“That’s not all I’m gunna ruin McNaught” Luca fumed, before unexpectantly dropping him to the ground. McNaught hit the floor heavily and curled to his side in an attempt to stand up before booted him in the stomach, dropping him back to the floor.
With McNaught writhing in pain, Luca bent to him and picked him up by the scruff of the shirt. Dominic and Roman made a move toward him, but he brushed them both off.
“She isn’t coming back, now get your chequebook and let’s start talking a redundancy package” Luca demanded.
“Yes, yes, of course. In cases of redundancy, the university offers three-months pay plus all owed entitlements. Please, give me a minute and I’ll work that out”. McNaught replied, wincing in pain.
“Normal cases of redundancy? Tell me, normally, are there sexual harassment cases in play?” Luca countered, standing over the man and exuding absolute boiling temper.
“No, no… this would be the… ah, first time for this particular set of circumstances”
“Triple what you’ve just offered and we’ll start talking” Luca replied.
“Oh, no I couldn’t do that” McNaught stuttered, “It’s not my place to make those kinds of decisions about money”.
“Dominic, go and ask Eliza out there to get us the Head of Department down here then call the cops and explain that Bill McNaught here assaulted a female colleague today” Luca commanded.
“No! Stop… I’m sure we can come to some agreement” McNaught pleaded.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Luca. Stop and calm yourself before you walk back in to Imogen. She needs you to be support her, you need to make her feel protected. At the moment that’s not how you’re coming across. At all.” Roman spoke steadily as they stood in the rear carpark of the gym.
“Reckon he’ll call the cops?” Luca asked his brothers.
“Nah, mate, he’s shit scared; there’s no chance he’ll do that” Dominic replied. “But Roman’s right; don’t go back in to Imogen like this, you’ll scare her more than she already is.”
Luca sat on the back of the tray of the utility with his head in his hands, visibly shaken, “I just didn’t know what’d happened to her. She was crying and trembling then she started telling me bits and pieces and I just… just didn’t know if he’d…”
“Luca, she’s ok. But she’s going to need your support and you can’t do that unless you calm down and let this go. You’ve sorted the problem out, now shift your attention to Imogen” Roman offered.
“I feel like I let her down somehow—“ Luca started, before Dominic stopped him.
“You’re still angry Luca. In fact, I’ve never seen you lose your temper like this. Come inside, we’ll jump on the bags for a bit and get rid of this before it eats you up” Dominic offered, before throwing a support arm around Luca's shoulders and heading to the gym.
Thirty minutes later and Luca was showing no signs of tiring. Dominic had been holding the boxing bag, several times being almost knocked over by the power of Luca’s assault on the bag. Roman looked on wearily, uncertain of how to interpret Luca’s anger. On one hand, it was completely normal—someone he loved had been put in danger and clearly the situation could have ended a lot worse than it did. On the other hand, Luca had never shown any signs of having such intense pent-up anger. It was like a switch had flicked and Luca had gone from carefree and peaceful to intensely angry in an instant.
Roman knew enough about anger from their father’s heavy-handed ways to know that Luca needed to reel himself in and get his anger under control. Looking up, he watched Luca intently; his eyes had glazed over and he looked vacant. Dom was offering support, the words bouncing off Luca as quickly as his hands bounced off the bag.
All Roman could do was watch. Luca’s attitude shift was a concern and Roman feared that it’d take sheer exhaustion to make Luca stop his rampage; the thought evoking powerful memories of his father beating them all until he literally passed out from either drunkenness or tiredness.
Twenty minutes later, Luca stopped abruptly. Dom stepped away from the bag wearily, dripping with sweat and looking suitably exhausted.
“Sorry” Luca spoke simply once he caught his breath, “I don’t know what came over me”
Roman stepped forward and rested a hand on Luca’s soaked shirt, “Better?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah. I think I am” Luca replied.
“Good, you just about fucking killed me” Dom laughed before walking over and slapping him on the back.
