45. Lucy
Lucy
T wo Weeks Later
The DeLuca manor isn’t all that great. The entryway has lots of marble and a vintage chandelier worth more than an average suburban house, but still. The decorations are tacky as heck. For a family that allegedly loves beauty and art, the DeLucas come off like a bunch of idiots.
“Right this way.” The head of the house staff leads us into a sitting room.
This one is slightly better appointed than the entry.
The couch is subtle and designer, while the paintings are a bit more muted.
Outside, they tried to show off their wealth and power.
But this is where the real deals happen.
“Are you sure about this?” Adriano asks, looking bored as he flops down into a chair.
“I’m positive.” My lips press together. “At least, I think I am.”
“You know you could go talk to someone else. It doesn’t have to be—” His eyebrows arch.
“I know that.” I sit down next to him and put a hand on his thigh. “But she’s been taking over some of her husband’s work. She’ll be a useful ally moving forward.”
“I murdered her husband.”
“That’s a good point.”
“But you’re right.” He leans over and kisses me lightly. I still feel a thrill every time he does that. It’s so casual but loving, and the look in his eye is always filled with adoration. I feel like a goddess when he’s around. I’ve never been this confident before in my life.
Marcy DeLuca enters after only a ten-minute wait.
I’m betting she was sitting in a nearby room glaring at her phone like this was some stupid power play.
She’s still in all mourning black, though she looks extremely chic in it.
Black sleek trousers, a matching black blouse, her hair in a sleek pony, her makeup understated and simple.
She glares as she lingers just inside the door.
“I was told you were coming, but I didn’t think you’d have the gall to actually show up here.” Her lips turn white when she shuts her mouth and glares.
“Good to see you too. Please, come over here, let’s have a chat.”
Marcy’s movements are wooden, but she forces herself to take a seat on the edge of the couch across from us. “Make this fast. I don’t know what I have to say to the people responsible for my husband’s death.”
“I’m sure you mourn that cradle-robbing douchebag every day,” Adriano comments.
I swat at him. “Not helpful,” I say before looking at Marcy. She’s scandalized by Adriano’s outburst. “I apologize for my husband. He’s a barbarian.”
“Just tell me what you want,” she hisses, her face turning white as she looks away.
I lean forward. “From what I understand, you’ve been sliding into your husband’s former role. You don’t have the law degree, but I suspect you’ll fast-track your way into passing the bar soon enough. For now, you’re a fixer. You’re the glue in the art world.”
“Get on with it.” She’s breathing hard now. “I’m disgusted with myself for being in the same room as you two.”
I smile sweetly. “As I’m sure you’ve heard, the Marino Family is opening a new art storage facility. We’re rebuilding some of the buildings that were vandalized last month.”
“By you,” she snaps, anger flashing in her eyes.
“Not by me.” I press a hand to my heart. “But you have to understand. Gray Wolf is leaving Philadelphia. We’re taking their place. Which means—” I lean forward now. “If you want to keep playing, you need to deal with us.”
Marcy’s mouth drops open. I can see the surprise, but she’s also thinking hard. I bet she heard the rumors; she just didn’t want to believe them.
I’m trying not to be smug, but I like this. It feels good to have power over this evil witch.
“Never,” she whispers.
“Then we’ll ruin you. Simple as that.” I shrug and lean back in my chair. “Or you can play ball, and we can be besties again. Wouldn’t you love that?”
“You’re disgusting.”
“Think it over. I’d happily destroy you, but wouldn’t we be such a good team?” I stand and hold out a hand. “Come on now, darling. I think we’re done here.”
Adriano takes it and stands. He smiles disdainfully down at Marcy. She’s too busy staring at the floor, her face ashen, her body trembling.
“Good seeing you again,” he says lightly.
We leave together. Marcy doesn’t look up as we pass, only flinches slightly when I get close, like she’s afraid I’m going to hurt her.
Once outside, Adriano shakes his head at me. “You enjoyed that too much.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
He laughs and kisses me. “Power’s getting to your head.”
“I’m just giving her a chance. We both know everything I said in there is true.”
“But why not just destroy her? You hate her, don’t you?”
I lean against my husband with a sigh. “Such a simple man. You don’t know how truly devious I am.”
“Enlighten me then.”
“Once she gives in—and she’s going to because she’s got nothing else—she’ll be mine. I’ll own her. And it’ll eat at her every day how she’s working with her husband’s killers, just like it ate at me every day when she and everyone like her turned their backs on me.”
“Sweet revenge.”
“Something like that anyway.” I get on my toes as we reach the car and kiss him, running my hands through his hair. “Speaking of which, you had a body in our basement for a while, but I haven’t heard anything from him. Is he finally gone?”
“He’s finally gone,” Adriano confirms. “Quick and easy.”
I’m strangely happy about that. I hated Demir Yilmaz, but the level of torture he endured was frankly astronomical. That’s my husband, though—he doesn’t do anything halfway.
“I’m feeling generous,” I declare as we get into the car.
“Are you now?”
“Yes, like a queen on her wedding day.”
“You’re more beautiful than that.”
“Good one. But I’m serious. If Marcy comes around, let’s be kind to her. Let’s give her good work. Make the city love us. Spread the wealth around. We don’t really need the money, right?”
His eyebrows raise. “Easy for you to say. You’re not running the business.”
“Adriano.”
“No, no, it’s alright. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of if she comes around.” He frowns a little as she starts the car’s engine. “Is this just another way of owning her?”
“Now you’re catching on, my beautiful husband.”
“Your mind never fails to amaze me.”
“Behold my genius and tremble.”
He leans across the car and kisses me lightly. “What’d I do to deserve a girl like you?”
“Burned a bunch of priceless paintings.”
“Oh, yeah. There’s that.”