Page 105 of Worship
I’m taken aback and grateful.
“Oh man, you are pretty amazing. Luca was right. Thank you for that. It means a lot.” She winks at me and then sets her cup down, clapping her hands together and speaking to Ella.
“What would the little princess like to do today? Too bad there isn’t a park nearby. She absolutely loves the swings.” She says the last part to me, but Ella smiles up to Rose’s face.
I look out of the window, eyeing up the tree outside.
“I bet we can make something happen.”
A few hours later, some handymen are outside installing a swing into the tree. It’s amazing what a padded fee will do for people’s motivation. Rose took Ella to her room for her afternoon nap, and I’m here with all my thoughts.
He hasn’t checked in, and I don’t want to bother him, but the worry is starting to overwhelm me. I’m the one who issued the ultimatum, and if something happens to him, it will be my fault. I reach for my cell and pull up Luca’s name, sending him a text.
Me: Just ordered a swing. It’s being installed now.
Him: I like where your head’s at.
Me: It’s for Ella, you perv.
Him: You can’t fault a guy for hoping. See you soon, Angel.
Me: When?
He doesn’t text back, and now my anxiety starts to creep up.What the fuck is he doing?I start to pace. I can’t do this all day, sit and wait to hear from him. I know he’s doing something to disconnect from the underbelly of this city, and I’m worried. Really fucking worried.
I need a distraction, so I decide to check in with work; hopefully, it’ll keep my head from exploding with what I think is true.
I open my laptop and respond to some emails, then dial my assistant to make some meeting requests and confirmations. She’s efficient, going through my list, and we finish quickly. I strum my fingers on the kitchen table, nowhere near the distracted nature I was hoping to achieve.
I stand and walk around the house, looking at photos and out of the windows, ultimately finding myself in Luca’s office. I walk over to his desk and see his briefcase sitting next to the desk.Something you would take with you if you were actually going into work.
A pop of red calls my attention, and I reach in, pulling out the translation book I gave him as a joke. I laugh to myself and put it on the desk. My fingers flick the pages as I sit with my thoughts.
What exactly did I think “break these chains” would mean? It’s a dangerous and corrupt world. It’s not like he sends an email canceling his subscription. Why did I ask him to do this? There’s no way whatever he’s doing today is clean and easy. But if anyone can move the players where they need to be, it’s Luca, and I need to trust him.
Picking up the book again, I flip through it mindlessly and remember the last thing he said to me in Italian. I smile to myself and flip through, sounding the word out to myself as I look for its translation. I’m hoping I can find the spelling, when my breath stops.
Holy shit. I stare down at the translation, frozen in time by two words.
Marry me.
THE SMELL OF THE WATERis cool and crisp. Any other time, this would be a welcome feeling, but tonight, it’s a deep finality of something that should’ve never existed. Giovanni Sovrano.
My past is just a memory now, and the future is in capable hands. And although I’m “out,” my power will never be questioned. These men, my brothers, are connected by blood. Blood that’s not our own.
“It’s done,” Antonio says, placing his hand on my shoulder.
“Good riddance,” Matteo agrees, stepping up next to me.
“It’s time, Luca.”
Nico puts his cigarette out on his shoe, stuffing the butt in his pocket.Don’t want to leave evidence.
I turn and look at Shelby, standing scared and shivering in the night air. Her hands are tied in front, and the mascara she wore adorns her cheeks.
She couldn’t just leave; it wasn’t enough for her. I was surprised by her alliance. I didn’t expect that her jealously would cause her to plot out a plan to kill Gretchen. But as usual, being the pawn doesn’t give you the understanding of how the game is played.
Now, she’s Vincenzo’s problem. I gave no order to have her hurt, but I also didn’t give my protection. She sealed her fate when she threatened the woman most precious to me.
