Luca’s Inferno by Karima Sa’ad Usman

14 Dinner Party Luca. We finished up at the restaurant and headed to a clothing store. I had booked ahead, and they had

cleared out the store so we could shop in peace. When we arrived there, my men arrived to guard the

place and Emma and I went inside.

“Good morning Mr Alessandro, welcome,” the store owner, who was also a designer, greeted me, and I

smiled at him. His name was Luciano Russo, and he was the best in the country.

“Luciano, meet my wife, Emma,” I said, and he was shocked and happy at the same time. He shook

Emma’s delicate hand, and I felt a growl trying to escape my mouth, but I held it.

“You are welcome. She is stunning,” he said to me, and I nodded. I already knew she was a beauty.

Luciano was a human clueless about our world, so he did not know she was an Omega or what it meant.

“We will do both her hair, dress and makeup. You will fall in love all over again, Mr Alessandro, “he

teased, and we all laughed, but I noticed Emma blush a bit, which was cute. He urged her to come with

him, and she looked at me. I nodded at her telling her it was okay. She followed him while I sat in the

lounge area with my guards. Emma looked stunning. Black hair, with moonlight-grey eyes and flawless

skin. She looked beautiful. I was speechless, and when she started trying on the different clothes

Luciano picked for her, I felt something shift in me. The woman looked like a goddess. I prayed for the

strength to not fall in love with her and let her go when the time came. She was amazing.

We spent a while in the store, and after tons of clothes and spending lots of Leers there, we were finally

done. I paid with my card and told them to send everything to my house. I called Miranda, the head maid,

to have them arrange Emma’s things in her closet when the clothes and accessories arrive.

We left the place and headed to the jewellery store. I needed to get her a wedding ring and some

Jewelries.

Emma touched my hand when we parked in front of the shop. The electric jolt was there again, just like

in Marcelo’s club when I held her hands to steady them.

“Why are we here?” She asked, looking a bit worried. “I want to buy wedding bands and jewellery for

you,” I said, and she shook her head. “Do not waste your money, Luca. Let us go for something cheap; it

is just one year. I will not be able to do anything with them once it is over,” she said, and I was stunned

she would turn down expensive jewellery. She was a very decent woman. “Well, you will accompany me

to many places; you can’t wear cheap jewellery. It would reflect badly on me,” I explained, and she

nodded. “Can we return them after a year?” She asked me, and I nodded. “We can sell it back to them

after a year,” I replied, and she sighed with relief. I got her a yellow diamond ring. I went further to get her

ten sets of Jewelry that she could wear with her new clothes and accessories. She was overwhelmed by

the prices, but she

controlled herself. We finished, and I had them send it to my house. We finished our shopping by three in

the afternoon, and I felt it was only best we return home so Emma would have time to prepare for the

party. I told Miranda to assign two omega maids to her so she would not feel intimidated by the kappas

working for us. When we got home, I led her upstairs, but instead of her room, I asked her to join me in

mine for a movie. She gladly obliged, and I was shocked. I thought she would feel awkward or suspect I

wanted to touch her, but she obliged without giving it a thought. It showed her trust in me, and I was

grateful for that.

The moment we entered my room, she looked surprised. She admired everything in the room and sat on

the couch.

“Thank you for today, Luca. I had fun,” she said, and I frowned at her. “We only went shopping,” I said,

and she nodded. “No one has ever taken me shopping before,” she said, and I was stunned. “Not even

your ex?” I asked her, and she shook her head. “I am glad to share that experience with you,” I said, and

she smiled. I took off my shirt and noticed she averted her gaze, making me smile. I put on a t-shirt and

went to sit with her on the couch.

We agreed to watch a comedy, and I could not help but steal a glance at her whenever she laughed. She

gave me peace that I had never experienced before. I liked it.

An hour later my phone rang, it was Gerald, so I stood up to answer it. “Hello,” I said.

“Alpha, we have a slight issue,” he said, and I was attentive.

“I just got information that Marino is planning an attack on us. They are angry that we took

over their territory, and Castelo Ricci might be helping them.” He said, and I walked away

· from where Emma was.

“Is it from a trusted source?” I asked him, and I heard him sigh. “It is a rumour for now, but if we do not

deal with the mess, it will be serious.” He said.

