Page 12 of The Mafia's Seamstress

If Mr. Costa was a distraction Luca was right there with him. I felt his gaze crawling all over me, reading me. But I knew Luca wouldn't sit still. During our whole conversation he kept fidgeting with his hands and slightly rocking on his feet when he stood. It was as if he was anticipating something happening and waiting. He walked around the store staring, feeling fabrics. I enjoyed the quiet for about another hour and a half until he came up to the cash register, standing in front of me.

"So I guess now you know," he said softly. My heart lurched and I did my best to keep my face neutral. I hadn’t outright spoken to anyone about the whole mafia thing.

With Mr. Costa we were always bickering and I didn’t want to interrupt my avô on his trip. However I couldn't help but feel like I was missing a piece of the truth. I nodded.

"How are you holding up?" he asked. The corner of my lips twitched. That was sweet of him to ask. Taking a deep breath, I stretched my back. His ocean blue eyes had one clear emotion, concern.

"Honestly? Terrified. Confused. Angry. Relief?" I said, trying to describe what I was feeling. He looked taken aback by the word relief. "Well it kind of helped my childhood make more sense. I remember so many moments of being hushed out of a room or taken for a walk while some clients came in," I explained. I began darting my eyes back and forth as if looking for the missing pieces of my childhood. Because there was something I was still missing.

"Little things that even though I never paid attention to never made sense and now they do," I said. He nodded in approval. I closed my laptop and moved to grab Mr. Costa’s suit jacket. I needed him to try it so I could finalize the stitching.

"It's a good thing that you know about the mafias now," Luca said casually. I froze mid-step.

"Plural?" I asked, my stomach dropping. I was going to be sick. A smirk graced his pretty face.

"I guess there’s still some things you don’t know. Wolf Grove, that's us. Hare Ridge, that's the Irish. Your friend Danny works for them. Tiger Bay are the Koreans. Although they're leaving the area to someone else. A different family from overseas. The main family is retiring, rightfully so. Hummingbird Heights are the Jamaicans. And Eagle Pointe are the Americans,” he explained. “They think they're the shit. They're not," he sneered.

I was completely surrounded by murderous people. I bit the inside of my cheek. Danny was a part of the mafia? Daniel Callahan was a doctor. He was always the brightest in class. How many more of the people I grew up with were involved without my knowledge?

"Danny is a doctor!" I said. Luca nodded.

"Someone needs to pull out the bullets and sew up the holes," he said. "But don't worry! Your gramps shop is on neutral ground. Everyone agrees to leave this area alone. Everyone needs a suit and he's the best in town," he rushed out.

So I was right. This area was uncontrolled by no one. But why didn’t that feel right? Neutral ground simply because of clothes? There had to be more to this story.

I eyed the notebook under the cashier that had the client list. Just how many of them? I placed Mr. Costa’s jacket on my work table. I faintly heard Luca’s footsteps behind me.

"So I would be careful who you throw that pretty smile to," he said. Luca grinned at me and heat coursed through me. For a man who could probably kill with his bare hands he had a pretty face.

"Are you including yourself in that?" I questioned, leaning against the table.

"I'm number two on the list of men you need to watch out for." His voice was rough. I felt myself leaning in, being pulled by his voice as he took a step closer. His blue eyes were enticing and welcoming. This is probably how he got people to talk. One look, one smile and I was ready to confess–naked.

"And who is number one?" I asked as I watched his eyes trace over my face.

"You've heard about Dante's inferno right?" His low voice was pulling me closer. I nodded, afraid to speak. With Luca I had to tilt my head up to meet his eyes. That was something I wasn’t used to. He must have been over 6’2. Mr. Costa was most likely six feet tall since it didn’t take much to be eye level with him and I was only 5 ’9.

"It is said that Dante’s Inferno involves the nine circles of hell. Well my cousin has nine levels when it comes to…what he does. There's a reason that's his nickname," he said. He tugged at the tape measure around my neck and wicked thoughts began plaguing my mind. He hummed and his gaze darkened.

Then he gripped both ends and tugged hard. I gasped as I fell into his arms. My face flamed at the feel of his hard chest beneath my hands. The fabric of his suit jacket was soft. Did we make this one?

“You know my cousin isn’t here yet. Maybe-” Luca's phone rang, breaking the tension. I leaned back quickly, heart pounding in my ears. Luca looked at me as he answered the phone. Nothing was going to happen. Nothing would have happened even if this blonde Italian god left my curiosity unfulfilled.

"Hello cousin," Luca said a bit loudly. I moved to gather some materials for the appointment. I needed to get space away from Luca and how he was making my body react.

A loud banging vibrated through the shop. I could make out Mr. Costa’s voice loudly speaking about the door. He was leaning into the glass. His eyebrows were drawn in, his eyes blazed with annoyance.

"I don't know. I think she's safer locked in with me," Luca said, with a taunting smirk. I rolled my eyes. Mr. Costa began tugging at the door. The hinges creaked. I glared at Luca.

"If he breaks my door, he's not allowed in here," I snapped. Mr. Costa stepped away from the door. Sighing, I walked over to unlock it.

"You're no fun," Luca pouted slightly as Mr. Costa stomped in towards his cousin.

"I don't need a 'Whose Dick Is Bigger Than Whose' especially with me in between," I said, crossing my arms. Luca smiled wickedly.

"Why are you alone with him?" Mr. Costa said, thrusting a finger in Luca’s direction. His gray eyes looked tired. He had a frown on his face. I felt the need to wipe it away. I dug my fingers into my palms. I desperately needed to put batteries in my vibrator and lay off the mafia romances.

"You sent him to watch over me as if I'm a child," I stated. He looked over at Luca.

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