Chapter 15
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
IN LOVE WITH A MOBSTER
MINDY
I startle awake when I hear a knock on the bedroom door. Luca has been checking on Roman’s clubs, and when he gets home, he normally slips into bed and hugs me from behind, so I know it’s not him. I throw on a robe and hastily make my way to the door.
God, I hope nothing happened to Luca.
When I fling the door open, Paolo is standing there with a blank look on his handsome face. His expression, more than anything, scares me. Paolo is never serious. He’s always flirting and smiling.
“Where’s Luca? Is he hurt?” My brain is conjuring all types of horrible circumstances, and I can feel myself starting to have a panic attack.
“No, sweetheart. Luca isn’t hurt,” he answers, shaking his head.
“Okay, then what’s going on? What’re you doing here? Where’s Luc?” I ask again.
Even though Luca isn’t hurt, my heart still hasn’t stopped racing. Something is wrong, I can feel it in the depths of my soul. Luca would never send Paolo here if he were okay.
“Luca is indisposed at the moment. He’ll be back in the morning. I just came to check on you and make sure you knew he’s fine.”
The cryptic answer has me frowning. I know avoidance when I hear it. When Ross first started seeing other women, he would do the same thing. He avoided my questions and sent his mother to “check on me”. I will not live through this shit again.
“What do you mean… indisposed? You do know the meaning of indisposed is unwell? So, if he isn’t hurt, where the fuck is he?” I cross my arms over my chest.
If Paolo answers with anything but the truth, I’m fucking out of here.
It is already taking longer than necessary to get rid of one lying bastard; I don’t need another one.
I was feeling so confident in our relationship after dinner at his parents.
Luca even helped me find a divorce lawyer who, after going to mediation with Ross, came to an agreement.
Ross Stewart was served with divorce papers.
Finally!
“You know English is not my first language, sweetheart. Sometimes I get my words confused.” Paolo’s accent is heavier than I’ve ever heard it, and I know he’s playing in my face.
“Don’t fucking play with me.” I narrow my eyes, but then I come to my senses. “You know what, it doesn’t even matter. Luca can do whatever with whomever. I’m out.”
I try to slam the door in Paolo’s face, but he catches it.
I ignore him and continue into the closet to get my things.
When I flick on the light, I notice I have a lot more stuff here than I realized.
The entire right side of the closet is mine.
I shake my head at the realization that Luca has practically moved me into his home without me noticing. Or maybe I didn’t want to notice.
I’m such a fool. I promised myself I wouldn’t fall for another cheater. Fuck this shit!
“Wait, what are you doing? You can’t leave,” Paolo says from the entrance of the closet.
I’m surprised he came all the way into the room. I don’t think another man has been past the door of this room since I’ve been here. Not even Jules and he’s my shadow.
“Watch me. Do you think I’m about to stay here waiting for Luca to finish cheating? I’ve already lived that life. No, thank you!”I grab a dress to throw on and push past Paolo.
I go into the bathroom, slamming the door.
I look at my reflection and take deep breaths before turning on the water and splashing my face.
There’s no reason for me to act like this.
We’ve only been seeing each other for five months.
I’m still married… this was just an affair.
I’ve had my fun, and now it’s time to move on.
But my heart feels like it’s been ripped from my chest.
I refuse to let the tears fall, even though my eyes look like you can swim in them. I slip on my dress, unwrap my hair, and open the door. However, I barge right into a hard chest. I bounce off the brick wall of a man and scowl.
“Move, Paolo.”
“No. I can’t let you leave. Luca will actually kill me even though I’m his favorite cousin.”
It’s hard for me not to break down and cry because I’m so frustrated. It’s the middle of the night, and instead of cuddling blissfully with my man, I’m fighting his demon of a cousin cause he’s out being a fuck boy.
Absolutely not!
“Please move, Paolo.” My voice cracks, and I hang my head in shame.
I promised myself not to do this again. I promised!
“Sweetheart, it’s not what you think. Luca would never be with anybody else. Hell, we’re surprised he’s with you. I always thought he was asexual or something. If it weren’t for the random hook-ups… never mind. That’s not the point. The point is, Luca is not with another woman, I promise.”