“I need to go talk to Imogen” Luca replied, uncertainly.
“Yeah mate, you do” Roman replied, “I’ll get Cass and get out of your hair”.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Imogen hadn’t pressed Luca for details of the meeting with Bill McNaught, the sheer amount of money written out to her on the cheque told her pretty much all she needed to know. The problem with Bill McNaught had been sorted and she was now unemployed, but at least she’d never have to face him ever again.
Luca had been quiet during the drive home and she couldn’t tell if he was mad with her or not. She’d asked him once they arrived home and he deflected the question by reassuring her that he wasn’t upset with or at her; more just annoyed that it’d happened to her.
But once they got inside, Luca pulled Imogen into the bathroom, stripping her with an intensity that under normal circumstances would have her hot and bothered; but instead tonight just left her feeling bothered. As he pulled her under the scorching hot water, she pushed away from him startling them both.
“I… I think maybe I should leave”, Imogen said steadily.
“What, why?”
“I feel like…” she started, before stepping out of the shower and mumbling, “Nevermind… I’ll go and stay at a motel tonight Luca. I think we need some time”.
“No. Don’t leave, please. I need to talk to you” Luca pled to her. “I need you Im, please don’t leave”.
“You're angry at me" she whispered, "I swear Luca, I didn’t do anything wrong today—“
“Of course you didn’t Im, don’t think for a minute that you’re in any way responsible” Luca reassured her, pulling her in closer before wrapping a towel around them both and leading her out into the loungeroom. “I need to tell you something Im and I don’t quite know where to start” he said, throwing himself back into the couch and trying in vain to relax the tenseness in his body.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, before Imogen shuffled over and straddled his lap, leaning forward and resting her head under his chin and softly planting kisses across his collarbone and jaw. Luca started to relax under her touch, so she sat up and slid her hands along his shoulders, gently kneading his tense muscles.
As he finally loosened under her hands, he leant forward and took her face in his hands, “I love you Im. I’ve wanted to say that to you for so long” Luca whispered to her.
“I love you too, Luca” she whispered.
“I was scared today. I didn’t know if you were hurt, didn’t know what to do to help you. I felt like I’d let you down” he spoke softly. “I realized today Im, just how much you mean to me, and… it brought up some stuff that I didn’t expect”.
“Stuff? Like what, Luca?"
"I haven't told you a lot of stuff about me Im, I guess I didn't want to in case it scared you away—
"Luca, I'm not going anywhere; it wouldn't matter what you told me" she offered reassuringly.
"I lost my temper today, badly. I didn't know what was happening; my head felt like it was going to explode, my whole body was buzzing and I just wanted to hit someone, anyone".
"Did you hit Bill?" Imogen asked, alarmed.
"Yeah, I did. He's not hurt though, well not badly, but I'd have kept going if I could have. I was, I am, so damn pissed off that you were put in that position" he trailed off. "Then when we got back to the gym, I still couldn't calm down. Dom and I hit the bags for almost an hour and only then I stopped because I'd run out of energy".
; "Luca, that seems pretty normal—"
"Except, it's not. I'm just like my goddamn father" Luca sighed, before lifting Imogen off his lap and sitting her next to him on the couch.
"Hey! I was comfortable" she interjected, trying to add some lightness to the quickly darkening mood.
"You might not want me after I tell you this Im; I'm just giving you an easier out. You know that Ma, Roman, Dom, and I left Italy and moved here when I was younger?"
Imogen nodded apprehensively.
"What I didn't tell you was that my Nonno, my grandfather, had to help us escape from my father. He was an alcoholic, with a really bad temper and an even worse attitude to us. He beat us almost daily; Ma and Roman usually copped the brunt of it. Roman would always hide Dominic and I then head back to protect Ma. It was every bloody day—if it wasn't his fists it'd be his verbal abuse hitting us all, making us feel insignificant, useless, worthless" Luca recalled, his body starting to shake.
