Chapter 60
Winn Kane would attend the auction. Kane owed Luca a debt that could never be repaid properly.
Kane would bid on Valentina. Win her. On paper, it would look like another ugly transaction in a world that fed on them. Off paper, Luca would extract her quietly, move her out of the system, put her somewhere safe and forgettable. New name. New city. New life.
But Bastardi changed the process. No auction. No public bidding. And now Julian was overseeing the entire process.
Luca had run out of options.
Now all he could do was make sure Veronica had closure.
If he couldn’t save Valentina, he could at least give her sister the chance to say goodbye. To see her. To touch her.
There was nothing more he could do.
And that, made his hands curl into fists.
Detective Voss knocked once on the door marked CAPTAIN, squared his shoulders, and stepped inside.
“Captain, you sent for me,” Voss said evenly.
Captain Harrington sat behind his desk, broad-shouldered and graying. He finally lifted his eyes.
“What’s this nonsense I hear about you harassing Luciano Genovese and his associates p>
“I haven’t spoken to him p>
Harrington’s mouth tightened. “You dispatched officers to his house. I’m told you visited Scalese pizza parlour asking questions about him p>
“Again,” Voss said tightly, palms braced against the edge of the captain’s desk, “officers were dispatched to his house because a report was made about a disturbance on the premises. We were informed Miss Scalese was being held against her will.” He spoke carefully, the way a man did when every word might be used to hang him later.
The captain lifted his eyes slowly. “And was she p>
Voss hesitated just long enough to be honest. “It didn’t look like it p>
That answer tasted bitter. He had wanted it to be different. Had wanted bruises, tears, something undeniable. Instead, he’d seen a woman too composed.
“So,” the captain continued, folding his hands together, “why were you snooping around the pizza parlour p>
Voss exhaled sharply. “Because the younger Scalese daughter is still missing p>
The captain leaned back in his chair, leather creaking. “Did the Scalese family report her missing p>
“No, sir p>
That earned a long, weary sigh. The captain rubbed his temples. “Detective, I know you hold a grudge p>
“A grudge?” Voss exploded. He straightened, eyes blazing. “A grudge? Captain, the man killed my father p>
“There is no evidence to support that accusation,” the captain said quietly, firmly.
“Witnesses saw his men,” Voss shot back. “They saw them drag my father out of our house p>
“And have you found these men? Can you link them directly to Genovese p>
“How can I do that when I’m not allowed to investigate?” He spread his hands in a bitter gesture. “Every time I get close, I’m shut down. Files disappear. Witnesses recant. Patrol gets pulled p>
The captain stood then, his height suddenly imposing. “The powers that be have asked that you stop your investigation into Luca Genovese,” he said. “Or they will have your badge p>
Voss stared at him, chest heaving, disbelief and fury crashing together. “So let me get this straight,” he said. “A decorated officer’s father is murdered by a mafia lord, and I’m the villain?” He laughed again, almost hysterical. “Make it make sense p>
“Because you are not thinking straight,” the captain said. “Your anger is guiding you instead of your head. I told you to take a couple of days off. To breathe. To mourn. Get your head straight.” His eyes hardened. “Do not let Luca be the final nail in your coffin. Is that understood p>
Voss swallowed. His jaw flexed, muscles jumping beneath stubble he hadn’t bothered shaving in days. He stood there, spine rigid, hands clenched into fists at his sides.
“Yes, sir,” he said at last.
The captain nodded once.
Voss walked out.
The hallway lights hummed overhead, too bright, too clean for a place that buried truth for a living. Of course. Of course. The fucking slippery snake. Luca Genovese. Nothing could stick to him.
Fuck the powers that be.
They could threaten his badge, his career, his life. He didn’t care. He had already buried the man who taught him how to ride a bike, how to throw a punch, how to stand his ground. Luca didn’t get to walk away clean. Not from this. Not ever.
He would make sure Luca went down for killing his father. Law or no law. Badge or no badge.
Luca arrived at the Scalese pizza parlour exactly when he knew Veronica would be closing.
The bell over the door chimed softly as he stepped inside, the scent of yeast, oil, and baked dough wrapping around him.
Veronica was already slipping her arm through the strap of her bag. She looked tired. When she saw him, surprise flashed across her face, before hardening into anger.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“I’m taking you home myself,” Luca said calmly.
Her eyes narrowed. “Why p>
“Nothing,” he replied.
She scoffed. “I don’t want to go with you p>
“Don’t fight me, Veronica, please.” He stood there, hands shoved into his coat pockets.
Vee stared at him. “This isn’t a fight, Luca,” she said. “This is a beat down. And you are the one winning p>
“I like to win p>
“Even when I am no match p>
Luca stepped closer. He didn’t touch her.
“Vee,” he said, lower now, her name dragging out of him. “Why do you think I’m here? Why do you think I keep coming back, fighting with you, dragging you into my world p>
She swallowed. Her eyes flicked to his mouth and back up again, annoyed at herself. “I don’t know. You’re a psycho p>
A corner of his mouth twitched. “That’s not incorrect. I rule men with fear,” he said plainly. “I rule women with passion. You piss me off when you fight me. When you look at me like I’m just another man you can say no to.” His eyes burned. “And yet, its what keeps me coming back to you p>
“I can’t get you out of my head,” Luca went on, jaw tight. “Because I’m not winning. I’m losing, Bambola. Every day. I want you all to myself p>