𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢
𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐎𝐕
I stared at the photo my mother had took of me and my father over a two years ago. If someone was to tell me that I would lose both of my parents a year later I would probably take it as a threat and snap their neck.
Crazy how life works.
I'm alone. Stuck with my thoughts and the burdens my father left. I was now the head of the Outfit with not only a hundred enemies outside, but a couple inside as well.
For as long as I could remember I have always been under the microscope. Now that my father is dead, that'll only amplify for the next following weeks. I'm young and barely have any experience in the underworld. Men who are older see me as weak and will try by any means necessary to have me buried next to my parents.
That being said, although I wanted to scream, shout, cry even, I know there isn't any time to mourn. I can't hide. I needed to do what bosses do. Lead, and kill anyone who so dares to try and step in my way.
I got out of the armored car and jogged up the steps to the famous meeting house. There was various guards from different subfamilies around so I knew everyone was here. When I got inside everyone was seated, but as I made my way to the chair that was once my fathers everyone stood up.
They greeted me, spewing their half ass condolences before sitting down. I was supposed to sit down with them but there was no need. I was going to keep shit short and sweet.
"My father is dead, that means I'm now the head of the outfit. You guys might think this is the perfect time to strike, but I can assure you that isn't what you want to do, especially right now. I won't tolerate disrespect or even a hint of disloyalty. Everyone will be kept under a microscope until I find who ordered a hit on my father." I said looking down at the men that sat before me.
"Is that a threat?" Michael Corleone, one of the heads of the families said.
"It's a promise. One that I will hold towards every man that steps out of line. My father ruled with a an iron fist, and I will follow suit. So, if you want to turn your back on the outfit then go ahead, I'll even give you guys a seventy two hour head start. Just know once I catch you I will make life a living hell." I said
A smile appeared on Michael face and he began to nod his head. "Like father, like son. Lucian, you and the Cotroni family will have my loyalty." Michael said and I nearly rolled my eyes.
Old men and their fucking theatrics.
I took a seat and unbutton my suit, watching to see if anyone would fold but everyone say there, their faces hard and determined. "Great, now that's out the way how about we talk business?"
•••
Once the meeting was over I said my overdue goodbye and made my way to the club so I could get things set up for the night. Although I'm rarely here, there was something telling me to come. Whatever that something was I'm a man who listens to their intuition.
I nodded to my employees and made my way upstairs towards my office where my best friend of six years sat behind my desk going through documents I could only imagine was for the club.
Of course that something was her.
I have many source of income, and if I could manage all of them I would. However I can't and because of that Diamond oversees and mange all of my clubs on the east coast. If she could then she would control the whole operation but seven clubs was enough for right now.
I opened the door wider and once she noticed it was me she got up from her seat and rushed over to me. I closed the door and was immediately pulled into a hug. Her vanilla scent engulfed my nostrils and for the first time today I felt some sort of peace and tranquillity.
"I'm so sorry for your lost, I got here as soon as I could." She said running her hand through my hair.
The tears burned my eyes, and for a plot second I wanted to be vulnerable but just the thought of her puttying me made my eyes dry. I pulled away from her and gave her a slight nod.
Who was I kidding? She knew.
My blank stares worked on everyone but the woman who stood before me. She could see through the facade and all the bullshit I would often throw at her. She knew me more than I knew myself, and in my world it wasn't safe. Nevertheless, I couldn't wish to have it any other way.
She grabbed my hand and lead me to the couch where she laid down. I playfully rolled my eyes but didn't say anything as I pulled of my suit jacket and slipped in between her legs. I rested my head in her chest and her fingers ran through my hair.
"Thank you."
𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐎𝐕
I felt his breathing steady and for I second I thought he was asleep. I haven't done this since he got married. Fake marriage or not, there was something two best friends couldn't do. However, since Catherine death, although it felt wrong, it was okay in a sense.
I don't know. All I know is Lucien needs a friend and I'll always be there.
I heard the news and all I could do was cry. Me and Lucien dad never really gotten along, but me and his mother did and to know that he lost not one, but both parents along with his wife is devastating. Don or not, a person can only take so much until they snap. Lucien needed me, and although he didn't say it I knew.
The look on his face said it all.
He was crying out for help, but for men in this world it was unheard of and even more unaccepted. In their eyes he was the Don and although he was hurting he was supposed to keep that brave face and remain stoic when it came to grief or other things.
It was toxic, but Lucien wanted to live by that way. The only thing I could do was stick beside him and hope I don't get killed my association.
"Let's go home." I said.
He turned to me, "Please."
He got off of me and walked over to the chair so he could grab his suit jacket. I grabbed my phone and purse from the desk before walking over to him. Like usual, he took my hand and lead us out of the club and towards the car.
He opened the door for me and I got in. He jogged around and got in as well and I immediately took his hand once he was in the car. He lightly squeezed it as he started the car and pulled out onto the streets.
"The funeral is in two days." He said nonchalantly.
"So early, what about your family in Italy?" I asked.
"They already heard the news. They're flying in tonight, we'll have a wake for close family and the funeral the day after. I want you to sit with us during that time. I also want you at the wake."
