The Lucchese Legacy
The cavalry had arrived, and the Lucchese’s? They were no longer alone in Mexico. Calum had made sure of that the second they got back to their hotel that night. The shadows they had hidden in for so long were gone, and now it was time for the world to know. In just a few hours, the news about his sister being alive would be plastered on every front page, courtesy of his wife’s friend. He hadn’t held back a single detail when filling Aurora in on their history with the Rivera family. She knew everything, from the deep-seated blood ties to the betrayals. Now, they were here, standing outside the place the anonymous message had told them to be at. 11 a.m. sharp. Calum’s hand gripped the steering wheel for a brief second before he turned to Aurora, his expression calm but resolute. “Come on, Sunshine,” he winked, stepping out of the car and slamming the door behind him. His steps were heavy but controlled, guiding her up the stairs with a protective hand against her back. They weren’t taking any chances today. His eyes scanned the numbers on the doors, finally stopping at 402. This is it. “Stay behind me,” he mumbled, twisting the doorknob slowly, his hand instinctively resting over his gun as the door creaked open. His eyes landed on Mia, her hands raised slightly, a smug smile spread across her lips. Next to her, Enzo lay in bed, looking pale and weaker than Calum had ever seen him. His heart clenched for a moment, but his face didn’t show it.
He closed the door behind him, locking eyes with Mia as his hand dropped from the gun. “Still got that attitude, huh Mia?” he chuckled dryly, shaking his head. His tone was light, but there was no real humor behind it. His eyes drifted back to Enzo, taking in every detail. His brother didn’t look beaten—there were no visible bruises—but something wasn’t right. He looked exhausted, broken in a way that wasn’t physical. Calum could feel the tension creeping into his bones, but he forced himself to stay calm. “Check on him, please,” he said quietly to Aurora, his voice low, almost a plea as his worried eyes flicked to hers. He didn’t need to say more. He trusted her to do what was necessary, but that didn’t stop the fear from gnawing at his insides. He grabbed a chair, dragging it across the floor as he sat down, crossing his arms over his chest. His gaze was locked on Mia now, studying her every movement. She looked like she’d been through hell. Bruised, beaten. But she still had that defiant spark in her eyes, the same spark that always made him wonder what her next move would be. “So why’d you bring me here, Mia?” Calum asked, raising an eyebrow, his voice more relaxed than he felt. “I’m sure my brother-in-law doesn’t exactly approve of this little reunion.” Brother-in-law. The words tasted bitter on his tongue, but he couldn’t help the amused chuckle that escaped. Adrian Rivera, his brother-in-law. The thought made him want to laugh and throw up at the same time. His eyes drifted back to Enzo. There were no marks, no signs of a struggle, and yet he looked like he’d been through hell. Calum wasn’t sure what kind of damage had been done, but he knew it wasn’t something as simple as a few bruises. “Do they know I’m alive, Mia?” Calum asked, his voice quiet now, a darker edge creeping into his tone. He didn’t trust this, didn’t trust her, but he needed answers.
"You loved it," she responded, her voice just as flat and devoid of amusement. Her eyes rolled slightly. She couldn't say she was excited herself for his presence, but she needed him. For once, she actually needed him. "I see you brought your... woman," she commented, her tone implying a certain level of disapproval. "Seems like you've finally settled.. for now?" she mumbled, studying the redhead with a critical eye. A real life Jessica Rabbit if you would have asked Mia. Calum's lips moved, his words low but audible. Mia knew better than to refuse the redhead's urge to examine Enzo. She didn’t seem like she belonged in this life, but what Mia saw in Calum’s eyes made her curious. Never had she seen this soft side of Calum Lucchese, his eyes filled with desperation and pleading, but still this endless love. Her eyes turned back to him, her body taking small steps around the room. "Isn't that obvious?" she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Your sister is under my family's control, and your brother is severely hurt." She moved closer to him. "Your brother-in-law, his new wife, and her ex from hell is the reason I brought you here” her lips revealed, her hands slipping back to her back pockets as she got closer to the chair he was placed at, her steps carrying her around it and behind his back. "I needed to get him out of there, and I intend to do the same with Therese. And as much as I hate to say it, I need your help," she breathed out, her eyes darting to Jessica Rabbit once her voice reached her ears.
"Calum..." Jessica Rabbit breathed, her blue eyes meeting his. "You need to take a look at this." She revealed the multiple cuts on his back. "Looks like someone wanted to paralyze him, a direct cut down to his nerves. We've seen this before, from Therese," her eyes staring at her man, Mia's ex. Mia's gaze moved to the window, guilt creeping up on her. If she hadn't asked for it, Luke probably never would have been the one to do it. "What amazes me is that the nerve seems intact. He can still move, but I can't determine anything without a proper scan," Jessica Rabbit continued, Mia feeling her eyes stare right at her. Light footsteps approached, and Mia turned around. The woman was taller than her, her skin untouched and delicate. Intimidating, yet with the sweetest eyes she had ever seen. "Her man, or ex... I don't even know with those two, but either way. He was the one to torture Enzo," Mia's lips revealed. "To answer your question, Calum, no. Even I didn't know you were alive until you showed up at the wedding. But I wouldn't be too sure, if I recognized you. I'm sure others will," Mia tilted her head back to look at the tall, redheaded Jessica Rabbit. "And bringing a newborn into this family, at dangerous premises," her gaze turned to Calum, "you know better." It wasn't her business, but two gunshots were fired that night, two gunshots that could possibly harm someone, their someone. Mia stepped back and walked up to Enzo, her eyes moving down to him with guilt and worry before reaching out for his hand. "I'm actually glad you're okay," she whispered, returning her eyes to Calum, her chest rising from a deep breath. "So are you in or not, Casanova?"