Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Luca
L’Aquila, Italy
Supercarcere Le Costarelle
T he guard knocked on the open door to my cell. “Don Benetti, your dinner.”
I set my glass of wine on the end table and paused the jazz music playing on my tablet. Tonight’s meal was fish delivered hot from a local restaurant. “Va bene. Bring it in.”
The guard carried in a paper sack and began unpacking my meal on the dining table. Standing, I slipped my feet into my shoes and carried my wine over to the chair. I lowered myself down and placed a cloth napkin in my lap. After the guard unpacked everything, I asked, “Did you get something for yourself?”
“Yes, Don Benetti. Thank you for your generosity.”
I nodded, acknowledging, and began eating. My money and reputation meant prison was more like an extended stay at a hotel. The guards were well compensated to look after my needs and I wanted for almost nothing. Food, wine, internet, books, and my large bed was outfitted with soft sheets and a plush mattress. A good number of my men were imprisoned here, so I was surrounded by family and friends. We played cards, ate together, and worked out together. It wasn’t pleasant . . . but it wasn’t awful.
Sergio visited daily and we discussed business, and my arrangement with the guards meant we weren’t overheard. Word had traveled about my arrest. Our enemies would close in soon so I needed my brothers to be ready. If I wasn’t released in the next few weeks, we could expect to face many bloody battles. My absence would be viewed as a weakness, and our world viewed weaknesses as opportunities.
Unfortunately, despite multiple requests, the testa di cazzo—Palmieri—refused to charge me or let me speak with a lawyer. I was stuck here.
The branzino was cooked to perfection, broiled and flaky, melting on my tongue. I casually watched a streaming show on my tablet as I ate, some reality nonsense that reminded me of Valentina and her terrible taste in entertainment.
Mafia Island . I snickered despite myself. She had a sense of humor, a playfulness long missing from my life, and I missed the random nonsense that came out of her mouth. Did she miss me? Or was she still angry at the way we parted?
Maybe I would ring Roberto tomorrow and ask.
Before I could finish the buttery branzino, the guard was back. “Don Benetti, a guest to see you.”
Sergio had been here earlier. Was it one of my other brothers? “Who?”
“A woman.”
Was it Chiara or one of the boys’ mothers? “Did she give a name?”
“Valentina DiMarco.”
The air left my lungs in a rush. The last name was fake, but a clear identifier. Valentina was in Italia. Here, at this prison.
What the fuck?
My chest squeezed as disbelief and indecision strangled me like a vise, and my eyes went unfocused. Gabriele and Roberto should have known better than to let her leave New York. If the GDF realized her identity, she was at risk. Palmieri would use Valentina to get to her father, exactly as he’d planned from the start, and all my efforts to keep her out of this mess would be in vain. “Tell her no.”
“Perdonami, Don Benetti,” he said, pulling on the collar of his uniform. “But she warned us you might refuse her. She said to tell you she won’t leave until you talk to her.”
Stubborn woman. It wasn’t safe for her to hang about at a men’s prison. She didn’t speak the language and these were dangerous men. I was going to strangle my second born for this. He was supposed to be watching over her.
Carefully, I wiped my mouth with the napkin and set it on the table. After I pushed to my feet, I slipped my arms into the jumpsuit I was required to wear. Even though I wasn’t a typical prisoner, appearances must be maintained in the public spaces.
The guard led me through the corridors, past other cells not nearly as fancy as mine. Curious stares followed me as I walked past, with some inmates dipping their chin in deference, but I didn’t speak to any of them. The rage burning my skin wouldn’t allow me to focus on anything else than the woman in the visitor’s room. Valentina had much to answer for.
He unlocked the visitor room and opened the door for me. The space was empty, save one person, and my entire body jolted at the sight of her. I rocked back on my heels, but schooled my features carefully.
Fuck. Me.
She was gorgeous, even more beautiful than my memories. In person she sparkled with some indefinable quality that could never be drawn or photographed; it was a vibrance that burned bright and drew me to her. My anger withered, and in its place was a longing so fierce that I wanted to howl at the unfairness of everything keeping me away from her.
