Page 123 of Ruthless Beast

“Oh, Lucas. I’m beginning to think this is a bridge too far.”

“I’ll be fine, my love. Trust me. I have the tickets here. I’ll meet you at the airport at exactly 4 p.m.”

Emily’s hands are trembling as she takes the tickets from me. It’s been two weeks since Andreas and I hatched the plans, and tomorrow is D-Day. I’m a ball of nerves, but this is the only way I can think of to get out safely. Lucas Lucchese must die. No other option will truly free me from the life I’m living.

“Can I tell Dannie?”

“Sure. But you can’t tell her where we’re going. Okay?”

“This again.”

“Yes, this again. I’m sorry, babe, but this is what you wanted.”

“I know.”

“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.”

“I love you too. Please be safe.”

“It will be all over the news, I imagine. Don’t stress.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“Hey, I'm the one who has to go up in flames, darling.”

“Don’t you dare.”

I hug my Emily and kiss her passionately before I leave. This is it. My last day of being Lucas Lucchese, Mafia Boss. I’d better make it count.

* * *

Emily

I can’t breathe properly. In fact, I haven’t drawn a decent breath in days. Today is the day that I explain to Dannie that we will no longer see each other. I’m about to change my name and everything about me will be as if it never was.

My only consolation is that I have no family left who will mourn my loss. I’m starting my own family now, and that's all that matters to me. Nevertheless, this is going to hurt deeply.

I’ve loved Dannie for a long time. She’s my best friend. Others have come and gone from my life. People like Maria, who were there for a season, but Dannie is special. She and I are soul sisters. That is what makes this so hard. I don’t want to hurt her.

“Dannie, we have to talk,” I say at dinner.

“Sounds heavy. Are you breaking up with me?” she grins.

“Kinda.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have to go away, my friend.”

“Hey, you’ve gone away before. What’s different now? Are you planning on becoming a nun? They are allowed visitors, you know.”

“Haha. No. I have to disappear.”

“Disappear?”

“Yes. The only way Lucas can extricate himself from the mafia is if he’s dead. Or appears to be, anyway. Therefore, I have to disappear, too.”

Dannie is silent. She’s processing while I’m aching to change something I’m powerless to.

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