Page 32 of Twisted Knight

“I know you don’t, but Matteo can and will go to some length that both of us would hardly consider… having a conscience and all.”

“Do you ever feel bad for the woman he’ll have to marry?”

Matteo Genovese was Mafia royalty. Well, he was our king here in the US, as high as you could be. If the rules of having an heir were strongly suggested to us here, it had to be mandatory for him.

“Daily… Talking about women, I couldn’t help but notice that things are getting better between you and India.”

God, for a capo, Luca was sometimes as subtle as an elephant in a China shop.

“She’s living here, and she is okay.” I shrugged. “I’m making do of the situation.”

“She’s lovely. I like her.”

I was not entirely sure where he was going with it. A little pinch of pain squeezed my heart at the possible meaning of his words. Was he trying to tell me he was protecting her from me? Like I would even dare soil this good woman with what I was.

“Don’t worry, Luca. I don’t intend to get closer to her.”

“I’m not—” He groaned with a frustrated huff. “That is not at all where I was going with this. Dom, there’s—”

“Did you send her to speak with Jude?” I interrupted, so done with where the conversation was going. “I saw them in the greenhouse before.”

Luca shrugged. “Based on Google, she’s quite amazing at her job. He’s saying he is happy, but I just want to make sure, you know? The life he has now is so different from what he’s used to. I love the kid.”

I nodded. His worry was resonating with me. The kid really made his place in our hearts. “What’s not to love? The kid is amazing just like Cassie.” I stood up and helped myself to a drink. “How did people like them have kids like that is beyond me.” I took a sip of the drink, walking to the window and looking at the garden full of flowers—something Cassie created, bringing both literal and metaphoric light into our lives.

“These people are serial killers, sociopaths.” He met my eyes. “You’re not your parents, Dom.”

I shrugged. “Some are more than others.”

“You arenotyour father.”

“Not completely,” I agree but some of his evilness, his viciousness ran through my veins.

“Not at all,” Luca insisted.

I sighed. “Do they know about their parents?” Luca promised them safety if they agreed to sign their parental rights away, allowing him to adopt Jude, but the more he realized the extent of their neglect, the less he could keep his word, and they had finally been taken out a couple of months back.

“Cassie does. I’m not hiding anything from my wife—ever.”

I turned toward him, leaning my shoulder against the wall. “How did she take it?”

“She felt guilty to have caused a black mark on my soul.” He barked a small humorless laugh. “I don't think she realizes how many marks are already there—One more means nothing at all.”

“What about the kid, does he know?”

Luca shook his head. “No, Cassie and I thought it was better to keep that for us. They don't deserve him even sparing one more thought to them.”

I took a slow sip of my drink. “I think you did well to have India talk to him; she is kind and perceptive. If anyone can read him, it’s her.”

Luca pressed his forefinger against his lips as the corner lifted a little.

“What?” I asked subconsciously. It was really not a subject worth laughing about.

“You know, it’s okay to like her.”

“I don’t like her,” I barked.Fuck!I replied too fast, too vehemently. I felt like I was back in school again.

Luca's smile grew a little. Yeah, he didn’t miss that.

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