Chapter 16
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
HOME
LUCA
“I’ve been in here for hours, and you’ve asked me the same questions over and over again. Are you not tired yet?” My eyes are shut as I lean my head against the concrete wall in the small interrogation room.
I know it’s the officer who hauled me in here because I can smell his cheap, off-putting cologne that’s smothered under a layer of coffee.
He and his partner have been tag-teaming me with questions for hours.
They’re amateurs when it comes to getting answers.
Detectives Robbins and Wiley are playing bad cop, worse cop, and they’re really horrible actors.
It’s really boring pretending to be bothered by them.
When the truth of the matter is, these two insignificant numbskulls could never bother me.
They should’ve known that I wasn’t afraid when I didn’t ask for a lawyer.
They know a man like me would never volunteer to answer questions without representation.
I guess they think that I’m dumb enough to tell on myself.
What they don’t know is that Paolo will be here any minute with my high-priced attorneys.
I will have a bond even though I haven’t been to court.
I know my lawyers will go directly to a judge and get this rectified.
“My partner and I just want you to admit that you killed Matthew Besser.”
“Where is your partner, detective?” I question, instead of admitting anything.
I noticed when Detective Wiley slipped out to take a phone call and didn’t return. If she left me here with this idiot, I know she must think that she’s found something important. However, I’m not worried; they’ll never find anything.
“Don’t worry about my partner, Dalonzo. So, earlier you said that Matthew Besser was an employee of the Dalonzo organization … I mean corporation.” The bastard has the nerve to smirk.
Instead of getting mad like he expects, I smirk back at him. “Yes, he was a manager in our organization … I mean corporation. He was a valued employee, like all of our employees.”
“You said was, why not is? Do you know he’s dead?” Robbins smirks.
“Dead? No,” I answer shaking my head. “I know he’s missing. As a matter of fact, I was the one who called his wife, Carla, when he didn’t show up to work. I encouraged her to file a missing person’s report.”
The detective’s chubby face turns red, and his smirk morphs into a frown.
I already know they didn’t check their records.
I knew Carla Besser didn’t want to file the report, she was glad that the asshole was gone.
However, I convinced her that it was the right thing to do.
Of course, I have text messages to prove what I’m saying.
I’m thorough in my kills. Even though grabbing Matthew that night wasn’t planned, everything else I did was.
I stalked him for months, and I knew everything about him.
There isn’t a body to find, and my alibi is rock solid.
Especially because Niro made a video that made it seem like Matthew was in the club and alive two days after I killed him.
“Carla? That’s not the name…” Detective Robbins flips through a file.
The detective’s face screws up even more as his eyes rapidly run over the paper in front of him.
I can tell when he finds the information he’s looking for because he blinks rapidly, then shakes his head in what seems like disbelief.
He abruptly stands from the table, snatching the folder up before stomping to the door.
“Hey, so did you find Matthew or what?” I holler after him.
The bastard doesn’t answer me as he slams the door behind him. I don’t know what he read in that file that has his panties in a bunch, but I have a feeling that it just changed the trajectory of their case. I sit back and wait, wondering how Mindy took the news that I wouldn’t be home last night.
I hope Paolo convinced her to relax and not worry. I’ll find out soon enough because I know I won’t be here much longer. My team has had plenty of time to cash in the favors to get me out of here. I’m sure they held an arraignment in the judge’s chambers without the detectives even knowing.
Soon enough, the door bangs open. I stare at the detective with a raised eyebrow.
I smirk when I notice my lawyers standing behind him.
The man’s face is still incredibly red, and he looks two seconds away from having a heart attack.
The man is in dire need of a health check.
I’d give him a year before he collapses.
“You’re free to go,” the detective begrudgingly states. “Don’t leave town.”
I rise from the uncomfortable metal chair. I grab my jacket from the back and place it over my arm. Before I leave, I turn to look at the detective, giving him a deadly stare.
“This is my town, there’s no need for me to leave it.”
The detective narrows his beady eyes even further, but I know he won’t try me. I was nice this time I was hauled in here, and I know for sure it won’t be a next time, or the detective won’t have to wait on a heart attack to kill him.
