Page 100 of Breaking Lucia

When I’m standing again, I raise my hands up. “Now what, Lucia?”

Lucia takes a deep breath, and I realize she hasn’t thought this far ahead. Doubtless she thought she’d have to shoot me, which would’ve been easier if she was defending herself. Now that she’s faced with the reality that I’m—somewhat—helpless before her, it seems she’s hesitating. “Give me one fucking reason I shouldn’t shoot you. I can deal with Angelo before he even realizes I’m a threat. I’m not worried about anyone in this house.”

Except me. She’s worried about me, even though I’m disarmed, and that pleases me.

Rather than answer her question, I say, “You did a great job with Ricci. I’m extremely impressed.”

She flinches like I’ve just insulted her instead of praising her. “I’m not completely useless, Victor,” she says sharply.

“I never thought you were.” I glance down at Ricci’s corpse. The pool of blood has slowly expanded. “He never once considered you might be acting.”

“No,” she agrees. “He didn’t.” She looks at me for a long moment, an eternal moment that stretches between us. “I should shoot you now. After everything you’ve done to me, you son of a bitch, I should shoot you just like I shot him.” She sounds like she’s trying to talk herself into it.

“After which you sneak out of the house, and go on the run again? Santino will track you down. So will your father, and Pavone. It’ll just be a matter of which of them finds you first.” I give her a small smile. “Although who knows, maybe you’ll manage to survive for a few years. Always having to look over your shoulder. Wondering if the man on the bus is staring because you’re attractive, or because he’s been sent by somebody. Not being able to find a real job, because the moment you give your name or social security number, you’re calling down the collective wrath of three mob families.”

Lucia nods. She’s likely already considered that, which is probably why I’m still alive. She hasn’t found a way around it yet. “And if I let you live? What then? You keep me here like I’m your slave still? Or return me to my father and Pavone? The second I put this gun down…”

If she puts that gun down, she knows she’s surrendering to any fate I decide. I hold her life in my hands, and she knows it. I feel a thrill of power, to have this beautiful, alluringly dangerous creature under my control. She has the upper hand, but in the end, she’s going to bow to me.

“If you stay with us, yes. You’ll have to submit to us. Angelo and Santino wouldn’t have it any other way. But we can work out a more favorable arrangement for you.” I lower my hands and take a few steps toward her. “You want to get rid of Pavone, don’t you? You want to be free of him forever. Stay with us, be our partner. I can train you, help you become an actual player in this world. Right now, you have a gun. Many men have guns, Lucia. But real power doesn’t come from weapons. It’s secrets, manipulations, deals.”

I definitely have her attention, and I get the sense that she’s justwaitingfor me to tell her what to do. She may not know it yet, but she hasn’t made any decision because she knows that no matter what she does, the consequences could be dire. Even if I agree to what she wants, the second I have that gun in my hand, she’s at my mercy again. We both know that.

“Why would you help me? You want what my father can give you. After this, he’ll probably give in,” she says.

“Lucia, I don’t want anything from your father. I want todestroyhim. I want to take everything he holds dear and show to the world what happens to anybody who crosses me. If I get his daughter on my side, that’ll be the icing on the cake. He’s so weak, even his own family betrays him. He’ll become a laughingstock. And if, in the process, I take everything from Pavone too? All the better.”

She takes a deep breath, still staring at me. There’s a vulnerable quality to her now. The harsh assessment she’d given me moments earlier has ebbed, and I’m telling her exactly what she wants to hear. Better yet, I’m not even lying. I take another few steps toward her, and she lets me put my hand on the gun she’s holding.

“Give me the gun, Lucia,” I say, my voice gentle as my fingers wrap around hers. “Be a good girl for me, and I’ll give you everything you want.”

Lucia slowly breathes out, and she relinquishes her hold on the gun. I place it on the ground and kick it away, then turn back to Lucia.

“Good girl,” I whisper, pulling her close. I place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I’m proud of you. You were beautiful today.”

She nearly chokes on a sob. Unlike before, this one sounds genuine, like the other tears I’ve coaxed and tormented from her.

“So beautiful, so strong,” I continue, running my hand down her back. “It’s all right, Lucia. You can let go now.”

She collapses against me, burying her face against me as she finally lets herself lose control.

31

Lucia

By the time the last guest has exited the mansion, I’m exhausted. There are at least two other corpses to get rid of, bringing the grand total to four, courtesy of Angelo, but that’s a job for the security staff. They don’t say how they’re getting rid of the problem, and I don’t ask. I don’t really want to know.

When I close my eyes, I can still see Al’s forehead explode with blood. None of the blood touched me, but it’s still worse than Freddie. Worse than Luke. Because I pulled the trigger. It’s my fault Al is dead. I’m glad he is, but that doesn’t stop my stomach from heaving or my hands from trembling. The recoil of the gun feels different when shooting a living person.

After Saint woke up, the three of them had a short meeting I wasn’t invited to, and I’m still bitter and irritated at that when Saint comes to the door of the new room I’m staying in. He smiles at me, and I glower at him. At least he looks as exhausted as I am, with faint circles forming under his eyes and the smile not quite as bright as usual.

“Aww, don’t give me that, kitten,” he coaxes. “Victor and Angelo and I want to see you in Victor’s room.”

In Victor’s room. I pause, not sure what that means. I’m still wearing the damn dress Angelo had dressed me up in, and I wish I had something more comfortable to put on, but then… Saint is still dressed up nicely, too, so I don’t feel quite so overdressed.

“For what?” I ask suspiciously.

Saint huffs in exasperation and offers out his hand. “Come on.”

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