He wasn’t trying to give her time to change her mind, and he didn’t want to second guess his decision of not walking away from her either. Luca turned to look over at La’Nova who had stopped stroking his back.
“What’s wrong?” His thick brows raised.
“Roy is your blood brother, and Lucille got married to Lennox. There’s a lot I should fill you in on from when I was in Vegas,” she stated nervously, nibbling on her bottom lip.
Chapter 24
New time and day… March 22nd, 2026
“Damn.” La’Nova frowned. “Roy house is nice as hell.” She smiled. trying to ease the nervousness that she felt radiating off of Luca.
In response, Luca took a slow sip of his ginger and lemon tea that he had La’Nova make this morning before they took the ten-hour drive back to California. The pair enjoyed each other’s company far more than what they’d admit to. They talked about everything and held nothing back. Both had an unspoken understanding of the reservations that they both had regarding the murders of their parents.
La’Nova didn’t take offense to Luca’s silence. She took the time that he used to get his emotions in check to scope out Roy’s house. It was two stories of deep red brick framed by dark shutters. His front porch was wide, stretching across the face of the home with thick cedar posts polished smoothly. The neighbors houses were far apart from another, giving each home owner space and peace; something La’Nova yearned for if she ever decided to settle down in a home.
“I know you’re nervous,” she said softly.
Her eyes landed on Luca’s hands resting against the steering wheel since he put his cup back down in the middle.
“If I know Lucille like I think I do.” She chuckled lowly. “Then Roy already knows everything.”
That made Luca glance at her.
“Roy and Lucille had a bond while you were locked up. It was like mother and son. The nigga gets on my nerves, always causing problems at House of Angels, but whenever he was there, he made sure Lucille was good and vice versa.” La’Nova gave him a reassuring smile.
“This will change nothing either; the two of you act like brothers anyway. Y’all close and know each other well. It’s not like two strangers discovering each other,” she added.
“Roy battles a lot of different things that he doesn’t talk about,” Luca whispered lowly.
“You do too.” She gave him a knowing look.
“You have a lot to sort through, and since I’m the cause and cure of most of it… I’m willing to compromise a little,” La’Nova said, looking out of the window.
Luca frowned then looked at her long and hard trying to figure her out. Her heart shaped face remained relaxed, she didn’t bat an eye her gaze didn’t waver.
“What Luca?” She frowned annoyed under his scrutiny.
“Why all of a sudden you want to compromise…for my problems?” He licked his full lips, letting his head rest against the seat.
La’Nova took her time before answering. They spent two days in the Grand Canyon together and still she couldn’t get over how smooth and perfect his skin was. His almond toasted complexion was mouthwatering. Luca made being fine as hell look easy as hell. She watched him put little to no effort while dressing himself. Showering in her compact shower and moving around her small space like it was the largest.
He tugged at his beard, never taking his eyes off of her. He was waiting on some kind of assurance from her since trust between the two still hadn’t been established as far as what she truly wanted to become of them both. Luca was willing to push his differences to the side. Differences that weren’t considered small by a long shot.
He just accepted the fact that he wanted her near; she was indeed the cause and cure, and he didn’t want to see her disappear.
“I’m not getting out because this is something you should do on your own,” she said.
It finally hit her that Luca wasn’t nervous about getting out to speak with Roy. He was nervous about leaving her in his car with a fear of her leaving without saying anything.
“Can you be a woman of your word and promise me you won’t leave…I’m not holding you hostage, I just don’t want to see you leave me just yet.” He raised his brows, not even realizing that he was holding his breath.
La’Nova let out a tired sigh. She closed her eyes for a couple of moments, searching her brain for the right words to say. She worked hard for her freedom and worked even harder to keep falling for Luca at bay.
“If we doing this friend thing that we talked about,” she stated carefully, face void of emotions. “I’m going to need space in between. I can’t be claimed right now; not by nobody, not even you.”
She watched his face wince out in pain. She felt bad for feeling like she was letting him down, but she had to speak her mind.
“I need to move without feeling like I belong somewhere…That doesn’t mean that I’m gonna be running from you.” She swallowed down the lump in her throat that made it hard for her to breathe.
