Chapter 33

On the drive back, Luca held Daisy's hand firmly in his and repeatedly kissed it as if she might disappear if he stopped. Daisy sighed in her seat and stared out the window at the beautiful countryside and let the wind play with her hair.

"What do you want to do today?" Luca asked, pulling into town.

"The beach?"

Luca frowned. He hadn't been to the beach since Stella. Ever since her death, all his dreams were haunted by her and the damn beach.

"It's too hot for that," he said.

"This is the perfect beach weather!"

"Go with Gia," Luca drove up to the small flower shop and stopped the car.

"I want to go with you," Daisy said.

"I have some work to finish up," Luca said.

"What work?"

"Babe," Luca clicked his tongue. "Please, just go with G. Take Theo with you. He'll like it."

"Fine," Daisy said casually, not thinking too much about it.

"Wait in the car," Luca said as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

"Where are you going?"

"Give me a second," Luca stepped out and closed the door.

Daisy's eyes followed him as he made his way across the front of the car and towards the flower shop. She began to smile as Luca walked up to the man at the stand and pointed to some of the flowers in the large silver buckets. She leaned forward and rolled the window down to watch him with her arms on the door under her chin.

The man at the flower shop greeted Luca like most people in town did. As if he was a relative they hadn't seen in years. They stopped to chat for a while with polite nods, happy eyes, and lots of laughter. It warmed Daisy's heart to see Luca so lively. She would have never imagined him to be such a people's person. Making friends everywhere he went.

As Daisy watched, the old man at the flower shop gathered flowers from the buckets and began to wrap them in white papers. Daisy could almost smell the sweet roses and lilies from the car as the man handed Luca the bouquet and then pulled out another one that was only filled with white roses.

There was a pause as the shopkeeper waited for Luca to take the second bouquet. Daisy wondered what they were speaking about as Luca looked over his shoulder at her. Their eyes locked and he gave her a small smile. Daisy smiled back as Luca turned back towards the old man and shook his head. He pulled out his wallet and paid for the flowers before turning on his heels and walking back to the car.

"For me?" Daisy laughed as he held them out towards her through the car window.

"Of course," Luca leaned in through the window and kissed her.

"Thank you," Daisy raised a hand and touched the edge of his face. She stared into his green eyes hoping he saw how much she adored him. "I love you."

A wide smile broke across Luca's face. He kissed her again, tasting the words on her lips as the scent of the flowers filled the car. Daisy giggled, pushing him away as his tongue began to seek more and more.

"Do you want to stop by anywhere?" Luca asked.

"No," Daisy said. "I want to get home and see Theo."

"We can all go out for lunch," Luca suggested.

"Maybe," Daisy sighed.

"Okay," Luca gave her one last kiss before walking back around to the driver's seat and starting the engine. Daisy buried her nose in the flowers and smiled to herself. She didn't notice the way some of the women stared at her from the shops and boutiques. But Luca did.

He knew every single one of them. They were all Stella's friends. They used to follow her around town as if she was honey. Every single one of them either wanted to be Stella or be with Luca. Seeing them after so many years felt surreal. Luca could care less how they still looked at him as if they would leave their husbands and families if he only looked at them once. But he did care about how they looked at Daisy. Driving out of town, a new fear began to blossom in Luca's head.

What if they scared Daisy away?

What if she got sick of all the memories of Stella in Del Mare? What if she started to notice how the people of the town still wished Luca and Stella were together?

Swallowing the hard lump in his throat, Luca looked over at Daisy. His heart pulsed with worry as she sat in her seat staring out the window and clutching her flowers to her chest. She looked so happy.

"Do you want to go to the beach?" Luca asked.

"I thought you had work to do?" Daisy said.

"It can wait," Luca shrugged.

"Are you sure?" Daisy asked.

"Yes," Luca laughed, parking the car inside the gate and killing the engine.

"Theo's never been to the beach," Daisy said with excitement. "He'll need sunscreen."

"Start packing," Luca said, opening her door.

"They're still at the market," Daisy said, jumping out of the car. "G texted me earlier."

"Okay, we'll wait for them then," Luca said. "Get what you need and I'll have someone load the car."

"Are there any swimsuit restrictions in this town?" Daisy asked. "Because I only brought slutty bikinis with me."

"Slutty bikinis are fine," Luca laughed. He reached out and squeezed the sides of her waist to make her shrike. Pulling her closer, Luca lowered his lips to her ear, "Just make sure I get to see plenty of legs and other important assets."

"Right," Daisy laughed. "Assets."

"Smart girl," Luca squeezed her again.