"I don't mind attending the funeral or the wake, but you want me to sit with your family? People already think-" I tried to say but he cut me off.
"I don't care what people think. I'm Don now and what I say goes. If they don't like it then they could die for all I care. You're the only women I trust and the only one I want close to me." He said glancing at me.
"I'll think about it Lu." I said.
Lucian brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it. It was his way of begging without vocalizing it. "I'll sit with you but if someone say something I don't like..."
"You're with me, there's no need to worry." He said looking towards me with a smile.
"Whatever, don't be smiling at me because you got your way. I'm still upset." I said trying to pull my hand away but he wouldn't let go.
He was a stubborn man, but even more persuasive.
•••
Lucian stood in front of his father grave as they slid the casket into the snug confinement. His would soon be laid to rest inside of their family area and be locked behind those walls.
I glanced at Lucian to see all emotions rid from his face. He looked dead, nothing was playing behind those blue eyes and quite frankly it scared me.
If there was anytime to act like a cold blooded killer then now was the time. Although there was many people saying their condolences and bringing up memories, many of those same people- and even more, was watching him. Seeing how he reacted to things, how soft he was. Now was the time for them to weed out all emotions to see how weak he was but I know my Lucien. He would never let them win.
As the service came to an end I stood next to Lu till he felt like he was ready to leave. Not a word has been spoken since we've gotten up this morning and in a way I knew he was trying to mentally distance himself from the world. He did it with his mother, and although it was supposed to be temporarily, a part of him never came back. With Catherine his sanity left, and quite honestly I was scared that his soul would leave with his father.
After we leave, he was going to throw himself into his work and the bloodbath for his father killer would officially began. He would become a different Lucian and I'm sure I wouldn't belong in his world anymore.
A group of men approached Gio and I silently excused myself so I could go to the car. I was carefully walking down the steps when screams erupted and then a force so strong it felt like someone physically threw my body down.
Pain.
It radiated through me as I crawled over to the armored car and leaned against it. I scanned my body until I saw the crimson red liquid soaking my white dress.
I applied the little pressure I could muster as I tried to calm my breathing. A man a bit bigger than me stood just a few feet away, his gun trained on me. He was scared, but I've learned quickly that a scared man who does shit as drastic and dangerous as this would go through with whatever he planned.
A bullet ranged off, this time hitting my in my leg. If I couldn't feel pain before this one was something else. The man walked closer to me but there was no where to run. I couldn't even if I wanted to. So, I sat there, staring at the barrel, waiting for the bullet to pierce my skull.
He clocked his gun and rested his hand on the trigger.
Bang.
I closed my eyes, waiting for the light to slip from my eyes but it never did. Instead I watch the man body fall to the floor. His wailing was louder than mines as he held his knee cap. Dustin was the first to reach over and kick the man in the face, knocking him unconscious.
Then it was Lucian. He didn't ask me anything as he picked me up and opened the car door. The pain shot through my leg and I cried out. There was so much blood. Too much to be exact.
He laid me down on the seat and he quickly began to assist my wounds while someone else drove us to the hospital. "Why did you move? My God Diamond, why?" He said as he pulled off his jacket and wrapped the bandage around my waist.
My eyes felt heavy, and it was becoming harder to breathe so I couldn't explain myself. My eye lids were so close to closing when I felt a shake. "Wake up. You don't get to die on me too. You're supposed to be here with me. We're in this together. If you die I promise I kill everything in my path before killing myself." He said brushing my hair out of my face.
"Mhm." I hummed, my eyes closing again.
"My God Diamond stay awake! Hurry the fuck up!" He yelled at the driver.
I heard the engine roar to life but couldn't feel how fast we were going. Everything felt numb. My eye lids became heavy and I could no longer try to keep them open. The last thing I heard was Gio yelling when I finally decided to sleep.
Its so fucking loud and bright.
I've been trying to open my eyes for the past five minutes but it was too excruciating to do so. My body felt like it's been hit with a ton of bricks and it only solidified my theory that I've been in here longer that I thought I was.
I could hear shuffling through the room and then I got a whiff of his cologne which only fueled my determination.
"Light. Off." I croaked as I turned my head towards the sign.
"Diamond, baby." I heard him say before the white light behind my eye lids was gone and replaced with darkness.
Again, I tried to open my eyes and this time I was successful. It took a minute for my vision to come back but once it was I nearly gasped from shock. I'm sure I look sick, but Gio looked like he was just integrated back into civilization. His dress shirt was outside of his pants and barely buttoned, he had a five o'clock shadow, and his hair was disheveled.
"Fuck, you scared me." He said cupping my face.
I couldn't say anything and instead I pointed to the bottle water that was next to him. He got the memo and quickly pull the cap off. I drunk the whole bottle before I could completely feel the thirst slip away.
"How long?"
"Two weeks"
Eh, I missed two weeks of my life but at least I didn't miss the rest of it.
"How was life without me?" I tried to joke.
It was the only way I could cope with the pain. With the look of regret and guilt on his face.
"I don't want to go through it without you again. I know you felt the same way because you love me too much." He teased and I playfully rolled my eyes.
