Chapter 47: Truth about Luca
The next morning, Sara woke earlier than usual. To her surprise, the space beside her on the bed was empty. Luca was nowhere to be seen. Puzzled, she got up, washed her face, and wandered into the kitchen to brew coffee for herself.
With her mug, she stepped out toward the poolside, the early sunlight glimmering on the still water. Just as she brought the cup to her lips, she heard a gun shot.
Sara froze. Her heart lurched with fear.
Holding the mug tightly, she turned toward the sound. The noise had come from the far end of the house. Her breath caught as she pushed open a half-closed door, revealing a dimly lit room.
"Luca..." she whispered.
There he was standing with his arm extended, holding a gun steadily. Without looking at her, he fired again, sending a cold shiver down her spine.
"Good morning, wife!" Luca greeted, his eyes locking onto hers with a faint, mischievous smile.
"What are you doing?" Sara’s curiosity surged as she stepped closer, setting her coffee mug carefully on a nearby table. "Don’t tell me that’s a real gun," she said, half-joking, reaching out to hold it. Luca didn’t stop her; she felt the weight of it in her hands.
"It’s heavy," she murmured, fingers brushing lightly over the trigger.
"It’s a real gun," Luca said, his tone calm and certain. "Licensed."
Sara’s brow furrowed in disbelief. "What? No... you can’t be serious. Why would you practice with a real gun?"
A slow smile spread across Luca’s face. He stepped behind her, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his body, the faint brush of his breath against her ear. With careful guidance, he positioned her arm forward, steadying her grip.
"It’s a real gun," he whispered, his lips brushing her earlobe. "Did you forget my family’s origins? One day... you might need to fire it yourself."
"No, Luca, no!" Sara shook her head with fear and protest in her voice.
But her finger had already found the trigger and pressed it.
"Ahh!" A scream escaped his mouth as well the shot landed right at the aim.
Luca laughed at her reaction as she shoved him away.
"What are you making me do?" Sara muttered, irritation lacing her voice.
"I was just having fun," Luca replied, slipping the gun from her hands with ease.
"Playing with a real gun isn’t fun. You shouldn’t keep something so dangerous around," Sara said, shooting him a sharp glare. She returned to the table and picked up her coffee mug, realizing the coffee had gone cold. She took a long, quick sip before stepping outside.
’Why did he have to use the gun first thing in the morning?’ she wondered. ’And why do I suddenly feel like I don’t know half the things about him?’
A warm hand draped over her shoulder, and she tensed.
"Get away," Sara warned, nudging him with her elbow to create some distance.
"You didn’t make coffee for your husband," Luca teased, a hint of mock reproach in his voice.
"That wasn’t in the contract," Sara shot back, but before she could react further, he grabbed the mug from her hands.
"Hey!"
Before she could protest, he took a sip, his gaze locked on hers.
"Mmm... it’s average," Luca remarked, swirling the coffee in his mouth.
"Don’t drink it!" Sara snapped, reaching out to grab the mug, but he was quicker, stepping back with a teasing smile.
"But I never said it was bad," he countered, drinking the remaining coffee. "As husband and wife, we should share everything, shouldn’t we?"
Sara shook her head in disbelief, crossing her arms over her chest. "The very first thing you do in the morning is annoy me."
Luca only grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and stepped closer. She instinctively retreated, but he was faster. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her gently yet firmly against him.
"Why do you run away from me? I thought we were good with little touches and kisses," Luca stated.
"No. You were comfortable with it, not me," Sara corrected him, pressing her hands on his chest.
He smiled, then released her. Sara didn’t waste a second, she bolted out of his sight. Luca followed at a slower pace, stopping in the living room.
Sara turned to look at him. "Luca is here," she whispered, then returned her gaze to her father-in-law.
"Why did you come here?" Luca asked, his tone sharp.
"Have you completely forgotten your manners?" Michael growled, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Yes... I have," Luca replied. "Will my greeting make you feel proud that you raised a son with noble values?"
Sara’s eyes narrowed as she glared at him. ’What the hell is wrong with him?’ she thought, gesturing for him to show some respect to his father.
"First, you got married against our will, and now you’re throwing a fit at me!" Michael’s voice thundered. He shifted his gaze to Sara. "I will return Falcone Industries to you, Sara."
"Dad!" Luca raised his voice, clearly agitated.
Sara looked at Michael, who continued, "However, make sure Luca divorces you within this month. He is supposed to marry someone of my choosing, someone of his league."
Luca let out a dry, wry laugh at his father’s words.
"You won’t want to live with a madman," Michael said with warning. "My son... he works with mafias, has a tendency to hurt others. He even beat up your ex and put him in prison. I don’t know how much you know about this, but it’s the truth about Luca."
Sara’s eyes widened to hear that. She recalled the messages from Frida, where she mentioned how Luca beat up Asher.
"You got one month to claim what you have lost," Michael said again before leaving.
"Don’t listen to my father," Luca said.
"Don’t utter a single word, Luca. Just tell me if you beat up Asher or not. Did you lie to me?" asked Sara.
"Yes, but that–"
Sara shot a glare at him as she turned fully toward him, making him stop in the middle.