Page 89 of Killer Love

“Power isn’t earned with cupcakes and rainbows. What do you want?”

Luka doesn’t blink. “I already told you.”

“You want me to abandon Italy?”

“You and your entire family.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Yes, it is.”

“There is nothing in my family more sacred than this, Lutrova,” Antony shouts. “Only a Zappia may rule in Italy.”

Luka smiles. “But I have one.”

Antony’s eyes shift to his sons. “Who?”

I feel Luka squeeze my hand, firing adrenaline straight through my heart.

“Me,” I say.

The anger in Antony’s stare turns furious. “No…” he seethes, his face turning up with disgust.

I hold up my hand, revealing the small scar that remains on my finger from my wedding day. “My blood is your blood. My flesh is your flesh. From now through eternity. Is that not the Zappia way?”

“You are no Zappia.”

“My name may change, but my blood is Zappia blood. If you deny that, well…” I smile. “Where would this family be if we didn’t follow the rules?”

Luka smirks.

“You have no place here,” Antony spits at me, shaking his head.

“I think the last thing you need to concern yourself with is Sofia’s place, Antony,” Luka says. “Her place is right where she’s standing now. Beside me.”

“So, that’s it, then…” Antony growls. “You come in here and you take my family and my business, and you give it to her?”

Luka takes a step closer and towers above the old man. “Gio killed my father,” he says. “He killed Rosalie. Your family took my family first.”

Antony looks down.

“I planned on killing you,” Luka admits. “Out of respect for my father’s memory and the friendship he had with you, I changed my mind. That is the Lutrova way. Don’t be angry with what I’m taking from you, Antony. Be happy with what I’m letting you keep.”

A sweet shiver runs down my spine and it curls my toes.

My Luka.

“And what exactly do I get to keep?” Antony asks.

Luka gestures around. “I will let you keep Chicago. In time, I’m sure you will rebuild it.”

Antony’s face falls. “Rebuild?”

“In this city, it’s hard to see the stars,” Luka says. “But look up into the sky tonight… and you will see smoke.” He turns around to Enzo. “Yuri said your deli was lovely. He almost regretted lighting the match.”

Enzo’s face grows with panic. He looks at Antony to intervene, but there’s not a damn thing he can do about it.

Five businesses were built in the Zappia name over the last two years, each one of them shameless fronts for Italian mafia deeds.

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