Chapter 53
“The next time you touch my woman,” Luca said evenly, “the next time you look at her funny, it will be the last time you look at anything p>
Cassidy’s pulse thundered in his ears.
“And since you do not value your own life,” Luca continued, “I’ll make this very clear. I will find your parents. Your siblings. Your friends. Every single person that matters to you. And I will snuff the breath out of every single one of them p>
Silence swallowed the room.
Marco looked away. He’d heard threats like this before, had watched them become reality more times than he cared to remember. The Genovese didn’t bluff.
Luca straightened fully now, towering over Cassidy. “Again,” he said, “choose wisely p>
Cassidy sagged back against the chair, bravado stripped bare.
“And next time you want to fight a man like me,” Luca said, adjusting his cufflinks with maddening calm, “get some power first. I have no idea how a dung beetle convinces himself he has any chance against a storm p>
Cassidy laughed. It came out wet, broken, but real. He lifted his bruised face and grinned through blood-swollen lips.
“I scare you, Luciano,” Cassidy said. “That’s what this is. You’re afraid of me p>
Luca paused at the doorway.
“I’m so drilled into your head,” Cassidy went on, “that you live and breathe me. You know why? Because you know she loves me. Veronica loves me. And that gives you no chance whatsoever p>
Luca did not turn around.
“You can fuck her as much as you want,” Cassidy continued, eyes burning now. “Use your money. Your power. Your devil tricks. She will always belong to me. And I’ll be damned if I stop fighting for her p>
Luca turned just enough for Cassidy to see his profile, the hard line of his jaw.
“I’ll give you a couple more days to think about it,” Luca said. “Enjoy the hospitality p>
And then he stepped out.
The heavy door closed behind them, sealing Cassidy back into the Commissioned underworld where time meant nothing and mercy even less.
They walked down the corridor in silence.
Marco finally broke the silence. “Why not just kill him?” he asked. Curious.
Luca didn’t slow his stride. “Because Vee would hate me for it p>
Marco stopped walking this time. Luca made it three more steps before he realized he was alone. He turned, brow lifting slightly.
“She matters to you that much?” Marco asked.
Luca exhaled. “I have no idea why p>
They resumed walking.
Luca pushed through the door into his office. This was his kingdom. He ruled it effortlessly. Deals bent to him. Men feared him. Women desired him. Enemies disappeared.
And yet.
He loosened his tie, irritation sparking under his skin. Cassidy’s words replayed against his will. You live and breathe me. She loves me.
Ridiculous.
And still, his chest felt tight.
“You’re losing your edge,” Marco said lightly. “Never thought I’d say that p>
Luca shot him a glare. “Careful p>
Marco smirked. “Just saying. Women usually don’t get this much real estate in your head. Whats your plan for her? A mistress? Side chick. Because you cannot marry her, Luca p>
“I know,” Luca said. “I haven’t worked out the kinks yet p>
“That’s a first p>
Luca shot him a look, one brow lifting in warning. Marco held up his hands in surrender.
“Whats that you need to tell me?” Luca asked, turning back to the window.
Marco straightened. The humor drained from his face. “The meeting with Bastardi didn’t go so well, last night p>
“Why p>
“I lost it,” Marco admitted. “He was being…ungentlemanly with her p>
Luca turned fully now. “Ungentlemanly?” he repeated slowly. “Never thought I would hear that word from you. What is happening with you?” His gaze sharpened. “This was your idea in the first place, Marco. A good idea at the time p>
Marco exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. “Yes, I know. I know. Anyway. Bastardi sent a message p>
“Go on p>
“He is coming for the girl this Friday,” Marco said. “Says he has a client lined up already p>
“No auction this time?” Luca asked.
“No p>
“Crap!” Luca swore. “Fuck it. It has to be an auction p>
Marco frowned. “Why p>
Luca’s shoulders slumped, just a fraction. “Because I asked Winn Kane for a favour. He was supposed to go for the auction and get the Scalese girl, And the bastard wants something in return too p>
“Whats that?” Marco asked.
“He wants me to give up my spot in Kane Designer Mall p>
Marco let out a low whistle. “Well, fuck p>
Luca dropped into his chair with a dramatic thud, rolling his head back against the leather. “How much are the Scalese girls going to cost me?” he whined, hands flung up in mock despair.
“That mall is gold,” Luca snapped. “Prime territory.” He sighed.
“What are you going to do?” Marco asked quietly.
Luca stared at the desk, fingers tapping once, twice, then stopping. “At this point, there is nothing more I can do p>
That alone made Marco straighten.
“Father will not pull out of this deal,” Luca continued. “And finding a replacement will raise alarms with him. He already is sending Julian to nose around. So. We proceed as planned. Just keep watching her. Friday comes, hand her over to Bastardi p>
Marco nodded automatically.
He left the office.
As he moved through the corridors of Commissioned, past guards who greeted him with respect and fear in equal measure, his thoughts drifted. To Valentina.
He had to stop himself from clenching his fists.
He knew in his gut there was no way he could hand Valentina over to Bastardi. He couldn’t do it.
The girl was too innocent. Too pure. Too good.
There was steel under her softness, a quiet resilience that reminded him uncomfortably of her sister. Veronica had fire. Valentina had light. Different weapons. Same danger.
Maybe that was the same thing Luca saw in her sister.
Marco slowed his steps, his mind spiraling. How did girls like that come from a man like Scalese? It didn’t track. It offended some deep, unexamined sense of order inside him.