Chapter 12
“I know,” Vee said softly. “This is all his fault p>
“You think things would be different if mum were still alive?” Valentina asked suddenly.
Vee stilled.
The question opened a door she rarely touched. “Do you remember her?” she asked gently.
Valentina frowned, thinking. “Not really. I remember her face. Just… not who she is p>
“She was amazing,” Vee said quietly. “She brought out the best in dad. He laughed more. He cared more. Now… now he’s just sad, bitter, and pissed at the world p>
“And drunk most of the time,” Tina added.
Vee sighed. “Get some sleep. We leave early in the morning p>
They climbed into the narrow motel bed together, bodies instinctively curling toward one another the way they had done since childhood storms and bad dreams. The sheets smelled faintly of detergent.
As Tina’s breathing evened out beside her, Vee stared at the ceiling, watching the slow sweep of headlights pass through the thin curtains. Her thoughts betrayed her, drifting somewhere dangerous.
Marco.
The softness of his lips surprised her most. The intensity of his eyes followed. A mob boss’s enforcer should have looked harder, uglier, carved from brutality. Instead, Luca looked like someone you could fall asleep next to.
She smiled faintly in the dark.
She was right, she decided. He was a good man. A conflicted one, maybe, but good. He had let them go. He had defied his boss for two terrified girls who had nothing to offer him. She hoped, sincerely, that he wouldn’t get into trouble for it.
The thought followed her into sleep.
Only minutes later, the motel room exploded into violence.
The door burst inward with a splintering crack that tore through the night. Harsh light flooded the room. Boots thundered against cheap carpet. Commands were barked in low, brutal voices.
One second they were sleeping.
The next, hands were on them.
“No!” Veronica screamed as she was yanked upright, her body instinctively fighting even before her mind caught up. The covers were ripped away. Cold air slammed into her skin. A gun barrel pressed against her shoulder.
Tina screamed too, as she was dragged out of the bed by her arms. “Vee! Vee p>
“Don’t touch her!” Vee cried, thrashing wildly, nails scratching at anyone within reach. Her heart pounded so violently she thought it might rupture. “Please! Please p>
One of the men shoved her back onto the mattress, the gun never leaving her line of sight. Another hauled Valentina toward the door, her bare feet slipping on the carpet as she kicked and sobbed.
“No! Let her go!” Vee screamed again. “Take me! Take me instead p>
Valentina reached for her, fingers stretching desperately. “Vee! Don’t let them take me p>
“I’m here!” Vee cried, fighting against the man pinning her down. “I’m right here p>
“Vee! Vee!” Tina screamed.
Instinct took over. Veronica lunged forward just as one of the men clamped his palm over her mouth, his grip rough and careless, skin tasting of sweat and metal.
She bit down.
Hard.
The man howled, jerking his hand back with a curse as pain exploded through his fingers. “Bitch p>
That single second was all she needed.
Veronica bolted.
“Tina!” she screamed, legs pumping, lungs burning as she chased the men dragging her sister toward the waiting vehicle. The parking lot lights blurred into streaks. Gravel cut into her bare feet. Her heart felt too big for her chest, too frantic to survive what it was witnessing.
She almost reached them.
Almost.
The man recovered fast. Heavy footsteps thundered behind her and then a fist collided with her face. The impact was brutal and sudden, snapping her head sideways. White light burst behind her eyes. The ground rushed up to meet her as her body folded, useless now.
Everything went blurry.
The world tilted, sounds stretching and distorting. She heard Tina’s screams growing distant, panicked, calling her name over and over again.
Then even that began to fade.
As darkness crept in, one thought echoed louder than the rest.
I’m sorry, Tina. I failed you.
Morning arrived at Commissioned, the club looked calm on the surface. Underground, however, the air hummed with quiet menace.
Luca arrived just after dawn. He shrugged out of his coat as he walked. He hadn’t slept much.
“The girl is secured, Luca,” Marco said as soon as he reached him.
“Good. On guard, right p>
“Yes, sir p>
They descended deeper. Luca’s office waited at the end of the corridor, shielded from the world above.
“And the sister?” Luca asked casually.
Marco glanced at him, surprised by the question. “She was taken back home p>
Luca stopped walking.
“How is she?” he asked.
The question threw Marco off balance. He didn’t understand it. Was Luca asking operationally or… personally? He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Uh… she is fine. She doesn’t know where the girl is, so she won’t be any trouble p>
Luca resumed walking and soon they were in his office. He loosened his cuffs, eyes unfocused. “Keep an eye on her too,” he said.
“Why p>
“I don’t know why,” he admitted. “She is not the type to give up. People like her do not fold p>
“She might involve the cops,” Marco offered.
“Yes,” Luca said.
“I could put the fear of the devil into her p>
Luca’s gaze snapped up. “No. Not yet. Just have her watched for now p>
Marco nodded. He had worked for Luca long enough to recognize when a job had crossed into personal territory. “Okay, boss p>
“And Marco,” Luca added, standing. “When you are done with that, let’s work out the logistics for the use of the hall for Bastardi’s sick auction p>
Marco grimaced. “I still think you should not let him hold it here. Too many high-profile figures inside Commissioned underground at the same time p>
Luca smiled faintly. “Exactly why it stays. I need to identify them. Catalog them. I may need them someday. Everyone is useful when they think they are untouchable p>
Marco exhaled. “Alright, boss p>
“Of all the things! Of all the things you could do!” Vito roared. “You ran away?! Did you really think you could run from Luca?” he continued, pacing. “From Luca p>