Chapter 34
LUCA
Over the next week, I see Rosa four times. Every day with her is like a blessing. The guard goes scarce when Sophia and Rosa show up, and it’s almost like we’re a real family.
Sophia comes to visit me alone on Friday, and she’s acting a little strange.
She sits close to me, holding my hand.
I look at her, knowing something’s wrong.
“They’re talking about discharging me, aren’t they?”
Sophia looks at me, expression pained. “They are. You’re doing so much better.”
“You don’t sound too excited about it.”
“When they discharge you—”
“I go to processing. I know. It’s not my first rodeo, pixie.”
I don’t tell her it’s been twenty-five years since the last time I was in jail, and I was a kid back then.
But I still have connections, however fragile. Time won’t be too bad for me. I wish I could tell her that. Make her understand that in prison, wiseguys are still wiseguys.
“Diego posted bail,” she says, and I grin.
“Sonofabitch. Good for him. I wonder who posted it.”
She chuckles. “I’m not supposed to tell you, but Scott told me it was Joey Stacks.”
My eyes widen. “Joey fucking Stacks, huh? I guess he does have a heart after all.”
She sobers, squeezing my hand. I wish I could squeeze it back. The only time I get these damn cuffs off is when I hobble to the bathroom. Thank god I can do that now, at least. I hated the catheter.
“Is Rosa coming today?” I ask hopefully, and she shakes her head.
“She’s staying with Scott and Derek today,” she says, with no real explanation.
She thinks they’re going to discharge me today. She thinks this is our last day together.
My throat feels tight, but I’ve accepted my fate.
I’ve accepted that I’m going to go away, possibly for a long time.
That my empire is crumbling under me. They’ll throw the book at me and Nico.
Diego will probably get off with a slap on the wrist, but he’s no leader.
He doesn’t want it, and honestly, I’m glad it’s over.
The power will go back to Father, and when he passes from the cancer eating away at his body, the Rossis will be no more.
I can’t even bring myself to be sad about it.
I have plenty of money in offshore accounts, plenty to disappear after I make bail, but I won’t do it.
I want to be as close to Rosa and Sophia as I can be.
All the things that used to matter to me—the lifestyle, the money, the violence—none of it means anything without them.
A light knock on the door startles Sophia and she jumps. She’s been a little nervous lately, but I can’t blame her, with all she’s been through.
Diego pops his head in. His face is turning purple and black in places, but his eye is less swollen and he has a smile on his face.
“They couldn’t kill you after all, Caputo?”
I grin up at him. “They couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.”
Sophia chuckles and stands up slowly. “I’ll give you guys a few minutes.”
She walks out without another word, and I watch the door where she left, frowning.
“She seems to be in low spirits,” Diego points out, walking closer. “Probably because they have you cuffed up.”
“Oh, this?” I rattle the handcuffs. “I’ve been in these from day one. I think she’s upset because I’m going to be discharged soon.”
He nods slowly. “What’s the play, boss?”
I look up at him with a slight smile. “No play.”
Diego’s eyes widen. “What do you mean, no play? There’s plenty of ways out of this.”
“Maybe, but I don’t want any of them.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you know I have a daughter?” I chirp, and Diego stares at me, his mouth open.
“A daughter? What the fuck?”
“Rosa Elena,” I say happily. “She turns three in a couple months.”
“Jesus Christ, Caputo, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say congratulations.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Congratulations?”
I grin. “Thank you. She’s beautiful. Sophia can show you pictures.”
Pictures are all I’m going to get of my little girl from here on out. The thought sobers me, but nothing can bring me down. I have a family. A real family.
“Luca…you can’t just give up.”
“I’m not giving up. I have a family now, Diego. A real one. And nothing and nobody is going to take that away from me.”
“Fuck.” Diego looks around frantically. “I know some guys inside, I can at least make the time a little easier for you.”
I shrug. “Do what you need to do.”
“You’re not scared? You haven’t been locked up since juvie, you don’t know what it’s like—”
“Guess I’ll find out.”
“You’re surprisingly zen about this.”
I chuckle. “Well, having your empire fall and finding out you have a daughter all in the same week really shows you your priorities, I guess.”
“And your priority—”
“Is them. Always them.”
“And you’re sure about that?”
I nod.
Diego looks at me for a moment longer then shakes his head, sighing.
“Alright, boss. I’ll make sure your time inside is easy, and I’ll make sure they don’t transfer you out of state.”
“You can do that?”
“I know enough cops and guys inside. I’ve got you.”
I grin up at him. “I appreciate it, Diego. Seriously.”
He stays and talks for a while, eventually leaving the room.
Sophia doesn’t come back. Not for hours. I frown at the door, but when it opens it’s the doctor rather than Sophia.
“Your heart function is coming along nicely,” she says after reviewing my chart. “You should be able to be discharged into custody tomorrow morning.”
I nod, my throat aching with unexpressed emotion.
I don’t want to go to prison. I’m not stupid enough to think it’ll be easy, even given Diego’s connections. I want to be with Sophia and Rosa, but that’s not really an option for me.
Even if it was, I don’t know if Sophia would want it. Would want me. Not like this.
When the doctor leaves, I manage to doze off, worried that I won’t see Sophia or Rosa again before I’m put into custody. I guess I got four days. That’ll have to be enough.
The door slowly creaks open and I jolt awake, sitting up.
“It’s just me,” Sophia says quickly, rushing to my bedside. “But we have to hurry.”
I squint at the clock. “It’s midnight, Sophia. Where can we possibly be going?”
“Away,” she breathes, and as I watch her incredulously, she takes a key and unhooks my handcuffs, one by one.
I slowly rub my wrists, shocked. “Sophia. Pixie. What are you doing?”
“Can you walk?”
“Down the hall and back, every day,” I say proudly.
“Gonna need you to walk a little further than that. Just to the wheelchairs, and then we can—”
“Sophia.” I grab her wrists in mine and make her look at me. “You can’t help me escape.”
“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do,” she snaps. “Let me help you, Luca.”
I go silent, searching her face, but she tugs me up and slowly, I manage to stand.
She tugs out my IV and I yelp.
“Don’t be a baby,” she mutters, and I can tell she’s focused. She hurriedly helps me get dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt.
“How did you even set this up?”
As I ask, Scott comes into the room, looking around like someone might be hiding in here.
“Hurry up before I change my mind,” he says firmly, and I make my way down the hospital corridor as quickly as I can.
It’s slow as molasses. I get into the wheelchair at the elevators already sweating and breathing hard, but I made it.
Sophia wheels me out to the car, getting me into the passenger seat before getting into the driver’s seat herself.
I cup her face as she enters and she lets out a small squeaking sound.
“Sophia. I love you,” I tell her earnestly, and she moans against my mouth when I kiss her, making my body heat up.
She sticks her tongue past my lips and it’s been so long that my groan is loud, probably echoing across the parking garage.
“Why are you doing this? You didn’t have to do this,” I tell her, my hands still cupping her face.
“Because I love you, Luca,” she says, her voice somehow strong and shaky at the same time. “Because I need you to be free.”
“I don’t want to be without you,” I say quickly. “Without Rosa.”
“As long as you’re free, as long as you’re okay,” she babbles but I cut her off with another searing kiss.
“I wish I was well enough to make love to you,” I tell her.
She grins. “It’s a good thing you’re not. Look.” She gestures to the back, and I glance and realize that Rosa is sleeping in her car seat, sucking her thumb.
I’m going to be free. And my two girls are seeing me off.
What more could I ask for?
My heart aches as I give her directions to the airfield.
I’m conflicted. I should be happy, but all I can think about is how much I’m going to miss them.