"Stop doing that!" Daisy smacked him with the flowers before twisting away and running up the stairs. She left a trail of petals on the floor as she kicked off her heels and hurried to search for her swimsuits.

Luca stood at the bottom of the stairwell watching the way the girl's ass moved with a grin on his face. When she disappeared at the top of the landing and he lowered his gaze, he found Carla watching him from the living room sofa. She had a book in her hands but all her attention was on Luca. Her brows arched as if asking what in the world he was doing. Luca cleared his throat and looked away. He quickly hurried up the stairs before Carla could verbally ask him what the hell he was doing.

As Daisy began to change in their room, Luca walked past his old bedroom and quietly snuck inside. He locked the door behind him before hurrying around the place to make sure he had gotten rid of anything that would make Daisy think of Stella. All her pictures had been removed. Her gifts, letters, cards. There was nothing in sight that might upset Daisy. Luca stood in the middle of the room looking around, doing a double check and then a triple check. Once he was satisfied that everything had been hidden, he turned towards the door.

On his way out, his old polaroid camera caught his attention. It had been a gift from Stella. But Daisy wouldn't know that. Luca picked up the camera and checked the batteries. He filled the film compartment before finding some new batteries and getting the camera ready for the day. Once it was set up, he walked back to his new bedroom where his wife was struggling to undo the zipper of her dress.

"Look at me," Luca said, holding the camera up to his eye.

Daisy turned and flinched as Luca captured her image. She lowered her hands and frowned seeing the film pop out of the camera.

"That's a terrible way to take someone's picture," Daisy said.

"You look beautiful," Luca closed the door with his foot before walking up to her and showing her the photo.

"I look scared for my life," Daisy laughed, seeing the picture of herself.

"My beautiful wife," Luca kissed the side of her head.

"Take a better picture of me," Daisy demanded. "That one's terrible."

"Fine," Luca rolled his eyes as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Pose for me."

"How?" Daisy asked.

"I don't know," Luca held the camera up to his eye.

He watched through the lens as Daisy stood chewing on her bottom lip. She stared at him for a while before taking the hem of her dress and pulling it over her head. Luca's eyes darkened as she tossed the dress aside and stepped forward in her white lace bra and underwear.

"This picture's for you," Daisy said. Walking up to Luca. He lowered the camera and set it aside before running his hand up her legs and then placing them on her hips. "On one else is allowed to see it."

Luca grinned as Daisy pushed him back on the bed and climbed on top of him. She handed him the camera before straddling him between her thighs and sitting down. Reaching back, Daisy unhooked her bra and slipped it off. She felt goosebumps rise on her skin as Luca's hand slid up her waist and cupped her full breast. Her head rolled to one side as his hand moved up and up before stopping at her throat.

"Hold still," Luca commanded, his voice thick like the bulge in his pants between Daisy's legs.

Daisy looked at him through her lashes as she parted her lips and took his thumb into her mouth. Luca's jaw clenched as he took the photo.

"Now take off the rest of your clothes and sit on my face," he said.

Daisy ran her tongue along his thumb once more before climbing off of him and taking off her underwear. Luca watched her as she made her way back to the bed. He took her hand as he laid back down and she moved closer to his mouth.

"Sit," Luca said as Daisy hovered over his lips.

Just hearing him made the muscles in Daisy's belly clench. She spread her thighs and slowly lowered herself. Luca hooked his arms around her thighs and pulled her closer His wet tongue pressed into her before curling up to part her. Daisy bit down on her lips, hard. She moaned as Luca's fingers dug into her hips and he pulled her closer. His tongue flicked her clit fast and then slow, picking up a rhythm that made Daisy hips start to rock. Seeing how excited she was, Luca pushed his tongue inside and teased her entrance.

"Oh my fuckin' god," Daisy's legs tightened around Luca's head. When she tried to jump away, Luca gripped her hips and held her in pace over his mouth. His tongue continued to flick back and forth as if he was cleaning off ice cream from a cone. But the more he cleaned, the wetter she got.

"Luca," Daisy called to him breathlessly.

When he didn't listen to her and continued to push his tongue farther and farther up her pussy, Daisy leaned forward and laid her head on his stomach. She reached out with her hands over her head and began to unbutton Luca's pants.

With her body squirming and being pulled back to Luca's mouth, Daisy managed to undo his pants and pull out his cock. She stared at his size for a few seconds before sticking out her tongue and running it up his dick.

Luca groaned against her wet pussy as Daisy took him into her mouth. He was big and hard, making Daisy's arousal intensify. She imagined what it would feel like to lay beneath him as he pushed himself inside of her. Her legs shook immediately. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to feel him throb in her mouth and cum.

