Page 27 of The Holy Ghost
My chest filled with thebone crushing weight at how I left, without a word, leaving him toface his demons alone. I knew by the time we were in our twenties,Gio had stopped beating on Luca, but there were still times whenLuca would come over, take me by the hand, and lead me out to thebackyard where we’d sit in silence as I’d circle my arms aroundhim. Ciro and Phoenix never questioned it, but even if they had, Iwould have never told.
My leaving hadbroken Phoenix’s heart,disappointed Ciro, and abandoned Luca.
“Yeah, if you havesome free time,” I replied, realizing how stupid I sounded. If hedidn’t have time for me, he wouldn’t have told Phoenix to send meup. I was nervous though.
“Come withme,” he instructed, and Ifollowed him through his penthouse until we got to a door that ledto his office. I had hurried to keep up with him, so I hadn’t had achance to get a good look at his home, but what little I did see,it was breathtaking.
Once weentered his office, Lucaguided me towards one of the brown plush leather armchairspositioned in front of his huge oak desk. He didn’t walk around tosit at his desk and that surprised me. Instead, he leaned upagainst the edge, looked down at me, and waited.
I tookadeep breath and thenrepeated everything Phoenix’s told me since yesterday. When I wasdone, I asked, “Is it all true?”
Luca didn’tbother bullshitting me, and he didn’t ease into breaking the badnews to me either. “Yes. It’s all true,” he confirmed. Nocompassion. No softness. No sympathy.His tone was as exciting as an automated telemarketingcall.
“Luca-”
“It’s beendecided, Frankie,” he said, repeating Phoenix’s vile words. Thiswas Phoenix’s confirmation that Luca wasn’t going to helpme.
“Luca, hewants to get marriedimmediately,” I stressed.“You guys have upended my life all in a matter of twenty-four hoursand, if that’s not enough, now you want to bind me to him forlife?”
Luca’s chinwent up and the power radiating from him was overwhelming. Gone was the boy who taught mehow to climb trees. Gone was the boy who let me hold him. Gone wasthe young man who never smiled, but still found some joy inlife.
The manstanding before me was-to quote Robbie-Luca freakin’ Benetti.
“You werealways bound to Phoenix for life, Francesca,” he retorted, a little heat in that smooth,sinister voice of his. “Six years hasn’t changed that.”
I stood upbecause I felt like sitting before him weakened my position. Iknew, intellectually, whetherI stood or sat didn’t make a difference, but I still felt betterstanding. His smirk told me he knew exactly why I stoodup.
“Are youtelling me you can’tappreciate just how…overwhelming this all is?” I pleaded. “You showup, out of the blue, to tell me Massimo is dying, then I’m reunitedwith my brother, only to have Phoenix take me home and announcethis entirely new life you guys have carved out for me. Marriage,Luca?”
“If you camehere to ask me to get you out of marrying Phoenix,you’re wasting your time,Francesca,” he replied. “You guys are to be married on Friday inMassimo’s hospital room. Ciro is giving you away, and Massimo willbe Phoenix’s Best Man.”
“And what are yousupposed to be?” I snapped.
“YourMaid-of-Honor,” he deadpanned.
“I’m serious,Luca!” I did not find this funny. I hated that they were treating me like a mindless puppet. Ihated that they were taking away all my choices.
“So am I!” heroared, losing his patienceand composure. He straightened to his full height, and he was everybit the Mob Underboss that I’ve heard about.
“Luca-”
“Idon’t want to hear it, Francesca,” hebit out. “You dare to come here with branding all over your neckand tell me you don’t want to marry Phoenix?” I felt myself shrinkeven though I tried not to. “Don’t tell me you no longer love himbecause we’ll both know you’re lying.”
“I never saidI didn’t lovehim anymore,” Ireplied, revealing more than I was ready to. “I…I just…it’s just somuch too fast, Luca.”
“Not by ouraccounts, Francesca,” he threw back “We’ve been waiting six yearsfor you to get overyourfucking temper tantrum.Six fucking years. You walked out and left us hanging for six fucking years.You left Ciro without love. You left me without a compassion. Andyou left Phoenix without a soul. Don’t fucking tell me it’s toomuch too fast!”
“You guys-”
“Iknow we fucked up,” he barked. “Iknow we did. And, yes, we deserved your wrath. But we did notdeserve for you to abandon us forever!”
“So, this ismy punishment?” I asked,bewildered, and confused. “Is this some kind ofpayback?”
Lucadeflated in front of me andran his fingers through his hair. When he looked at me, he lookedweary, and I knew this was the Luca no one got to see, but me.“Christ, no, Francesca,” he replied. “This is not a punishment orsome kind of payback. This is us finally caving. This is us beggingfor fucking mercy.”
My heart broke withthat statement.
“Luca…”
