Chapter 9

"Thirty six."

Daisy shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she eyed Daniel. His auction card was raised as he looked over to their table and smirked.

"Mother fucker," Daisy muttered under her breath as Luca's hands balled into fists beside her.

"Damn," Eric laughed, not understanding the seriousness of the situation. "That's a little too much for a date, no? I mean if it was the supermodel, I wo-"

Luca's razor sharp gaze sliced towards the guy across the table just as Daisy arched her brows. Both of their eyes dared him to complete the sentence as the auction for a date with Gia continued.

"Sorry," Eric apologized. "Who is that guy?"

"The bad guy," Daisy said before turning to Luca. "Are you okay? Still calm?"

Luca nodded as the muscles on his jaw tensed.

"Thirty seven," Manny held up his auction card.

"He wouldn't..." Daisy wanted to see what Daniel would do. She gasped as he held up his card.

"Thirty eight!" The man on the stage beside Gia shouted with excitement.

Manny turned towards Luca, waiting for his approval to continue bidding. Luca gave him a slight nod as he called for the car to be brought around to the front of the museum. As soon as the auction closed, he would be sending Gia off. Dealing with Daniel would be second on the list.

"What are you going to do to him?" Daisy turned to look back at Luca.

Her question made him smile. He was amazed by how she could read his thoughts so clearly.

"I don't know yet," Luca shrugged. "Any suggestions?"

"Shove that auction card up his ass," Daisy said, returning her glare back to Daniel.

"Get more creative," Luca scooted her chair closer.

"If he does win the date, we can always poison him at dinner."

"I don't want to kill him, sunshine," Luca shook his head.

"What?" Daisy looked over her shoulder. "Why not?"

Because Stella loved him very much, Luca thought.

As if he was thrown into the coldest parts of the Arctic ocean, Luca felt his whole body shiver with chills at the memories of Stella. Suddenly, seeing Daisy sitting beside him, his arm rested on the back of her chair, her legs slightly leaned towards him, touching his, and her backless dress aggravated Luca. He was consumed with unimaginable guilt. It made his stomach clench and his heart drop from cloud nine.

Luca quickly pulled his hand back, accidentally brushing Daisy's arm in the process. She looked back at him over her shoulder and watched him grab his phone.

"What's wrong?" Daisy asked, noticing the look on Luca's face.

"Dimaggio's trying to fuck with my sister," Luca's eyes lifted towards her with venom. "What do you think is wrong?"

"Are you realizing that just now?" Daisy arched her brow. "You seemed fine just a second ago."

"No, I wasn't fine," Luca laughed harshly. "Being distracted by girls like you and being fine with my rival winning a date with my sister are very different from one another."

"Girls like me?" Daisy's eyes narrowed.

Luca didn't want to speak. The pressure inside of his chest was maddening. He thought he was losing his mind from the way his thoughts ran in two different directions.

Stella, Stella, Stella and then the girl sitting before him, waiting for him to answer.

What the fuck are you doing? Luca's thoughts raced. Your sister is in trouble and you're thinking about kissing that stubborn look off her best friend's face. Her best friend who could never be the girl of your dreams. She could never replace Stella in your life. No one can. Especially not the girl who cost you your last chance with Stella.

No, not her.

Never her.

"Yeah, girls like you," Luca said. He looked right into Daisy's eyes knowing what he was about to say would burn whatever bridge he had towards her. "Girls who flirt and sit next to other men while their boyfriend is at the same table."

As Luca watched, the colors drained from Daisy's face as if he had turned her upside down and hung her from the skies by her ankles. She looked as if she was going to be sick.

"Do you know what they call girls like you?" Luca asked, pushing all his emotions down until he felt nothing at all.

It was all too much. Luca looked away from her amber eyes and found Eric staring at them from across the table with a sour look on his face.

"Daisy," he looked at the speechless girl beside Luca. His face hardened with anger.

Luca watched Daisy rise from her seat and move back to her chair beside Eric without a word. He was slightly stunned she didn't break her glass and stab him with the jagged pieces. He was also surprised to find he wanted her to.

No matter how hard he tried to switch off all the confusing emotions inside of his mind, Luca couldn't seem to stop the guilt dripping from his soul like hot lava. It was a different kind of guilt. Not the typical cold icy frost that laid over his heart when he noticed an attractive woman and instantly thought of Stella and her absence in his life.

No, the guilt running through his veins was piping hot like molten lava. It burned his throat and made his insides twist. His limbs felt as if they would fall off and he would crumble if Daisy didn't look over her shoulder at him. Suddenly, the need to see her eyes and assess just how much he had hurt her with his words consumed him. Not even the icy guilt, with its enteral winter frost, could drown out the fire.