Daisy's back curved as she laid her weight down in Luca with her ass up in the air. She let his tongue be the substitute for his dick as she sucked on it. The harder he pushed with his tongue, the more she sucked. The room began to fill with dangerous currents. The air was charged and in any second everything could go up in fire.

Just as Luca began to feel himself losing control, he picked Daisy up and sat her down on her bed. She looked up at him in confusion with her hair messy and lips plump and wet.

"Stay right there," Luca said as he grabbed the camera. He wanted to remember her like that forever. Daisy smiled.

After clicking the picture, Luca put the camera on the edge of the bed and grabbed Daisy's ankles. He pulled her forward and laid her back as he took his cock into his hand.

"Now?" Daisy asked, her eyes lighting up filling with nerves.

"Yes, now," Luca said. "I'm going to go fuckin' insane if I don't fuck you right now."

Daisy's breathing labored as she watched him place one knee on the bed and come forward. Her eyes dropped to his cock once more and she swallowed.

"What's wrong?" Luca asked.

"You're so big," Daisy said.

"I'll go slow," Luca chuckled.

"I don't want you to," Daisy said. "I want it all at once."

"Okay, baby," Luca kissed her as he moved in between her legs.

His cock pressed against her wet pussy and they both groaned at the same time into each other's mouths. Luca placed his weight on one arm as he took his cock into his hand and moved it closer to Daisy's entrance. He watches her moan and grip the sheet as he began to move the tip of his cock in circles around her entrance.

She felt like heaven and he wasn't even inside of her yet. Luca wanted to tear into her and fuck her until she couldn't move. He could already picture how she would look with her legs wide open for him and her hands reached out for his cock. He would keep those photos some place very very safe.

"Please," Daisy wined, her pussy dripping wet. "Luca..."

Luca lowered himself, ready to be Daisy's forever. His hand moved her face so he could look at her as he began to push forward.

But before anything could happen, the loud horn from outside froze them both. Luca cursed under his breath as he heard the driveway gates opening and then his grandmother's voice shouting at Gia.

"No," Daisy looked as if she was ready to start crying.

"I'm sorry," Luca sighed, kissing the side of her face.

"Just a little bit," Daisy tried to keep Luca on top of her.

"Gia's going to bring Theo in here any second," Luca apologized. "We need to get dressed."

"I'm going to murder her," Daisy pushed Luca off and rolled away. "Why couldn't she come home ten minutes later?"

"Ten minutes?" Luca laughed, sitting up and grabbing his clothes off the floor. "You think that would have been enough?"

"No," Daisy muttered, pulling on her sundress and then reaching for her underwear. "But at least you would have been inside of me and I would know what you felt like."

"Soon," Luca chuckled, kissing her cheek. "Now, go get Theo. Make sure he's fine and doesn't have a sunburned."

"Put the pictures away," Daisy pointed to the scandalous photos on the bed.

"I might frame them," Luca teased. "Hang them up on the wall in my office."

"I mean," Daisy teased back. "If you're okay with everyone else and all of your men seeing me like that."

"I'll have to pluck out a lot of eyes," Luca said.

"Keep them in your wallet," Daisy winked.

She heard Luca laugh as she quickly ran into the bathroom to clean up as much as she could before running down stairs to get Theo. Spotting Gia and Maria at the door, Daisy made her way over to them.

"What's going on?" She asked, seeing the look on Gia's face and the irritation on Maria's. "Everything okay...?"

"Where's Luca?" Gia asked, handing Theo over to his mother.

"Upstairs," Daisy quickly took note of the panic in Gia's eyes. Her insides began to fill with worry as she placed Theo on her hips and pinned Gia with her gaze. "What happened?"

"I saw Daniel," Gia said.

"What?" Daisy's eyes flickered towards Maria walking in through the door.

"Oh, good. You're home," the woman said with a sigh. "I was just telling Gia about talking to Father Santino. I would like to get Theo baptized before you leave."

Baptized? Daisy looked at the woman as if she was crazy. She wasn't even baptized.

"One problem at a time, please," Daisy smiled instead. "I think you should really talk to Luca about that first."

"Where is he?" Maria asked.

"Upstairs," Daisy shifted Theo's head to her shoulder and grabbed Gia's hand. "Come with me."

Gia followed her friend through the halls until they found a quiet room and locked themselves inside.

"What happened?" Daisy asked. "Did he say anything? What did you say?"

"I told him to go fuck himself," Gia walked over to the window and took a seat on the bench.

"As you should," Daisy applauded her.

"He said he was sorry and that he couldn't live without me."

