Page 70 of Luciano (Belles & Mobsters 1)

I would make sure my son has a chance to grow up without the threat of the Romano family. My uncle and grandmother had to die. Anyone that threatened my son’s life would be eliminated.

“I hope you stay around for a long time,” I told him. “To see Matteo grow up.” Because I wasn’t so sure that I’d live that long.

The sound of seagulls above us and waves rolling off the shower mixed with Matteo’s enthusiastic babble, while Nonno and I both sat lost in our own memories and regrets. At least I had those. Wishing Nonno hadn’t tried to do the right thing so his wife and daughter would still be here, among the living.

“What are you thinking, daughter?” he questioned me. “With such sorrow on your face.”

“It kills me that my family hurt your daughter and wife just because you helped my dad,” I rasped, finding it hard to look at him. Guilt slowly spread through my chest that he lost two important people in his life because of my fucked up, cruel family.

“No, Gracy. There were more reasons.” He turned his gaze towards the horizon, the beautiful view lost to the bloody memories. “Luciano grew our territory and our fortune fast. It made Benito King and Alphonso Romano jealous. Your uncle wanted to use New Jersey and Connecticut along with New York to move flesh. Luciano intercepted all their shipments and freed women. I told Benito and Alphonso we would never allow it to happen. So for a long time, they searched for a way to eliminate the Vitale family. It started with killing your parents, continued by intercepting my guardianship of you, and ended with the death of my own wife and daughter.”

So many lives lost just for the greed of two men. “We should kill them,” I muttered under my breath.

Nonno’s sad chuckle startled me. “Oh, my little Gracy. This world has hardened you.”

He had no idea.

* * *

Nonno’s wordsplayed in my mind on repeat. So many deaths and suffering caused by the greed and cruelty of my uncle and grandmother. Yes, I had never killed anyone but those two surely deserved to die. I never thought I’d consider killing a human being but those two… I wanted to kill. The need to see them suffer and get what they deserve choked me. I guess this was what they called thirst for revenge.

They killed my parents.

They killed Luciano’s mother and sister.

They killed Gabriella’s parents.

How many more lives did they take? How many women suffered a cruel fate because of them? All that blood was on their hands. And without a doubt, I knew they’d try to use my son if it worked in their favor.

Uncle and Grandmotherhadto be eliminated.

I felt tired, drained, maybe even a tad bit cranky. Past and bitterness would do that to you. Though activities from last night when I ended up in my husband’s bed probably contributed to that too. I couldn’t even say I regretted it. I was more than a willing participant. But after learning that my uncle killed Luciano’s mother and sister, I finally saw what should have been evident the moment we met.

We were never meant to be.

It took less than a half of a week for my entire world to become a big, tangled mess. The threat of my uncle loomed over my head, the belle agreement of my family with the Kings was a noose around my neck, and I had no solid plan. Yes, kill evil old Uncle and Grandma but the question was how. And then, how would I ensure I didn’t end up in prison? I mean, these people killed all the time and they got away with it! Mobsters must take some lessons somewhere along the way on how to get away with crimes. I need that damn book…Get away with crime for Dummies.

I scoffed in my head. It didn’t take a genius to see that even if Ella and I got lucky and succeeded in killing my uncle and grandmother, the chances of us killing Benito King were slim to none. He had soldiers and mercenaries guarding him and Marco King. And then on top of all of it, we still might have to run because we’d be criminals. Fugitives.

At least I’ll have a job with the Ruthless King.Yes, it was all about priorities.

If I could only think of a trap. A safe trap for Ella and I, so we could kill them all. Because just like Ella, I’d like to live a bit longer. I’d love to see my son grow up.

And damn it, if I could enjoy my husband’s bed for a bit longer, that would be a nice plus. Even if he agitated me most of the time. Like now.

Luciano got it in his ass that we should have a formal, family dinner. We were in the dining room that could easily seat a hundred people. It was just the nine of us. Ella sat next to Massimo, Matteo between Luciano and I, his father on my right, Cassio next to Nonno, Luca, Alessio, and Nico split between my side and Nonno’s side.

It couldn’t be my luck for Luciano to just take his friends and Massimo to have dinner out. But no, it almost felt like he was including Ella and I in his small circle. I just wanted to eat dinner with Matteo and Ella in peace, without watching out for any possible landmines in our conversation. Like in Italy, before our whole life got uprooted.

“Grace, I hear you studied music.” Cassio started small talk.

“Yep.”

“Do you sing or play an instrument?” Nico asked curiously.

Ella and I shared a glance. We were both on the edge and tense, waiting for some bomb to drop. She was irritated that finding out information on Uncle’s offspring proved to be elusive and was scared that at any second, we’d be dragged into the auction, sold to a cruel mobster.

More and more I thought about it, I was certain that killing my uncle and grandmother, then living on the run might be our only viable option.

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