Chapter 32 #2
Vincenzo walks into the suite, but not ours. Leo moved the conversation away from the public eye, having us go upstairs to a suite that’s more modern than ours. My body buzzes with anxiety as Leo strides in beside me behind Vincenzo. There’s a weight on my chest as my mind reels into overdrive.
Leo shuts the door with the Crew outside guarding the entrance. Vincenzo goes to the wet bar, pouring himself a drink as he places a couple of glasses on the coffee table. He grins at Leo, then sits in one of the chairs. Leo and I exchange a look.
“Join me? As long as your marito approves, that is?” Vincenzo begins, opening the bottle he grabbed.
Leo remains standing behind the sofa, furrowed brows and all. I step around to sit in the chair across from Vincenzo.
“I don’t need his permission, even with you,” I respond, noticing it’s a bottle of Dewar. Slightly poetic. I grab one of the glasses, pouring myself a little.
“Hmm, thought you didn’t drink…signora.” Vincenzo’s voice is low, watching me as he tilts his head.
I lean back into my seat, reminding myself Leo is right behind me. The Crew just outside.
“Special occasion,” I respond, letting it stay on the table.
“To speaking with the real wife of Leonardo Luciano.” He raises his glass.
“What do you want? Because I thought you weren’t one who wouldn’t openly try to piss off my husband.”
“Who says I am?”
“Me.”
“Oh, no, no, no, you’ve got me wrong, signora.
” He shakes his head, lounging back as the storm rattles the windows.
Raindrops streak down the glass. “To explain. I grew up in this world, much like Luciano. Done and seen things that would make grown men cry. Our world you do not trifle with, and yet we…us, him and I have enemies that make us stay awake at night. And you it seems…” he points at me, making a clicking sound with his mouth, “…are one of them.”
“Think I’m that scary?” I smile carefully, willing to go along whatever route he’s taking. I’ll take him over the Salvadoris.
“I wondered why he married you, especially after my little package from his brother. To spite said brother? Means to an end? Except, Luciano has never used women, not like that, so why you? You’re bellissima, but I’ve seen, well…
prettier women. Even ones he’s fucked. Unless the god is you, and not him. ”
His gaze suddenly becomes cautious, looking past me. I glance over my shoulder at Leo who gives him a severe scowl.
“Oh, I assure you he is,” I say, grabbing the glass of scotch and glimpse at the amber liquid. My mind yells to keep a cool, clear head. Don’t with the alcohol. The glass remains in my hand.
“But you are, eh? Perhaps, capturing him being the final stage of your plan?” My brows pinch together, unsure what he’s getting at. “Seduce the great Leonardo Luciano, then take what’s left of Gabriel’s power?”
I almost want to laugh. So much for him not thinking I’m a gold digger.
“No,” I answer.
“No?” He raises a brow, sipping his drink.
“I didn’t even know he was in the mafia until a few months into dating. No clue who he was. No intention of going back to the mobs. I could’ve left everything behind. All of it, and never be found again.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Amore.” He cocks a brow again, swirling his drink. “I’d fallen in love with the man I was supposed to be taking down.”
Leo’s hand suddenly is upon my shoulder, the warmth of his palm spreading through me.
Vincenzo hums to himself, and then says, “And you…Leonardo, still brought a black widow into your web, knowing she could kill you?”
Leo is silent. A crack of thunder comes from outside. I flick my eyes to the pouring rain, swallowing hard against my dry throat. My fingers rub over the smooth glass, wanting to shove Vincenzo into what he’s getting at. I doubt it’s our love story.
He suddenly finishes his drink, reaching for the bottle to pour a bit more.
“I was unsure why Gabriel decided to tell me,” he suddenly speaks in a low and serious tone. My gut tightens as I watch him. “Revenge. Power. Such games I can play, but when they are my own, not others. Rules I swore to my father I would never break.”
“Such as?”
Those dark eyes meet mine. “There was smugness in Gabriel’s tone.
You know it. Don’t you?” The weight on my chest worsens as I barely nod my head, forcing myself not to be flung into the past. “It reminded me too much of men my father warned me about. Those enemies that keep us awake. Especially when I realized what else he sent me wrapped around those chopped up body parts.”
“What?” I clutch the glass; almost afraid I may break it. Please don’t let Gabriel send more fucking body parts my way.