"Maybe I do." I said.
"Maybe isn't good enough. Say you love me." He said.
"You say it first. Tell me how much you love and care about me." I teased.
The smile faintly disappeared from his lips as he leaned closer to me. "I love you with every fiber inside of me. You're the only woman that has ever kept me motivated. When you aren't in vicinity I can't help but to yearn for your presence, for the little bit of peace you give me whenever we are by ourselves. I've know this for as long as I've known you, and these past two weeks just proved how much I'm in love with you, and everything you do. To your smallest quirk to your horrible attitude when you're hungry. Your the only woman I love."
I stared up at Gio, unsure what to say after what I just heard. A look of worry was plastered on his face as he scanned mines for any emotion.
I pulled him by his shirt and kissed him which he quickly responded to with a moan. Although he was close, I couldn't help but to pull him in more, needing to feel him on my skin.
Gio tongue teased my lips before he slipped into my mouth. Our lips moved smoothly against one another, exploring each other's mouth. Gio lips and teeth worked my mouth until his were swollen and red. Until mines was too tender to keep going and my chest was burning from the lack of oxygen reaching my lungs.
With the little self control I had, I placed my hand on Gio chest and pushed away. All that could be heard was our heavy gasp as we pulled away from each other.
His eyes were wide, filled with a crazed look of pure lust and devotion it nearly made me crumble. For a split second I looked away from him, trying to gather my thoughts, but as he stepped closer to me and his cologne filled my surroundings it all evaporated.
Every. Bit. Of. Sense.
He used his index finger to raise my chin once more as he kissed me once more. I leaned back but he only followed until he was practically inside of my bed. He made sure he was gentle as he could be as his body hovered over mines. Carefully he moved my injured leg until he was in a good enough position.
"Wait!" I said pushing him away.
"I'm sorry but this." I motioned between us, "cannot happen and you know that. I'm truly sorry for kissing you like that because things are already complicated. Your grieving and I got shot, it's making us think we want this." I said trying to reason with him.
Deep down I was trying to persuade myself because I knew that I liked it. If anything I loved it.
I love him.
"I'm a grown ass man and I know what I feel. Everything I just told you is true and has nothing to do with me grieving. I loved you before Catherine and if I could go back I would change it all but I can't. I want you, Diamond."
"How is this supposed to work."
"We could figure it out along the way. Just know your safety is my top priority."
"What happened to the man that shot me?"
"When you got shot I promised myself I would find who killed my father and ordered a hit on you and I did. They're both dead. Along with their accomplice. " He said kissing me.
I pulled away so I could have a decent conversation with him. "And who was it?"
"Michael Corleone. That greasy fuck. After what I did I can guarantee to you no one in that circle will dare try and kill me or my family." He said.
"A lot has happen. Just give me some time please." I said cupping his face.
"There's no rush. Take as long as you need. Just know I'll be here for you waiting and tending to your every need. I promise." He said placing a faint kiss on my lips.
Lucian did exactly what he promised that day. He helped me. He was a big part of my life prior to my incident and he remained that through and through. I had top of the line nurses and doctors working with me every hour of the day making sure I was healing correctly and walking normally.
With Lucian being the flirty man he is, I thought there would be a lot more of that seeing the fact that he confessed his feelings, but it wasn't and a part of me was grateful. Quite frankly he was becoming everything I wanted in a man.
Not like he wasn't before.
I sat on the couch drinking a glass of wine while I watched Lucian maneuver effortlessly throughout my kitchen. There was never a set day when he came over (for security reasons) but every week, for one day, he would tend to all my care and needs.
I set my glass down and made my way over to him. I no longer needed my cane and the pain I usually experienced was no longer there.
"Hey, what are you doing up?" He asked smiling back at me.
I scanned his face, his eyes filled with so much love that for a split second I was no longer in control. "I love you," I breathed
"And it's not because of you taking care of me or being here, but because for the longest I've been in love with you but was too scared to make any moves. So scared I watched you marry someone else. Cheesy, I know-" I tried to say but my words were cut off by his lips on mine.
My hand immediately grabbed his shirt as I pulled him closer to me. His hand fell on my hips but as the kiss progressed they made their way around my body, touching ever part that could ignite some sort of pleasure.
Lucien pulled away and turned off the stove before pulling me back into him. I rest my hand on his chest and pushed him a little so he could look at me.
"What's wrong?" He asks, his eyes so damn intense I nearly suffocated.
His arm cuffed underneath my thigh as he hauled me up and placed me on top of the counter. "Nothing, I just like looking at you." I said running my fingers through his hair.
"Is it going to be like this all the time?" He asked kissing me.
"Like what?"
"You loving me? I'm not the best man in the world, and every day I add more sins onto the ones I have right now. Even through all of that, will you still love me?"
"I don't agree with everything you do, but the love I have for you will always be there. Regardless of what you do Lucien." I said kissing him once more.
Oh how I love, love.
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬
• A lot of these that I'm going to be posting have been finished months ago but I never got around to making face claims but here they are.
• lmk what y'all think 😙