Chapter 46
Luciano
Since I showed Ariana the piano, we’ve made a routine out of going there together. Partially because she can’t make it up or down the stairs by herself but I’m still thankful to be able to be a part of her day again. Luca returns home in a few days, and I know she will probably spend less time with me once him and Tony get split their time with her again so I’m going to make the most of it while I can. I’ve organized to take her out today. Tony is coming as well. I hope that he will make her feel safer with me. I sent a nice, long, high neck silver ballgown with a long sleeved, loose black shawl to her room. It flows to the floor and should cover her casts. Tony brings her down the stairs and I take the wheelchair and load it into the car before opening the door for them.
“Where are we going all dressed up? She asks quietly from the backsent.
“Would it be okay if I said it was a surprise, angel?”
She looks at Tony who squeezes her hand in reassurance.
“Okay…
We arrive at the grand hall, cars and people surround the building. Tony and I help her into her wheelchair and I toss the keys to the valet.
“Don, Sir, Madam“, one of the doormen greet us.
I hear Ariana gasp,
“Ballet?” She asks looking up at me with excitement in her eyes.
“Hmmm, yes, but we’re not here just to watch.”
She narrows her eyes and gives me a warning, “Luciano…..“
“It would just so happen that the planist that was supposed to play tonight could not make it. The organizer of the event is a good friend and asked me to help find a replacement for this evening.”
“No
way!” she gasps. “Luciano. I…I can’t“, she looks down at her hands.
1 kneel before her and take her hands in mine.
“You can. I’ve seen what you can do. How quickly you’ve overcome your injuries. You can, and I want you to see that you can too.”
We make our way to the back of the stage to a room with a small piano where she can practice the music. Just as I thought, she’s a protégée. A woman of many talents and masters them all. She’s delicate, soft, fierce and unstoppable all in one.
Ariana
“Are you ready, Miss Salvatore?” a stagehand asks.
“Will I ever be?”
She’s a sweet older woman. Probably spent most of her life in these things. 1 on the other hand feel like I have no place here. I’m a trained assassin, stripper, runaway, broke bitch with nothing to name and I’m to play for this fancy ass ballet? Gods. My heart wants to beat out of my chest. Luciano rests his hand on my shoulder, and I squeeze it, more for me than him. its time. The hall is filled with hush murmurs of the crowd. We pass the dancers as we near the curtains and they are stunningly beautiful. Tall, thin, porcelain skin… working legs. Okay, focus.
“You’re going to do great, angel.” He whispers in my car. I just nod and give him a weak smile. “You’re okay. You are more talented than you give yourself credit for. You’ll see. The curtains to the audience are still closed and I the grand piano is on a platform above the main stage. We stop ab the stairs and Luciano takes me in his arms to climb the platform. Placing me on the stool, he wishes me luck and turns to leave. I grab hold of his arm quickly. I’m about to freak out. Where the hell is Tony? Tony knows. I don’t have to say it, he knows how the broken cogs in my head work. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Here comes the panic attack I can’t stop. Luciano leans down and cups my face. He places his forehead on mine and breaths in deep and slow and I mirror his action subconsciously. The world stops spinning. My heart settles, and then he kisses me. Soft, gentle, possessive, passionate, longing, so many words conveyed without speaking. Just with the simple action of his lips finally back upon mine
1/2
Chapter 45
“You’re going to do great, angel” and he leaves.
1 take in my surrounding. I eye the conductor and the other artists ill working with. I can appear to be as calm as them. Yes, calm. Just me and the piano. The curtains draw and I keep my eyes locked on the conductor. I will not miss my cue. The lights change and here we go. It takes a few minutes before the panice settles and I’m able to glance at the dancers graciously parading around the stage. It is really beautiful. The show goes for a few hours and by the end of it I am exhausted and sore. I feel like I’ve run a marathon. The crowd acknowledges all of us with applause and cheers and Luciano comes to me to take me away.
“Honey, you were amazing! Tony says as he brings me some water and
Luciano says “I told you, angel. You did it!” Grabbing my
my other b
to massage my hand,
hand and mimicking Tony’s movements,
“That was exhilarating. Thank you for doing this for me, Luciano. You couldn’t pay me to wipe the smile off my face right now,
Tony suggested a nice pizza place a few blocks away for a late dinner and we get takeaway and drive to the beach to eat. Tony pops the boot to the SUV and Luciano lifts me in and they climb in after me. We quickly realize these two guys are way too fucking big to be in a boot. They give each other a devilish smirk and Luciano lifts me while Tony slides in, puts me in his lap and then moves himself in. With the two Adonis males sitting shoulder to shoulder, they adjust me so I sit on both of them. I wiggle a little to get comfortable and get two matching gruff moans that forces me to still quickly.
“Sorry…”
“Don’t ever be.” Luciano says
Tony kisses me temple, “Tease“,
I slap his shoulder and peck his lips with a smile. Trying not to feel weird about Luciano seeing us like this.
“Angel………”. I turn to see he has the biggest puppy dog eyes and his lips in a pout.
“Aww, does the big, had mafia Don want a little kiss?” I joke with him. He just nods eagerly, and I tug his collar to move him closer and give him the same quick pack. He sighs heavily in return.
“Thank you, angel.”
They both hold my hands, and we cuddle watching the ocean until I fall asleep against them.
