Page 14 of Luca

Giada stands on the side of the road with the same look in her eyes as she had when we left.

“Let’s go,” I say, stomping past her to the fence line.

“Thank you,” she says, having to walk a little faster to keep up with my long strides.

“I didn’t do anything someone with a shred of decency wouldn’t have done.”

“That’s not true. Those guys were more than willing to watch him drug me.”

I stop abruptly and she nearly collides with my chest when I whirl around. “Like I said, anyone with a shred of decency. Those assholes don’t have any. They’re spoiled rich fuckers who are used to getting their way and not having to answer to anyone. Case in point—they tried to drug the daughter of a very dangerous criminal and thought they’d get away with it. Stay away from them, Giada.”

She nods her head jerkily, like one of those toys you stick on your car’s dashboard. “I will. I swear. I honestly didn’t think that would happen. I mean, I’ve never heard of it happening.”

“You really think just because you haven’t heard about it, that means it’s never happened? Wake up, Giada. This kind of shit happens all the time in this world. You need to watch your back. I’m not going to be there to always do it for you. If I wasn’t there tonight, he would have drugged you and done God knows what to you. I’m sure he’s done it before, but probably threatened the girl somehow so she wouldn’t talk. That’s the kind of world we live in, and you need to be a hell of a lot more careful if you’re going to survive in it.”

I’m so damn frustrated. At her. At that asshole. At myself. The fact that young girls even have to worry about shit like this pisses me the hell off.

“I’m sorry, Luca. I’ll be more careful.”

“No more parties,” I tell her through gritted teeth.

She nods once. “None.” Her eyes soften and lose the remorse she had, to be replaced with a glint of something sweet. And fucking dangerous. “I’ve never seen you so mad,” she says with a breathless whisper.

For fuck’s sake.

This is what happens when a girl is starved for attention from the men in her life. I’m certainly not the one she needs to be doing any sort of pining over. I did what I did because that’s what my dad taught me. You protect women. When you see shit that isn’t okay, you handle it. If it means with your fists, then so be it.

It’s a habit I shouldn’t have, considering I’m supposed to be blending in with the pricks around me. None of these guys give two fucks about a woman in trouble. Hell, they’d be more likely to take a turn and record it than do anything to stop it. And Giada needs to think I’m the same as these assholes.

“Let’s get something straight, little girl.” I emphasize the last part to hurt her, and judging by the look on her face, it works. “The only reason I beat that kid to hell was because I work for your father. If anyone thinks they can mess with this family, then we’re all fucked.”

“Oh, please. If it had been another girl, you would have done the same thing.” Her hand rests on her hip as she challenges me. “You aren’t like my brother and the rest of the goons around here, Luca.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, princess. I’m exactly like them. If it had been anyone else, I would have let those boys have their fun. But seeing as it was my boss’s daughter, I put a stop to it.”

I fucking despise the words coming from my mouth as well as the look on her face.

She holds my stare for a solid minute before shaking her head and letting out a huff of humorless laughter. “You all make me sick.”

“Good.”

Let her be disgusted with what I just said. It’s safer for me if she doesn’t harbor any notions that I’m a good guy. Those thoughts won’t do anything but bring suspicion to my doorstep if she walks around with hearts in her eyes and someone notices. The last thing I need is anyone thinking I’m indulging her crush in any way, shape, or form.

“Get back to your room. I’ve had enough of your shit tonight.” My voice is cold, and though it isn’t a particularly chilly night, Giada shivers at my tone.

She spins on her heels, and I watch her walk back to the property. Fuck, I was just supposed to be doing one more round before I went home to my shitty apartment for the night. I wasn’t supposed to get tangled up in this bullshit.

The next day, I’m up bright and early and back at the house when I’m called into Francesco’s office. I haven’t seen Giada this morning, but since the guards weren’t gossiping about finding her outside of her room, I assume she made it back in without being detected. It’s not like she hasn’t had practice. I don’t for one second believe the first time I caught her was the first time she’s snuck out.

“Luca,” Francesco greets when I step inside his office.

“Sir.” I bow my head to show respect to this asshole even though that’s the last thing I feel for the man. In every interaction, every smile I’ve given the man, I’ve had images of me putting a bullet between his eyes playing on a loop. He thinks it’s respect behind my eyes when, in reality, it’s murderous thoughts of the day I get to have him on his knees with my gun pressed to his forehead.

His office is pretty standard of what you would expect to find in any mafia boss’s office. Dark leather furniture and dark-red carpet coupled with wood-paneled walls make the space seem like the den of a supervillain. I’m sure Francesco wants people to think he’s some sort of criminal kingpin, which at the moment he is, but every villain has a weakness. I just need to find his so I can get the hell out of the expensive hellhole I find myself in every day.

One of his capos, Alberto, rises from the leather club chair in front of Francesco’s oversized mahogany desk. The man has obviously been living the good life if his portly belly and cigar-stained fingers are anything to go by.

Alberto holds out his hand, and I take his meaty palm in a firm shake. “Hi, Luca. Come sit.”

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