Page 45 of A Capo’s Love: Featuring A Don’s Love

“You killed your own husband.” He gave her a pointed look but she now looked unfocused, struggling to breathe.

“Does that make you feel better about La’Nova…” Her eyes widened as blood slowly seeped out her nose. “Does that make you sleep better…when you’re still alive because of me.”

I knew what she was getting at but it didn’t stick at all. La’Nova still played a part. Although the bullets didn’t land, she still had ill intentions. Lennox wanted me dead, that was a never a secret since me knowing Kentrell wanted the same.

“I survived despite you,” I whispered lowly.

My words injured her. I saw it all over her face. For a second I saw real pain flicker behind her eyes. Then suddenly she let out a hard cough. The sound ripped violently from her chest. Blood splattered across the white napkin pressed near her mouth instantly.

“Shit.” Roy cursed under his breath.

Lucille grabbed the edge of the table as her breathing sounded uneven. Her chest rose too fast beneath her silk shirt. Another cough came and out came more blood. She pulled her head up weakly and smiled at me with bloody teeth. It was the most haunting smile I ever witnessed in my life.

Lucille’s hand shook as she reached for the wine glass desperately. She squeezed it tightly and chugged the rest of it down in desperate swallows. Her breathing worsened immediately after she dropped the glass against the table. Roy stared at me hard, but Lucille looked over at me like she was relieved.

“I… knew… you poisoned me,” she nearly whispered.

My chest tightened painfully.

She laughed weakly again, blood still staining her teeth.

“I ran out of sources,” she whispered. “No more judges or politicians… I no longer had leverage for a hostile takeover… I tried to get Roy to help me, but he’s too loyal to you.” Blood leaked out the corner of her mouth.

“So…” She inhaled sharply, fighting for air. “I accepted my fate.”

Roy looked sick now. He turned away briefly, rubbing his jaw hard while Lucille kept staring directly at me. I expected to see some form of remorse, maybe even fear. Her eyes remained soulless and somehow that hurt more than her betrayal.

“You should live the rest of your life hating me.” Her eyes finally softened.

“I made you capable,” she breathed. Then another cough tore through her body violently, causing her to tilt to the side.

Before my pride could stop me, I stood up. My chair scraped harsh against the floor behind me while I closed the distance between us. Lucille tried reaching for the table but another cough ripped through her chest before she could steady herself. She tipped sideways right into me. I caught her automatically like instinct remembered she was my mother before my mind could argue otherwise.

My mother…. That realization hurt me in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

I lowered us both to the marble floor without even thinking about it, sitting down hard while holding her against my chest. Her curls brushed my jaw softly. Her perfumed still smelled like expensive oil reeking from her pores, overpowering the rusty metallic smell of blood.

Warm blood soaked through my white dress shirt as she struggled for breath against me. Her witch red fingertips gripped weakly at the front of my suit jacket while wet choking sounds crawled from her throat.

My chest physically hurt. I blinked hard until my vision was clear enough to focus in on her beautiful face.

“Breathe,” I rasped instinctively.

I knew it was a stupid thing to say, there wasn’t enough time left for breathing. Her head rolled slightly against my arm while blood stained the corner of her red painted lips. She tried smiling at me, and it broke me when I saw panic then sadness take over her face. A lone tear rolled down her cheek, and for a split second, it felt like I saw the real her again.

I didn’t see Lucille Bonetti, the pure evil, power driven, great manipulator… I saw what I used to know as a loving mother that kissed my wounds whenever I hurt myself. The mother that tucked me into bed and told me she loved me before cutting the lights out.

“You okay,” I lied roughly like a parent did their child when they knew they weren’t okay at all.

I swallowed hard against the pressure burning in my throat and leaned closer to her face and whispered again.

“You okay.”

Her black curls spilled across my arm while she fought for air that wasn’t staying inside her lungs anymore. I could hear Roy’s deep sniffles. I knew he was crying quietly already.

Lucille’s fingers twitched weakly against my chest before she forced her eyes open enough to look at me again. Her lips trembled slightly as she winced out in pain.

“I…” She struggled.