“Then where the hell is he!” I shout tired of the foolishness.
“He’s gonna strangle me. Or slice me up with his scalpels,” Paolo mumbles, sliding his hands through his hair.
I frown at him. I’m pretty sure he said Luca has scalpels. Why in the world would a COO of a company have scalpels?
“Paolo, what the hell are you talking about? You’re really starting to piss me off. I could be halfway home instead of standing here listening to your bullshit. Either tell me where Luca is, or you can explain to him why I left.”
When it doesn’t look like Paolo is going to speak, I slip my feet into my slides and head for the door. He jumps in front of me with his hands out. I didn’t know a man his size could move so fast. I should’ve known, though, Luca is pretty stealthy himself.
“Okay, he’s in jail,” Paolo mumbles the last word so it’s hard to make out.
“What? He’s where?”
“Jail,” Paolo loudly responds.
I flop down on the bed. All of the wind goes out of my sails, and the determination to leave goes with it. I’m flabbergasted.
“Why is he in jail? Did something happen at the club? You’re leaving a lot of stuff out. Why wouldn’t you just say he was arrested so we can go get him.” I head towards the door again, so I can head down to the station to post Luca’s bail.
The police don’t usually arrest men like Luca. He’s a powerful white man who belongs to an almost celebrity-like family. I can’t believe he’s been arrested.
Paolo grabs my arm before I can make it down the stairs. He’s shaking his head no, but I don’t understand why. Then it dawns on me.
“Paolo, what was Luca arrested for?” I’m scared of the answer.
I hold my breath, waiting for Paolo to respond. The way he’s behaving doesn’t seem like it was some easy traffic violation. Luca drinks, but he doesn’t get drunk. And I know for a fact that he doesn’t do drugs. He says he likes to be in control at all times. So, what could he have done?
“Murder,” Paolo casually answers.
“What!”
I feel like someone just sucker punched me right in the gut. I bend over, all of my breath rushing out of me. I put my hands on my knees and do my best not to vomit.
Maybe I hallucinated. Maybe I’m still asleep and this is a terrible nightmare. Or maybe, I’m losing my ever-loving mind.
“Di-did you say, murder? That can’t be possible. Luca’s not a killer.”
Paolo looks away without answering, and not for the first time, I think about what Ross said.
He accused Luca of being in the mob. I thought he just had bodyguards because his family are billionaires.
Powerful people need bodyguards. But what if they aren’t just guards, what if they are really mobsters?
I thought I had accepted that Luca could be in the mob, but in the back of my mind, I thought that kinda stuff only happened in movies. I mean, what are the odds that I’d end up in love with a mobster…
Since Paolo wouldn’t let me go to the police station to see what was happening, I asked him to drop me off at home. He told me not to worry, and Luca would be home soon. I don’t know how he could be so nonchalant about a murder charge, but no matter what he said, I was worried.
I keep telling myself that people like Luca don’t get arrested, he will always be protected, so they must have a pile of evidence against him if he’s in jail.
It was late when I got home, but Karlie suggested we stay awake and talk. I told her we could talk in the morning, which is why I’m up at the crack of dawn, trying my best to answer her questions.
“So, Luca was arrested for murder? Damn, cousin, that’s wild. Do you think he did it?” Karlie asks the million-dollar question.
“From what I know of Luca, I would say he didn’t have anything to do with it. But it took years for me to see Ross for who he really is, so I don’t trust myself,” I say, sighing.
“Aww, don’t say that, cousin. You know you can trust yourself. You’re one of the smartest people I know. You just have a big heart and want to believe the best in people, and Ross took advantage of that.”
“Yeah, that’s the problem. Did my big heart make me see something in Luca that isn’t there?”
“I mean, look how protective of you he is. I don’t think you’re wrong about what kind of person he is.”
“I hope not.”
My phone dings with a message, taking my attention away from my cousin. I read the social media message and instantly feel bad. I’ve been so wrapped up in everything that I completely forgot that Talia wanted to talk to me.
“What’s up?” Karlie asks, picking up her glass of orange juice.
