Page 24 of Devour (Blood and Roses #1)

Ariel

I thought it was just the two of us in the room—until I noticed the burly man with ginger-brown hair and a beard to match, close-trimmed but unmistakably the same fiery shade, hands Luca the papers. As if Luca’s size wasn’t intimidating enough.

“What is this?” I ask, eyeing the papers, too scared to take them. My mind plays tricks on me; I pray it’s not what I think it is.

He shakes the papers in his hand, his patience clearly thinning—like I should take them before he changes his mind. With shaky hands, I reach for them.

My fingers curl into a tight fist at the edges as I scan the words on the page. The blood drains from my face, and a wave of dizziness hits me.

“You want custody of my child?” I whisper, barely able to get the words out.

“Our child,” he growls.

Over the past few days, I thought things were getting better between us. I was starting to build this foolish notion that we were… something or could be. But it was all a facade, just a way to get me to lower my guard so he could come in and take everything.

“I’ll never let you take him from me,” I snap, injecting force into my voice—but it wavers, already on the verge of breaking.

“Is this why you have him here?” I demand, thrusting the paper in his direction. My hand trembles. The burly man hasn’t left his seat. He simply lifts his palms up—a silent gesture that says, Leave me out of this .

“How long have you been planning this?” I hiss, my voice rising as I wave the papers in front of him. I brought him into this world. I gave birth to him.”

“I put him in you,” he growls, eyes narrowing. “And you hid him from me.”

“I won’t sign this,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. My eyes are clouded with tears, but I refuse to let them fall.

He doesn’t flinch. “You know this is just a formality. I have enough to take him, with or without your signature.”

I know he isn’t lying. He definitely has the money and power, he could make me disappear if he wanted to, and there is nothing I could do about it.

I search his eyes for any trace of softness, any hesitation—but there’s nothing. Just that cold, ruthless determination. He’s going to take Noah from me. I can’t let that happen. I just can’t.

“Luca—”

“You do have another option,” he interrupts before I can finish.

What could possibly be better than this? I think to myself, heart pounding. He takes another document from the burly man beside him and hands it to me. I grab it quickly, scanning the words as desperation tightens in my chest.

If there’s anything that will keep me from losing my child, I’ll take it. It’s a marriage certificate. Of all the things I was expecting, this wasn’t even close.

I’m so unprepared for his answer that I can barely process it. I almost laugh—except the look on his face tells me he’s completely serious.

“I thought you hated me,” I whisper.

“Hate is a strong word, kitten,” he says, taking another step closer, invading my space. I feel like a cornered rat. I want to step back, but his hand spans my cheek and neck, holding me in place, forcing me to meet his eyes.

“You will be mine. And ‘till death do us part’—that will be your punishment,” he growls. “My face will be the first thing you see every morning… and the last thing you see at night. My scent will be what lulls you to sleep. Every. Single. Night.”

My heart takes up a thunderous beat. His words hit me like nails driven straight into my chest—sharp, heavy, and impossible to ignore.

“This is the last option I’m giving you. It’s your choice if you decide to take it,” he says coolly.

How is this an option? Losing my child… or being miserable for the rest of my life. But at least I’ll still have my child. The tears I’ve been holding back finally spill over, but he brushes them away with a slow swipe of his thumb—gentle, almost cruel in its softness.

“I’ll sign it,” I whisper, my voice hollow with defeat.

“Wise choice.”

He steps back as I pick up the pen from the table and sign the marriage certificate. I place the pen down without looking at him. I assume the burly man is his lawyer, he’ll probably handle the rest. “Are we done here,” I say flatly.

The man gives Luca a nod of confirmation, then begins packing the documents into his briefcase. The click as it shuts echoes in my chest. That’s it. I’m married to Luca.

The man rises with a grunt, adjusting his suit jacket.

“My name is Marcel. I apologize for this brute’s rudeness,” he says with a smirk. I hear Luca growl low in his throat, but Marcel just grins and keeps going.

“Welcome to the family,” he adds casually, before strolling out the door with his briefcase.

“…Can I see my son now?”

“You can,” Luca replies, “but you need to get ready. We’re leaving within the hour.”

“What do you mean by leaving?” I frown, then finally notice—he’s no longer in his hospital scrubs. Now he’s wearing a crisp shirt and tailored suit pants. I was so out of it earlier, I didn’t see it.

The scrubs are folded neatly over the bed, and there’s a paper bag beside them. He walks over, pulls out a navy-blue tie, and turns toward me as he fastens it around his neck. He had surgery just yesterday. He should still be in pain. But he looks… composed. In control.

“I’ve already had the family doctor arrange a sterile room for Noah,” he says. “He can continue his treatment there.”

“Why can’t he finish his treatment here?” I demand.

“Because I said so,” Luca replies, his tone final. “And that’s the end of it.”

He says it like I’m just supposed to accept it because he said so. Like I’m supposed to nod and fall in line. Like I haven’t been the one sleeping in hospital chairs, clinging to every hopeful word Dr. Eli gave me while Noah was fighting to breathe.

“He’s in good hands with Dr. Eli,” I say, trying to stay calm. “He’s been handling Noah’s treatment since day one, and I don’t trust anyone else to take care of him, especially not your doctors.” Luca’s eyes narrow.

“I trust mine. And they understand that if anything happens to him, heads will roll.”

I open my mouth to respond, but he cuts me off before I can even form a word.

“Nothing you say will change anything.”

