Page 52 of Ruthless Passion

The nurse grins as three huge orderlies enter the room. While I want to see them put Duke down like a wounded beast, Luca grabs me by the hand to walk out of the room. The sounds of Duke struggling are music to my ears. Even though I know it's only temporary, the idea of him being out of commission for a few hours knocks out my anxiety as well as that sedative does Duke the Puke.

"I'm proud of you," I tell Luca as we make our way back to Collin.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, you didn't try to murder him or hit him at all. That's progress when dealing with Duke. Just wait until you can get through a conversation without picturing lightning striking him dead."

He laughs. "How long did it take for you to get to that point?"

"Oh, I haven't, but I'm looking forward to it."

Collin's waiting for us outside of his room when we get there, ready to leave as it hits me that it's not safe for him at home.

"Collin can't go back home," I tell Luca. "I think Duke was attacked by Vito. Vito said something like, ‘if you don't work with Dacosta it'll cost ya’, when he stopped me in the parking lot at the studio. I need to warn Monique, too."

"Take my car," Luca tells me. "You go to Monique and Jett to let them know what's going on. If you want to get out of San Francisco until things die down, I can have a jet fueled and ready to go."

"Go where?" Collin asks.

"Anywhere you want," Luca tells him.

"I like Bermuda," Collin replies with a wriggle of his eyebrows.

"You don't get rewarded with a beach vacation. He has school and so does Jett. I'm not going to let Vito or Duke uproot our lives because neither one of them can take no for an answer."

Collin rolls his eyes. "Listen, I can crash with Shannon or Mojo. Honestly, I still feel like the house is fine. They're not looking for me, right? That was a Duke problem that got Duke. That piece of shit deserves whatever happens to him."

Luca glances between us. "I can't tell either one of you what to do. I don't know what's going on with Vito, but I'd say don't go back home for a few days. I think I got through to Duke. Hopefully when he wakes up from sedation, he'll remember what I said."

"And if he doesn't?" I ask Luca.

He shrugs. "Then I'll make plans to take him fishing."

22

LUCA

Josphine's confusion over me taking Duke fishing is to be expected. It's the nicest way to tell her I have no intention of letting Duke take another breath on this planet if he hurts her or Jett again. Of course, murder isn't always the answer, but for someone like him, it's becoming the only answer.

We leave the hospital with a plan to meet at my house. Collin's going to stay at his not-girlfriend's house for the time being. At least that's one person I won't have to worry about.

I wait for Jo to drive away with her brother before I call Sonny. It doesn't take long for him to answer or for him to come and pick me up from the Emergency Room. I half-expect to see my sister riding shotgun, but luckily, Sonny left Gina at home.

"Where are we going?" he asks as soon as I hop into the passenger seat.

"Trips," I tell him.

"Just us? You want me to have anybody meet us there? The last time was a shit show."

I agree. "Yeah, have about ten guys meet us there. I want to have one last word with Don Vito Dacosta."

"I don't like the way you said that, Luca. What happened?"

"I think Vito had guys waiting in Josephine's house tonight. They beat up her kid's father and when the cops showed up, they arrested her little brother."

"Shit," he runs his hand over his hair. "I'm sorry, man. What are you going to do?"

"What we do best. Handle it. You can drop me off, Sonny. I wasn't thinking. I shouldn't have had you come. Gina would kill me if you got hurt."

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