Chapter 157

“I didn’t do anything,” I correct, putting out a hand between us. “And it may be true that I’m good for Luca’s image, but it should have been our choice to make this announcement. I’m part of this now, and even if you are in charge of Luca’s public image, you’re not in charge of mine.”

Bruce holds my gaze, accepting what I say but still not backing down. And I see in him that he still believes he made the right choice for Luca and his family – and that I’m not nearly as included in that family as he’d have me think.

But also, in the same moment, I realize that it doesn’t matter whether Bruce is sorry or regrets it or gives me an apology. Because it’s done. And it’s time to move on.

And besides, Rafe is right – my father will have his own response to this matter in time.

And when that comes, Bruce will have his own debts to pay.

“You know,” I say softly, considering my words very carefully as I step to Luca’s side. “Luca’s bigger than just his boxing career. His worth is not measured alone by what he can earn in the ring, and through the media. He’s doing beautifully at the Academy, which is a career path in itself. And he has people who believe in him, who will help him build the roads to whatever he wants to do once he’s no longer boxing anymore.”

I slip my hand into my mate’s as I feel a rush of shock, and humility, and gratitude come flooding through our bond. And as I look up at Luca, I realize that no one’s ever said that to him before – that they think he’s bigger than just his boxing career. That he’s worth something beyond it.

“I very much hope you’re right, miss,” Bruce says, his voice soft.

I snap my gaze back to Bruce.

“I am,” I say, my voice firm.

And nobody says another damn thing, because we’re all very aware that mine is the final word on the subject.

I let the silence ring for a moment before I look up at my mate, and tug on his hand. “Is there somewhere we can go?” I ask quietly. “I want a private word with you.”

Luca stares at me for a second before he clears his throat and nods. “My room,” he murmurs, lifting his chin back towards foyer in front of the main door, beyond which is a staircase. “We can talk there.”

I turn towards Rafe and then Jesse. “You’ll be all right here?”

“Sure,” Rafe says, nodding easily to me as Bruce sighs and walks out of the room, heading into the kitchen at the same moment that Gran comes out, carrying a heaping tray full of plates. Rafe smiles softly. “I think we’ll be…kept busy down here. Take your time, Ariel.”

As Luca and I set off for the stairs, I see Rafe and Jesse sit down on the couch with Linda as Gran happily sets the tray down on the coffee table.

“Who…” Gran says, straightening up and putting her hands on her hips, looking curiously at Jesse. “Who…are you?”

Jesse’s jaw drops. “You don’t know who I am!?”

She just leans closer, like studying him will help her figure it out.

But Jesse just sighs, a tiny bit devastated, as he reaches for a slice of cake. “I’m the Duke.”

“The best Duke,” Rafe says, grinning at our cousin and patting him on the back as Gran presses a plate of cake into her favorite’s hand.

I smile a little, but then we’re too far up the steps to see any more of the action below, and the smile falls from my face as I follow Luca into his room.

He doesn’t say anything as he holds open his door, letting me slip inside. A grin creeps over my face as I move to Luca’s little twin bed and sit down on it, curling my legs up beneath me, because the room is just so boyish. There are boxing posters all over the wall, and old sets of gloves heaped in a corner, and a desk where I can imagine him immediately abandoning his homework as a kid. There’s even still a cup with all of his pencils in the corner, a few of them broken and haphazardly shoved away.

Honestly, it’s charming as hell. But Luca clearly isn’t thinking about how cute his room is as he shuts his door and leans back against it, staring at the floor. “I am so sorry, Ariel,” he sighs, his voice low with shame.

“Luca,” I say, putting out my hands towards him.

He lifts his eyes a little to meet mine, but he doesn’t move.

I just raise my eyebrows, a demand in them, and he sighs and presses up off the door, coming to take my hands and sit by my side. “Your room is so cute,” I whisper.

He laughs, though his heart isn’t in it. “Mom keeps it like a shrine to my childhood,” he murmurs. “I had an apartment, obviously, in the city. But I sold it when I decided to run off to the Academy. Put the profits into the gym.”

“Yeah, why didn’t you tell me about the gym?” I ask, turning towards him and scooting closer, reaching out a hand to softly stroke his cheek. “It sounds amazing, what you’re doing for those boys.”

“Because…” he says, hesitating and leaning into my hand, “I don’t know, Ariel, I mean who knows how long it will last. I don’t want to tell you about a project that might fail in a few months when we can no longer afford to fund it.”

“Well, you’ve got millions now,” I say, my voice a little dry.

He looks up at me now. “No, I don’t,” he murmurs, his hands tightening on mine. “I’m giving you that money, obviously.”

“Okay,” I say, a little too cheerful. His eyes widen in surprise – I don’t think he thought I’d actually take it. “Except, I want my half donated anonymously to your gym. As long as the profits go to scholarships for the boys. I don’t want to pay your uncle’s salary.”

Luca huffs a laugh, but when he sees that I’m serious his face falls. “Ariel,” he says, shaking his head like it’s ridiculous.

“Luca,” I say, mimicking the sound of his voice, because he’s the one being ridiculous now. “I believe in you. If this is something you care about, then it’s something I care about too. I think it’s amazing. You should have told me about it sooner – you know that the rest of us would want to help. My mom is going to love it – she loves anything that helps kids who need a little boost in life.”

“I can’t just…take your parents’ money.”

“Okay,” I say, understanding. Money is easy for me, but I understand that it’s not that way for everyone. “Then we’ll help in other ways.”

I smile, but Luca drops his head again, shaking it. “I’m so sorry, Ariel,” he repeats, still stuck on it. “You’re making this too easy. It never should have happened. My uncle – he crossed a line – and I’m so pissed at him – he’s got way too much control of my life, and I think that he hates that I have a royal connection now, that someone else – especially a little blonde girl – might influence me more than he does –“

“Luca,” I murmur, moving closer so that my side is pressed to his, sensing that he’s on the edge of a rant that’s going to take him deeper and deeper into a spiral of worry and sorrow and grief. I press his cheeks between my palms and force him to look at me. “I forgive you, all right? If there’s anything to forgive – which I’m not sure there is – I forgive you.”

He stares at me, a little baffled. And we stay like that for a long moment before he raises one hand, covering one of my own, still pressed to his cheek. “You’re too good,” he murmurs. “I don’t deserve you.”

“The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes,” I say with a happy little sigh, lifting my chin and pressing a kiss to his mouth. Luca takes a moment to respond, but then his eyes drift shut, and he wraps his arms around me and kisses me back, kisses me like I’m precious, and wonderful, and like he’s terrified to lose me.

When we break apart a moment later, I know that we’re all right. And that even if the situation isn’t right yet – that he and I? We’re good. We’ll see it through.

“I’m going to go now,” I whisper, staring straight into his brown eyes, my voice steady and warm. His eyes widen, worried, but I shush him softly, lifting my face a little to press a kiss to his cheek. “Not because I want to, or because I’m mad – but because you need to get your head back on your fight.”

Luca just blinks at me like he forgot all about that.

And I laugh – because he probably did.