Imogen scooted onto his lap and pulled his head down into her chest, "Luca, that's awful, god I'm so sorry that happened to you all".
"What if I'm the same as him, Im? What if I turn into that? Something happened today, I've never felt so out of control yet so single-mindedly determined to fuck someone up".
"Luca, you were angry… you were protecting me, that's absolutely different than what your father used to do. Just look at the way you look after me, Luca, you're a good man."
"Maybe…" he whispered.
CHAPTER NINE
The past week had been busy; the events with Bill McNaught had finally died down. Luca had made a point of driving Imogen to the bank to deposit McNaught's cheque then insisted they spend the day together at the gym.
After a few hours of Luca being called off in every direction, Imogen realized that Luca did need help with the running of the office. Part of the problem was his absolute disorganization, paperwork was filed in stacked piles around his desk in some kind of organized chaos she doubted she'd ever understand. A quick check in the storeroom, and she had a filing cabinet and all the folders and stationary she'd need to get everything on track. Wheeling a trolley underneath the cabinet, Imogen managed to get it back into Luca's office and started sifting and sorting through the papers, filing everything in a logical order and setting aside the most current paperwork that needed attention. She'd run it all past Luca later.
As she filed the last of the errant paperwork, Imogen collapsed into the desk chair and surveyed her handiwork. Slipping off her shoes, she rubbed at her ankle, the swelling still hadn't gone down and given the pain coursing through her foot, moving the filing cabinet had clearly aggravated something.
"Well, well, well…" came Luca's deep voice from the doorway.
Spinning on her chair, Imogen met his eye contact and saw the playful look on his face, "Luca Capello. How on Earth do you get anything done in here? This—" she said waving her hands as explanation, " is terrible!" she commented mockingly.
"We're not all born organisers you know Im; but if you are going to work in here, there are some rules", he smiled cheekily, walking through the office and checking out how neat and tidy Imogen had made it. "Im, thanks for sorting this all out; it's been driving me nuts for so long, but I never get a chance to fix it—"
"Hmmm… you're welcome" she said as he bent down and took her mouth fiercely in his. "These rules… I'm interested, what are they Luca?" she asked.
"Firstly, no more moving furniture" he scorned, kneeling in front of her and inspecting her ankle. "Im, geez, you've stirred this injury up again. Is it sore?".
"No" she lied.
"Yeah, right. Sit, I'll go get an icepack. Then we'll go over the other rules—" he stopped interrupted by Imogen's ringing mobile phone.
"Ooh, saved by the bell, huh?" Imogen laughed, grabbing her phone out of her bag and answering it as Luca left for the icepack.
"Im, sorry I got caught up—" he started as he walked into the office, and then caught the look on Imogen's face. "Penny for your thoughts?" he asked.
"That was the publishing house" she whispered, "I'm a finalist, Luca. I can't believe it… a finalist!"
"Amazing Im! You are amazing" Luca said, sitting on the desk in front of her and drawing her in closer to hug her, "what happens from here?"
"A gala dinner next Friday, they announce the winner. God, I'm so nervous now…"
"Right, let's ice this foot for half an hour, then we're heading out" he said, reaching for her foot and cradling it in his lap before bandaging the ice pack on.
"Where are we going?"
"I'm taking my girl out, do I need a reason?" he smiled.
"Emerald green or navy blue, Luca?" Imogen asked, holding them both up for him to see.
She hadn't expected Luca to suggest a shopping trip and he hadn't once complained as she dragged him from shop to shop trying to find the perfect dress for next week's gala dinner. She'd finally found the style she wanted, now the only question was colour.
"Try them both" Luca replied, closing the gap between them and placing a kiss on her forehead.
Searching through the rack to find her size, Imogen noticed that the shop attendant was once more showering Luca with attention. To his credit, Luca had kindly brushed her off several times already, but this time as she walked over and slid her fingers down his toned arms, Luca caught her fingers and said something to her in a hushed tone, causing her to stomp off looking annoyed and dejected.