“A message from Talia. I completely ghosted her. Not on purpose, though.”
“You have a lot of shit going on, I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“Yeah, I’ll have to apologize to her.”
To be honest, I haven’t been a good friend to Talia. Even though I met her through Ross. She was a good friend to me, although I never told her the full story of what was going on. Talia had started dating her own prince charming, and I didn’t want to rain on her parade.
Before I can respond to her message, the doorbell rings. I put my phone down and get off the couch. I’ll make sure to hit her up later.
“I’ll get it. It might be Jules with an update.” I rush to the door, however, when I get there it’s a woman that I’ve never seen before standing there.
“Hello, may I help you?” I question, cracking the door open.
“Are you Mindy Stewart?”
“Who’s asking?” I question, frowning.
The woman flashes a badge before stepping forward. “I’m Detective Wiley, may I come in?”
“No. What can I help you with?” I close the door a little more.
I have never and will never trust the police. Especially one who shows up right after my boyfriend has been arrested. If she doesn’t have a warrant, whatever she has to say can be said from outside.
“Well, there’s no need to be rude. I’m just here to ask you a few questions about the murderer you’ve been seen with.” The smirk that covers her face pisses me off.
This bitch.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know any murders. Well, maybe an attempted murderer. My soon to be ex-husband tried to beat me to death, are you referring to him?”
My question wipes the smugness right off her pinched face. I may not know what’s fully going on, but I’ll be damned if I let this heffa know it. I may have my doubts about Luca, but I know for sure I can’t trust her ass.
“Did you report him? Because if he really beat you like you say, then he should be in jail.”
I smirk because Ross was reported. His charges were actually the leverage we needed to get him to finally agree to the divorce.
I wasn’t the one who reported the incident.
Still, after some miraculous camera footage of him slapping and dragging me into the bathroom, along with pictures of my injuries, were anonymously given to the police, he was charged.
I have no idea where the footage or pictures came from, but I’m grateful for them.
“I did actually. I had a restraining order, which was dropped until there was actual proof that he beat the shit out of me, and he was still let out on bond. It’s crazy that you can assault someone so badly and still have your freedom.”
“The police don’t give bonds. That’s up to a judge. But I’m sure if he’s guilty, he’ll have to pay for his crimes.”
I suck my teeth at the bitch’s audacity. She must think I’m dumb, and I didn’t hear the doubt in her tone. Her dismissal of my experience is another reason she won’t get shit from me.
“Anyway, like I said I’m here about Luca Dalonzo. He killed an innocent man, and he’s dangerous.”
“I hear a lot of accusations but not a question, detective. Like I said, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Okay, I have a few questions for you. Did you know that Luca Dalonzo belongs to one of the largest mob families in Texas? Did you know he’s the second in command? Did you know that he’s a dangerous man? Did you know that most people who associate with the Dalonzo family end up dead?”
I’m pretty sure she’s waiting for the shock of her words to show up on my face. But my expression stays as cold as her dead eyes. I can’t say that I haven’t heard these accusations before. Ross claimed Luca was a mobster, but I won’t give this bitch the satisfaction of seeing she got to me.
“What exactly do you want? I know you aren’t here to give me Luca’s biography.”
“I just came to warn you. If you tell me everything you know about the Dalonzo’s, I can protect you. You won’t end up as another missing person,” she responds with a stern expression.
“I thought you claimed he murdered someone. So, who’s missing?”
“There have been plenty of people who have gone missing who were last seen with Luca Dalonzo. I just don’t want you to be one of them.”
“Right, because the police care so much about me.” I roll my eyes. “Like I said before, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’ll regret not helping me put that psycho behind bars.”
“I only regret talking to you for this long, detective. Have the day you deserve.”I slam the door in her face before she can say anything else.
In the short time that I’ve gotten to know Luca, I can’t say that he doesn’t have a darkness about him.
I thought it was just the power he exudes, but if I’m being honest with myself, it could also be danger.
If Luca is a killer, I don’t know what I will do.
Because even though I told myself not to fall in love again, I can’t deny that I’m head over heels in love with Luca Dalonzo.