AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I side-eye Luca as we walk behind two soldiers toward Agostino Scarpetta’s office. “You know who I really admire?”
“Who’s that?”
“Sal Fiorelli.”
“Your mentor in the West?”
“Yes.”
“Why is that?” Luca’s voice is soft, but it carries.
“He wasn’t a man to miscalculate.”
“I understand.”
My heart pounds in my chest as we draw closer to my father’s office, and I look up at the light fixtures to steady myself. I can’t put my finger on the cause. Anxiety? Anticipation? Anger?
I’ve always been a passionate person. One who’s felt big feelings and screamed into the wind. I’ve lived with the pounding of my heart every day and in every circumstance—felt it angry, felt it hurt, felt it fearful.
This is different.
Adrenaline, maybe?
No. I’ve felt that, too.
We stop at the doors of the office, and I look at Luca, catching his gaze. “Don’t stop me.”
His smile is full of tenderness. “I won’t, wild one.”
One of the guards narrows his eyes upon me. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Luca grins. His tone is wolfish when he replies, holding the door open for me to sweep past. “Haven’t you heard? I’m in love with the Don’s daughter.”
The office is filled with people. I recognize a few of the capos, but most of them are strangers to me. They stand around in different spots while Father sits at his desk, as usual.
No one pays any mind when I enter.
They continue talking about the fire. I catch words here and there.
The cost.
Bribe.
Commissioner.
Fights.
Necessary.
At length, one of the capos notices Luca and me and leans over to whisper into the Don’s ear. Father twists in his seat, his face taking on an animated cast. His gaze flicks briefly to me before settling on Luca. There it is: approval.
Job well done, daughter.
“Luca Marzano! Just the man, just the man.” He half stands, flapping a hand at the room’s occupants. “Give me the room, gentlemen.”
The room empties within seconds, the sounds of conversation and laughter trailing after the men like a plume of cigarette smoke.
Father seats himself and waves to a chair. “Have a seat. Glad you could make it. Want a drink? Carina, make him a drink, sweetheart.”
