Page 94 of Luciano (Belles & Mobsters 1)

“Grace Vitale,” I interrupted with a tight smile, speaking into the microphone to ensure everyone heard. “Not Romano.”

Her beady, cruel eyes flashed to me with hatred and I smiled. She would pay for her sins if it was the last thing I did before I died. Death of my grandmother and uncle would mean protection for Matteo. And for my son’s safety, I’d sell my soul to the devil.

It was the Romano’s turn to lose.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Luciano

Grace paled at her grandmother’s words, and it made me want to wrap my hand around that old witch’s neck. I never liked Sophia Romano. She was a cruel and twisted old woman. But today I liked her even less.

I quickly dialed up my father. When there was no answer, I called Lorenzo, my top guard.

“Boss.”

“Any word on Roberto?” I asked. After we found out he was the traitor, I hired Sasha, Vasili’s other brother, to find him and eliminate him. Sasha Nikolaev was good, not as good as Alexei, but he would hunt that motherfucker down and put a sniper bullet into his skull.

“No, but Sasha’s on the trail.”

“Good. Tell my father not to leave the house with the boy. Keep security tight. If something happens, protect the boy and my father at all costs. I’ll update you later.”

I hung up and saw my wife’s step falter at her grandmother’s announcement. I wished I knew what my wife’s plan was. She wanted to kill them; I knew that. But she couldn’t do that here. Not in such a public place.

Fuck it; I was done letting that fucking evil witch play with my wife’s life. I took a step forward, ready to put a stop to it all.

“Don’t you dare move, Luciano.” My head snapped to Ella. Who in the fuck did she think she was? “You are going to get her killed,” she hissed.

“What the hell is going on here?” I demanded in a low voice, keeping the anger from my expression.

“Just don’t do anything. Not right now,” Ella muttered, her eyes on Grace as she sat herself on the piano. “You almost cost her her life once before. Don’t repeat it.”

What the hell are these two up to?

Ella’s gaze traveled behind me, and I followed her gaze. Sophia’s bodyguard was leering at her, and she visibly paled.

“Just don’t do anything now,” she whispered and took a step backwards, her eyes locked on the bodyguard the entire time.

Massimo must have seen the same, because he came behind Ella, ready to protect her.

“What’s the matter?” I asked her. She shook her head, remaining numb and frozen. “Nobody is getting to you or Grace.”

She swallowed hard, but something told me, just like my wife, she didn’t believe it.

“Just keep your eyes on her guards,” she uttered in a low voice.

I noticed the Romano family had their men everywhere. It didn’t matter because they were no match for us. Our men were also outside and Raphael Santos wasn’t far behind either. After we discovered Grace’s plan, we diverted our plan from the fundraiser to here. We had one of our event managers step in for us. On the way here, Cassio gave a brief overview to the men so they understood what we were up against. At all costs, save Grace and Ella.

I appreciated Vasili and Alexei coming along, though I was worried about Isabella Nikolaev being so close to the two men that almost kidnapped her. So was her husband because he kept his hand close to his weapon. Maybe we were all eager to end Alphonso and Benito, once and for all. Criminals or not, we all wanted to enjoy our life. Benito King’s associates were a different brand of criminals. More like psychopaths.

I had to admit that I was surprised that Benito King wasn’t here, considering the tight business relationship between the King and Romano family.

The soft piano notes sounded in the room, and Ella along with everyone else was forgotten behind me. Massimo would be at her back, protecting her. Vasili would protect his woman, and the rest of us were capable of standing our own.

The light tunes of Gnossiennes No. 1 played, the recognition immediate in my memory. How could I ever forget it? They were the same tunes she played that night during our short marriage, when the evening ended with me fucking her bent over my grand piano.

Everyone’s eyes were turned to Grace’s form as she sat, her fingers drifting across the keys. I had seen her play the piano only a handful of times. She loved it, the music was part of her.

From those short months we had together and how she talked about music, I knew she loved it. But I never realized how much till just this moment. I watched my wife’s face mesmerized by her transformation. It was as if the whole world ceased to exist for her. Her fingers moved expertly across the piano, her eyelids lowered, her expression distant and soft. Like that of a woman dreaming of her lover, of the day she could hold him again. There was pain, love, softness, hope on her face. She was completely lost in the music.

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