Chapter 30
He stopped directly in front of her. “You asked for me,” he said simply.
“Are you Marco?” Valentina asked.
“Yes p>
“My sister told me about you,” she said quickly. “She said you were helping her p>
He knew exactly which Marco Veronica had meant, and it certainly wasn’t him. Still, he nodded noncommittally. “Really p>
“Well,” Valentina continued, hopeful now, “I thought you might help me too p>
“I am not helping you escape,” Marco said flatly, already turning away. He didn’t need this.
Valentina shot up from the sofa and grabbed his arm with surprising strength. “No, please. Just listen p>
Slowly, he looked down at her hand on his sleeve. She released him immediately.
“What is it?” he asked. “Make it quick p>
She hesitated, color creeping up her cheeks. “It’s… it’s embarrassing p>
“You have one second p>
“I need a pad p>
“What the fuck is that p>
Valentina stared at him. Then she burst out laughing. “You’re kidding, right p>
He merely raised a brow in irritation.
“Well, I… my… I… I use it for my monthlies Valentina stammered.
Marco’s face flushed a furious red, starting at his collarbone and marching up. “Oh. Oh. Right. That.” He cleared his throat, then cleared it again. “Okay. Uh. Right now. Like immediately p>
“Yes.” Valentina nodded, watching him with wide, innocent eyes. She found the transformation fascinating. One second he was all sharp edges and commands, the next he looked like a man who had just been handed a live grenade labeled womanhood.
“You need anything else?” he asked.
Valentina hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Yes p>
Marco braced himself. “Can you make a list? I’ll rush to the store p>
She smiled then, soft and grateful and just a little mischievous. “Thank you p>
By the time Marco changed into jeans and a jacket, Valentina had finished writing. He scanned the page, his eyebrows inching higher with every item. Pain killers. Tampons. Pads. Heating pads. Chocolate. Ice.
Ice cream.
“What the fuck?” he muttered under his breath and looked up at her. Valentina sat primly on the sofa, hands folded, wearing the most unapologetically cheesy smile he had ever seen.
“Fine!” Marco snapped. He stalked out of the house, keys jangling, muttering curses at Luca.
Vito Scalese was crawling out of bed when the banging started. It was aggressive, impatient.
“What the fuck?!” Vito swore, dragging a hand down his face as he stumbled toward the door. “I’m coming, goddamnit p>
He yanked it open and found Cassidy standing there. One eye was swollen shut, purple and ugly. The imprint of a ring was still faintly visible on his skin. Vito did not need a crystal ball to know who had delivered that message.
“Jesus Christ,” Vito muttered, stepping aside.
Cassidy pushed past him, limping slightly.
“Where is Vee?” Cassidy growled.
“What do you mean where is Vee? She went with you last night p>
“An insane man came to my house last night and took her. And I know, in my bones, this has something to do with you p>
Vito straightened, puffing himself up. “Why the hell would that have to do with me?” he shouted, the volume doing most of the work his confidence could not.
Cassidy stepped closer. “I know something has been going on,” he said. “Do not even try to deny it. Where are both your daughters, Mr Scalese p>
“I do not know what you are talking about p>
“Me coming here? This is courtesy,” he said. “A gift. As soon as I leave here, I am going to the police. If you do not care about them, I do p>
“You do not want to do that, son,” Vito warned.
Cassidy met his gaze, eyes burning. “Watch me p>
Vito’s shoulders sagged. “Listen,” he said, rubbing his face. “They are with a man named Luciano Genovese. I owe him a debt and he took them p>
Cassidy stared at him. His eyebrows climbed high. “You owe a debt,” he repeated slowly, “and he took both your daughters p>
“It was not supposed to be like this,” Vito snapped, defensive again.
“You traded your daughters. I always knew you were a bastard p>
Vito’s jaw clenched. “You have no idea who you are dealing with p>
Cassidy turned toward the door, his hand already on the handle. “I am getting her back p>
“Look, it is complicated,” Vito said, dragging a hand down his face. “He is a mafia boss. He is not the kind of man you want to get entangled with p>
Cassidy did not even slow. “Again, watch me. Let us see if he can handle the NYPD p>
Vito inhaled deeply. “Son p>
But Cassidy was gone.
Vito stood there for a long moment, staring at the wood. “That boy is going to get himself killed,” he muttered, and turned back into the house.
Veronica was driven back to the Genovese house after sunset.She sat stiffly in the back seat. All day she had tried to reach Cassidy with the phone at the pizza parlour. Straight to voicemail.
Luca had promised. He had looked her in the eyes and promised Cassidy would not be harmed.
The gates opened to let the car through. The driver pulled to a stop, opened her door, and Veronica stepped out, smoothing the worn fabric of her pizza parlour T shirt with a sigh.
She barely had time to brace herself before she saw Nonnina approaching. “Nonnina p>
“Zuccherino,” Nonnina said warmly. “Welcome back. How was work p>
Vee managed a small smile. “Busy. Loud p>
Nonnina looked her over carefully. She noted the T shirt, the tired slump of Veronica’s shoulders.
“You work in a pizza shop,” Nonnina pointed out.
“Uh… yes,” Vee said. “My dad owns the place. I run it p>
“Good girl,” Nonnina said approvingly. “It is good to help out in the family. Work keeps the soul from becoming lazy p>
“Is everything alright? Why are you standing out here p>
“Come. I wanted to show you your quarters. Luca says you will be staying here for a while. He sent a package for you p>
That phrase lodged itself in Vee’s chest. Staying here. A while. Did that mean Luca was some day going to let her go?