5. Luca
Luca
Chapter five
I’m at a fucking high school field party. Well, not a field exactly. We’re in the middle of the woods, but it’s pretty reminiscent of the few parties I went to in high school, right down to the giant bonfire in the middle of the clearing that’s filling my nose with the scent of burning wood. I wasn’t much of a partier in those days, knowing my coach would have my ass if I got busted for underage drinking, not to mention I didn’t want to disappoint my dad. I was one of those people who never wanted to disappoint anyone, really. Always believed in staying aboveboard. That was my old life, though. The one I rarely think about, aside from reminding myself why I go through the hell of having to face the man who had my parents killed on a daily basis.
Finn’s plan for me to introduce myself to Carlo and, by extension, his father took about a year to come together. I spent time hanging out in the few bars frequented by that asshole, Carlo, and found my in one night when a fight broke out. I was there in time to save Carlo from getting stabbed. Of course, I took a slice to the ribs, but after getting stitched up by the “family” doctor, Carlo decided to repay me by asking if I needed a job. Said he’d made a few calls and liked what he heard about me. It didn’t hurt I’d made friends with a couple of the guys I knew who did some penny-ante work for him. I was their “muscle” a few times when shit went sideways. It took nearly six months to get an introduction to Carlo, and then another six of drinking with him and stroking his inflated ego like all the other wannabe gangsters he surrounded himself with before I saved his ass in that fight. He was in need of a few guards at his house and asked if I wanted in. He appreciated that I was willing to put my life on the line for him. Said if I wanted to make some real money, he would see to it that I would get on a crew if I proved loyal. I guess when you beat a man bloody with a knife sticking out of your ribs, you prove your worth.
And somehow, that led me to a high school party in the middle of the woods on a Saturday night.
When I caught Giada trying to sneak out of her room a couple weeks ago, I never in a million years imagined she’d try again. Would it have changed my decision not to tell her father? No. If I’d told him, he would no doubt tell her brother, and Carlo is an asshole of the highest order. He couldn’t give two shits about his sister. And Francesco is about as checked out as a father as I’ve ever seen. There’s no one who actually cares about that girl in the house. Not saying I do, but I know a desperate girl who hates the confines that her position as Francesco Cataldi’s only daughter has her tied in. It’s a fucking shame what they expect of women in this life. Finn swears up and down it’s not like that in his family, and I have to believe him. Not like I’d know any different.
I’ve met plenty of Francesco’s capos through the last few years and their wives as well. Most of them are shadows that trail their husbands at parties. The same husbands who I’ve seen at the brothels when Carlo needs an extra body to follow him. It’s not often I leave the grounds, Francesco and Carlo have had the same personal guards since I’ve been here, but there’s been a handful of times. And that was plenty for me.
When Carlo found some diary his sister was keeping, he read it out loud in front of me. Giada had a crush on me when I first came to the house, made evident by what she wrote. Watching her grasp for the notebook Carlo held over his head as he read its contents out loud told me everything I needed to know about what kind of brother he was. He didn’t care that doing that to a sixteen-year-old girl was probably one of the cruelest, most embarrassing things to have happened to her in her short life. I thought it was a dick move, and it put me in a position I never wanted to be in. Of course, I knew she had stars in her eyes. Giada wasn’t as adept back then at hiding her feelings as she is now. And I reacted the way I knew a man in this life would be expected. I laughed and acted like she was a stupid little kid, saying things about her to make her hate me and make her brother think I was a heartless bastard like him. She was crushed, and I felt like a complete asshole.
Ever since that day, she’s barely looked at me unless it was to sneer at me behind her brother’s back. She’s gotten pretty damn good at hiding her true feelings under the mask she wears in front of her brother and father. Good for her. She should hate me. She should hate every man in this life who would treat her like a nuisance or a person who doesn’t deserve respect. She’ll likely be married off to some asshole who isn’t much better than her brother or father, but I like seeing that rebellious fire in her eyes. It’ll be a sad day when it goes out. And it will. It looks like it has for just about every wife or girlfriend I’ve met in my time with the Cataldis.
That’s probably why I’m standing in the middle of the woods keeping an eye on Giada and her friend. Let her think she has a say in her life while she’s still young. I don’t need to be the one to burst her bubble when she realizes how short-lived this part of her life is going to be. It won’t be much longer, a few years maybe, before her father signs her life away in a marriage contract. Knowing what I do of the Cataldi men, he’s simply waiting until another family makes him an offer that’s too tempting to pass up. There’s already been a couple, but nothing that comes close to benefiting him in the way he thinks marrying the only daughter of the head of a powerful Mafia family should.
