Luca’s Inferno by Karima Sa’ad Usman

Chapter 22

22 I Need A Job. Emma. THREE MONTHS LATER (Six Months into the contract). I was glad I had that talk with Luca. After our little fight, things changed as he promised. Catalina was respectful and used few words. I ran the house as a wife should, and I slowly began to forget my place. Luca was always busy. From the way things were happening, it seemed like the person he was looking for was good at hiding. He was often frustrated when he came back up, and it was up to me to calm him down when no one else could. It was so bad that even Catalina usually came to plead with me to beg her brother on her behalf. It was as if I was the only one that could get through to him. It felt good, but I was worried also. When I finally leave, who would he lean on? Luca returned home exhausted. There was spatters of blood on his shirt, and I did not ask him whose it was. I never bothered. It wasn’t my business, and it wasn’t my place. He looked a bit tense, and I did not know what the issue would be, so I thought of something that might relax him. “Would you like to soak in the tub?” I asked him, and he looked at me and smiled. No matter how angry or sad Luca was, he always had a smile for me. I appreciated his thoughtfulness. I wanted to discuss some things with him, but I figured I needed him to relax before I could. “That would be great,” he said in his deep voice. I walked up to him and kissed him. He pulled me back to his chest when I tried to walk away and wanted to take me on the spot, but I shook my head playfully and told him he would have to wait. He growled impatiently, and I giggled. I went to put on the hot water and scented it. Once it was filled, I took off my clothes and got in. Then I linked him. “I am waiting,” I said. He growled in response; I giggled, scooped some foam and blew it off my palms playfully. He entered utterly naked. He turned around and walked towards the mirror to brush his teeth. The muscles on his back flexed, almost making it seem like the dragon tattoo on his back was alive. The dragon was surrounded by the flame it produced. I had always wanted to ask him about it but never did. So I decided to try again. “Luca, what’s with the dragon and flames on your back?” I asked, and he laughed. He rinsed his mouth and spat out the water and then stood straight to flex his muscles so I could get the full view. Instead ofNôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

looking at the tattoo, my eyes were fixed on his tight, sexy, manly butt. My mind was in the gutters. “The dragon breathes fire. It can never burn him. Hell is fire, and I am the dragon that rules it, “he said, and I understood. “We need to cool those flames in the tub and ignite a different kind of fire,” I teased sexily, and he chuckled. He walked to me all man and hotness. Then got into the tub. He reached for me and pulled me close, making me sit between his legs. I felt his hardness and moaned in anticipation, knowing I would be getting all of it. He kissed my shoulder and then my neck “Your scent is divine, Emma. It has a strong hold on me.” He said, kissing the sensitive spot on my neck where my mate’s mark should be. He sucked it, and I felt his teeth gracing it. He was growling, and my heart was pounding in my chest. If he sinks his teeth in, we would be bound together forever. There will be no need to count down days or know my place. We

would belong to each other. My inner wolf wanted it. I felt it. I moaned and arched my neck gently to encourage it. I wanted it; I wanted to be his. Luca held me tight, and I knew he was fighting himself. I wasn’t making it easy because I made my neck so easily accessible. I wanted him to sink his teeth in and claim me as his. His growls became louder; he lifted me slightly and made me sit on his cock; I rode it. He pulled me close with my back against his chest and squeezed my breasts. “Fuck, Emma. This is heaven. You bring me sweet heaven,” he said, and all I could do was moan in response because I loved the ride. Soon, I came, and he released me into me. He left me on him for a bit before allowing me to get up. “I want us to go on a vacation, Emma. What do you say?” He asked, and I turned to him smiling “Really?” I asked like a little girl. Anything that would take me out of the house for a long time will be nice. “Yes, that would be amazing,” I said, and he pulled me to his chest and kissed my neck right where a mate’s mark should be. Goddess, make him claim me. “Luca,” I said quietly, and he responded with a deep breath, still kissing and nibbling at my neck. Who could have thought we would end up being close and I would be the boss’s woman even if it was for a limited time? Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen to me. Too bad I did not have what it takes to be with him for the rest of our lives. “I don’t like how I am couped up in this place. I need a job,” I said, and he stopped what he was doing, so

