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“You know, for a second, I considered leaving the torture to Sal so I can be here with you, but I am going to make that guy regret fucking touching you.”
Luce nodded. “I wouldn’t mind you being here with me, but if that is going to make you feel better, do it. Just know that he didn’t do actual damage. The doctor checked me, and I am really okay. I just have some bruises.” She smiled playfully. “I just need to rest on my bed for a few days where my husband brings me food, gives me bathes, and entertains me.”
“It is cute of you to use sex to calm me, but it is not working.”
“I must be losing my touch.”
It was rare that Luce made jokes, and I loved it when she did, but right now, I couldn’t even crack a smile. I buried my face in my hands. “I just can’t believe I let him hurt you. I knew he was going to attack, and I left you without protection.”
She removed my hands from my face and held them in hers. “You didn’t leave me unprotected, Val. I had three bodyguards and Bianca – who apparently is strong as hell. They attacked, but they didn’t do actual damage. I am well, and the kids are well. At least they told me that the kids are well. I didn’t ask to see Elsie because I didn’t want her to see me with the bruises.”
“They are well,” I said. They might have lied to Luce to keep her from worrying, but I knew no one lied to me. “Gia has a minor leg injury, that’s all.”
Concern rose in Luce’s eyes. “She does? What is it?”
“I am not sure, but I believe during the commotion, she sprained her ankle. Sal went to see her.”
“But she is okay?”
“Bianca said so. It is good because if she really got hurt, Sal would probably burn down your father’s whole territory.”
Luce nodded. “And what is going to happen now?”
“First, we need a confession from the attackers alongside some witnesses so we will have a good reason. Then we are going to send some soldiers to L.A. Antonio will probably lead them. They will show Sal’s support to Tommaso, and hopefully, soon enough, your brother is going to take over for your father.”
“So you won’t go?”
I considered it for a second. I didn’t want to leave Luce and Elsie, but I had other desires as well. “I don’t want to be away from my girls, but I would very much like to kill your father myself.”
“Don’t,” Luce said quickly. “I don’t want you to do that.”
“You don’t?” I was genuinely surprised. I knew it was intense for many people, but I always thought Luce would want her father’s death.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “He is a shitty person and a shitty father, and I don’t think I am going to be sad when he dies. Yet, I don’t want you to be the one to do it. For whatever it’s worth, he is Elsie’s grandfather, and she actually loved him. Maybe she will not remember him, but I don’t want her to know you are his killer. I don’t want her to see you as anything other than her father.”
I nodded. “You are right.” Gino Borelli was an asshole, and Elsie would eventually know I was not a good man and a killer, but Luce was right. I didn’t want my daughter to know I killed her grandfather. Even if he was an asshole, it sounded traumatic, and I didn’t want to do anything to make Elsie hate me at any point in her life.
“I won’t kill him,” I said. “But he is never going to see you or Elsie ever again. He doesn’t deserve you.”
“He doesn’t,” Luce agreed. “Our place is here with you, with our family. That is never going to change.”
She was right. I was going to spend my life making sure she was right.
Epilogue
Valerio
1 year later
I looked at the papers in my hand and said, “Finally!”
Sal chuckled. “Congratulations.”
“I feel like this took too long. It was much shorter with Gia.”
We realized we had to legally adopt Elsie a little after Gino’s fall from power. It was honestly easier than we thought. Gino didn’t have much leverage when Tommaso had our help on his side. When his men heard he attacked Chicago without telling them, most of them turned against him. He tried to fight a little, but it was a pitiful event. None of our soldiers were even seriously injured from it. Tommaso very easily gathered people around him and took over his father’s place in a matter of few days.
We decided not to intervene with Gino’s destiny. Tommaso decided to send him away to Italy and assured us that he was going to be watching him from afar. I would be happier if he killed him, but I still accepted. He was away, after all.
