"Which one?" Tori asked, following my line of sight.
"Lucas," I told her quietly.
A smile appeared on Tori's face and for a moment I wondered what her reaction would have been if I’d said someone else's name.
"We best get you back to him," Tori said. "He looks like he could do with some saving from Papa."
We weaved our way through the crowd, arms linked, until we joined the men as I processed that this was Xavier's daughter and Gabriel's sister. Luc may have joked when he said I managed to find trouble but maybe he had a point.
"Mia," Luc said as he saw us approaching. "Vittoria?"
"Hello, Lucas. Long time, no see."
Luc hugged and kissed her cheek before pulling me to him. I had the feeling that he regretted the decision to leave me alone when I had bumped into two Morettis in record time.
"Gabe was just saying that he's taking over from Bianchi. You're both going to be moving?" Luc asked her.
"Who else would keep my brother in line?"
"Tori." Dante's face lit up. He opened his arms expecting a hug and instead she brought her foot up and drove her heel into Dante's foot, making me gasp. He yelped and stepped back. Gabriel snickered and I watched in quiet horror as she left the group and Dante limped after her.
"I apologize for my daughter's behavior. She has never been one to suffer fools."
I turned my attention towards Xavier, and Luc pulled me tighter into his side, making clear who I was to him.
"So, this is the girl who's been causing the trouble."
He held out his hand to me and I took it. Xavier kissed the back and as I turned to look at Luc, his cold, slender fingers caught my chin roughly and forced me to look back at him. Luc took a step forward and I felt him beside me.
"Now, now, Lucas," Xavier soothed. "That was the attitude that could have gotten you into a mess in the first place."
A quick glance alerted me to the fact Luc’s hands had balled into fists. From all I knew, this was not the person to start a fight with.
"Xavier Moretti,” he introduced himself and I looked back into his icy blue eyes. “And you are?"
"Mia Griffin."
"Luc, I'm sure you won't mind if I take Mia for a dance."
When I looked back at Luc, panicked by Xavier’s offer, I noticed that it wasn’t mirrored on his own face. This was not an offer, but a demand veiled as a suggestion and Luc wouldn’t have a choice. He gave me a reassuring look before he answered, "Of course not."
"Dad, surely..." Gabriel started.
"Do you have an issue, Gabriel?" Xavier asked. His tone caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand.
"No, sir."
Xavier took my hand and walked me away from the group, Luc's eyes following us until we were swallowed by the crowd.
"It's so nice to finally put a face to the name," Xavier said as we reached the middle of the floor.
"Likewise."
"Now, I understand this isn't typically the company you keep."
I swallowed and shook my head slowly. I stuck out like a sore thumb. With Luc by my side, I had been doing okay. Any point where I felt like I was drowning Luc stepped in to save me but on my own, with Xavier, I felt like I was barely treading water.
"That's fine, my dear. I want to ensure you don't plan to cause any more problems."
