Page 66 of Day Shift

That got his attention. His eyes sharpened, focusing entirely on me.

I took a deep breath and dove in. “Uncle Luca, this isn’t easy for me to say, but I’ve learned something that puts us all in danger.”

He leaned back, scrutinizing me with those cold black eyes, saying nothing but allowing me to continue. I pressed on. “It isn’t easy for me to say this, but I respect you more than I ever did my parents. You’ve been more of a parent to me than they ever were. First, I understand why I’ve been contracted to marry Frankie Moretti. Even though he’s weak, whiny, and frankly, creepy. But if marrying him is what’s best for the family, I’m willing to make that sacrifice.”

Uncle Luca’s gaze didn’t waver. I cleared my throat. “But I think Viktor wants to take out the leaders of both the Genovese and Moretti families after I marry Frankie, so that he can take over everything. It’s a power grab, and you’re in the crosshairs.”

Luca’s jaw tightened subtly, his hands curling slightly around the armrests of his chair. “You’re making dangerous allegations, Anastasia. Anyone else would be killed at the mere mention of something like that.”

I fought to keep my composure, struggling against the urge to tremble, and maintained eye contact. “I know how serious this is. I wouldn’t risk telling you if I didn’t believe it to be true.”

Uncle Luca’s eyes bored into mine, searching for any sign of deceit. “What proof do you have?” he demanded. “I need evidence.”

My mouth went dry, but I forced myself to speak. “I don’t have anything concrete, just that someone very close to me overheard conversations about this plot.”

He leaned forward, continuing to scrutinize me. “Who?”

I swallowed hard. I couldn’t betray Nik. “I can’t say. But I trust this person completely. They have no reason to lie.”

Uncle Luca’s eyes narrowed, and he remained silent, waiting for more. But I remained resolute and held my tongue.

He finally spoke, scrubbing his hand over his scruffy beard. “You’re shrewd to come to me with this. I’ll look into it.”

The tension in the room eased a little, and I managed a small nod. “Thank you, Uncle Luca.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he replied. “This is far from over.”

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “I know. But I had to tell you.”

Luca stood, walking around his desk to stand in front of me. “I’m proud of you for coming to me,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “But be careful. You’re playing a dangerous game.”

I took that as my cue to leave, so I stood and gave him a respectful nod. “I understand. Thank you for listening.”

But then I remembered I’d come here for another reason. Biting my lip, I plowed forward, hoping I wasn’t pushing my luck. I didn’t want to piss the man off.

“Uncle Luca, there’s more. I need a favor,” I said, my heart pounding but my voice steady.

He raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue. “It’s about the people who took care of me in the hospital and saved my life,” I said. “An EMT named Braxton Thorin rescued me from the mangled car and brought me to the hospital. His brother, an emergency department doctor, Atticus Thorin, along with their brother Conan, an ED nurse, treated me that morning. Afterward, they continued to look after me and protect me from the press. Atticus’s fiancée, Samantha, who suffered a TBI too, took me under her wing and provided so much help. Together, they made sure I had everything I could possibly need, including legal help to fight all the charges. They took care of me way beyond what they were obligated to do as medical professionals. They even gave me a place to stay. I’m indebted to them.”

“Get to the point, Anastasia.”

I took a deep breath and continued. “Samantha is the woman Viktor tried to kidnap in December. She, along with Atticus, Conan, and Braxton, outsmarted him. They’re the reason Viktor got caught for all his human trafficking, drug dealing, and everything else and had to flee back to Russia. Now, Viktor has ordered a hit on all of them. They’re good people, Uncle Luca. They have no interest in the mafia. They just want to be left alone.”

Luca sighed, rubbing his temples. “What are the fucking odds of that happening? Damn, this is a tough situation, but my alliance with Viktor is crucial to the family. My hands may be tied.”

“But they saved me, Luca. They deserve to be protected.”

He looked at me for a long moment before nodding slowly. “I’ll look into it. But don’t expect miracles.”

Facing Luca had been a nerve-racking experience, but I had managed to hold my ground. Now, I had one more favor to ask. Asking three favors from a mafia leader would put me in his debt for a lifetime, but what choice did I have?

“One more thing… It’s about the marriage to Frankie. Is there any way out of it?”

Luca’s eyes hardened. “We have already agreed upon the contract. We need the Moretti family’s support against the foreign crime syndicates that have been moving in and building strength in our territory. Plus, if what you say is true about your father, then we’ll need them all the more. You’ll just have to suck it up, buttercup,” he said, patting me on the cheek. “But let me give you a piece of advice… Tomaso Moretti is a violent man. Don’t trust him or speak freely in his presence. He thinks women are only good for fucking and that everyone is disposable.”

“But—”

Luca pierced me with a glare. “You have no choice, Anastasia. Be a good wife to Frankie, give him a couple of babies, and then you can do whatever you want. Have yourself a couple of paramours. Run your little club.” He winked. “That secret is still safe with me.”

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