So, I shut my mouth. His words don’t ease the knot in my chest, but I know I’m backed into a corner. He’s not giving me a choice, just commands disguised as concern. At the very least, I’m assured Noah will be safe… health-wise.

“I still have to go home to get his things. My things.”

“Everything you need is already at our home. And if there’s anything important, I’ll have my men bring it over.”

I have nothing to say to that. He’s already planned everything down to the last detail, like he always does. So, I just nod and turn to leave.

“One more thing,” he adds, his voice colder now. “You’re to cut all contact with that doctor. No calls. No messages. Nothing. Or you won’t like the ways, I thought of fitting him into a bag when I’m done with him.”

“I’m only letting him off the hook this time because he saved my son,” he continues, voice dropping low, but the menace beneath it is unmistakable. “I can’t promise I’ll be so forgiving next time.”

The lump in my throat is too thick to swallow. I can’t even find words to respond. So, I turn and leave the room in silence.

Few hours later

The sun is beginning to set by the time Luca’s driver pulls up to the mansion. Noah had gone ahead earlier in an ambulance. I’d insisted on riding with him, but Luca was adamant, I had to ride with him instead.

The entire drive, my nerves were strung tight, coiled like a wire ready to snap. Now, I stop just a few steps from the threshold.

My feet won’t move. My eyes shift to Luca, though I’m not really seeing him, I’m too lost in my thoughts. He notices, eyebrows lifting in quiet concern. One hand is already on the door.

“Ariel, are you okay?” he asks, his deep baritone cutting through the fog in my head. Of course I’m not. I’m about to walk into a den of vipers and lions. And by vipers, I mean his mother and anyone else like her.

That’s, if they still live together. I doubt it though. I never got the sense of a strong bond between them. While I was tutoring Luca, she always felt like a presence forced into his life, not chosen.

I remember bringing it up once—just once. He shut down immediately. The air turned thick, his silence heavy. It broke my heart, so I never brought it up again. I take a deep breath and square my shoulders.

Put on your big girl pants, Ariel. You can do this. Just until Noah recovers and I find out what happened to Mai. Then I’ll find a way to disappear. He’ll never find us. Can I actually escape a mob boss? I push the thought away. One step at a time.

“I’m fine…” I murmur. He glances at his outstretched hand, as if confused why I haven’t taken it yet. Hesitating, I finally place my hand in his. He helps me up the last few steps and into his house.

As soon as we step inside, we’re greeted by a Latina woman who looks old enough to be Luca’s mother. Her eyes are kind and warm, her hair streaked with dust-gray and pulled back into a neat bun.

Without hesitation, she pulls me into a gentle hug, separating me from Luca who doesn’t seem to mind. He’s already heading off somewhere, to God knows where. Oddly, I don’t mind either.

There’s something comforting about this woman’s presence. She pulls back, both hands still holding mine, and beams at me.

“Welcome, my child,” she says, smiling from ear to ear, and I can’t help but muster a smile of my own.

“Oh, pardon my manners—I’m Griselda, the housekeeper,” she adds, introducing herself. Her voice is tiny but soothing.

“Mrs. Falcone—just call me Ariel,” I reply.

“Lovely name. Luca has told me so much about you and Noah.”

He did? I can’t picture him sitting around talking about me, not without some kind of agenda. I want to ask her what he said, but something tells me to save it for later.

“I’m glad I finally got to meet you,” she says sincerely.

I don’t really know how to respond to that, so I just nod and offer another polite smile.

“Would you like me to show you to Noah’s room? He’s settled in nicely, but the nurses said he’s been asking for you.”

“Yes, please.”

“This way,” she says, turning gracefully and guiding me down the corridor toward the west wing.

On our way there, I notice the walls on this side of the house are bare, unlike the rest, where artwork is displayed.

As we walk, she adds, “He had the west wing prepared for his arrival. Everything’s been sterilized.”

We stop at a set of sealed double doors. She gives me a small smile.

“I’ll leave you to it, then. I’ll be downstairs getting dinner ready if you need anything.”

A nurse stationed at the entrance steps forward and hands me a sterile bag. Inside is a folded gown, a pair of gloves, and a nose mask. I quickly put everything on, sliding the mask over my face last.

As soon as I motion that I’m ready, the nurse opens the door. The room is spacious, with a king-sized bed at its center. If not for the steady beeping of the monitor, I might have mistaken it for a luxurious hotel suite.

I quietly close the distance between us, perching gently on the edge of the bed as I peer down at him. He looks so small. So fragile. I reach for his free hand, the one without the IV and gently run my fingers over it.

He can’t see the smile behind my mask, but it’s there. I’m so relieved. So thankful. He got a donor, and now he’s on his way to recovery. I haven’t told him the truth about his donor yet. Or that his father was the match.

I told him his father died in an accident, and I couldn’t risk the shock interfering with his recovery. Luca agreed on the condition that I tell him once he’s strong enough. I will. I just… wish I didn’t have to. I’m afraid he’ll hate me for lying. But that’s a burden for another day.

“Mum…”

His voice is almost inaudible, groggy and soft.

“I’m here, baby,” I say gently. “Go back to sleep.”

“Dr. Eli…”

“He’s fine,” I assure him, stroking his forehead.

“T-Rex…”

I smile again. “He’s here too. And as soon as you’re better, you can play with him. I promise.” He blinks slowly, eyes fluttering shut.

“Now sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

And he does. I stayed for a while watching him sleep before going downstairs to help Griselda with dinner.