find her out in the hall, banging her fists against the elevator door.

"What's going on?" Luca asked immediately. "Where's Gia?"

"Manny!" Daisy pointed to the elevator. "He....he had a gun to her head!"

Luca's heart froze as he realized what that meant. He felt his insides tighten as images of his mother with marks all over her body came flooding to his mind. He felt as if the world was crashing down on him as Carla looked toward him and whispered, "Angelo...."

Luca's jaw clenched. He looked at Daisy and then at the stairwell.

"Carla, take her inside," he ordered as he headed for the emergency stairs.

"What? No!" Daisy protested, pressing the elevator buttons once more.

"Yes!" Luca did not wait around to argue as he pushed the stairwell door open. "Carla, she's pregnant. Take her inside. Now!"

"You're pregnant?" Carla gasped looking at Daisy as Luca ran down the stairwell.

Despite her anxiety over Gia, Daisy felt her heart freeze. Carla had been more of a mother to her then her own mother. She didn't want her to find out about the baby like that.

"Get inside," Carla pointed to the apartment just as the elevator arrived.

Daisy looked at the open apartment door and then at the elevator. She wasted no time as she ran into the elevator and repeatedly pressed the button for the main floor.

"Why are you girls so stupid?" Carla yelled, running into the elevator after Daisy. "Are you out of your mind? You're carrying a child!"

"Gia-" Daisy looked at the woman but Carla wouldn't hear it.

"Luca is there, isn't he?" Carla yelled as the elevator began to make its way to the ground floor. "Where did I go wrong with you two? You're supposed to be smarter than all this!"

"Well, whoopty doo!" Daisy threw her hands up. "We fucked up!"

"No, shit Sherlock!" Carla jeered. "How far along are you?"

"Only a few weeks," Daisy adjusted her shirt and stared up at the numbers.

"What are your plans?"

"I'm keeping it," Daisy announced.

"And the father?" Carla arched her brow. "What does he want?"

"He's not going to be in the picture," Daisy stepped forward, ready to run out as soon as the elevator doors opened.

"We're going to talk about this," Carla said, stepping forward. "For god's sake, do not run!"

But of course Daisy listened to no one. As soon as the double doors slid open, she ran out into the lobby like a hurricane. With Carla on her heels they made it out to the street where Manny held Gia tightly against his side while shouting at Luca to stand back.

"Manny!" Carla yelled, running to Luca's side. "What are you doing? Let her go!"

"I'm sorry, Carla," the man took a step back, pulling Gia with him. "I'm only doing my job."

"We're a job to you?" Gia asked. "Manny, you kept me safe all these years..."

"Stop talking," Manny hissed.

"Manny, stop. Stop," Luca held up his hands as if to show him he meant no harm. Daisy's heart hummed like a jet engine inside her chest as she moved closer to him.

"Listen to me," Luca said. "Don't do this. I know why you're doing this but this is Gia. You know what he's going to do to her if you take her back to the house."

"Then maybe it should be you," Manny said. "Your father's been trying to reach you."

"I'm not taking her to him," Luca said. "And I'm not going to let you take her to him either."

"Manny, please," Gia whimpered, causing Daisy's heart to contract. Daisy watched as Gia's bare feet stumbled backwards on the sidewalk as she was pulled towards the SUV double parked.

"Please," Gia's bottom lip trembled. She looked at Luca as he prowled forward as if approaching a wild beast. But before anyone could say anything else to change Manny's mind, the door to the SUV opened and Angelo stepped out.

Luca's eyes flickered towards his father over Manny's shoulder. He could tell from the dark look in the man's eyes that he had to act fast or Gia would be gone in a heartbeat.

"Angelo," Carla stepped forward towards her brother. "Stop this right now. That's your daughter. Think of Gianna. She would never forgive you if you hurt Gia."

"Stay out of my way," Angelo said through his teeth as he stepped up to the sidewalk. His eyes turned towards Luca in anger as his nostrils flared, "You."

"Dad, calm down," Luca said. "She's just a kid. She made a mista-"

"She's going to bring down the whole family!" Angelo growled.