"Lies," Daisy rolled her eyes.

"And then I made him think Theo was our son..."

What the fuck?

Daisy stilled. She stared at Gia, waiting for the girl to tell her she was joking. But when a minute stretched on and Gia stared back with her green eyes filled with hurt and pain, Daisy grew concerned.

"Why....why would you do that?" She asked.

For the first time in their friendship, Daisy began to feel sparks of irritation. How could Gia be so dumb?

"I don't know," Gia lowered her eyes. "He was already thinking it....I just.....didn't correct him."

"So he thinks Theo is his son," Daisy's eyes narrowed. Her body began to heat up with anger as she stared at her best friend. Daisy's arms tightened around Theo. She could feel her frustration bubbling out of her, ready to shout at Gia.

"Yeah..." Gia grew smaller, as if knowing Daisy was about to lose it. "Dee, I'm so sorry. I panic-"

"My son is not a prop..." Daisy's voice lowered and her eyes grew harder. Despite the anger inside of her, her voice was coated with a strange sense of sorrow.

"He's not everyone's toy," Daisy said sternly, pushing down the lump in her throat.

"I know," Gia began to apologize profusely. "I am so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I just....I wanted to hurt him...it's like I couldn't breathe when I saw him and all I could think about at that moment was how painful the last two years had been. I wanted him to know how much it hurt."

Daisy's lips were set into a thin line. Her eyes were soft and understanding but the veil of protection she had for her son shielded Gia from that softness.

"What if something happens to him?" Daisy asked, her heart thundering with worry. "What if Daniel does something to him?"

"He won't," Gia said immediately. "I saw the way he was looking at us."

As if she was a tea kettle, Daisy let out a furious breath. She had a hand over Theo's back as the little boy drifted off to sleep on her shoulder. Daisy felt as if she couldn't hold him close enough.

"Hurt him all you want," she said. "I'll help you...but not with Theo. Not my baby. I'm sorry."

"I completely understand," Gia lowered her gaze. "I'm so sorry."

"Are you going to tell your brother?" Daisy asked.

Luca is going to lose it, you idiot girl! Daisy wanted to yell.

"I don't know..." Gia said.

"He needs to know," Daisy said. "Just in case Daniel does something."

Gia slowly nodded.

"Let me talk to him.," Daisy slowly walked over to the bench and took a seat.

"What are you going to say?" Gia asked.

"Leave that up to me."

"I'm so sorry, Dee," Gia said once more.

Daisy stared at the girl before her. She wanted to be mad. She wanted to scream at her. But ever since Gia's accident, every time Daisy looked at her, all she saw was the pool of blood on the road after the car accident.

Daisy had never had a family. Whatever she tried to create with Patty and her stepfathers were always ruined by her mother's divorce. Growing up the expectation of a family was always a disappointment.

But Gia's friendship was constant. No matter how many ups and downs came through Daisy's life, Gia was always there for her. They were not blood, but they were closer than family. Seeing Gia in the hospital fighting for her life was hard on Daisy. She didn't know what she would do if anything had happened to the only person she loved since childhood with all her heart.

Now you and your brother, Daisy sighed. God, this sibling due will be the end of me.

"Well..." Daisy cleared her throat. "I mean you are Theo's godmother so technically you didn't really lie."

Gia stared at the ground. Her face was dull and lifeless.

Daisy nudged Gia with her knee. "Did it crush him?"

"Yeah..." Gia whispered breathlessly.

"Did it make you feel good?"

"A little..." Gia nodded. "I never felt anger like that in my life. I wanted to break down in tears and scream at him. I wanted to bang my fists against him, dig my nails into his skin...I just...I wanted him to hurt. That's all I could understand."

"Maybe you do need to scream," Daisy said. "Forget all this nonsense about taking the high road or being the bigger person. He hurt you and he can't get away with that. He has to pay."

Gia pulled back slightly and stared with her eyes wide. A few seconds ticked by before the girl started to chuckle.

"What?" Daisy asked.

Gia shook her head as her eyes grew dim once more, "When I was younger, Maria told me stories about how we have an angel on our right shoulder and a devil on our left shoulder. They always whisper in our ears to steer us."

"Why is that funny?" Daisy asked in confusion.

"Because I think you have two devils on your shoulder," Gia teased. "You're a mother now. You should be telling me to play nice. Forgive and forget."

"Fuck that shit," Daisy snorted. "Anyone mess with Theo, their mama better know how to fight."

"Oh, Mrs. Silvano," Gia shook her head. "No."