Hopefully I can bring the old man down before it comes to that. I thought being in the house would clue me in how to make that happen, but I haven’t been able to find anything I can take to my cousin yet. I’m still earning my stripes, as they say, and haven’t been privy to the private meetings in his office or overheard any useful information. But I’m patient and know that at some point, I’ll be moved to a crew. Then I can start digging in. Not at first, though. Nothing says mole like being the new guy and things going to shit from the start, but eventually, I’ll start hitting these fuckers where it hurts—their wallets. Spending time in the house, it’s become more than apparent the only two things that hold any merit are money and power. Without the money, they don’t have the considerable power they’ve amassed throughout the years. So, that’s where I’ll start.
Giada and her friend are in a circle with a couple other girls, talking and laughing. I told her and Bianca under no circumstances were either of them to drink any alcohol tonight, and thankfully, I haven’t had to knock any cups out of their hands. The last thing I want to worry about is if Giada can get back into the house undetected or her friend driving home drunk. There were plenty of mumbles in the car about me being a wet blanket and maybe trying to take the stick out of my ass for once, but I just turned my hard stare at the girls and they both shut the hell up.
My gaze sweeps the crowd again. No one has paid me much mind. It’s not unusual for these kids to be around security since this is a party of kids who attend Giada’s overpriced and privileged-as-hell private school. I’m the only guard in attendance, but everyone here is so accustomed to seeing bodyguards they look right past me as though I’m simply part of the scenery. Rich little pricks.
When my eyes land on a group of boys Giada and her friends were talking to earlier, I catch one of the little punks drop a tablet in a beer he just poured from the keg and swirl it with his finger, a smarmy grin covering his smug fucking face.
Oh, fuck no. I don’t care who the intended target is; that shit will not be happening on my watch. I begin to make my way over to the little asshole who’s about to feel what it’s like to have his jaw broken when he beelines toward Giada and her friends. I watch as he walks straight up to her and tries to hand her the cup. She shakes her head, not accepting it, but he’s a persistent little shit and tries again.
I see fucking red.
“Come on, babe. Just have one drink with me.”
“I’m not drinking tonight, Tyler. I already told you.”
When Giada sees me, her eyes grow wide at what I’m sure is an absolutely murderous expression on my face.
“You drink it,” I say to Tyler as I come to stand next to Giada.
He looks at me then back to a confused girl at my side.
The little shit gives me a withering look as though I’m the hired help and shouldn’t deign myself important enough for him to respond to.
“It’s for Giada, not me. Here, babe.”
“Why do you want me to drink it so bad, Tyler?” she asks the boy, suspiciously looking from him to the cup.
I feel her eyes on me as I stare at the side of Tyler’s face. She’s a smart girl. She knows something isn’t right. This isn’t the first time tonight someone has offered her a drink, but it is the first time I’ve intervened.
“Forget it,” Tyler says. “Bianca, you want a beer?” He holds the cup to Giada’s best friend, who stands silently watching the scene.
“How old is Tyler?” I ask Giada.
“Just turned eighteen.”
As soon as the words are out of her mouth, I knock the cup from his hand and send it flying into the grass several feet from us. Before Tyler has a chance to react, my fist flies into his stomach and he doubles over.
I don’t know if his being underage would have stopped me from teaching this kid a lesson, but it seems reasonable that I could potentially find myself in less trouble if he’s an adult.
With him hunched over in pain, I take the opportunity to smash my fist into his jaw, which sends him flying back and landing with a thud on the ground. I don’t waste a second and grab him by the front of his shirt as I rain blow after blow to his face. Screams and cheers barely register as blood flies from the punk’s face with every punch I land.
When I stop, Tyler’s face is a mess of blood, snot and tears, but he’s still conscious. Barely.
“Listen to me, you little fucker. If you ever try that shit on another girl, I’ll find you and finish the job. And believe me, I will find out. You’ve just landed on my radar, Tyler. Lucky you.”
“My father will have your job for this,” he groans out.
Kid’s got balls; I’ll give him that. Too bad he’s so fucking stupid.
I pull him closer to my face, and with deadly calm, I tell him, “You just tried to drug Francesco Cataldi’s daughter. Do you honestly think your father can do anything about it? If he finds out, not only will you never be heard from again, but neither will your parents. You want to risk that?”
The last thing I need is Francesco or Carlo finding out I was here with Giada. She said she’d take the blame, but I’d rather not have to deal with figuring out how to smooth anything over, especially if they find out this wasn’t the first time she’s snuck out.
“I’m willing to show you mercy and let you live. Francesco Cataldi will not.”
All bravado drains from his eyes with that last statement. I’d like to think the idea of losing his parents would be a factor, but I have a feeling he’s the type of asshole who doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself. Hell, he could very well be hoping his parents are out of the picture soon so he can inherit everything. Nothing surprises me about these fucking rich kids anymore. But when I told him Francesco would make sure he dies a bloody and painful death, well, that changed things for him.
“I won’t do it again, I swear,” he coughs out.
