Chapter 92: Go To Hell

“Yeah,” she said, forcing herself not to look away. “I’m sorry about that and more.”

It was inadequate. Pathetic, even. But it was all she had.

Cassidy’s gaze flicked once more to the bruise near her eye. His jaw tightened.

“Go to hell, Veronica Scalese,” he said. “And I hope he does a whole lot more than that to you.”

He lifted his hand, pointing directly at the bruise on her face.

Then he turned and walked away, cutting through the courtyard crowd without looking back.

Vee stood frozen.

The church bells began to ring again, signaling the next service.

“Wow,” Valentina muttered under her breath. “That was frosty.”

“That’s a word for it,” Vee replied.

She reached for her sister’s hand instinctively, fingers curling tight. Valentina squeezed back without question. They began to stroll away from the church building.

The sun had risen higher now, illuminating everything too clearly.

Cassidy’s anger was justified. He had loved her in a way that did not cage. In a way that did not come with guards and surveillance.

And she had chosen the cage.

Not because she was forced.

Because she wanted the man who built it.

“What happened?” Valentina asked.

Vee kept walking for a few seconds before answering. “Too many things,” she said finally. “But in summary, I was a real idiot.”

“Marco came by last night,” Valentina started carefully.

Vee stopped mid step and turned fully to her sister. “Jeez, Tina, you know I won’t be mad if you like Marco. I don’t like being kept in the dark. What’s it with you two?”

If Marco was circling her sister, she needed to understand why.

Valentina blinked, then frowned. “Get your head out of the gutter. It’s nothing like that. He is like the brother I never had.”

Veronica rolled her eyes despite the knot in her chest. “You never wanted a brother.”

“I thought I never wanted a brother,” Valentina shot back, a hint of her old fire surfacing. “But that’s not the point.”

They resumed walking.

“Marco wanted to know if anything strange happened at the shop yesterday,” Valentina continued. “Aside from the long line of customers and Rosa nearly losing her mind, I didn’t see anything strange.”

She paused, then looked directly at Vee. “So you want to fill me in on what really happened with your face when I was gone?”

Vee inhaled slowly.

“It’s Inferi,” she said.

“He came by the shop?”

“Yes. I cannot tell Luca. He would have been dead by morning.”

“What does Inferi want?”

“I guess he thought now that we have a lot of customers, we will help him push his drugs. I don’t know, but I am not going to do anything of the sort. I promise, Tina,” Vee said.

“I am not touching that filth,” Vee said, jaw tightening. “The shop stays clean. I will not let him stain it.”

“You don’t have to tell Luca. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still use Luca’s influence. Threaten Inferi with the Genovese name. He will back off if he knows you are under his protection.”

It was clever.

Veronica’s eyes flickered with thought. “You, my dear, are a genius,” she said slowly, a smile curving at the corner of her mouth.

“I know,” Valentina laughed, bumping her shoulder lightly.

If Inferi believed she was fully protected, he would think twice before testing her again. But for that to work, it had to look real. Public enough to circulate.

*****

Nonnina was just having the maids clear the dinner table when Veronica arrived wrapped in a silk robe the color of deep champagne. The fabric skimmed her body with intention, tied loosely at the waist, revealing just enough collarbone and the suggestion of bare skin beneath.

Her hair was styled softer, loose waves falling over one shoulder. Her lips were painted a darker red than usual.

She had come prepared.

Prepared to seduce.

Prepared to ignite.

Prepared to make sure that when Inferi heard whispers of how Luca looked at her, how Luca touched her, there would be no doubt that she was untouchable.

“Zuccherino!” Nonnina called the moment she spotted her, arms opening as she approached Vee and patted her cheek affectionately. “I barely see you these days.”

Luca sat, his back to them, one glass of red wine in hand.

“Work has been quite busy, Nonni, but I promise I will be back early tomorrow to spend time with you. You can teach me how you make that delicious bread. I’d like to steal your recipe,” Vee said.

Nonnina laughed. “You’re welcome in my kitchen anytime,” she said, patting Vee’s arm. Then she leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing with suspicion as she looked Vee up and down, taking in the silk robe, the bare collarbone, the elegance.

Her brows wiggled. “Naughty you.”

Vee smiled easily. Naughty. If only Nonni knew how calculated tonight was.

She watched Nonnina shuffle toward the hallway, giving them privacy. The maids cleared the last of the plates.

Then Vee turned her attention to Luca.

Vee walked up behind him. She reached out and ran her hand down his chest from behind, fingers tracing the firm plane of muscle beneath cotton.

“Hey, stranger.”

His hand came up and covered hers, holding it firmly against his chest.

“Hey, you,” he replied, turning his head slightly but not yet fully facing her. “Did you have a nice day?”

“Yeah,” she said lightly. “Went to church with Valentina. We had lunch, took the dog to the park, and just lazied around the rest of the day.”

“Sounds like fun,” Luca said.

“It was,” she answered. “Did you miss me?”

Luca let out a low chuckle. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing,” she said smoothly.

She slipped her hand from his grasp and straightened, walking to sit on the chair beside him. One leg crossed over the other, robe shifting just enough to reveal a line of bare thigh.

She leaned back slightly, chin tilted.

“Just wanted to see my favourite devil before heading to bed,” she said.

(Here is to 200 power stones. Hopefully we can go even further this week.)

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