"Angelo, please!" Carla rushed closer to her brother. "I know you're upset at her but there is no need for this right now. We can all talk about it ins-"

"Talk about it?" Angelo laughed bitterly. "Everyone in Del Mare will be talking about it soon enough."

No one understood what Angelo was saying until he pulled his phone out of his pocket and passed it to Carla.

"Look," he said, shoving the phone into her hand. "Look at what she has done!"

Daisy's head spun from the stress and anxiety in her body. She struggled to breath as Carla's eyes watered and her mouth fell open. The woman's eyes were glued to the phone's screen as she stared at it in disbelief.

"What is it?" Luca asked, trying to keep his attention on both Manny and Angelo at the same time. "Carla?"

"Who...." Carla looked up and passed the phone to Luca as she spoke to her brother. "Who sent this to you?"

"The number couldn't be traced," Angelo spat. "But take a million dollar guess. Who do you think it could be?"

"What is it?" Daisy stepped forward as Luca took the phone from Carla.

She stopped beside him and looked down at the screen. Her heart stopped immediately and her stomach churned as she realized it was Gia in the video...with Daniel. She felt sick to her bones as she understood the gravity of what had happened to her best friend and what was yet to come. Daisy's eyes filled with tears as she looked up at her best friend.

"They filmed it all!" Angelo looked at Carla as his face twisted in disgust. "She has a fuckin' sex tape now!"

Turning off the video, Luca looked up and his eyes flickered towards Daisy. The look of anger and rage in his eyes scared her as his jaw clenched and he restlessly rubbed his jaw.

"What do they want?" Luca asked his father. "They wouldn't have done this unless they wanted something. What was their demand?"

"The Brooklyn docks," Angelo said. "The price for your sister's reputation."

"We can take legal actions," Carla rushed for a solution. "We can inform NYDP. They can't be serious if they think they're going to get away with releasing that video."

"Luca...." Gia tried to reach for her brother. Daisy stepped forward but was stopped as Carla gripped her hand to keep her away from the guns.

"You really think Dimaggio will be scared of some legal notice?" Angelo's brows furrowed. "She gave them the weapon of the century!"

"Luca," Gia called to her brother again.

"Shut up!" Angelo yelled as he turned towards Gia and raised his hand to strike.

"No!" Luca and Daisy yelled together as he lunged forward and caught Angelo's hand, stopping him just in time before he landed the blow on Gia.

"Don't touch her!" Luca warned.

"You're protecting her?" Angelo growled. "She's about to bring down everything this family has ever worked for and you want to protect her?"

"This is not her fault," Luca held his father back. "They tricked her."

"Get out of my way, Luca," Angelo pushed. "I'm going to kill her myself before she taints this family's reputation!"

"Angelo!" Carla joined Luca. "Stop! She's a kid."

"She was bad luck since the day she was born," Angelo spat in anger.

"Don't say that," Luca's heart pained for his sister despite his raging anger towards his father. He knew how much those words would hurt her. Gia had been through enough. Luca feared she would never be the same again if he didn't do something to get her out of the mess they were all in. He didn't want her to lose herself like he had.

"Manny," Angelo turned towards the man. "Take her to the car."

"No, Manny," Carla ran forward and grabbed Manny's arm. "Don't!"

"Luca, stop them!" Daisy yelled running forward to help Carla pull Manny away from Gia.

"Stop, stop!" Luca jumped into the mix, all their voices rising at once as chaos ensued.

Manny suddenly dropped the gun and stumbled back, releasing Gia momentarily before Angelo grabbed a fist pull of her hair and began to drag her towards the SUV. Padestrials all gathered and stared in shock as Gia screamed and began to flare her arms and legs in a desperate attempt to get away from her father.

Moving Daisy aside, Luca stepped in between his father and sister and began to pull back Anglo's hand.

"You're not going to hurt her," he said through his teeth as the lines between respecting his father and protecting his sister blurred. "Let go of her!"

"Luca, she's done enough!" Angelo yelled as he was pushed back against one of the parked cars. The alarms blared as Gia stumbled back and right into the path of a moving car.

"Gia!" Daisy screamed as the headlights devoured Gia.