Page 81 of Hard Lessons

Luca returned the embrace though his arms were stiff and heavy. The usual buzz of being in the family cocoon, the position of a trusted ally, and a man with something to give wasn’t there.

Instead he saw the beach in Scotland, Serena’s smile, and the sea breeze tickled over his skin, making him tingle with the idea of what could be.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your reunion with your beautiful lady but I have a time-sensitive matter and you’re the one for the job.” Giovanni sat back down. There was a gun on the desk, beside two smart phones and a notepad and pen.

Luca folded his arms and rocked back on his heels. “Go on.”

Beside him Paulo mimicked his stance.

“Meena DiTavo.” Giovanni picked up his cigar and puffed. The smoke plumed in the air above him. “You remember her, right?”

“Si.” Luca nodded. “Daughter of the late Andrea DiTavo.”

“I’m glad prison didn’t dull your memory.” Giovanni chuckled. “She’s become somewhat of a problem.”

“How come?”

“Let’s just say she’s stepping on toes, wandering down alleys where she’s not wanted.”

Luca waited for him to go on.

“And last week,” Paulo said, “she got trigger happy.”

Luca kept his expression neutral. It was no surprise that Meena was walking the same path her father and brother had. The DiTavos were notorious, ambitious, and ruthless.

“She took out Diego.” Giovanni’s lips flattened and his jowls wobbled. “He had a wife and two kids. But did she care about that? No. She’s a fucking liability and I want her removed. I want her gone. Out of the equation.”

Luca had heard about Diego’s death from Paulo, but he hadn’t known it was Meena DiTavo who’d pulled the trigger, only that it was linked to the DiTavos.

“Not only did she put a bullet in his head, she left this little calling card.” Giovanni pulled open a drawer then dropped a bullet on the table. It rattled then rolled to the edge.

Luca stepped forward and caught it before it fell. The surface wasn’t smooth. Something had been carved into it. It was the letters G and B.

Giovanni Bianchi.

“Oh, fuck,” Luca muttered. This meant war, full on war. A real fucking bloodbath.

“So you can see why I’m pissed, and why I’m glad you’re out.” Giovanni stood and placed his knuckles on the desk, and leaned forward gorilla-like.

Luca spun the bullet between his fingers, waiting for Giovanni to go on.

“You’re going to neutralize her, and get vengeance for Diego’s death.”

“What?” Luca tipped his head.

“Don’t play dumb, Luca. Kill her. I want her dead tonight and buried before the week is up.”

“She’s a fucking woman.” Luca scowled. Killing a woman went against his principles. Okay, so they were dubious principles at the best of times, but still he had some.

“Do I look like I care that she’s a woman?” Giovanni banged his fists on the table; the contents shook. “She wants to live in a man’s world, she’ll have to face the consequences. All this talk of equal rights, feminism, well, this is where it’s gotten her, stupid bitch. She’ll take a bullet likeun uomo.”

Luca swallowed, his throat tight, as though he was swallowing a plum whole. There was no way he was going to put a bullet in Meena.Si, she was a stupid cow, played dirty and deserved what was no doubt coming, but it wouldn’t be at his hand.

No fucking way.

That wasn’t who he was.

If he put a bullet in her head, matted her long hair to her skull with bits of brain and bone, he’d never be able to look himself in the mirror again... and look at Serena, no, he wouldn’t be able to stand himself to even be around her.

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