I turned to look at him. “I know I have six more months to go with you, but I would like to work during that period. I feel lazy. I am always at home doing nothing.” I said, and she caressed my cheeks gently and smiled. “You are doing a lot, Emma. Keeping me happy is a lot of work,” he said, and I bowed. “It isn’t working for me, Luca. It is living,” I said, and he stared deep into my eyes. What I had said had touched his heart. There was a tinge of sorrow in his eyes. “Emma, I can’t give you the life you deserve. I hope you are not in love with me?” He asked, and I knew I would have to lie because that ship sailed long ago. “I will stick to our contract no matter what, Luca. I have promised you I will not complicate things between us, and I will let go without a fight. I intend to keep that promise regardless.” I said with pain in my heart, and he gently lifted my chin so we could maintain eye contact. “Emma, regardless of what?” He asked, and I tried to look away. He held my chin in place. “I just want to work, Luca, please,” I asked, avoiding the question, and he looked at me long and hard. He knew I was avoiding the question and was kind enough to let it rest. “Okay, I will set up a business for you. Something to help you pass your time, but I must warn you, I will have to stage men there, so you can be,” he said, and I shook my head. “No, Luca. I want to work for you. Maybe as your secretary in the meantime. Besides, I will go far away when all this is over.” I said, and his face faltered. “Where will you go to? I thought you would return to Celio to work in your family’s supermarket?” He asked, and I shook my head. “I will move far away from here, Luca. So I can start afresh. Maybe a different state or a different country. I know that would be better.” I said to him, and he frowned and asked me why. I could not tell him it was because I did not want to run into him. “My lifestyle is dangerous, Emma. I cannot let you into my business as anything,” he said, and I held his hands. “Please, Luca. You can trust me. My life is in your hands. My entire family is indebted to you. I would rather die than betray you, please. You do not have to take me about. I can work on your documents. I am an accountant, you know, I can help you with your books, please. I promise I won’t be a handful. I won’t stalk you or be possessive around you. I won’t question you,” I pleaded, and he looked at

me a bit and then reluctantly nodded. “I will find something for you to do that will keep you in this house. I do not want you out there. Things are crazy, and people might target you to get to me,” he said, and then I chuckled. “They will be wasting their time trying to hurt you with me,” I said, and his eyes faltered. He seemed about to say something and decided against it last minute. He cleared his throat and smiled. “Since we are talking about safety and threats,” he said with a fun voice. “I have something to tell you that you might not like.” He said, and I braced myself. “My father and mother are coming to stay,” he said. Before I could voice my opinion, he lifted his hand, indicating he hadn’t finished. “They will not cross you. They made that promise before I agreed,” he said, and I smiled. It was his house, and they were his parents. They will still be here after I am gone. I will have to bear it and enjoy the moment while it lasts. We made love some more in the tub and carried our activities into our bedroom. Luca gave me a good time, and I let him. I had never been treated this good. I wondered how Luca could love and care for me so much without being in love with me. I appreciated his kindness and submitted to him in bed. He needed that as an Alpha and as a boss, and I gave that to him. THREE WEEKS LATER. Luca gave me the job I asked for, and within two weeks, I fished out several places where he was losing revenue. He was grateful for it. I was also abreast with the ongoing conflicts. He never asked for my advice, and I respected his privacy, never going into it. Luca did not deal in drugs like other Mafia bosses. He had legitimate business and dealt mostly in ammunition and weapons. I did not like his choice of business, but that got my family and me out of Marcelo’s clutches and set my family up. I had to respect his hustle. He also had chains of department stores, car sales and service companies, Restaurants, and hotels, and he was into real estate. A true billionaire. The Alessandros were nowhere until Luca took over. He took over the family business at twenty-two and rose quickly. I could see now why Luca took offence whenever his parents tried to control him. He did not need them. Luca had so much money that what he spent on my family was peanuts. Still, I was grateful.

I wondered how someone as wealthy as he was could be so humble. I had noticed some discrepancies in the books regarding his father, and I did not know if it was wise to discuss it with him. His father was paying money into three unknown accounts. They were large funds to me but would be unnoticeable to Luca. I was going to investigate thoroughly before I discussed it with Luca. As much as I did not want to create a problem in his family, If what his father was doing would hurt him, then I was going to tell him regardless of the consequences on me after. Luca’s folks finally moved in. Lacy, Luca’s mother, was a snub and a handful. Since I ran the house, she was no longer allowed to control the staff how she used to. I determined everything, and it got to her. She hated that the staff and Luca’s men had to crosscheck with me before carrying out her orders. I knew Luca’s family hated me for it, but I had developed a thick skin where they were concerned. I often heard her warning her son about me, but it never worked. Based on her hatred, I was extra careful so she would not have anything to use against me where Luca was concerned. It was hard, but I tried anyway. We kept postponing our trip, but now we had a definite date, and Luca promised to stick with it. I looked forward to our trip. It would mean time away from everyone in that house.