My lawyers don’t say anything to me, they know we will debrief later. We shake hands, and they follow me to the front of the station, where Paolo is waiting. He looks as out of place as I do, sitting in the small waiting room wearing a crisp Bespoke suit.
“How’d Mindy take the news of me not coming home?”
Paolo shrugs without answering my question. I narrow my eyes at my cousin because this is not the time for him not to be his usual talkative self. I wait until we are completely out of the station and inside Paolo’s car before I turn to him.
“What happened?”
“ Cugino, non arrabbiarti ,” Paolo grimaces.
I take a deep breath because if he’s telling me not to get mad, then I know he’s about to piss me off. I’m overstimulated and exhausted from sitting in a police station all night, and the last thing I need is for my cousin to tell me some bad news. I crack my neck from side to side.
“Explain.”
“I dropped Mindy off at her cousin’s place,” Paolo says, but holds up his hands to stop me from interrupting, “Jules is outside. She insisted on going home when I wouldn’t let her come to the station.”
“She knows I was in jail?” I ask, trying to find patience for my idiot cousin.
“I had to tell her. She thought you were with another woman and started packing her stuff. You know I’m not good with women’s emotions.”
I don’t reply because, although Paolo’s reasons are valid, I’m still pissed that he let my woman leave when I told him specifically not to.
Even though he pushes my buttons on purpose, I know he did what he could to keep Mindy from freaking out.
Paolo might be an ass at times, but he knows how badly I can react to things.
“Fine, take me to Karlie’s house.”
“You sure you don’t want to shower first?” Paolo asks, smirking.
“No.” I shake my head with a scowl.
It’s been too long since I’ve seen my woman, and I need to have her close to me is overwhelming. I’m going crazy knowing she’s not at home where I left her.
“Okay, well. I have some more news to share.”
I loudly exhale before looking over at my cousin’s profile as he continues driving. I do my best to try and calm myself. However, my agitation is waking up the silent killer again.
“So, the woman detective showed up on Mindy’s doorstep this morning. Mindy didn’t even let her in. Jules said she talked to her through a crack in the door before slamming it in her face.” Paolo smiles, nodding. “I knew I liked her.”
I don’t smile, but the pride I feel bubbles up in me.
I just hope that whatever Detective Wiley said didn’t give Mindy a reason to doubt us.
However, I know that I’m going to have to come clean about who I really am if I want Mindy to continue to trust me.
I just hope she knows that no matter what, I love her more than anything in the world.
“Hey, beautiful,” I greet as soon as Mindy opens her door.
“Luca,” she sighs as she wraps her arms around me.
When her body melts into mine, I can’t help but relish the feeling. This woman is a goddess, and I know I don’t deserve her. But I don’t plan on ever letting her go.
“I was so worried about you. Is everything okay?” Mindy steps back, looking me over.
The expression on her beautiful face almost makes me feel bad for staying so long at the station.
I didn’t have to answer their questions, however, it was the first time Detective Wiley had come near me since we got the warning that she was digging up dirt.
I wanted to know exactly what they were planning.
Turns out they have a bunch of assumptions and no proof. I knew Wiley was wet behind the ears, but to arrest me without solid evidence was a rookie mistake. A man like me knows too many people, and I hold too much power to be treated like some schmuck off the street.
“I’m fine, Coniglia . Why aren’t you at home?” I try to keep the irritation out of my tone, but I know she hears it when she sucks her teeth.
“I am at home, Luca. Come inside, we need to talk.”
The dreaded words aren’t out of her mouth good before I let out a heavy sigh. I’ve been up all night, and all I want to do is cuddle with my woman. My mind is definitely not on talking right now, even though I need to know what the detective told Mindy.
I also didn’t find out exactly why I was the prime suspect, when I know there’s not a trace of evidence to connect me to anything. I also need to find out what was in that file. There are too many things that are left unknown, and I don’t like it.
“What’s up, Luca, glad you made it out the clink,” Karlie says, winking at me.
