Page 11 of Twisted Knight

“She’ll be fine, Luca. It's only one day.”

“I don’t like going far these days,” he admitted.

“You never like leaving her, since New York and Savio… Not that I blame you, but things are different now. The security is airtight, and she has India with her.”

He sighed with a nod. “But you don’t like her, do you?”

It was my turn to sigh. Yep, I’d walked right into that one. “It’s not that I don’t like her. I’m not keen on new people, that’s all. She seems nice enough.”

“She is lovely, and she seems to genuinely care for Cassie so she’s a winner in my book. Plus, let's be honest, she is stunning.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Should we tell your wife that?”

He laughed. “She knows. We discussed it last night. I’m happily married, Dom, but I'm neither blind nor dead. Saying anything else would be foolish and a lie which my wife is not fond of.”

I shrugged, not really ready to commit to anything.

“I’m just not sure why you dislike her that much. Is it because of the effect she may have on you?”

I snorted. “I’m not discussing this.”

“How the tables have turned.” Luca grinned at me.

I glared at him, making him laugh. “You were right, itisfun.” He added, his grin growing wider.

I’d somehow forgotten that Karma was a bitch. “She seems nice enough,” I conceded. “It’s just weird how someone can just drop their own life like that on a call.”

Luca looked away and I knew I touched on something there, but I knew better than to press. Luca would just close off even more.

He sighed. “I just don’t see why Matteo needs me to go to that stupid meeting.”

“You’re the capo, Luca; it’s a capi meeting.” I shook my head. “I’ll deny it until the day I die, but Genovese has been quite good to you, I think. He didn’t make many demands.”

Luca threw me a surprised look. “I thought I’d never see a day when you agreed with Genovese.”

“I know.” I faked a shudder. “I am traumatized too.”

“I hope it won’t last long.”

I shook my head. “It shouldn’t. Most of what’s going on is just between us, but if you want, just leave when you’re not needed anymore. I’ll take it from there.”

Luca exhaled loudly, visibly relieved. “I know it sound—”

“No, it doesn't. It’s Cassie.” It was enough to say, I knew how much Luca loved her, and I knew how much she loved him. I was also amazed how she could disregard so much in the name of their love and how much happier and more alive he was because of this love. He had nothing more to explain.

Matteo lived in a compound just before entering the city. To be honest, it looked a lot more like a military facility than a home—cold, lifeless, overly organized. Very Matteo actually.

There was the main house in the back where only a few were authorized which Luca and I were privileged… or rather cursed to. The outer building, closer to the main entrance, was the main part of the compound, where the meetings were taking place.

Our car stopped by the security post, and Luca slid down the tinted window to reveal ourselves to the guard.

“Mr. Genovese is expecting you at the house,” he said with a nod.

I rolled my eyes. “What the flying fuck does he want now?”

Luca sighed, running a weary hand over his face. “Not sure but it can’t be long.” He pointed at the couple black sedan already parked by the compound. “Others are already here.”

“Oh yeah, like it ever bothered Genovese to make people wait for him.”

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