13
LEVI
E xiting the dressing room with more than a pleased look on my face, I see Giovanni standing stoically to the side of the curtain, glaring at me like I just stole his fucking candy. I’m not sure what his problem is but I have no doubt that he heard us. Try as she might, Sera was not quiet. Maybe that shit makes him uncomfortable. He’d better get used to it, though, because now I’ve had a taste of her, I won’t be letting her go.
Eventually, the curtain draws back and a less flustered looking Serafina appears, clutching the silver gown. I smirk, catching her eye and watching her cheeks bloom a rosy color all over again. I wasn’t lying when I told her how good she looked in that dress, especially coming apart under my tongue. I’m already feeling jealous about everyone else getting to see her in it.
She doesn’t say a word as she pushes past me, heading towards the desk to ring up the sale.
I glance over at Giovanni, but his gaze is focused solely on Serafina as she walks away from us. I can’t say I blame him–-her ass looks divine as she saunters away with a just-fucked glow about her.
It takes more willpower than I know I have to turn around. When I do, I’m taken by surprise at the person I see in front of me. “Luisa? ”
“Levi!” My sister jolts back a step, shock widening her eyes as she clutches her chest. “What are you doing here?”
I glance over at Serafina, who is grabbing her bag from the cashier. “Shopping with Donna Bianchi,” I answer swiftly.
Luisa’s features go from surprised to anxious in a matter of seconds. I haven’t seen her since Enzo was killed, and I can’t even remember when Luisa and Sera last crossed paths.
“I better go before?—”
“Before what?” Serafina frowns behind her, crossing her arms over her chest. “Before I see you?”
My sister visibly recoils. Like a child being scorned, she instantly turns timid and wary. “Donna Bianchi,” she mutters, eyes cast to the floor.
Serafina rounds my sister like the viper she is, but her gaze is anything but hard. There’s a flash of sympathy, a gentleness to the way she looks at her. “Relax, nobody is going to hurt you.”
Though I’d like to give her a piece of my mind.
I hold back, knowing Serafina has complete control over the situation. It would have only taken a few more words out of my traitorous sister’s mouth before I blew up and caused a scene, so I’m thankful for Sera coming out when she did.
“I’m sorry about… Enzo.” Luisa gulps, slowly lifting her gaze to meet Sera’s. My sister looks scared, petrified that she is speaking to the leader of La Cosa Nostra. While I revel in the fact I was right, people do respect Serafina and her power, I hate that my sister looks so uncomfortable. This isn’t like her at all.
“Me too,” is all Sera can manage.
“You weren’t at the funeral,” Luisa says to both of us.
Sera slides her gaze to mine. We share a look, mutual understanding passing between us with regard to who Luisa is married to. “No, we weren’t.”
We have to be careful what we say. Despite Luisa being my little sister, she has always been easily manipulated. I wouldn’t put it past her husband, Ronaldo, to ask her to spy on us. She would make the perfect mole, too. She’s so quiet, so unnoticeable that nobody would suspect her.
But I would. Serafina would, too.
“Well…” Luisa shifts nervously, looking over her shoulder. “I’d better go.” She looks even more anxious now. Her dark hair covers most of her face as she dips past us, and as much as I want to check up on her, I don’t.
I don’t stop her, either. She’s just another reminder of what we need to do, what we need to accomplish.
“Tell me you saw that,” Sera mumbles as she hooks her arm through mine.
I frown, looking down at her. Even in heels I tower over her. “What?”
She rolls her eyes at me. “You men are so oblivious. You didn’t see how scared she was?”
“Of you? Yeah.”
“No,” she snaps. “Someone is watching her. And those bruises?—”
“Bruises?” I spin around, about to head back to follow my sister, but Sera grabs my hand.
“Levi,” she says softly. Her lips thin and the look of sadness in her washes over me. “Not here. We both know what the Verdis are capable of.”
I shudder at the thought. I remember Enzo telling me about Luciano Verdi. At the time, Sera and he were an item, and Enzo hated it. I suspected it was because he was in love with her, but it wasn’t just that.
Luciano Verdi was abusive. He would torment Sera, treat her like shit, use her as his toy. She was young. She fell for him because she didn’t know any better. Sera has come a long way since those days. She’s stronger; a fighter. I admire that most about her because I know she’s capable of using her emotions to get shit done. It’s what so many of the men in this Mafia are afraid of.
“She didn’t choose the Verdi’s side,” she states with certainty. “She doesn’t have a choice in any of this.”
“Like fuck she doesn’t!”
“Levi!” she snaps with a glare. “I know what Luciano does, and his brother is probably the role model Luciano looks up to. So when I say she doesn’t have a choice, she does not have a choice.”
“Fuck sake, Luisa,” I mutter, sliding my fingers through my hair.
“Add it to the list of shit we need to get done.” She takes on her no nonsense tone that turns her into a real badass. “We’ll get her away from Ronaldo.”