I slap his face a few times and smile like a psychopath. “I knew you’d make the right decision. Take care, Tyler.”
When I release my grip on his shirt, everyone is staring between me and the boy on the ground, groaning in pain.
I find Giada’s eyes, and what I see there startles me. It’s not hate, far from it. It’s the same way she used to look at me before her brother read me her diary, and I laughed in her face with him. Shit. I sure as hell don’t need this kind of complication inside the family.
“Let’s go.” I turn, expecting her and Bianca to follow, which, thankfully, they do. When we make it back to the car, Bianca silently gets in the back, and I drive us to the edge of the property, where she’d picked us up.
Turning to face Bianca, I pin her with a stare. “No more fucking parties in the middle of the woods. You two are prime targets for assholes like that one back there, and I won’t be there to protect you next time.”
Bianca’s smile makes me uneasy. She’s looking at me like I’m some knight in shining fucking armor. Jesus Christ, if watching someone beat a person to bloody hell does it for her, she’s in serious trouble. Neither of these girls should find anyone in this violent life appealing. Least of all, someone like me.
Giada opens the door, and I get out as well, allowing Bianca to get in the front so she can get the hell home.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Bianca calls before taking off.
Giada stands on the side of the road with the same look in her eyes as she had when we left.
“Let’s go,” I say, stomping past her to the fence line.
“Thank you,” she says, having to walk a little faster to keep up with my long strides.
“I didn’t do anything someone with a shred of decency wouldn’t have done.”
“That’s not true. Those guys were more than willing to watch him drug me.”
I stop abruptly and she nearly collides with my chest when I whirl around. “Like I said, anyone with a shred of decency. Those assholes don’t have any. They’re spoiled rich fuckers who are used to getting their way and not having to answer to anyone. Case in point—they tried to drug the daughter of a very dangerous criminal and thought they’d get away with it. Stay away from them, Giada.”
She nods her head jerkily, like one of those toys you stick on your car’s dashboard. “I will. I swear. I honestly didn’t think that would happen. I mean, I’ve never heard of it happening.”
“You really think just because you haven’t heard about it, that means it’s never happened? Wake up, Giada. This kind of shit happens all the time in this world. You need to watch your back. I’m not going to be there to always do it for you. If I wasn’t there tonight, he would have drugged you and done God knows what to you. I’m sure he’s done it before, but probably threatened the girl somehow so she wouldn’t talk. That’s the kind of world we live in, and you need to be a hell of a lot more careful if you’re going to survive in it.”
I’m so damn frustrated. At her. At that asshole. At myself. The fact that young girls even have to worry about shit like this pisses me the hell off.
“I’m sorry, Luca. I’ll be more careful.”
“No more parties,” I tell her through gritted teeth.
She nods once. “None.” Her eyes soften and lose the remorse she had, to be replaced with a glint of something sweet. And fucking dangerous. “I’ve never seen you so mad,” she says with a breathless whisper.
For fuck’s sake.
This is what happens when a girl is starved for attention from the men in her life. I’m certainly not the one she needs to be doing any sort of pining over. I did what I did because that’s what my dad taught me. You protect women. When you see shit that isn’t okay, you handle it. If it means with your fists, then so be it.
It’s a habit I shouldn’t have, considering I’m supposed to be blending in with the pricks around me. None of these guys give two fucks about a woman in trouble. Hell, they’d be more likely to take a turn and record it than do anything to stop it. And Giada needs to think I’m the same as these assholes.
“Let’s get something straight, little girl.” I emphasize the last part to hurt her, and judging by the look on her face, it works. “The only reason I beat that kid to hell was because I work for your father. If anyone thinks they can mess with this family, then we’re all fucked.”
“Oh, please. If it had been another girl, you would have done the same thing.” Her hand rests on her hip as she challenges me. “You aren’t like my brother and the rest of the goons around here, Luca.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, princess. I’m exactly like them. If it had been anyone else, I would have let those boys have their fun. But seeing as it was my boss’s daughter, I put a stop to it.”
I fucking despise the words coming from my mouth as well as the look on her face.
She holds my stare for a solid minute before shaking her head and letting out a huff of humorless laughter. “You all make me sick.”
“Good.”
Let her be disgusted with what I just said. It’s safer for me if she doesn’t harbor any notions that I’m a good guy. Those thoughts won’t do anything but bring suspicion to my doorstep if she walks around with hearts in her eyes and someone notices. The last thing I need is anyone thinking I’m indulging her crush in any way, shape, or form.
“Get back to your room. I’ve had enough of your shit tonight.” My voice is cold, and though it isn’t a particularly chilly night, Giada shivers at my tone.
She spins on her heels, and I watch her walk back to the property. Fuck, I was just supposed to be doing one more round before I went home to my shitty apartment for the night. I wasn’t supposed to get tangled up in this bullshit.