I shake my head and chuckle. Not too many people give me shit, but Karlie always has something slick to say. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t know how dangerous I am, but I have a feeling that Karlie, out of all people, knows exactly who I am.
“Glad to be out,” I reply, smiling.
Mindy leads me to her bedroom and closes the door behind us. As soon as the door clicks, I’m on her. I kiss her with all of the pent-up frustration I feel from being away from her last night. I kiss her with passion only she makes me feel. I kiss her with everything in me.
“Mmmm, I missed you,” Mindy moans before I deepen the kiss.
I begin to kiss down her neck. My control snaps when she moans louder.
I rip off her t-shirt, and when her beautiful breasts bounce free because she’s not wearing a bra, it’s my turn to moan.
I lean down and take her hard nipple into my mouth.
I roll my tongue around the nub while tweaking the other with my fingers.
Mindy’s breathing becomes quicker and I know she’s about to cum.
“Luca, shit.” Mindy throws her head back and grabs my hair.
I pull down her tights, drop to my knees, and suck her clit into my mouth. The squeal she lets out is music to my ears. I have her stripped naked and on her bed before she can come down from her orgasm.
Mindy’s eyes are closed, and her chest is heaving, but I refuse to let her relax from her blissful state. In a blink, I’m as naked as she is and climbing between her bountiful thighs. I can’t get enough of this woman, and she makes me feel insatiable.
I slide my throbbing dick inside of my personal heaven. My eyes close involuntarily as I relish the warmth of Mindy’s tight pussy. As we move in tandem, a feeling of calm takes over me. Our lovemaking is slow and passionate as we kiss and caress each other slowly.
“I’m about to cum again. Cum with me, baby. Cum with me…” Mindy groans, triggering my orgasm.
Euphoria rapidly burns through my body, and a calm like I’ve never experienced instantly takes over me. I can finally relax. I can finally breathe. Because I’m with Mindy.
She’s my home.
As we lie cuddled in bed, I finally feel somewhat settled. The frustration I felt from not finding out the information I needed is still there but it’s not as strong. At least the silent killer has receded for now.
“I know you just tried to distract me with your body. I still want to talk.” Mindy sits up and looks me in the eyes.
I move her hair behind her ear and drink in her dark, serious eyes. I know that I can’t keep the truth from her because she deserves to know who I am. She deserves to know that the man who loves her more than life itself is a killer.
“I wasn’t trying to distract you, Coniglia . I just needed you. This is about the detective.” It’s a statement not a question.
I know Mindy probably better than she knows herself at this point. That’s why no matter what she asks me, I can’t lie to her. I don’t even want to.
“Yes, a detective came here asking me all types of questions about you. And I’m gonna be real with you I doubted you for a second. But I can’t say that I don’t trust you. Because I trust you, Luca, but please don’t lie to me.”
The pleading in Mindy’s voice nearly shatters me. I’ve never felt so many emotions before. This woman turns my cold, dead heart into molten lava. I won’t lie to her, but I won’t let her leave me either.
“I will never lie to you, Mindy. But there are times when I have to keep things from you to keep you safe. But I’ll always protect you and I’ll never leave you in a vulnerable position, I promise on my life.”
“Okay.” She pauses before taking a deep breath. “So, are you a part of the mob, Luca?”
“Yes.”
Mindy nods before looking me in the eyes. When she shrugs, I almost let out a chuckle. This woman is the only person who can surprise me.
I expected her to ask me if I was a murderer. I expected her to be shocked. I expected a lot of things, but I didn’t expect her to be so calm. She’s probably one of the few people that I can read their emotions without trying. And I know that I have greatly underestimated my woman.
“So, Ross was actually telling the truth. You’re a mobster.”
“Look at me.” I place my hand under Mindy’s chin and when our eyes connect I know that she’s locked in. “I am a mobster. I am an extremely dangerous man, but I love you. I would never hurt you, Coniglia .”
“Not on purpose, but what if an enemy of yours…”
“Never,” I growl, cutting her off. “Nobody will ever hurt you again. I promise.”