Page 200 of A War Around Us

“Yeah.”

I pulled back from his clean and peculiar smell of sand, wool, and whiskey breeze to stare at him. His eyes appeared at ease, but the longer I kept them from leaving mine, I saw their violence and bloodthirst.

“Lucca?” I pushed, and my palm touched his chest as my fingers spread around his warmth.

Lucca’s eyes fell to my hand, and he looked away.

“Your family will arrive shortly after four, and dinner will be served at five thirty,” he explained in monotone. “I should be back before anyone arrives.”

“Is that all?” I pressed again, and a twitch of his lips gave a small, grim smile away.

“What else would there be?” He dropped his hand from my back and tucked a loose strand of my hair to the side. “I must go. Stay inside, alright? The weather is rough.”

The weather…right.

“If that’s the case, stay in.”

His eyes narrowed, and his throat rasped a chuckle.

“I’m not afraid of the rain, Katia.”

A pressure weighed deeply in my chest, and I needed the assurance of his words to carry some away before he walked out of the door.

“We are still talking about the weather, right?”

A devilish grin answeredwe were not.

“Don’t change. That color is striking on you.” Lucca was already pulling away.

“Wait.” I trapped his wrist. “Be safe.”

Lucca didn’t look back, he didn’t nod or acknowledge my words. As if he couldn’t face them or the care behind his wellbeing.

Regardless, the words flew free, and the sentiment for his safety was evident.

XLI

LUCCA

Time had run out,and every minute passing by was borrowed.

California was in chaos after Borelli’s son’s death, and we’d lost sight ofhim. There was the chance that he could be walking through my city seeking vengeance.

It was what I had wanted, but I couldn’t confirm if he had fallen into my trap.

I had anticipated California’s uproar, and after all the scheming, the toughest task was dealing with Borelli’s men. It was expected. His soldiers were scattered all around, unruly and lost with the new changes. Some in Los Angeles without sight of their boss. Others in New York fighting a battle with no end. Not to mention the ones here, in Miami, following his orders, while watching their syndicate crumble.

Now, the entire famiglia had their fingers deep in the havoc. The longer it took to tame the loose ends, the more reckless the madness grew.

All four bosses couldn’t agree on the possibility of naming a new head for California with Borelli still alive. Their thoughts were all based on greed and self-gain, believing they could have one of their own running another city when in reality, Los Angeles had its own ranks. But the situation was difficult with a target on a boss who no longer had a next in line.

In the middle of La Cosa Nostra’s disagreement, I found out there was one bastard in particular who wasn’t helping to restore order. No one other than my fucking future father-in-law.

Katia’s father wanted to co-rule California between the four families. It would never work, I knew it, and the others did too, which was why the votes were divided. It should be Los Angeles third in command who should take the seat. Someone that would reclaim peace between all the syndicates. A man others trusted as their own and respected.

Instead, Mario slithered and whispered in ears about his plan and my involvement.

He spoke as if I backed him in this plan, creating the two versus two. This shouldn’t even be up for a vote. It was mad.

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