Chapter 15
“Yes,” Luca snapped, stepping closer. “That was the task, wasn’t it?” He raised the gun slightly, not pointing it yet, just enough to remind them of its existence. “So tell me, at what point did I say you could hurt the sister p>
“Boss—” one of them began.
“Stop,” Luca cut in, holding up a hand. “Do not insult me by pretending you don’t understand the question p>
Marco stood off to the side, watching Luca carefully.
He stepped back, gesturing toward the exit with the gun. “Walk out of here if you had nothing to do with it p>
“If everyone walks out,” Luca added softly, “everyone dies p>
The men did not need to be told twice.
Their eyes slid in unison, toward the one at the far end of the line. He was trembling now, knees knocking faintly, a thin sheen of sweat turning his face slick and pale. If fear had a smell, it would have been sharp and acidic, and the room was saturated with it.
Luca watched the shift.
He pulled off his jacket slowly, the fabric whispering as it slid from his shoulders. He tossed it onto the lone chair in the corner. Then he adjusted the ring on his finger, rotating it once, twice.
“I’m going to count till two,” Luca said calmly.
Before the word two could even form in the air, the men bolted. Shoes scraped against the floor. The false wall slid open and swallowed them whole, leaving behind only the culprit and the echo of panic.
The man dropped to his knees with a wet sound, hands shaking as he reached toward Luca, then thought better of it. “Luca, I’m sorry,” he babbled. “She bit me. I just… I reacted p>
Luca stared at him.
Bit him. Yeah, like the world would end from a bite.
“The first rule I have,” Luca said quietly, “is don’t hit women.” He stopped directly in front of the man. Looked down at him. “Unless they are savages p>
The man sobbed. ” I swear p>
Marco stepped forward instinctively. “Luca,” he said carefully, reading the tension in Luca’s shoulders, the coiled violence. “Let me handle this p>
Luca clicked his tongue. “No,” he said. “I want to p>
Luca drew his fist back and drove it into the man’s jaw. Bone cracked. The man screamed once before Luca hit him again. And again.
Each punch landed.
He thought of the bruise beneath Vee’s sunglasses.
His knuckles burned. Blood splattered the floor, the walls, Luca’s shirt. Still he did not stop.
Finally, when his hands began to tremble and the man beneath him was no longer a man so much as a cautionary tale, Luca stepped back.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, pristine white, absurdly elegant against the gore. He wiped his hands carefully. Then he folded the cloth and handed it to Marco.
“Dispose of that,” he said mildly.
Marco took it without comment. “Yes, boss p>
Luca retrieved his jacket, slipping it on. He glanced once more at the broken figure on the floor and sighed.
“Call the cleaners. Have this place cleaned. And get this piece of shit into lock up until he gets some sense p>
When Veronica pulled into the narrow street, the first thing she noticed was that the night felt wrong. The streetlights cast long shadows on the parked cars in front of the house. Then she saw the bulky men with thick necks. Dark jackets that screamed menace. They stood outside her house, hands folded in front of them.
Her stomach dropped so hard she thought she might throw up right there in the driver’s seat.
Her mind sprinted ahead of her. Had they killed her father? Had they brought her sister back in a box she was not ready to open?
Veronica’s hands shook as she killed the engine.
Then she got out of the car.
The guards nodded at her.
She pushed through her front door.
Valentina was standing in the kitchen, barefoot, hair loose. She was calmly making a cup of coffee, spoon clinking softly against ceramic.
“Tina!” Veronica crossed the room and grabbed her sister, hands roaming over her shoulders, her arms, her face. “How? Are you hurt? Did they p>
“I’m fine,” Valentina said quickly. “He just came and let me go p>
Veronica pulled back, scanning her sister more critically now. No bruises she could see. No blood. Still breathing. Still warm. Relief flooded her so hard her knees nearly buckled.
Veronica glanced toward the window, where the silhouettes of the guards loomed. “It doesn’t seem like they let you go,” she said dryly.
Valentina’s shoulders slumped. “No,” she admitted. “I think a different set of people are coming for me tomorrow night. I heard them talking p>
Veronica pulled her sister into a tight hug, pressing her cheek against Valentina’s hair, breathing her in. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered fiercely. “I’m so sorry our plan didn’t work p>
“What am I going to do, Vee p>
Veronica closed her eyes. “Stick to the original plan,” she said.
Valentina stiffened. Pulled back just enough to search her face. “Taking my place?” she asked.
“Yes p>
“You shouldn’t have to do this p>
“I know.” Veronica brushed her sister’s hair back, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “But I will p>
“I don’t know what to say,” Tina whispered.
“You don’t have to say anything,” she said. “Just listen to me for a minute p>
She cupped Tina’s face, thumbs warm against her cheeks. “As soon as this house is empty and free of watchers, I need you to go to Cassidy’s place. Tell him I asked you to stay there. You’ll be safe p>
“And you?” Tina asked.
Veronica’s throat tightened, but she kept her voice steady. “I promise I will find a way to contact you as soon as I can p>
Tina hugged her again, tighter this time, arms locking around her sister. “I’m sorry this is happening to us p>
Veronica closed her eyes, pressing her cheek into Tina’s hair. “Me too. Me too, love.” She pulled back slightly and forced brightness into her tone. “Come on. Let’s spend what little time we have together, uhn. We’re not doing sad monologues all night p>
“I’m probably just going to hug you all night,” Tina said miserably.
“Okay. Just this once p>