I nod, but I can’t help feeling the guilt seep in. She’s my little sister, and I was so oblivious to the reality of the situation. I should have known that Ronaldo would be just like his brother, and that revelation makes me feel more murderous than Enzo’s death did.
“I fucking hate these things!” Matteo mutters bitterly, struggling to fix his tie in the mirror.
Marco spins his brother around, rolling his eyes as he manages to get it looking semi-decent.
We’re all dressed in tuxedos, ready to make our appearances at Don Greco’s son’s wedding. We’ve spent the better part of a week planning for today. We’ve discussed the travel arrangements, though they have changed several times. We’ve even planned for an attack at the wedding—because at this point, who knows what the Verdis are planning.
It’s invite-only, and the highest ranking families are the only ones allowed to attend. Matteo and Marco will be coming, but their invitation only stretches as far as security. They won’t be allowed inside, which means we need to keep our wits about us. We’ll have a few of us on the inside, but that’s it.
While the Ferrante brothers fix each other up, I turn to Giovanni. Aside from the not-so-subtle digs, I’ve kept my cool for the last few days. Deep down, I know Giovanni was only following orders, but from here on in, he needs to make sure that nobody lays a finger on our leader, and I mean no-one .
“Do I have to wear it?” Matteo grumbles. Of course the leather jacket wearing mobster would have an issue with tuxedos. Unfortunately, it’s the go-to attire for a wedding of this magnitude.
Usually, I’d opt for something more breathable, especially with the Californian heat— and did I mention I hate bow ties?
“It makes me look?—”
“I think you look handsome.”
The entire room falls into a state of awe as Bianchi strides in. We all must have the same thoughts because as I glance either side of where I’m standing, we’re all gawking like we’ve just seen a pair of tits for the first time.
Serafina is wearing the dress I picked out, the glittering material clinging to her body just how I remember. Every delicious curve of her body is accentuated by the dress, and I’m just waiting for her to turn around so I can memorize that ass. Her hair is styled in chocolate waves that cascade down her back, just begging to be wrapped in my fist. And don’t get me started on the make-up. She doesn’t need any, but damn she’s a smoke-show with her red lips and dark eyes.
“Have you all finished staring?” she quips. “Because I don’t want to be late. I heard this is going to be the wedding of the year.”
Luca shifts uncomfortably, loosening his bowtie slightly. I’ve already noticed the looks he’s been pointing Sera’s way lately. He can’t keep his eyes off of our leader, and I don’t blame him. She’s fucking radiant. The dress she’s in now looks like it was made for her. And yet, Luca’s obvious attention doesn’t bother me. I kind of like the idea that other men want her—within our circle anyway—but I’m the only one out of all of us here that has had a taste of Serafina Bianchi.
But I’ve also noticed the not-so-subtle glances from our leader, too. She might not say as much, but I can feel that attraction vibrating in the air. She’s just as attracted to Luca as she is to me which unnerves me. I don’t want there to be any animosity in the group, but I can already feel the sliver of jealousy working its way through my mind.
I nudge Fontana, but he doesn’t make any effort to move from his position. So I make the first move, stepping forward and taking Sera’s hand in mine .
“You look gorgeous, Bianchi. Breathtaking,” I murmur in her ear before pulling away.
She blushes, sucking in a shaky breath as I kiss her hand. “Always the sweet talker.”
“Need to go over the plan again?” Luca asks, running a hand over his clean shaven jaw. Yeah, I noticed that shit. I’ve yet to ask him about his sudden change in appearance. Though I have to admit, whether or not he shaved in a bid to impress Sera, he looks better without the fuzzy mess.
“I think I’ve got it,” Sera answers with a smile. “Walk in like I own the place, blackmail Greco, walk out. Simple.”
I know she’s being sarcastic, but even I feel the need to reiterate that nothing ever goes to plan. I’m her second in command; managing her expectations is part of my job. “Simple plans are never simple,” I say.
Sera gives me a pointed look, like she already knew what I was going to say. It fills me with confidence that she already expects complications, and I don’t know whether that should worry me or not.
“Let’s go, then.” Luca heads towards the door first, while I hook Sera’s arm through mine.
“I hope this works,” I hear Sera say under her breath.
The doubt encasing her words is the vulnerability only we get to see. Sure, Sera isn’t the most confident of leaders, but she’s still young. Confidence comes with years of experience, and Bianchi has a long reign ahead of her.
“Levi and I will be riding ahead,” Luca explains as he helps Sera into the car. He reaches over, clicking her seatbelt in place, like he’s assuring himself she is safe. “Marco and Matteo will follow behind you and Gio, just in case.”
Sera frowns. “You really think the Verdi’s are going to try something? Today of all days?”
This is where experience comes in. As a leader, she should be looking at every moment as an opportunity for her enemies to make a hit. It’s exhausting, but it’s realistic. Sera is the biggest target in all the families right now.
