Undressed By The Mafia God

Valentina’s mouth tightened. Her sister was married to a man who brought danger home. Best life my ass. "I’m not worried." Val watched him for a moment, then asked, "We have all our enemies behind us, right?"

"Yes, we do. Should teach anyone else who wants to mess with Luca and his wife," he added.

Val gave a nervous laugh. It sounded thin even to her own ears. Marco did not seem to notice. When would he understand?

Luca himself was the problem. Luca was the centre of the storm. The more people he angered, the more enemies he would make, and those enemies would not come for him first.

They would come for Vee, the baby, Matteo, Marco. They would come for everyone standing close enough to be loved by him.

But everyone had rose-coloured glasses on. Everyone except her.

*****

Two months later, Veronica was finally ready for her surgery. Vee sat on the bed in a hospital gown, her injured thumb supported and wrapped, her hair pulled back loosely. She had said she was fine so many times that morning she was beginning to feel she should have it printed on a banner and hung above the bed.

Beside her, Luca stood too close. On her other side, Val sat in a chair with her handbag in her lap, watching them both with a smile that did not quite reach her eyes.

"I’ll be fine," Vee said again.

Luca nodded. "I know. It is just fixing pins in to stabilise it. A straightforward procedure."

"Yes."

"Short recovery."

"Exactly."

"The surgeon said you and the baby will be monitored."

"Luca." Her voice softened. "I’ll be fine."

"I know," he said again.

She looked pointedly at their hands. "Then why are you squeezing my hand so hard."

"Fuck!" Luca snatched his hand away from hers. "I’m sorry. I’m sorry, baby."

The panic in his voice would have been funny if it had not been so painfully sweet.

Vee flexed her fingers carefully and gave him a small smile. "It’s okay."

Before Vee could tease him further, the door opened and the doctors came in with two nurses.

"It’s time," one of the doctors said gently.

Vee inhaled, then nodded. "Okay."

Luca stepped away because the nurses needed space. His eyes remained fixed on Vee. Val got to her feet.

"You be good in there," Val said, forcing brightness into her voice.

Vee smiled. "I’m glad you’re here, Val. Take care of this one here for me," she added, glancing towards Luca.

Val looked at him. Luca’s face was turned towards his wife, but his eyes briefly met hers. Vee, lying between them had no idea she had just placed the wolf and the trembling lamb in charge of each other.

"Sure," Val said.

Vee looked back to Luca. "Are you going to kiss me? It might be the last time you see me."

His eyes darkened. "Don’t even play like that."

"Sorry." Her smile turned mischievous. "Just pulling your leg. Come on."

"That was not funny."

"It was a little funny. Now kiss me before these people wheel me away."

He stepped closer to her. He leaned down and placed a small kiss on Vee’s lips. Which was absurd, because Vee knew very well the man kissed like a sinner who escaped from heaven after accidentally finding himself there. "I’ll give you more when you’re out," he murmured against her mouth.

"You had better."

Val looked away. It hurt to watch her sister be so smitten with the man. Luca lowered himself further, his hand brushing the hospital gown over Vee’s now-rounded belly. It was still barely visible beneath the fabric.

"I’ll see you both in a bit," Luca whispered. He placed another small kiss there.

The nurses snapped the bed handles into place, released the brakes, and began wheeling her towards the door.

Luca moved with them for two steps before stopping the doctor. "How long is the surgery?" he asked.

"One hour tops, Mr Genovese," the doctor answered with admirable patience. "I beg you not to worry."

"I’m not worried."

Vee, already being wheeled out, turned her head slightly and smiled. "He is..." she said in a sing-song voice.

"I’m not," Luca called after her.

"Liar!" she yelled back.

The doctor chuckled and walked out, leaving Luca and Val alone in the room.

Vee’s absence changed the room instantly. While she had been there, warmth had held everything together.

Val sat back down and crossed her legs, tapping on her phone. Luca did not bother talking to her.

Vee was no longer in the room. They did not have to keep up appearances. He remained standing for a while, staring at the door through which his wife had been wheeled away. His body wanted to follow.

He exhaled and forced himself to remain still.

Since Marco had left for Italy, Valentina had been quiet. Luca had watched her from a distance. He had no idea if she had changed her mind about this lost cause she was trying her hands at. Maybe distance from Marco had frightened sense back into her skull. Maybe she had decided that Vee’s happiness mattered more than whatever delusion she had.

Besides, she was supposed to be moving to Italy once Vee had recuperated from surgery. He was just about to take a seat when the door opened again.

Voss entered. Two uniformed cops followed behind him.

Ah. Luca thought. So that was the shape of the day.

"Luciano Genovese," Voss said.

Luca looked at him, then at the two officers. "Detective Voss. The ancient thorn in my side." His mouth curved faintly. "What do you have for me today?"

Valentina’s fingers stopped moving on her phone. Voss stepped farther into the room, his face grim, eyes sharp with satisfaction. "To read you your rights. Put your hands behind your back," Voss ordered.

Luca obeyed, placing both hands behind him. "What have you cooked up this time, Voss?" he asked.

Voss took out the cuffs. "You are under arrest for the murder of Paul Marino."

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