The next day, I’m up bright and early and back at the house when I’m called into Francesco’s office. I haven’t seen Giada this morning, but since the guards weren’t gossiping about finding her outside of her room, I assume she made it back in without being detected. It’s not like she hasn’t had practice. I don’t for one second believe the first time I caught her was the first time she’s snuck out.
“Luca,” Francesco greets when I step inside his office.
“Sir.” I bow my head to show respect to this asshole even though that’s the last thing I feel for the man. In every interaction, every smile I’ve given the man, I’ve had images of me putting a bullet between his eyes playing on a loop. He thinks it’s respect behind my eyes when, in reality, it’s murderous thoughts of the day I get to have him on his knees with my gun pressed to his forehead.
His office is pretty standard of what you would expect to find in any mafia boss’s office. Dark leather furniture and dark-red carpet coupled with wood-paneled walls make the space seem like the den of a supervillain. I’m sure Francesco wants people to think he’s some sort of criminal kingpin, which at the moment he is, but every villain has a weakness. I just need to find his so I can get the hell out of the expensive hellhole I find myself in every day.
One of his capos, Alberto, rises from the leather club chair in front of Francesco’s oversized mahogany desk. The man has obviously been living the good life if his portly belly and cigar-stained fingers are anything to go by.
Alberto holds out his hand, and I take his meaty palm in a firm shake. “Hi, Luca. Come sit.”
I have a seat next to him as Francesco’s beady eyes scrutinize me. “You’ve always been a good guard, Luca. Loyal.”
Fuck, maybe Giada got caught and that’s why I didn’t overhear the guards talking about it. Maybe they didn’t want to give me a heads-up that shit was about to go down.
“I appreciate that, sir.”
“I hate to lose you,” Francesco continues.
Double fuck.
“But I like to reward loyalty. Never let it be said I’m not a fair man. Right, Alberto?”
“Absolutely, boss,” the man next to me replies.
Francesco leans back in his seat. “Alberto needs a couple guys on his crew. Wanted to know if there was anyone within the organization who deserves a leg up. Someone loyal who keeps their mouth shut and does as told but isn’t afraid to get dirty when the situation calls for it. I remember how you came into my employment, Luca. You saved my son’s life even when it could have cost you your own. You know what Alberto and his crew do?”
I look at Alberto and nod. “He runs the whores.”
Francesco and Alberto dip their chin in confirmation..
“Among other things,” Alberto says. “How would you like to come work for me? It pays better than being a guard, that’s for sure. And the perks aren’t half bad, either.” The dark chuckle that comes from both men raises the hairs on the back of my neck.
“Gotta start them somewhere,” Francesco says before turning to me. “I’m giving you a promotion, Luca.”
My lips tip up in a grateful smile, but it’s not for the reasons they think. Maybe now I’ll finally be able to get some useful information about the organization so I can pass it to Finn and take these bastards down.
“Thank you, sir,” I say with restrained excitement, completely for their benefit. “I won’t let you down.”
“You’d better not,” Francesco says, nailing me with his hard gaze. His mouth splits into a smile, taking the sting out of the not-so-subtle death threat.
“See, Alberto. Reward your men. That’s how you keep them loyal.” He turns to me again. “The second Carlo brought you to me, I knew you were more than just a guard. But I had to make you prove yourself. Make sure you were going to stick around.” A.k.a., didn’t fuck up and get a bullet to the head. I didn’t end up six feet under, so I guess in this life, that’s proof enough that you’re ready for bigger things. “Alright, Get out of here. I’m sure Alberto is ready to show you the ropes. You have a lot to learn.”
I stand and shake Francesco’s hand. “Thank you for the opportunity, boss.”
“Do me proud, son.”
There’s no doubt I’ll be doing someone proud with this new position, but it sure as hell won’t be him.
“Of course, sir.”
“Go on and grab some breakfast. I need to go over a few things with Alberto.”
I nod at the two men and leave the room, shutting the door firmly behind me. When I look up, Giada is leaning against the wall a few feet from the door.
“Listening in?” I ask.
She shrugs noncommittally. “So you’re out of here.”
“Yup,” I say, heading toward the kitchen.
Of course the little princess has to follow.
“Well, congratulations. You get to run a prostitution ring with Alberto,” she says snidely.
I look at her with surprise, and she rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. It’s not like I don’t have eyes and ears.”
“You need to keep what you hear to yourself, Giada. If the wrong person hears you talking…”
She rolls her amber eyes once more. What the fuck is with eye rolls and teenage girls?
“I sincerely hope your parents are proud of you, Luca. I’m sure being a glorified pimp was your mother’s dream for you. See ya around.” Giada spins and walks away from me.
I stare after her for a brief moment.
I wouldn’t know what my mother’s dream would be for me. Your father had her killed.
And I have every intention of making him pay.