Luca leans against the car with a sigh, head resting on his forearm as he stares apologetically at our leader. “I don’t trust that they won’t.”
I wish I didn’t agree with him, but Luca is right. Nobody is to be trusted, especially not the Verdis.
Leaning in, I kiss Sera’s cheek. “See you there, beautiful,” I whisper, then close the door.
“Beautiful?” Luca smirks, folding his arms.
I know he’s baiting me. If I gave half a fuck it would work, but then it dawns on me why he’s doing it in the first place.
“Pretty sure she could put her own seatbelt on,” I laugh, nudging him out the way with my shoulder.
“Shut up, Marchese!”
I wink at him as we approach my Porsche, the doors sliding up for us with just the click of a button. “Get in the car, Fontana.”
An hour later, we’re all pulling up in the valley, where the Greco wedding is about to take place. The entire venue is teeming with security, eyes following the stream of cars to the valet. Luca and I get out first, handing the keys to the attendant before heading to the blacked out SUV where Sera and Giovanni are.
The Ferrante brothers pull up just behind, tipping their chins up in acknowledgment. They know what they need to do. They didn’t get an invite, so they’re acting as extra protection, which means they need to keep a close eye on everything going on outside the venue. If anything looks out of the ordinary, they know to alert us.
Luca reaches the car before me, tugging the door open immediately. He’s already poised to help Sera out, and I can’t help but notice the tension in his shoulders, the lingering stare he fails to mask as Sera walks past him.
Approaching the steps, I offer my hand, but she shrugs me away. “I’ve got this,” she says with a wink. And then she saunters off up the steps, her hips swaying seductively. I’m immediately brought back to our moment in the dressing room last week, where she fell apart and finally admitted what she wanted. Maybe not in so many words or in that order, but she wouldn’t have let me touch her if it wasn’t what she wanted, right ?
“Pick up your jaw, Marchese,” Luca goads.
I punch his shoulder, knowing he’s probably imagining himself doing what I did with Sera. “I could say the same to you!”
The sound of a throat clearing behind us snares both of our attention. Giovanni smirks at Luca and me, but he’s just another failing to keep his admiration for our leader at bay. Every time he thinks I’m not looking, I see it.
“I’m not going to lie,” Luca says, nervously touching his bow tie. “Bianchi looks good.” If ever there was an admission from the hard-ass himself, this is it. He might be observant, but I pick up on the words people don’t say, the thoughts they don’t want to voice. Call it a talent, but if anyone can pick a liar out of a lineup, it’s me.
“You don’t need to tell me, I’ve got eyes.” And I’m hypnotized by that ass.
As Sera finally reaches the top step, I break out of my entranced state. She gestures for us to join her before turning around and heading further into the venue. I’m sure she’s probably laughing at us by now, there’s nothing subtle about the way we’ve been acting around her. Even the Ferrante brothers are trying to keep their cool.
Luca and I approach Sera with Giovanni in tow. All eyes land on us as we head towards our leader. Hushed whispers, murmurs of Bianchi’s name, I hear it all. I’m certain Luca and Giovanni do too, but my attention is focused on only one person.
I watch as she twists and turns, greeting the guests like she is royalty. In this fucked up world, she kind of is. Some people here are clearly delighted that Bianchi made an appearance, greeting her politely, asking how she is. Then there are those who sneer from the corners, the ones muttering about her abilities as a leader, conspiracies about how she got to be in her position. Just like office gossip, the Mafia follows the same rules.
“Stay close to her,” I murmur to Giovanni.
He goes to step past me, but I grab his arm. In any other circumstance, he could probably take me down with one punch. Thankfully, he knows his place, which is beside Bianchi.
“Don’t fuck up this time.”
He nods without hesitation. Maybe he’ll listen this time.
“Here,” Luca says, handing me a glass of champagne. “Any sign of the Verdis?”
Just the mention of the name has me coiling up, anger tensing my shoulders and narrowing my gaze. “They would do well to steer clear of me, today.”
“Do I want to know?”
I meet Luca’s inquisitive stare, and despite the question I can tell it’s more than intrigue.
“It seems violence runs in the family. Sera saw bruises on my sister the other day. We think Ronaldo is hurting her.”
“Then we’d better make sure she’s okay.” Luca goes to turn on his heel, no doubt to search for Luisa.
I stop him before he can take another step, shaking my head. “I don’t think she’ll be showing her face, not if the Verdis have a say in it.”
A flicker of understanding and shared annoyance darts between us. And just like me, I don’t have to tell him the meaning behind my words. Luisa won’t be here because the Verdis won’t be able to keep an eye on her—at least not without arousing suspicion. She’ll be under the personal watch of one of their trusted guards, caged like a fucking slave, and there is nothing I can do about it.
Not yet, at least.