I give her another kiss, then step back. "I need to go."
"Go?" she asks.
"I'll be back soon." I step toward the door.
"Brax, where are you going?" she questions.
"Toss your birth control out. When I get home, we're going to start making babies," I proclaim, and exit the front door.
I get through the building, into my Mustang, and floor it.
The drive to Zara and Sean's is quick, but by the time I pull up to their building, my pulse is a drum.
I nod at security, get in the elevator, and press my hand on the screen. It shoots to the penthouse, and the doors open, showcasing the magnificent red cherry blossom tree.
The moment I open the main door, Luca's voice booms, "Look at how big you've gotten!" He holds River in the air.
"Brax. What are you doing here?" Zara asks, with worry on her expression. She looks past me.
"Don't worry. She's not here," I state.
Guilt floods Zara's face. She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.
"I need to talk to you, Luca," I demand.
His eyes narrow. "I'm with my grandbabies."
"Now," I order, and brush past him, telling Sean, "Need to use your office."
He nods, eyes wide.
I storm down the hall, trying to manage my anger. I step into the office and wait, leaning against the window, my arms folded.
Luca finally steps inside, closes the door, and points at me. "You'd better get rid of your disrespectful tone."
I point at the chair. "Sit down."
He stays put. "You don't give me orders."
"Sit," I seethe.
He doesn't flinch. Neither of us moves for what feels like forever until he finally sits, clasps his hands in a triangle, and keeps his scowl on me. "Well? Why are you interrupting my time with my grandchildren?"
"You owe my wife an apology."
His head jerks backward. A flinch of guilt crosses his face, lined with age and choices he won't say out loud. He recovers. "You're treading on thin ice, Brax."
I grab the chair and sit, realizing I can't fight fire with fire. Not with Luca. And this is too important not to get the result Valentina deserves. I take a deep breath and calm my voice. "Zara and Sean told you about the Underworld?"
His face fills with disapproval. He affirms, "Yes."
"Then you know Valentina doesn't deserve for you to abandon her anymore."
His jaw twitches. He doesn't blink, but his eyes darken.
I add, "Salvatore killed her parents in a ritual. Then he took her to live with him and forced her to abide by his rules. If she didn't, she would have been sold."
The twitch expands to his cheek. He seethes, "Salvatore was the devil."