“Do some more research; let us be sure it is Castelo so we do not strike the wrong person. I was the one

that installed him as the head of that family. I need to be sure someone isn’t trying to frame him because

the Ricci family is important to me.” I told him, and he agreed to do some more investigation. The news

that Gerald just gave me was disturbing. If Castelo betrays me, it will weaken my hold. I would need to

seek a stronger alliance should that happen.

The call had irritated me, and I began to pace in my bedroom, thinking of my next move. While I moved, I

noticed the sound from the television was disturbing me, so I told Emma to turn it down as nicely as I

could manage.

“You seem upset. I will excuse you,” she said and stood up. I wanted to ask her to stay, but I decided

against it last minute. “Are we still going to the party?” She asked, and I nodded: “Be ready by seven,” I

said, and she left the room. I heard her enter hers, and I turned off the

television and began to make calls. I called my brother Roberto to give him a heads up about the attack,

and then I called My sister Catalina to warn her. I called my father to warn him, and then I called some of

my closest business associates to check on them.

After making several phone calls, I decided to catch an hour’s sleep before getting ready for the event.

SEVEN IN THE EVENING.

I stood downstairs with my parents, waiting for Emma to come out. I linked her to let her know it was time

to leave.

“Did y ell your contract wife that we aren’t at her beck and call, and we can’t wait for her?” My mother

said, and I ignored her.

“You two can go ahead of me; Emma and I will join you at the party,” I said. We waited five more minutes,

and Emma’s sweet scent filled my senses. I looked up, and she was in the red dress I had asked her to

wear. She looked beautiful.

“I see she has managed to dip her hands in your pocket,” my mother said, and my father cautioned her. I

was too smitten by Emma to pay attention to what my mother was saying. I met Emma and the foot of

the staircase and looped her hand with mine.

“You look stunning,” I said, and she smiled at me.

“Thank you,” She said, and I could see she was a bit bold, just the way I had requested.

“Good evening,” Emma greeted my parents. My father replied, but my mother refused to respond. My

parents left, and I could feel my mother’s anger. I did not care. I walked my wife proudly to the car. I knew

she was a show stopper, and many men would be jealous.

We arrived at the party, and when Emma and I walked in, the place went silent. People began

to murmur, and all they wanted to know was who she was.

After greeting and mingling with some of the guests, the hosts finally graced us with their

· presence, and I took Emma with me to greet them. Mathias Banchi and Lora Banchi. “Luca,” Mathias

said, and I greeted him. He was my father’s age but was still head of the family because he refused to

step down for his daughter to take over. Mathias was hoping I would marry her and we could combine

our families and businesses. Emma gracefully greeted them too, and they did not seem to like or pay

attention to her. His wife turned up her nose and did not greet Emma in return. “Mathias, meet my wife,

Emma,” I said so they would know her stance and pay her the same respect they paid me. “Oh, we

know; your mother told us about her. I did not know people could get contract wives now. Is it a new

thing?” Lora asked me, and I balled my fist. My mother had run her mouth. I noticed Emma’s

countenance changed, and all her confidence dissipated. I was angry. “Who told you that, Lora? Emma

is my wife, and I will not appreciate her disrespected.” “Let us be real, Luca; she is an omega. Terresa is

a better match for you. We hope to see you making the moves once this ridiculousness is over,” Mathais

said, and I was angry at my mother. I knew they wanted us to have the support of the Bianchis, but did

they have to humiliate me like this? If getting to the top was so easy, my father should have done it on

his own without my help. Now they think they could run my life as they saw fit. I did not want to

have any issues with Mathais, so I excused us and went to greet others.

“I do not think it was wise bringing me here, Luca. They all seem to know we have a contract. I guess

your mother told them,” Emma said, picking up on the gossip around us. I was mad, so I did the only

thing I knew how. I took her to the dance floor. I held her to my chest and moved to the music. I was at

peace, and the world around us faded. It was just her and me. I was mad at what my mother did, so I

lifted Emma’s face to look at me while we danced. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Her gentle nature

helped too. I prayed to the goddess that I would be able to survive the year without falling for her. I

leaned in and kissed her. She returned the kiss this time, sweet with passion. Did she want me?