Blame it on the shame Part 2

Chapter 21 ( Ricardo)

I put my car in park and run to the front door.

I don't even knock, I just barge right in and walk straight into a shocked Marlene.

"Where is he?"

Her eyes are the size of saucers. "In the dining room having di

I make a sharp left and walk in to find him twirling his pasta around his fork.

He lifts an eyebrow when he sees me. "Didn't expect you to stop by for a visit."

"Didn't expect you to be back from Italy."

We stare at each other for a moment, there's enough hate between us to start a fucking war.

"We need to talk," I say while taking a seat.

His lips turn up in amusement. "About what?"

"L—" I start to say, when he cuts me off. "Ah, yes—Luke. Mind telling me why you killed one of my best men without so much as a phone call to me?"

Is he fucking kidding me right now? "Sorry to break it to you, but one of your so-called best men had Lucia

He folds his hands in front of him and looks at me. "I see," is all he says before he goes back to his pasta.

I shove my hand into my pocket underneath the table and feel for my gun. "Luke's not the reason I'm here, though."

I'm here to take back what's mine. The girl I love more than life itself.

He dabs his mouth with his napkin and pushes his chair away from the table. "I assumed as much."

"Look," I start. "I've been doing a lot of thinking."

He smirks. "Have you now?"

I bang my fist on the table, causing a glass to break. "Yes." I look him right in the eyes. "I'm ready to...I want to take my place."

His eyes turn hard and I'd be lying if I said it didn't throw me. This is the only thing he's ever wanted from me and I'm giving it to him.

I thought I had the upper hand in this scenario, but it's quickly becoming clear that I don't.

Question is...why the hell not?

He clears his throat. "Is that so?"

"Yeah," I say. "But I want to make a deal first."

He presses his pointer fingers to his lips, appearing amused.

I want so badly to wipe that smug expression off his fucking face and give him another gruesome scar.

"Go on," he says, his eyes narrowing.

I sit up and match his expression, my finger on the trigger of my gun. "Lucia

I don't get a chance to finish that statement because DeLuca gestures to someone behind me. "Ah, there she is," he says and every single cell in my body ignites.

Rage hits me hard as I watch her walk over to him. She's wearing some little white dress, far more makeup than she usually does, and worst of all?

A smile.

A genuine fucking smile. A smile that tells me she actually wants to be here....with him.

I know we said we were done...but for her to go back to him as a way of getting back at me?

God, how could she do this to me?

I barely suppress my growl when he holds out his hand and she eagerly takes it.

That's when his gaze shifts to me. "Now tell me, son. What exactly is it that you want with my wife?"