Page 70 of Luca

While Finn is on the phone, I turn to Luca. “Who’s Ozzy?”

“Remember the MC president your brother pissed off?”

I nod. “Why he went on the run?”

“Yeah. Ozzy’s president of the MC and the woman your brother tried to sell into the skin trade is his woman.”

Holy shit. It’s a small freaking world.

Finn disconnects the call and rubs a hand over his face. “Lake Masqak. He said that’s where a bunch of rich assholes own vacation houses, and it’s about twenty-five miles north of Shine with nothing in between.”

“That has to be it,” I say, looking between Finn and Luca.

“Would Carlo be that fucking brazen to stay so close to Shine?” Finn asks.

Luca and I answer with a resounding yes.

“He probably knows there’s no record of my family owning the place, and it’s not like we ever went back after my mom died. Plus, if he’s there, he’s getting some sick satisfaction knowing he’s so close and we have no idea.” Disgust laces my words with the knowledge Carlo could be there, that his presence is tainting a place that holds memories with our mother. He doesn’t deserve to be there. Not after…everything.

“Don’t suppose you remember the address?” Finn asks, already knowing I don’t.

“I was five the last time I was there, so no. But I’d definitely recognize it if I saw it.”

“There’s no way in hell you're going up there with us, Giada. I won’t allow it.”

I turn to my husband, who has obviously forgotten who he’s speaking to.

“You don’t order me around, Luca Bennetti. This is the first lead we’ve had. If he’s there, we’ll finally be able to end this bullshit once and for all. What would your plan be? To go up there and drive around calling his name to see if he comes out of the house? Get real. You need me to find the house.”

“I’m not putting you in danger again, Mrs. Benneti.”

“My last name was Cataldi first, and it’s going to take a Cataldi to catch one. If you think you're going to stop me, then you have another thing coming. You can’t keep me here locked up and hope Carlo what? Turns himself over to you? We’re in danger every time we leave this property until we find him. I’m not going to be a prisoner in this house.” I turn to Finn. “No offense.”

“None taken,” he replies, looking between me and my pigheaded husband. “She’s right, though.” Luca looks ready to murder his cousin where he sits. “Look, I don’t like the idea of putting her in danger, but we need this over. I need this over. I can’t watch anyone else I care about be hurt by that piece of shit. I’ll call Ozzy. I’m sure we can stay at the clubhouse for a couple nights. Plus, I know he wants his pound of flesh. It’s a win-win.”

“Easy for you to say; it’s not your wife who’s going to be putting her life in danger,” Luca spits out.

“Hey,” Alessia barks. “My life was in danger in this very house. He came in here and shot my friend and almost took me to God knows where to do God knows what. And if you think I’m going to let the three of you go without me, then you’re fucking crazy. If Giada’s going, then I’m going.”

“I don’t want either of you going. That’s what you're not getting,” Luca says, looking between me and Alessia.

“You don’t have a choice. So you can stay here and sulk, or we can go and finish this. But either way, I’m going to Shine, with or without you,” I say firmly, getting up from my chair and walking out of the room.

Later that night after Luca and I have done a fantastic job of avoiding each other, I’m brushing my hair in the en suite bathroom when Luca walks into the room. He sits on the mattress, his elbows on his spread knees with his head hanging low.

“You don’t know what it was like for me in that car,” he starts, his voice low and full of pain. “When I saw the blood, your blood, soaking into my shirt.” He looks up and meets my eyes in the mirror. “I didn’t get to you in time. He got a shot off before I covered you, and I wasn’t fast enough.”

I set the brush on the counter and turn to my husband, who has guilt swimming through his blue eyes.

“It wasn’t your fault, Luca. You tried to get control of the car. You threw yourself over my body to protect me. It could have easily been you instead of me lying in that hospital bed.”

“But it wasn’t.”

I walk over to him and step between his knees. Luca’s hands grip my waist and rests his forehead against my stomach.

“I can’t lose you, not like that. I can’t have your life snuffed out because you were born into a life you never asked for. I promised I’d protect you, and I failed.”

My hands tunnel through his dark hair, that’s gotten longer than I’ve seen it in years since being confined to the house with me.

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