Page 12 of De Luca: The Sinister Game

Rolling my eyes at her, I say, “Obviously, I know. I helped you pick it out.”

Giada wanted a piano three months ago to ensure her kids were well-rounded. The child isn’t born yet, so I think it’s like putting the cart before the horse but of course, I helped her. I wanted to be sure it was something I’d be happy with because I know that I’ll be charged with teaching the kids when the time comes.

“Please,” her blue eyes sparkle as she nearly begs, “You know how much I love listening to you play.”

It’s true. I know how much she loves it and she won’t be there tomorrow because Domenic doesn’t like her going without him. It’s not a control thing, it’s more about her safety.

I relent, “Fine. Only for a little while, though.”

She claps excitedly, “Yay!”

I walk out to their massive living room, which has floor-to-ceiling windows, a couple of large white sofas, and sitting chairs. The black grand piano fit in perfectly, like the space was designed for it.

Sitting down in front of the piano, I take a deep breath to calm my emotions as Giada yells, “Everyone, the amazing Natalia Grant!”

I roll my eyes at her and ignore the clapping from the De Luca brothers as I press the keys for the first few notes. My fingers glide over the keys as I sing the haunting melody. I’m a pianist; usually, you don’t expect a pianist to sing, but I’ve started only in the last few years. When I first incorporated it into my show, I was nervous people wouldn’t like it. However, I was pleased that they enjoyed it and it added an element that other performers didn’t have. Ticket sales increased and videos started popping up on YouTube. It’s not ballet, but it feeds my need to create.

Drake and Dante watch me like hawks, never taking their eyes from me, their gazes traveling my body with a heat that makes me feel like I can feel their fingers on my skin. Domenic holds Giada in his arms as she sways back and forth, his hands planted firmly on her bump. The room is thick with emotion as I sing about wanting, essentially what she has, something solid, something real. It’s a song of intense longing and it’s the theme of my life. Doesn’t everybody want to be loved? The piano is the only love I’ve ever known since ballet. I finish playing, Unloveable, to the small crowd and spot Giada with tears running down her face as she claps. God, I love her. I know I may never have a man that loves me the way Domenic loves her, but I’ll always have Gia. Her and music. Those are the two constants in my life. For now, it has to be enough. I’d rather dance, but that was taken from me.

Just for my friend, I break into my little rendition of You are My Sunshine, because I know she sings this for the baby all the time. She places her hand over her enormous belly and sings along, knowing I’m playing this for her. After playing for three hours, I stand and stretch. “I have to go, Gia.”

She walks over and hugs me. “Thank you,” she whispers into my hair. I hug her back, “Anytime queen,” and she giggles.

I wave goodbye to everyone else as she walks me to the door. As she walks me to my car, she asks, "Are you okay?"

Laughing I say, “Oh just fine. There might be a little too much testosterone in your house, though.”

She sighs audibly. “You aren’t wrong. It’s practically a testosterone factory.”

We share a few laughs while Domenic stares at us from the doorway. He doesn’t like her out of his sight., “I better go before your husband loses his mind.”

Sliding into my vehicle as she nods, “Yeah, he thinks if he can’t see me, I might disappear.”

I roll down my window and close the door. “It wouldn’t be the first time. You can’t blame him for his concern.”

Leaning down, she kisses my cheek. "I love you, Nat. Good luck tomorrow. Break a leg and all that.”

“Love you too,” I call after her as she joins her husband in the doorway and I drive around their circular driveway to make my way home.

The traffic is heavy, it always seems to be between our houses. It’s not far, but the massive amount of vehicles on the road always makes it seem further than it is. People lay on their horns as if it’ll make people move faster when there’s nowhere to go. I wait patiently for my chance to turn onto the street I live on. I’ll never understand the hustle and bustle here. It seems people are always in such a hurry, but I’m not like that at all. I don’t like getting upset about things I can’t control. It seems pointless to get wound up about things you can’t change.

I pull into the underground parking for my penthouse and drive into a spot near the elevators. Many people would love living in a place like this, but I don’t. I want a house with space to plant flowers. And independence from my parents that have no use for me. I do not know why they even pay for my home. I want them to never speak to me again. No, that’s a complete lie. I want them to love me like they do her. Nicole. They say jealousy is toxic, but how could I feel any differently? She has everything I’ve ever wanted. My sister is gorgeous, has a legion of faithful friends that follow her around like they’re fans, and the undying love of my parents. In their eyes, Nicole does no wrong. She’s as vicious as a rattlesnake. Still, they keep their rose-colored glasses on and worship her as she sits on top of the pedestal they’ve put her on since the day she was born, leaving me to wonder the same thing I’ve wondered a million times. What’s wrong with me? Why am I so unlovable?

CHAPTER 11

DRAKE

The De Luca brothers have our hands in nearly everything illegal, except for human trafficking and prostitution. That’s where my brother Domenic draws the line. We rarely hurt women and we never lay a hand on children. I don’t agree on not hurting women because sometimes there’s a need for it, but with kids, I agree. They are always off limits for us.

One of our largest sources of revenue is drugs, and you’d think people wouldn’t dream of fucking us over, but they do. There’s an excellent reason we don’t touch the shit. Drugs make you stupid, kids. Really fucking stupid. And desperate. Heroin specifically in the current case. One hit and you’re done. Addicted. An absolute slave to the madness that it makes you crave. People know this, yet they inject that needle into their veins for the first time and then their lives as they know it are over. They will do anything to score more. Very few people can afford to have a heroin habit. Even those that can eventually cannot maintain it. Every day, their body needs more as they chase that elusive high. The problem is once you’re addicted to it, it’s no longer just about the high you’ll never achieve again. It’s the sickness.

I’m told the inability to sleep for days at a time, the bone pain, and muscle cramps are the worst of it. However, the sweating, high blood pressure, racing heart, watery discharge from the eyes and nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea don’t sound like a day at the park either. Like I said, they get desperate and make poor choices in the pursuit of the drug that now rules their lives.

When one of our guys in distribution told me he had been robbed of his entire supply, I was slightly surprised because he’s been a solid worker for the last six years. He sat an interrogation with both Dante and myself for twelve hours because we don’t take anyone at their word. We were both concerned he might be lying and either using drugs or attempting to steal money from us. Both of which are terrible decisions. Of course, the story began with a woman, a pretty blonde. It always starts with a woman or ends with one. However, when he informed us that the woman was none other than Nicole Grant, our ears perked up with delight. After a little digging, we confirmed that this woman is indeed Nicole, who is the twin sister of our little obsession. So we brought her in, not willingly, of course.

Nicole sits on her knees with her hands tied behind her back. Normally, a sight like that would make my dick hard, but not this time. Some men might find the thin blonde type attractive, but I prefer women like Natalia, with meat on their bones. I want flesh to dig my fingers into while I fuck them. However, apparently Marcus does not agree because that’s how she got him. She used her body to get into his house, and then robbed him while he slept. We will deal with him. There will be no mercy for allowing this to happen, but right now I’m focused on Nicole and how we can turn this to our benefit.

Her blonde hair is drenched with sweat as shivers, “I’m so-so-rry,” she whimpers loudly.

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