"My, my," the auctioneer's laugh pulled Luca's attention back to his sister on stage. "Miss. Silvano sure is a prize to be won tonight. It's getting hot in here. Can I get forty seven thousand dollars for a date with Miss. Silvano?"

"Forty seven," Daniel held up his card as Luca pulled out his phone. He knew exactly what Daniel was trying to do.

Sick of the place and sick of the way his mind spun out of control, Luca quickly typed up a text to Manny and hit send. A few tables away, Manny looked down at his phone before holding up his card.

"Fifty thousand dollars," he said.

"Fifty thousand dollars!" the auctioneer whistled. "Do I have fifty one thousand dollars?"

Everyone turned towards Daniel, but not Luca. Luca knew there would be no more bids.

"Going once..." the auctioneer said. Daniel remained silent.

Let's get on with it, Luca rolled his eyes.

"Going...twice!"

Luca put his phone away and motioned for his men to head to the car. The auctioneer brought the wooden mallet down and pointed to Manny.

"Sold! For fifty thousand dollars!"

The entire ballroom erupted in cheers and applause. Luca watched Daisy let go of her breath and placed her head on Eric's shoulder. The man stiffened immediately as if her touch wasn't welcomed. Luca's hands balled into fists as Daisy immediately recoiled from Eric's reaction.

"We need to talk," Eric said. "I don't understand what's going on with you. What the fuck are you doing?"

"Hey," Luca couldn't stop himself. "Do not speak to her like tha-"

"Stop," Daisy held up her hand, her eyes turning towards Luca for the first time since she moved back to her seat. "You don't get to speak right now."

"She's right," Eric said, rising from his seat just as two of Luca's men came to the table. "This doesn't concern you, Silvano."

Luca's eyes narrowed. He couldn't remember the last time he had beat a man unconscious with his hands. Maybe it was time to remind himself and to let his anger show.

"Let's go," Eric grabbed Daisy's arm and pulled her to her feet.

"I need to talk to Gia," Daisy shook her head.

"I said let's go," Eric clicked his tongue.

Yeah, definitely time to remind myself, Luca thought, his eyes glued on the way Eric's hand wrapped around Daisy's arm.

"Let go of her," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"Man, shut the fuck up," Eric spat.

Luca stepped forward just as Aaron, one of his men, motioned towards someone over Luca's shoulder.

"Sir," he said. Luca paused and looked over his shoulder just as Gia ran into his arms.

"I want to go home," Gia said immediately, gripping Luca's arms. "Now. I want to go home now."

"The car is out front," Luca said, trying to calm her. "Manny and Lorenzo will take y-"

"No," Gia shook her head. Her eyes began to water. "No, I'm not leaving without you."

Luca didn't know how to tell her he couldn't leave without breaking every single one of Eric's fingers that he used to pull Daisy out of her seat.

"Gia, I can't leave ri-" he began, as Gia shook her head and Daisy jumped in.

"What is wrong with you?" Daisy yelled.

Luca's eyes narrowed as the girl stepped up beside his sister with a sour look on her face. Her eyes were guarded and filled with anger. But Luca could still see the hurt in them.

"Look at her," Daisy said."She's scared. She needs her brother right now."

"Gia," Luca spoke to his sister, turning away from Daisy to catch his breath because those fuckin' eyes would be the death of him. "Manny and Lorenzo won't let anything happen to you. Do you understa-"

"I'm worried about you!" Gia stomped her feet impatiently. "I don't want you here. We need to leave. Please!"

"I'll be fine," Luca tried to assure her but Gia shook her head.

"No," she said stubbornly. "If you're not going then I'm not going."

"It's not safe for you here right now," Luca said. "Go home and I'll be there in a fe-"

"No, no," Gia shook her head. By then, the tears had begun to fall down her eyes and she was shivering. "Please, Luca."

"Gia-" Luca sighed.

He couldn't leave. He couldn't let Eric and Daniel off the hook that easily.

"I'm not leaving without you!" Gia frowned.

"For god's sake!" Daisy wrapped her around Gia and pulled her closer. "Are you sure this is the same brother you said would always protect you?"

The muscles in Luca's jaw tensed. She was going to gut him and Luca knew he deserved it after what he said to her.

"Let's go, I'll take you home," Daisy said. "Since he can't put aside some petty auction to comfort his sister. Some brother."

"Don't even think about it," Luca warned, his eyes painted the color of murder. "She's not leaving with you."