My fingers itched with the need to touch her. I craved her mouth, her sighs. The way she curled into me and rubbed her tits against my chest. Her soft skin and coconut-scented hair.
But I couldn’t have any of that.
I didn’t know if we were being observed or not. As a precaution, I couldn’t give them any idea of how much this woman meant to me. I couldn’t let her become a target.
“You asshole,” she started when I didn’t move or speak.
I cocked my head and gave her a bland look. “Do I know you?”
Her lips parted as her brows flew up. “Really, Luca? Is that how you’re going to play this?”
Rubbing my jaw, I pretended to think. “Allora, are you the woman from that club in New York City? The one who gave me a blow job in the men’s toilet?”
The air in the room turned frosty, like a negotiation gone bad. “No,” she said, the single word dripping with snark. “I’m the one who gave you the blow job in your car.”
As if I could ever forget.
My smile was part grin, part leer. “Ah, va bene. That was nice, no? I’ve been bragging of your skills to the other prisoners.”
I could see her thinking, wondering what was happening and why I was acting this way. But I couldn’t let up—I needed her to leave.
Leaning against the wall, I propped one foot on the plaster. “Did my brother hire you to pay me a conjugal visit? Because I would not turn one down, bella.”
The skin of her neck turned red and her nostrils flared. “I want answers from you.” She put her arms on the table and lowered her voice to a whisper. “You walked into the GDF headquarters? Are you insane ?”
Madre di dio. She had to stop asking questions. “That is not how this works.” I pushed off from the wall and approached her slowly, my fingers unbuttoning my jumpsuit. “Would you like to get on your knees, or should I fuck you from behind on the table?”
“Stop it.” She shot to her feet. “Why are you acting like this?”
“What else did you expect when you followed me from New York? It’s obvious you are gagging for my dick just like you were there.”
“You know what? Fuck off.” She strode to the metal door leading out of the visiting room. “You can rot in here for all I care.”
She raised her hand to pound on the door, but I was on her in a flash. I caged her in, pressing her flat to the unforgiving metal door, then I put my mouth to her ear and kept my voice soft. “You should not be here. It is dangerous and foolish.”
Valentina inhaled sharply. “But?—”
“No, fiore mio. Get the fuck out of here and go back home.” Then I stumbled away from the door like she’d shoved me away. “This is your last chance, bambina. I’ll fuck you so good. I’ll make you scream so all the other prisoners can hear you.”
Thankfully, she heeded my warning. She slapped her palm on the metal. “I’m finished! Hey, let me out!”
“Don’t go so fast,” I crooned. “We can have fun. Maybe one or two of the guards can join us. They would love your big?—”
The metal door opened and the guard returned. “Signorina?”
Valentina glanced over her shoulder at me, her gaze lingering on my face. I watched her lick her lips, then she looked away. “I’m ready to go.”
He held the door open for her and Valentina disappeared. My soul withered when the metal closed with a loud snap. I hated what I’d just done. But it was for the best. I couldn’t risk anyone discovering who she really was or how we were connected. I couldn’t have the GDF investigating or following her, so there had been no choice.
Guaranteeing her freedom was more important than anything else, even if it meant ruining my chances at earning her forgiveness.
I dragged my hands through my hair. I had more problems now, as well. Everything was taking too long. I still hadn’t learned where Niccolò was from D’Agostino, and now someone brought Valentina to Roma, helped her come to this prison. I suspected Gabriele, which meant he needed to be dealt with. Valentina could not stay in this country safely. It was only a matter of time before the GDF learned of her presence and tried to use her to get to her father.
I had to hurry. I went to the door and banged on it. When the guard appeared, I wasted no time in going through. “Take me back. I need to speak to my brother. Immediately.”
We started off for the cells. “Would you like to use the prison phones?”
“No, I’ll use one of the burners. I need privacy.”