Page 136 of Empire of Temptation

Shock rooted me to the spot, frozen. “You’re . . . sleeping in your car outside my house? Why?”

“I promised my father to watch over you. I will not let him down.”

“Gabi, nothing is going to happen to me. You don’t need to follow me around.”

“I will not let him down,” he repeated, his attention on his cutting board.

“Oh, my god.” I put my face in my hands. “This is ridiculous?—”

His phone vibrated on the bar, the word FRATELLO on the display. Was this Leo calling?

Smiling, Gabi wiped his hands and lifted his mobile to his ear. “Pronto.”

I could hear deep rapid Italian on the other end, and Gabi’s smile instantly died. “Che cazzo?” he wheezed. “No, no, no. Non capisco.”

Olive skin paling, he listened as Leo went on, and I began to worry. Was this something about Luca?

I didn’t care. Luca and I were history. His mafia problems were not my problems.

I nibbled my fingernail, wondering if I shouldleave while Gabi went back and forth with his brother. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but it sounded personal. Maybe Leo was in trouble.

Before I could get up, Gabi disconnected. Carefully, he set his phone on the bar.

“What’s wrong?” I asked when he didn’t say anything. “What happened?”

He swallowed. “My father is in prison. He’s been arrested by the Guardia di Finanza. They oversee?—”

“I know who they are.” My ears were ringing now, an orchestra of horror filling my head. Arrested? Luca? “What the hell? He told me that he had people in place to make sure this kind of thing didn’t happen.”

“He does. We do. I don’t know what the fuck happened. Leo is on his way to Roma. We’ll learn more then.”

I couldn’t wait that long. My heart was pounding hard inside my chest, about to explode. I needed informationnow. “Call Sergio.” I nudged his phone closer to him, my voice raising dramatically. “Ask him what’s going on.”

Gabi picked up his phone and unlocked it, while I tried to keep from freaking out.Oh, my god. Luca was inprison.

This was crazy. How had he allowed himself to get arrested?

Stomach clenching, I thought of him behind bars, caged in a tiny cell. Was he hurt? Were the guards treating him okay? I bet he was pissed to be away from his family and men.

Gabi was waiting for someone to pick up. “Zio, che cazzo?”

I folded my hands and rested my knuckles against my lips, almost like I was begging with the universe for this not to be true. I couldn’t understand what Sergio was saying, but Gabi’s dour expression only turned more dour. The news was not good.

Shit, shit, shit.

When Gabi rang off I nearly pounced across the bar. “What did he say?”

“My father walked into the GDF headquarters and was arrested.”

“Hewalked in?” This made no sense. “Why in the world would he do that? He had to know they would arrest him.”

“I don’t know, but Sergio said we’re keeping that part quiet. As far as everyone knows, the GDF arrested Luca.”

This had to be a pride thing. To admit you’d walked directly into your own arrest was humiliating. “Now what? Does Sergio have the lawyers working on getting Luca out?”

Gabi put his elbows on the bar and leaned over, his forehead resting on his arms. “No. He hasn’t spoken to the lawyers yet.”

“So Lucawantsto stay in prison?”

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