"Thank you................" (Y/n) said, as Luca handed her a cup of tea.

"Hot and sweet..........that's good, right....................?" Luca replied, as he picked up the poker and pushed it into the fire that he had started. The usually fearsome Italian American gangster, gently pulling the blanket back around (Y/n)'s shoulders, before he took a seat across from her.

"Yes........well, that's what my mother always said, anyway." (Y/n) replied with a nervous chuckle, as her eyes turned to the liquid in her cup. She was still scared, still shocked about the whole incident; her mind going over all the awful what could have been notions. What fate could have befallen her if the man sat across from her, hadn't come to her rescue. The look of the man's face before he fell to the floor, dead, still making her feel sick. It wasn't that she was some weak woman, she knew what the world could be like; how awful people could be. But this, this had been far too close to home for her taste. (Y/n) hating the fact that she felt timid. Yet there was another thought plaguing her. Another little question gnawing at the back of her brain. And as much as she didn't want to be rude to the handsome man that had saved her, she just couldn't help but ask.

"Luca.............?"

"Yeah.............."

"Could I ask you something............?"

"Of course, if.................."

"How were you there to stop that man..........? I mean........I'm not ungrateful for what you did for me. That man..........that man could have............." (Y/n) said, before the tall, slender man could say more. Luca reaching across and grabbing her hand, as he heard the quiver in her voice, as he saw the tears that had come to her eyes. The feared New York mobster, quickly moving from the chair and taking a seat next to the barmaid on the sofa. Luca pulling her close, as she dropped her head to his shoulder. Her fingers gripping tightly to the lapels of his jacket. Her body shaking as she began to cry; the full horrors of what might have happened, finally being realised. That she herself could possibly have died after the man had.........well, that was not worth thinking about.

Luca remained quiet for a moment, as he tried to come up with a suitable answer to the question that had just been asked. What was he to say to the already terrified woman? Was he to confess everything. To say that he himself had been following her for some time. That despite the fact that he had never actually met her before tonight, he already had feelings for her; and would do what he had done tonight, to any man that would dare think that he could touch the beautiful woman in his arms? Was he to tell her, that he had come from America to reek revenge on the very people that she worked for; the people that she might even call friend, and had originally hoped to use her, to achieve his ends. That he desired nothing more than to bring the Birmingham family to their knees; to kill every Shelby until there was no one left other than Tommy. And then, for the death of his father, he would put a bullet between his eyes? No..........But then what was he to say?

No decent man was out at such a late hour. Even the drunks from the pubs had managed to stagger their way home, long ago; probably to waiting irate wives armed with rolling pins or heavy pans, but they were still home. The only ones lurking in the dark shadows, were men like those that (Y/n) had already come into contact with. Men, that had nothing on their minds, but crime. So no, he couldn't tell her the truth, not now at least; but he wanted to settle her mind. Wanted to reassure her. Wanted to keep her close. To have the chance of getting to know her better.

"I..........I couldn't sleep. I was out for a drive. I saw you coming out of the Garrison. You were talking to some guy...............I confess that I thought you were beautiful, and I couldn't keep my eyes offa you. I was about to drive off, when you walked away; but I saw something, saw someone following after you. So........I followed them. I know I shouldn't have been looking at you, but..........." Luca explained; the Italian American carefully brushing away the tears from (Y/n)'s cheek, as she looked up at him.

"Thank you, Luca. Really............." (Y/n) sniffed, as she smiled up at him. Luca believing that despite the tears that smeared the small amount of makeup that she wore, he had never seen anything more beautiful in his life.

"I should go................" Luca continued, as he reluctantly pulled away from her, and went to get to his feet; only to find (Y/n) jumping up to join him. Her hand gripping hold of his wrist.

"Please, Luca..........please don't go. I........I don't want to be alone. I don't want you to think that........that I mean..........that I am the kind of woman that would invite a man that she had only just met, to spend the night. It's just that........I don't feel safe by myself. And I know that I would feel much better if you were here. I'll understand if you say no; but.................."

"I'll stay................" Luca quickly replied, as he reached up and brushed some hair away from her still damp eyes. A relieved sigh passing (Y/n)'s lips, as she smiled up at him. Allowing Luca to lead her back to the sofa. The mobster carefully sitting down, before he once again stoked the fire, and then joined her. His arm coming to rest around her shoulder, as her head fell his chest. The son of Vincente not caring that he was letting his heart rule his head. Only caring that (Y/n) was safe. And that he was the only one that could do that.

"Tell me about yourself.............." Luca added. A small smile pulling at corners of his lips, as he made himself comfortable.