Chapter 299

I’m quiet for a moment, thinking of the ways that Bruce’s assessment of his nephew – who is so much more of a son to him – line up with my own experiences with my mate. It’s true that Luca is emotional, though I’m not sure I’d have thought of him that way before now.

Luca’s willful, and bossy, and controlling – and he can be a little petty when things go his way, like when he didn’t talk to me after he found out, in the dream state, that I’m a girl. But I guess I never attributed all of that to Luca being hot-blooded, as it were. Of being someone who feels things so strongly that he has trouble controlling his intense reactions to them.

I turn my head for a moment, a little lost in my thoughts, because…well, because I think I’ve been thinking lately that Jackson is the more emotional of my two mates, deep down.

But secretly, is it Luca? Does he have an entire well of emotion that he likes to keep veiled under a thousand confident smiles and jokes?

God, how did I miss that?

“I hope we can rely on you,” Bruce says quietly, again drawing my attention back to him. “To…help Luca.”

“Of course you can,” I say instantly, meaning it utterly as I link my hands earnestly behind my back.

“Yes,” Bruce murmurs thoughtfully, studying me. “I can see that you’re a good girl, Ariel – and I mean that. You’re a nice young lady, you clearly care about my boy – you want to do right by him. And I appreciate and admire that for you. But…Luca has his own career, and his life, that I’m not sure lines up completely with yours.”

My eyes go wide, because…what?

“Again, I don’t think it’s anything you’ve done,” he says, drifting his hand through the air between us in an ameliorating way. “I just…well, you’re a Princess, aren’t you? And you’ve got mixed up in this Academy, just as he has. I told him not to do that – not to go joining the military, but he liked the idea of being a hero, of serving his nation.” Bruce rolls his eyes a little here. “But he didn’t really care about Moon Valley - what he liked was the fact that the magazines called him a hero. He didn’t really –“

“I’m sorry,” I say, interrupting a little and starting to get frustrated because – well, because I’m kind of getting the impression that I’m being a little insulted, frankly. “What does this have to do with me being good for him?”

“I’m sorry, you’re right - I’m tired,” Bruce says, sighing and dropping his head, collecting his thoughts. “What I mean to say is that…Luca has responsibilities.” He lifts his head now, meeting my eyes. “He bought this house for his grandmother and his mother, which was a good thing to do. He bought that gym, too, and he pays for all of those boys to train there – got them all off the street. He gives them a monthly stipend, too, so they can afford to not work – to just train.”

I go quite still because…I did not know that Luca did that.

Bruce nods, seeing my understanding now. “Luca’s made money, and he’s been successful, but his career has an end-date. He’s young and he’s strong now, but he’s not going to be forever. There’s always someone younger and stronger coming up the ranks. So Luca needs to win the prize fights while he can, and invest the money wisely so that he can continue to support the women who raised him, and continue to give back to his community. Which is why I don’t like him throwing a party for you the night before the biggest fight of his life.”

I step back a little, feeling like I’ve been slapped. Because I didn’t ask for this party but…noveldrama