Chapter 71: It Was Your Idea

“It was your idea!” Luca yelled.

“I know!” Marco snapped back. He sat slumped, long legs stretched out. “Which tells me more about how much I have fallen than I have allowed myself to admit,” Marco continued. “We get worse and worse, Luca. Crueler. It started with Paul Marino. The man was a good man. But you were fucking bored, And you had him killed.”

Luca inhaled slowly. “You’re right,” he said. “But I wasn’t bored. I was in a dark place.”

He stepped closer, towering over Marco. “It’s no excuse. I know that. Marco, we are not good men.” A bitter smile flickered across his mouth. “You never lied to yourself. I never lied to myself either.”

Luca turned away, hands braced on the edge of the table. “The moment you let guilt begin to control your conscience,” he said quietly, “you are a dead man. You hesitate. You weaken.”

“I am already dead,” Marco said.

Luca straightened. “Not today, you are not,” he said firmly. He crossed the room and grabbed Marco by the collar, hauling him upright. “Get up. Take care of yourself. Shower. Eat. Then get some rest.”

“What are you doing?” Marco asked, searching Luca’s face.

“What does it look like I am doing?” Luca replied, eyes dark, unreadable.

Marco shook his head slowly. “Luca… you have to kill me. You know you have to,” Marco pressed on, stepping closer instead of backing away. “This undermines your authority. Julian will use this against you the second he smells blood. Your father will question your ability to rule the familia.”

“And yet… I cannot kill you,” Luca answered.

He said it calmly

“Why?”

Luca bit his lip.

He dragged his hand down his face, thumb brushing his mouth, eyes narrowing. He knew how this would sound.

“Because she begged me not to.”

“Who? Miss Scalese?” Marco’s mouth fell open.

“My hands are tied,” Luca added flatly.

“What the fuck?!!!” Marco shouted. “What the… what?”

“I don’t know what’s with me,” Luca said. “I just know that I’ll move heaven and earth to give her what she wants. And if that includes letting you go, so be it.”

Marco stopped pacing. Slowly turned. “She also begged you to save her sister.”

“Yes she did.” Luca shrugged.

“Why didn’t you?”

“Ten minutes after Valentina got into Bastardi’s car, she was delivered to the buyer. A sleazy senator.” He paused. “His car was ambushed by Kane’s bodyguard. Reese.”

Marco frowned. “Reese?”

“Valentina was retrieved and is currently in Kane’s custody.”

“You eventually gave up your spot in Kane’s designer mall,” Marco said.

Luca nodded once. “Like I said. I’ll do anything for her.”

“Why?”

“She is the good to my bad,” he said quietly. “The heaven to my hell. My obsession. I’d burn for her, and she doesn’t even know it.”

“You’re fucked,” he muttered.

Luca chuckled. “I know.”

“Luca…” Marco sighed.

It wasn’t defeat in his voice so much as surrender. He scrubbed a hand down his face, exhaustion carving deeper lines into his already sharp features. This wasn’t a problem he could outthink. This was Luca breaking the spine of the world for a woman.

“Come on,” Luca said, clapping his hands once. “Your punishment is to make sure Valentina makes it out of town and lays low until all this blows over.”

Marco stared at him. “That’s it? That’s my punishment? A babysitting job? Again?”

“You prefer a bullet?” Luca asked.

Marco scoffed. “This is not a good look for the familia.”

“We can always cook something up. Tell them I killed your sister.”

“I don’t have a sister.”

“Do they know that?”

Marco shook his head. “I guess I owe Miss Scalese a thank you.”

Luca’s smile vanished. In its place was steel. He stepped closer. “But make no mistake, you betray me again… I will kill you.”

“Understood,” Marco said, nodding once. He believed him. Completely.

Luca turned away, already done with the matter. “Do you know of any good restaurants in town?”

“A lot.”

“Pick one. Clear the venue.” Luca paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder. “I’m taking her on a date.”

Luca left the cell without another word. Marco leaned back against the wall, staring at the ceiling.

“Mary, mother of God,” he muttered. “Help us.”

*****

As usual, Nonnina stayed up waiting.

The clocks read 3 a.m. when Luca finally walked in.

“Nonnina,” he said softly, frowning when he saw her in her armchair, shawl wrapped tight around her small frame. “I told you not to stay up late.”

He bent and kissed her hair.

“Then come back home earlier,” she said, taking his hand and getting to her feet.

“I have to work. Most of my work is done at night,” Luca shot back.

“That’s why I spend the night praying for you until you get back, Diavolino,” Nonnina argued.

“There is no point praying for me,” he muttered. “I’m sure God won’t bother listening.”

“Oh, He listens,” Nonnina said briskly. “Even when He disapproves.”

She peered at him, then tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “Zuccherino was with you tonight?” she asked.

“Yes,” Luca answered immediately. “Why?”

Nonnina smacked him lightly on the face, her palm soft but the message sharp. “Why did you get the poor girl so drunk?”

Luca stared at her, scandalized. “I didn’t do anything. She drank all by herself.”

“Excuses,” Nonnina sniffed.

“I didn’t force alcohol down her throat,” he protested. “She kept pouring…Is she alright?” he asked finally.

“Yes,” Nonnina said. “She is in bed, last I checked.”

Luca rubbed his jaw. “Thank you, Nonni. I’ll crash at her place. Just bring me something to eat.” He paused, glancing back at her. “Speaking of eating, I’ll be eating out tomorrow.”

“Oh,” Nonnina raised a brow. “Why?”

“It’s kind of hard to take a woman on a date and not eat anything,” Luca said dryly.

Then Nonnina’s face hardened. “You know the rules?”

“Yes. I know the rules, Nonni. Marco is handling everything. There will be security while the food is being cooked. There will be tasters. Only vetted employees will be allowed to serve.”

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