Page 63 of Luciano (Belles & Mobsters 1)

“What does that mean?”

“Why don’t you just admit you are not over him?”

“I am!”

“No, you are not. Maybe your husband is not over you either.”

“Now you are just talking stupid,” I spat back “He was never into me, so there is nothing for him to get over.”

“Right, that’s why he beat Ian like some mad man… in the middle of a nightclub.”

“Why are we talking about him? We have this life and death situation over our heads, and we are debating whether Luciano is or isn’t into me. When we are dead, do you really think in the grand scheme of things it will matter?”

“You think we won’t get out of this alive?”

“We’ll damn well try.” I observed her fidget with her hands. She was acting funny. “Gabriella, what the fuck is the matter?”

“Well, I kind of want to get out of it alive. I like Massimo. Like a lot.” I frowned. It was the first time she said those words out loud. “I know you don’t like him. I don’t like Luciano for what he did to you. But I’m willing to give him a chance. Can you do the same for Massimo?”

Pushing my hands through my hair, that was still a mess from my tumbling last night with my husband, I looked at her incredulously.

“Sure, Ella. You know I love you, and I want you to be happy. However, I’m not asking you to give Luciano a chance. Both of those assholes pointed their guns at me.” I watched emotions flicker over her face. “Besides, thinking about Massimo while we have the King family hunting for us along with the Romano family isn’t the right thing to do right now. ”

She exhaled in resignation. “I know, I know. But I’m tired of running. And I just know it will be worse this time. It was hard watching you last time, and your pregnancy was what helped us both get through. It was the only thing that drove us. What will we have this time?”

I blinked hard, several times, the sting of years burning in my eyes. “We can’t bring Matteo along. It’s too risky. Luciano will make sure he is safe.”

The heavy admission clenched my heart. From the moment Luciano found us, running without Matteo was what I dreaded the most. My husband had set things in motion by dragging us all back.

“You have everything ready so he knows he is his?”

I nodded, unable to get the words out.

Chapter Nineteen

Luciano

“What the fuck happened here?”

Cassio’s and Luca’s grim expressions told me nothing good. This warehouse should be filled with their shipment of guns and drugs. Yet, it was empty. It almost felt like déjà vu from that day when my location was hit. But my wife didn’t know about this shipment.

This shipment was meant to fool Alphonso and Benito into thinking Raphael was on their side, working with them. And it was all gone, not a single product in sight. There was no time to arrange for a new one and there was never a plan to deliver a shipment of women.We are fucked!

“Goddamn father of mine,” Cassio gritted, trying to maintain control. I offered to let him use my warehouse in Jersey, but he felt confident his father hadn’t gotten wind of it. “Fucking greedy asshole.”

Benito King ruled New York, but barely. The only reason he maintained his position was thanks to Cassio and Luca. But those two had enough. Now they worked for themselves. Their father fucked them over enough.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Raphael Santos. “Hey buddy.”

“Fuck,” he chuckled over the phone. “I am almost there. But I have a feeling you want something pronto.”

I chuckled back. Lucky for everyone, I was in a good mood after last night. Yes, my wife was gone when I woke up this morning but her delicate smell was still all around me. Even on my crisp, white button-down shirt and black three-piece suit. She must have brushed against it when she went into my closet, because I could smell her lingering perfume all around me.

“Benito King intercepted a shipment that was coming to the city. Do you have anyone that can run it down? But instead of bringing it back to the city, take it to Jersey. My favorite place.”

“Sure thing. See you in five. I’ll have an update for you then.”

That was the reason I liked doing business with Raphael. No delay, no questions. He knew we didn’t deal in flesh, so that was all that mattered to him.

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