With his glass in hand, he gestures to me. “You’re the one who got away.”
I stare at Vincenzo, and an emotion shifts over his gaze. One I knew too well—pity.
“After Gabriel was released, he visited Italy briefly. We met for drinks, old time sakes, but he had this scar on his face.” Leo becomes deathly still behind me, his hand rigid upon my shoulder.
“I asked him if it was from prison, he said it was from a bitch who refused him, but she got what she deserved in the end.”
A flash of screaming. Glass shattering. Pain radiating up my arm.
“Sarah Marie Mitchell.” His voice is slow, enunciating each part of my old name like a dagger to my chest as he leans forward. “The only woman I know to survive Gabriel Cesare Marchetti.”
I knock the fucking drink back.
“Burned the pictures, for your sake and mine, signora,” he continues. “Although one could barely tell it was you. A miracle by God you’re alive.”
“No. Spite,” I rasp, putting the empty glass down.
Son of a nutcracker, Gabriel even has that. My mind reels wondering how Roger even fucking got those records. Fucker probably kept them for himself.
“Did you see them, Leonardo? Is that why you didn’t punish her for infiltrating your empire?”
“He hasn’t…” My voice trails away when Leo’s hand leaves my shoulder.
I look over as Leo’s expression shifts. His jaw tenses and the scowl he wears deepens. He averts his gaze from me, but across his face I see it. Haunting pain. I stare at him with shock.
“Oh, he has, signora,” Vincenzo murmurs.
Leo finally brings his gaze to mine. His eyes feel like they should be vacant with how hollow and melancholic they feel. A simmering darkness that won’t leave you, and a handful of guilt. Shadows. My shadows.
“When?” I rasp.
“The estate,” he answers.
Suddenly it hits me why he lost control.
Why he left Steve in that room. Why he tortured the last of the men who assaulted me.
Gone after every single person who hurt me and haunted my steps.
It wasn’t just that he heard what they could’ve done, wanted to, thought of, or even had…
he’d seen what they did. What they left of me.
“I understand why you filled that Coliseum with blood, Leonardo,” Vincenzo says. “Nothing will make us see red more. You can never trust a man who delights in making women bleed.”
“So, you didn’t make a deal with Gabriel, then?” I ask, turning my attention back to him.
“Remember, I’m not stupid, signora.” He puts his drink down. “No, I thought out of the goodness of me that you should know your little secret isn’t as secret anymore. But…” he raises his hands, folding them in his lap with a shadow of a smile, “…I could help keep it.”
Ah, there’s the endgame. Blackmail.
“You sure have a knack for seeing how far you can get without him killing you,” I say bluntly. “Threatening me isn’t really going to help you.”
“I would never threaten you, signora.” He makes a clicking noise, shaking his head.
“No, a suggestion of business between… friends in helping secrets stay behind closed doors. I may understand what you did, and what do I care if you fucked up the American mafia? Do it again if you so wish. But if those across the ocean discovered their esteemed, mafia don married a polizia sympathizer, well…his reputation could be in jeopardy.”
Menacing, agitation crawls under my skin. Perhaps it’s because someone is trying to use what I’d done against me against Leo. To make me a puppet as Roger had tried.
I look over at Leo, something silent passing between us.
I hold my hand up for him to come back over and he kisses my wrist tenderly.
Softening my expression, I try to relay to him that I’m not mad he’d seen the photos.
If there’s one thing I knew at the beginning of us, it was how paranoid and detailed he was in finding information.
Honestly, not surprising, and probably should talk about it, but not right now, especially in front of Vincenzo.
My hand cups his cheek as his expression becomes tender.
“Do I tell him or you?” I ask.
“You,” Leo answers.
“Tell me what?” Vincenzo asks.
“Do you know how I fucked over Gabriel?” I ask.
“You infiltrated his businesses and many others. Selling out to the feds.” He leans forward, grabbing his glass.
“I was a hacker and about to start my Masters’ when the police recruited me.
The cop sent to you was my ex-handler.” He pauses before taking a sip.
“I created something that allowed me access into any mainframe without being detected. It’s best used when you know what you’re looking for in servers, banks, camera feeds, business networks, you name it.
I went into those clubs to locate where it was best to unthread their webs. Like you said…black widow.”
Vincenzo tilts his head, fascination flickering.
