Page 50 of Condemned to You

Cohen was one of Luca’s attorneys - he was keen, sharp, and ready with a defense to get Luca out.

He poured himself another glass of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the glass as he contemplated the challenge ahead. “Have you picked a location for the meeting tomorrow?”

“Field museum.”

“If I’m not out in time, Aria will go in my place.”

“Aria?” Letting out an exasperated sigh and running a hand through my thick hair.

Since the Emilio incident, he hadn’t trusted anyone except his wife Aria. Typically, a boss would designate at least two underbosses should anything happen, but Luca refused to do such a thing. The bond of trust with Aria was strong and sending her in wouldn’t cause much of a stir. She was Lorenzo’s sister and her ties with the Baricelli family made her a trustworthy candidate between the trio. The issue was that ghost wanted to get all three don families at once. This was the only way he would be able to succeed.

As we sat there, two detectives came in.

“Mr. DeCarlo,” one of them said, “You’re going to have to come with us.”

Both of them were on our payroll and by their body language this was an uncomfortable task for them. Luca stood up, gracefully putting on his jacket and complying.

“There are a bunch of reporters outside,” the other detective said, “We can go out the back if you want.”

“It’s fine,” Luca replied as though this wasn’t the ruin of him.

Getting to my feet, we all walked out together. The moment the door opened there were flashing lights blinding me from every angle and reporters shouting out questions eagerly trying to be the first to get the scoop.

I nodded to Luca letting him know that I got it from here. My palms were sweaty as I answered my buzzing phone and I saw it was a text.

Flying down the city streets in my Ducati 1260, I parked behind the Church where I was able to enter through a side door just in time before it began to rain.

The dimly lit church, the faint scent of incense mingling with the chill of the evening air, and the faint sounds of rain pattering against the stained glass outside added to the atmosphere of secrecy. It was quiet without a person in sight. Walking around to the front of the alter, I looked up at the gigantic cross sculpture with a man nailed to it. The Bible said the man died for our sins saving us from damnation. I’d never been a religious fanatic – being a made man I found it hypocritical to be religious in this life of work.

Footsteps behind me made me turn around.

“We have a problem,” I stated.

Walking toward me with ease, we stood face to face. “I know. Luca’s been taken in.”

“He wants Aria to take his place. I can have someone take the shipment out of authorities’ possession that way Luca will be there tonight.”

Ghost sucked his teeth debating whether to proceed with his original plan. “Might as well make it a family affair. Make sure Aria and Luca are there.” Pulling out a phone to make a call, the muscles in his face went rigid. “Once he does the deed, kill the girl.” I watched as he hung up.

Something in his tone made me worried. “Something go wrong?”

“Getting the party started early,” he replied. “First DeCarlo down is Bethany”

We knew Bethany was with Emilio. Luca thought it would have been best she stayed with him until things settled down but now things took a turn. Emilio was working for ghost?

I could only hope tonight went as planned.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Emilio POV

There was one place I knew I could find Alfie and that was the lounge. The air was crisp as the scent of fall was approaching. As I stepped into the dimly lit bar, the familiar scent of aged wood and spilled whiskey hung in the air. I held my breath as I entered the lounge that I used to spend most of my days. Although nothing changed, it looked different. Setting foot inside the place, I was half expecting to have guns pointed in my face but instead there was a deary feeling in the air. The place was empty.

“Took you long enough,” Alfie’s voice carried through the room before he came into full view. “Losing your touch, Emilio.”

“You ungrateful piece of shit.” Pulling my gun from my waistband, I pointed it in the direction of his chest.

My mind grappled with the weight of this betrayal that hung heavy in my heart. The revelation of this deceit would strike Luca like a thunderbolt, the kind that shattered the calm after the storm. Each breath felt like a leaden burden, the truth pressing down on me like a dark cloud. There was no going back from this after learning the painful truth. It would shatter Luca of any hope of humanity.