"I'm not playing," Daisy laughed. "Why does he get to get away with it? Why do we girls have to sit around with a broken heart all the time? When do we get to make bad decisions?"

"I think I've already made mine," Gia slowly pulled her legs up and placed her chin on her knees. "That night when I ran off with him."

"Did you know it was going to turn out this way?"

"Of course not."

"So that's not a bad decision," Daisy shook her head. "Bad decisions are when you know you're doing something bad but you do it anyway. When you ran off with him, you thought your decision was going to lead you to a happy ending."

"I don't think that's how it works."

"That's how it should work," Daisy clicked her tongue. She turned to face Gia and gripped her hand, "Look...we're only here for two weeks. Use your time wisely. Get in as many punches as you can. Do.....do everything! Every bad decision that society tells us not to go towards. Make him jealous, make him beg for you, fuck with his head!"

"Daisy," Gia frowned.

"I know I sound terrible," Daisy said. "But he wasn't there, G. He didn't see you in that hospital or on that street bleeding out....I'm angry at him too and I want him to beg at your feet when he realizes how much love he missed out on."

Gia's eyes water. Seeing the tears, Daisy's heart sank. She could feel her own heart burn as if Daniel had struck her. She began to wonder what she would do if Luca ever made her feel the way Daniel made Gia feel.

Don't go there, Daisy warned herself.

"I don't know about everybody else," Daisy spoke up. "But I always thought the best way to erase pain was to set everything on fire and watch it burn until there is no more pain."

Yeah, that makes sense, Daisy said, her imagination running wild and thinking of Luca breaking her heart. I'll burn it all to the ground, Silvano.

While Daisy sat lost in her violent thoughts, Gia wiped her eyes and smiled. It didn't reach her eyes, but at least she tried.

"Do you remember that Rihanna song?" Daisy reached out and wiped a droplet of tear left on Gia's cheek. "Once a good girl goes bad..."

Gia chuckled, "We die forever."

"Yeah.." Daisy said. "Loving you was a privilege Daniel ruined. If he wants to apologize, he has to first feel how badly he hurt you."

Gia slowly nodded.

"I'm sure your brother or aunt would disagree with me," Daisy sighed. "I am driven by emotion most of the time. But to hell with thinking logically when our hearts are broken."

"Luca wouldn't disagree with you," Gia bumped Daisy's knees.

"Yeah, whatever," Daisy rolled her eyes and stood up. "We're going to the beach. Do you want to co-"

"Do you like him?"

"Who?"

"Luca," Gia said.

"You're asking me if I like your brother?" Daisy arched her brow and tried to remain calm but her heart was pounding in her chest. "Why?"

"I..." Gia shrugged, not finding words and laughed. "I don't know. I see that you two get along more now. Sometimes it feels like he stole my best friend."

"I can't stand your brother," Daisy said, slightly panicked. "You know that already."

"Could you try to."

"Why?"

"I don't know," Gia laughed again. "Sometimes I just think you two have more in common than you realize. And then I see you and Luca with Theo and it warms my heart. It would be strange, but I mean it's not like I never thought about it."

"Me and Luca?" Daisy asked, her heart in her throat.

"Don't kill me," Gia raised her hands.

"When did you think about it?"

"I don't know the exact time and date," Gia shrugged.

"Before or after Stella?" Daisy suddenly asked. "Or during Stella?"

"I..." Gia seemed caught off guard by the direction the conversation had taken. "I don't know."

Daisy slowly nodded. Her heart was beginning to sink as she thought of the other girl.

"What was she like again?"

"Who?" Gia arched her brow. "Stella?"

"Yeah," Daisy nodded.

"She was....." Gia thought for a second. "She was the small town princess type of girl. Like when you looked at her, you just knew her life was perfect and she always got everything she ever wanted."

"What do you mean?" Daisy asked.

"Her life seemed like a movie, you know," Gia said. "Rich girl from a big family, beautiful face, private colleges, handsome husbands, big white house with green lawn and nannies to raise her doll-like kids while she flew around the world with her loving husband."

"With Luca."

"What?" Gia asked in confusion.

"Her loving husband," Daisy felt the air in her lungs get stuck somewhere in her body. "Luca, right?"

"I guess," Gia shrugged. "Sometimes I doubt he would have been happy with her if they had married and started a family."

"Why?"

"I don't know," Gia said yet again. "I was too young to understand anything. But my brother seemed to always look at Stella as if he was admiring something at a store front window."

"He was head over heels for her," Daisy said quietly.

"He was," Gia nodded.

Just then, the door to the room opened and the man himself walked in.

"Let's go," Luca said, looking at the girls. "The car is packed."   

:)