“Back then, I had to be physically closer to where I wanted to hack, not anymore. It’s now versatile to the point I can hack into any computer network from the 90s to today’s technology. Just need good internet connection.”
His eyes narrow, watching me closely. “But you sold it. I saw the documents.”
“They got a dupe.” I smile, while his starts to disappear. “You saw the photos. I trusted no one, not even the police. What they got was a self-sabotaging program. No bene.” I grab the Dewar, pouring some into my glass. “So, you can guess who has the real program.”
Vincenzo takes a long drink from his glass, flicking his gaze to Leo. I pick mine up, swirling it a little as Vincenzo tries to smile at me again. “You, signora?”
“No…” I hold the glass up for Leo, “…him.”
Vincenzo becomes very still.
“You said you know what he can do on his own,” I say, slightly loving the fear in Vincenzo’s eyes as Leo takes the scotch.
“So, signor, if you want to try blackmailing me that’s what you’re up against. I gave my husband the power to drain your accounts, and you wouldn’t even know until it was too late.
Or better yet, give the polizia everything.
I bet they’d love to lock you up forever.
” I grin politely. “Your move, Vincenzo.”
A moment passes, thunder crashing outside.
Suddenly, Vincenzo laughs, throwing his head back as he gets up and puts his drink down. He speaks in Italian, quickly talking as he points to me. Leo doesn’t respond, just sips the drink I gave him.
“You are a more fascinating opponent than him, no offense, Leonardo,” he says, switching languages again.
“Ruthless beauty. Oh, you two will be fantastic gods to work with.” I give him a puzzled look.
“Come now, your partnership with Salvadori is waning, you need someone else in Italy to do business with.” He gestures to himself. “May I propose me?”
Vincenzo may give me whiplash. He has a twisted and weird way of doing business. Still better than a head in the mail or parents back from the dead. The bar was low.
“If you ever learn to stop putting your foot in your mouth, Renaldi,” Leo interjects. “Then you’d learn I was already planning to do so.”
Vincenzo’s smile broadens. “Oh?”
“My organizations will be cut from all Salvadori enterprises,” Leo continues. “The Luciano fortune and name is now under the control of my wife. I was prepared to move on without connections in Italy, but there can be discussions to maintain lucrative cash flow for us both.”
I take the cue, getting up as he takes the seat I left. Vincenzo’s eyes go alight, flashing between us as I stroke my hand over Leo’s shoulder. Respect, I think, comes over his face. His smile still wily, but softening.
“If you want to keep any chance of having such a business relationship…” Leo frowns at Vincenzo, lounging back with glass in hand, “…keep my wife’s name out of your mouth. Otherwise, I will help the police disembowel you and then sell everything you own back to Renato as penance.”
Vincenzo almost seems to wave him off, unbothered.
“No, I would never dream of it. I have too much respect for your wife.” I cock my head at him as he sits back down.
“I enjoy the dramatics to learn why and who potential business partners are. You can learn a lot about someone when certain options are given. No one wants a weak partner.”
He becomes serious again, watching me as he finishes his drink.
“And what have you learned, Vincenzo?” I ask quietly.
“You truly do not bend,” he answers with a solemn expression. “No woman should ever endure such cruelty as you have. I am sorry that was done to you. And glad you found a…god who’s as unbending as you.”
Odd understanding passes between us. A flicker, and I think I see the real man behind the discord of his antics. The moment passes as Vincenzo quickly switches back to his relaxed persona again.
“Luciano, you have to admit your family is fucking insane. Starting with Gabriel, who in my opinion, you should take care of soon. He’s escalating. Sending body parts to people? Does he think this is a movie?”
My stomach twists. Time for me to leave.
I squeeze Leo’s shoulder, and he gives me a look and then to the doors. I bend down to kiss his temple, relief flooding that I can go scream into a pillow soon.
“Ciao, signor. Don’t keep putting your foot in your mouth,” I say.
“Ciao, signora! Pleasure talking with you and may we have many more intriguing discussions in the future.” I get to the door and hear him say, “I’ll help you kill Gabriel for her sake.”
I step through, closing the door behind me. The Crew all look at me as I give a long exhale. “He’s fine. Just one or two of you stay here.”
I head to the elevator, hands beginning to shake.
“You alright, barchen?”
“I need fucking ice cream.” And a pillow.