"It's either me or you, buddy," Daisy said. "Do you really think she'll get any comfort from thing one and thing two over there right now? She's scared and she needs to be around people she feels safe with."

You both need that right now, Luca thought as his eyes narrowed. He glared at Daisy as she began to pull Gia away.

Just give me a minute to think! Luca groaned in his mind.

"Eric," Daisy looked towards the guy, causing Luca's anger to flare up as if his name alone from Daisy's lips had poured gasoline into the lava in his veins.

"Give me your keys," Daisy said. "I'm taking Gia home."

Eric began to search his pocket as Luca let out a frustrated breath.

I'm going to fuckin' kill him, he thought to himself. If she looks at him one more time or if she leaves with him tonight, I'm going to dig up his grave and bury him in pieces.

Taking Gia's hand, Luca turned towards the door, "Let's go."

"Daisy!" Gia grabbed her best friend's hand.

Good job, Luca praised his sister as he began to pull them through the crowd.

"Eric, I'll meet you back at the apartment!" Daisy called over her shoulder as she hurried to her friend's side.

I'm going to kill him, Luca's hand tightened around Gia's. She's out of her fuckin' mind!

Picking up his speed, Luca stormed down the steps of the Metropolitan Museum towards his car. He held the door open and watched Gia climb in before Daisy stepped up and hesitated slightly.

Don't test me, Luca warned with his eyes.

I'm going to smother you in your sleep, Daisy's eyes seemed to snap back before she climbed in and Luca slammed the door shut.

"What about Carla?" Daisy gasped as soon as Luca got into the driver's seat and started the car.

Luca looked up to the rear view mirror and yanked his seat belt to loosen up. He had no desire to answer any of Daisy's questions as he put the car in drive and merged into traffic.

"Manny or Aaron will drive her home," Gia said, pulling Daisy back into her seat.

"Oh, good," Daisy sighed. "I was so scared we had forgotten Carla back there with the psycho Dimaggio. What the hell was he thinking?"

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

"He wanted us to lose fifty thousand," Luca bit down on his jaw to keep all his thoughts straight.

"What?" Daisy's brows furrowed. "Why?"

"One of his cargo shipments went missing from our docks," Luca stared straight ahead, not knowing why he was telling her all this. Maybe he just liked the fact that they were having somewhat of a normal conversation and the guilt in his veins was beginning to shimmer down a little."It was worth fifty thousand dollars."

Daisy didn't resound. Luca looked up at the rear view mirror and adjusted it slightly to make sure he could keep an eye on her. He waited to catch her eyes before looking back at the road.

Yep, he said to himself when she looked up and caught his gaze. Still mad.

Daisy glared at the mirror before turning away. Luca couldn't see her as she leaned closer to Gia.

"Are you okay?" Daisy asked. "Want to roll down the window for some fresh air? You're turning red."

Luca moved his hand to the buttons on his door and lowered the car windows. The breeze filled the inside as the scent of Daisy's perfume swirled around and caught Luca's attention. He looked up and watched the two girls as they whispered to one another. The car came to a rolling stop at the stop light and Luca let out a small sigh as he leaned his head back against the seat.

What the hell am I going to say to her? Luca wondered. She needs to stay away. That's all...there's nothing else to say to her.

Luca's heart didn't agree. The thought of never speaking to Daisy again and letting her go on carrying those words he said to her didn't sit well with him. He knew he needed to cut ties with her and maybe his harsh words and cold treatment would do the job. But it didn't feel right. It felt like everything was slipping through his fingers.

As they waited at the stoplight and Luca's mind battled with the emotions inside of himself, two cars came to stop beside them. Luca shifted his attention curiously as the windows rolled down and Billy McCarthy grinned at him from the inside.

Motherfucker, Luca's hands jerked up to the steering wheel as two of McCarthy's men pulled out their guns and began to shoot at his car. As soon as he heard Daisy and Gia's scream, he hit the gas pedal and launched the car into the intersection. Horns began to blare as the two other cars raced after them.

"Get down," Luca ordered the girls. For a split second, Luca looked up at the rear view mirror and lost his breath.

Daisy held her hand up to her face and stared at the dark red blood on her fingers. Her gaze flickered up and met Luca as his eyes widened.

No, Luca swore his heart stopped.

He looked over his shoulder and spotted the pool of blood soaking into Daisy's dress. Her hands trembled as her eyes watered with fear.

No, no, no, Luca turned back around towards the road and pulled out his own gun. 

Luca is making me so mad. He's so stubborn >.<