Undressed By The Mafia God

David had stolen her phone and sent the message. Used her name, her place in Veronica’s heart, to lure her sister into a trap.

Valentina squeezed her eyes shut. She was doing this for Veronica, to keep her safe, to pull her out of the fire, even if she had to betray her husband.

Veronica would do the same for her.

Valentina unbuckled her seatbelt, stepped out of the car, picked up Matteo from the back seat and headed in to the precinct. She stepped into the precinct with Matteo held against her chest.

This made no sense. Whatever she did from on here on out could make or ruin them. Sensible, unfortunately, had left her life the moment her sister met Luca Genovese.

The precinct was busy. Valentina scanned the room, searching for the one familiar face she had come for.

Detective Voss.

She did not find him. Her heart sank, but she forced herself forward. Matteo stirred, and she adjusted her hold on him, pressing a kiss to the top of his head before approaching the nearest officer. "Excuse me," she said, trying to sound calm. "I am looking for Detective Voss."

The officer looked up from his desk. His eyes flicked to the baby first. "He is not available right now. Can I help you with anything?"

"I really need to speak with him specifically."

The officer studied her more carefully then. "Who are you?"

"My name is Valentina..." She swallowed. "Valentina Scalese."

His shoulders stiffened. His mouth flattened. His eyes moved over her again, and this time there was discomfort and accusation in his eyes. "Detective Voss is on suspension."

"You should know that, since you are family with the man who could cost him his job."

At first, she did not understand him then she did.

Luca.

It always came back to Luca. Luca, who bent the world to his will and somehow managed to leave shattered lives behind him.

Valentina’s throat tightened. "I don’t understand."

That was not entirely true. She understood enough to feel dread moving through her chest.

"I can’t help you with that, ma’am."

"Please," Valentina said.

"You can check again next month."

"Would you have him call me?" Valentina insisted.

The officer released a sigh. "Fine...I’d rather stay far away from anything that has to do with you people. As long as it’s only giving a message, I can do that."

You people.

Disaster had become a surname they all carried.

"Thank you, Officer," she said.

He gave a stiff nod and turned away, clearly eager to return to ordinary police work. Anything less complicated than Luca Genovese and the people unfortunate enough to love him.

Valentina walked back through the precinct with Matteo against her chest. His hand had slipped free of the blanket and rested near her collarbone. She adjusted him before stepping outside. She stood on the pavement and stared at the traffic moving past. She had been right.

Luca was a menace to everyone around him. Friends and foes alike. He dragged danger behind him and made it look like protection.

Valentina knew Luca would tear himself apart to bring her sister home. He was the one who brought the fire and the same one willing to burn inside it.

*****

Don Massimo found Carol sobbing in the dining room. She sat at the long table with both hands covering her face, her shoulders shaking beneath her dress. The untouched cup of tea before her had gone cold. Massimo stopped in the doorway. He guessed she had received the message too.

They had lost Luca. The men following him had failed. Their son had vanished into David Vitale’s trap, alone.

Carol had tried so hard to hold herself together since Veronica was taken. She had given orders. Spoken calmly when everyone else wanted to panic. She had performed strength so well that even Massimo had almost believed it cost her nothing.

Now she could not. It was too much. First Marco had almost died. Then Vee had been taken. Now Luca was gone.

Massimo crossed the room without speaking, wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Hey..." he murmured, tightening his arms around her. "It’s going to be okay."

Carol lowered her hands from her face, but the tears kept falling. "I know. I know..." Her voice broke on a breath. "And yet, I am still afraid."

"You have to trust him, Carol."

She turned sharply in his arms. "Goddamnit, Massimo, I do!" she snapped. "I know my son. I know Luca will do whatever it takes. He will crawl through hell." She shoved a hand through her hair. "But aren’t you tired? Aren’t you? I am," she continued, her voice trembling. "And I don’t even live here. These are only the disasters I know about." She pressed a hand to her chest. "My sons are constantly in danger, Massi. For what? Money? Power? Territory? What exactly is worth this?"

Massimo looked away. There had always been another war, another rival.

"What happens when the Genovese luck runs out?" she asked. "It has already begun to run out," she continued. "Nonnina is gone. Luca and Vee’s unborn baby was lost because of all this stress. How many people do we have to bury before you admit this life is killing us? Why can’t you turn all of this around, Massi? Why is it so hard to go legitimate?"

He had asked himself the same question more times than he would ever confess. In quieter moments. At Julian’s graveside. Each time, the answer remained ugly.

There was no clean door out. There were men waiting on the other side of any retreat, sharpening knives, counting old debts.

"Legitimacy after decades of war and bloodshed will run every single one of us six feet into the ground, Carol. You know that. Every Don in the city will see it as cowardice, weakness."

Carol sighed. "This cannot go on."

"We have survived this long," he said. "We will continue to survive."

"So we are just going to sit here and wait for news?" she demanded. "We will do nothing to help him?"

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