Undressed By The Mafia God

Marco nodded. "Yes, Don."

"And Renato." Massimo moved away from Vito’s photograph, eyes narrowing as they crossed the board again. "Make sure you keep eyes on him."

"Noted, sir."

"We need to be sure he will not be making any silly moves to get back at Luca."

"Consider it done," Marco said.

Massimo’s gaze shifted again, stopping on another photograph.

Voss.

"What is it about this guy?" he asked. "Why does Luca still leave him circling?"

"Luca believes he is honourable," Marco said. "And that he will always do the right thing."

Massimo shook his head. "Honourable people on the wrong side are a threat, Marco. I don’t like it," Massimo added.

"I’ll be sure to pay attention when we get back to New York."

"Good." Massimo took one final look around the room then turned for the door. "Alright...I guess that is all. Burn this place down."

He stepped aside and walked out of the warehouse.

*****

Luca knew he had a lot of catching up to do. But God, he was drained. Gloriously, thoroughly drained. His wife was relentless.

Veronica had proceeded to use him in every way her body allowed. And thank heaven, his body had responded in every way she wanted.

It was like the honeymoon they never had. Their actual wedding had been quick, and very them. A world already burning around them while they made vows.

They had never had time to celebrate. He appreciated the getaway but they had to return to the real world.

Luca lay on his back, one arm around Veronica as she rested against his chest. Her leg thrown across his thigh, her hair spread over his skin. "We have to go back in the morning."

"I don’t want to go..." she whined against his chest.

"I know," Luca said, "but I have business. I don’t want to go either."

Veronica lifted her face from his chest and gave him a dramatic pout. "Your cousin can wait."

He slid his hand down her back, enjoying the warmth of her body pressed against his. "I need to evaluate him...He knows nothing about being in the famiglia, Vee."

Veronica’s fingers traced idle patterns over his stomach. "And if he cannot handle it?"

Luca stared at the ceiling. That was the question, wasn’t it? If Elio could not handle it, then the weight would fall where it had always been meant to fall.

On Luca.

"I don’t know, love," he admitted. "I don’t know."

"You said you wanted to turn everything legitimate," she said. "Why can’t you do that from here and leave Marco in New York to do the same?"

"Because this is not a dirty shirt I can just throw into the wash and call clean." He shifted slightly. "It would take years...Maybe decades. The famiglia is old. Its roots are deep. There are men who were born into blood money, married into it."

"You expect threats."

"Yes. And not only from enemies," Luca continued. "From within. Some would see it as weakness. Some would decide I had become too American." His hand moved to her stomach, palm resting there. Their child was too small for him to feel anything, and yet he felt everything. Fear, terror, hope.

"Blood money is addictive," he said. "I need to make sure my family is safe. I cannot do that by creating new enemies."

She leaned up and kissed his jaw. "I’m sure you’ll think of something. A way out."

"Your faith in me is reassuring," he murmured.

"Get used to it."

Luca smiled and kissed her properly. When he pulled back, his eyes were warmer. "No more shop talk...Get some rest, Bambola."

"Hmmm..." She snuggled closer, settling against him. Her hand drifted over his body, moving across his chest, down his stomach.

Luca closed his eyes and enjoyed her touch. He was a weak man, apparently. A weak, deeply satisfied man.

*****

The gang returned to New York a few days later. Marco returned to pretending his marriage was not quietly bleeding out beside him.

Since their arrival in New York, he spent more time at Commissioned than at home. Commissioned needed him. The club needed him. Luca trusted him to keep the machines running.

Once he was done with his duties during the day, he stayed to supervise the club at night. A replacement for Ricardo had not been found.

Not because there was no one who could be hired for the job. Luca always needed someone who was both capable and willing to look the other way with the other dealings underground the club.

Luca had expressed his concerns about letting Elio take over the famiglia to Marco. Marco had offered no advice. He understood too well why Luca did not want to become Don after Massimo’s retirement. The title did not simply sit on a man’s shoulders. It crawled into his house, into his bed, into his children’s future. It ate time. Peace. Marriage.

Marco understood that better than he wanted to because it seemed his own wife could not handle it.

At the moment, he was waiting for the inevitable from Valentina.

Divorce papers.

He could smell it in the air. He stood in the parking garage beneath Commissioned, waiting for Mr Kane.

This time, the man had called ahead to inform them of his arrival. Winn Kane had a legendary sort of audacity.

His car pulled into the garage.

Marco straightened.

Reese stepped out first and opened the back door. Winn Kane emerged as immaculate as ever. The old money was quite apparent on him nowadays.

"Mr Kane," Marco greeted.

Winn’s eyes settled on him. "I do hope Luca is in today."

"Yes, he is. Come with me."

Winn followed without comment. Marco glanced at him once. Winn noticed. "Something on your mind?"

"I just realised I never actually thanked you for your help a few years ago."

Winn’s mouth barely moved. "Happy to help."

Marco led him through the private corridor towards Luca’s office.

(powered by 200 power stones. Apologies posting took so long, internet was shitty so I got frustrated and slept all day.)

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