Imogen barely stifled her laugh, capturing Luca's attention immediately.
"Something funny, Im?" he teased back.
"Not at all" she laughed, "I was just admiring your tact".
"Take them both, let's go try these on you" he bent and whispered in her ear, nipping her earlobe before grabbing her hand and dragging her to the nearby changing room.
"Luca!" she exclaimed as he walked in with her, "you can't come in here."
"Ah, but I'm helping Im—less steps for you to take on that sore ankle if you don't have to walk out and show me" he nuzzled into her neck, unbuttoning her blouse and pulling it off her shoulders before reaching around and unzipping her skirt, letting it fall to the floor, leaving her naked except her bra and panties.
Luca stood back, checking her out appreciatively when she murmured, "It's a strapless dress Luca".
Smirking, he moved slowly but purposely as he reached around and unclasped her bra, letting it fall between them before lowering his mouth to her breasts, taking one nipple in his mouth and the other between his fingertips.
"Luca, stop. We can't do this in here" Imogen sighed, pushing his face upward to hers, stopping to seal her lips over his briefly before reaching for the navy blue dress and sliding it over her hips.
"Oh, this is the dress Im" Luca whistled under his breath, stepping back and breathing her in. "You look amazing".
"I've never worn this colour before. I'm going to try the green" she decided, hardly finishing her sentence before Luca had the dress unzipped and was running his hands, and the dress, down the length of her body.
His touch was electric, scorching her skin with every caress. If they didn't get out of the changing room soon she'd hand herself over to him then and there.
Sliding out of his grip, she shimmied the green dress up and zipped it in place, reaching down the front of the dress to reposition her breasts, a deliberate tease aimed at Luca who had made himself comfortable in a chair in the corner of the room.
"Amazing; let's get it and get home" he said, his cock visibly straining against the denim of his jeans.
Stripping the dress off and standing in just her sheer panties, Imogen took her time to hang the dress properly before crossing the room and standing between Luca's thighs. "You can't walk out there like that, Luca" she said, dropping her eyes to his crotch.
"I know, give me a minute and I'll be fine. If you get dressed, it'd speed things up" he smiled.
"Or, I can help you" Imogen offered, sinking to her knees and slowly unbuckling his belt
and pulling his jeans open.
"Im, you can't…" he whispered as Imogen lowered her mouth over his length.
Sinking back into the chair and into Imogen's rhythm, Luca reached for her hair and fisted it into a tight bun on top of her head. Thrusting up gently against Imogen's downward movements, it wasn't long before Luca's cock was sitting snugly in the back of Imogen's throat, her gentle rhythm and swallowing bringing him to the brink almost immediately. As she reached down and cradled his sac, Luca felt his release approaching and breathed, "Imogen, now" before feeling her greedily swallow his warm offering.
"What are you doing to me, Im?" Luca sighed breathlessly.
Straightening up, Imogen smirked at him, "You started it Luca. Now, get me home so we can finish this properly".
CHAPTER TEN
"Oh wow Luca, you look… amazing" she breathed as Luca walked into their bedroom.
"This old thing" Luca laughed, proudly puffing his chest and straining the gorgeous cut of his dinner suit. "Italian made, you can't go wrong, huh? However, I think the attention of the night will be firmly on you—you look beautiful" he whispered, zipping her into her dress.
"I'm so nervous Luca—I've never been this nervous, ever" she said, turning to face him.
"I'll be there every step of the way. Regardless of what happens you're a finalist Im, your name is out there now. If you win, you've obviously got a clear path to being published, if not you're in an amazing position to send your manuscript to other publishers and see how you go. You'll be fine, I promise—" Luca stopped, hearing the doorbell ring. "Expecting someone, Im?"
"Nope" she replied, shaking her head as they both headed for the front door.
Outside, a courier stood grasping a massive bunch of flowers, sticking his head around as the door opened, "Imogen Butler?"
"Yes?" Imogen replied.
Capello Brothers 3 Train My Heart Page 3