Di Lucas’ eyes dimmed with remembrance.
“It is a beautiful experience. It feels like you’ve been chosen by something holy.” He held one of his hands in front of him then gazed at it in amazement. “It’s like the world narrowed itself down to one face. One voice, one pair of hands that can calm the storm in you.”
His fingers balled into a tight fist followed by his eyes darkening.
“When you love… you hand that person the map to your kingdom. Every hidden door and soft place inside of you that you pretend doesn’t exist… you give them the blade… then you foolishly trust that they won’t use it.” Di Lucas chuckled dryly.
“Help me up, Roy,” Di Lucas ordered, never taking his eyes off Luca.
Roy made it to him in seconds; he held his arm out and allowed Di Lucas to lean all his weight on him in order to stand. Once he was on his feet, Luca stood a moment later. He stepped to his grandfather with the weight of the world sitting heavy on his heart and mind.
All three men eyed one another in a silent understanding before Di Lucas’ weary voice sliced through.
“It’s okay to love but never forget who you are. Never forget what people are capable of when cornered…”
Luca’s eyes followed Di Lucas wrinkled hand as it lifted slowly. Out of respect he leaned toward it. His grandfather’s touch grounded him; he felt the love through his simple touch and embraced it.
“My father will be avenged,” Luca finally whispered.
“I know he will, son,” Di Lucas offered a short nod then released Luca.
The woman you look at like salvation once stood over your father as judgement… You won’t kill her, son… but you will kill your father’s closest enemies then leave the rest to me.Di Lucas thought.
Slowly, Di Lucas turned toward the door as Luca and Roy followed closely behind him. He officially planned to fall off the Bonetti family radar so that he could watch from a distance then strike when everyone else least expected it… including the Don.
Chapter 17
Her savior, one last time…
Sanarah moved carefully through Kentrell’s house. Each time the floor creaked beneath her feet, she cringed and looked back. Kentrell slept heavy most of the time when the drugs wore out. He was currently coming down off a three-day high. His come down was violent and nasty, making him turn into the devil himself.
She bounced her baby boy on her hip to keep him soothed. As she navigated slowly through the house, she prayed she didn’t work her boy up with excitement to make him babble and startup his baby talk. Her arm trembled from the effort along with her entire body shaking from pain. Her ribs ached every time she inhaled. Her cheeks felt swollen and tight. There was a dull pain in her lower back that never went away; like her body kept score, even when her mind tried not to of all the times Kentrell violently beat her.
She looked around Kentrell’s cozy living room and sighed softly. His house smelled like weed and cigarettes mixed with his YSL cologne. Kentrell’s house was big and spotless on the surface.From the outside looking in, you’d think the perfect man and woman stayed inside.
When in reality there was no peace ever in this home. As days turned into months, Sanarah prayed and plotted for a way to get far away from Kentrell.
She adjusted the baby higher on her hip and crept into the kitchen. The light switch was just within reach. She hesitated before flipping it on, then did it anyway.
Soft yellow light filled the room. Her and her baby winced at the brightness until both their eyes adjusted.
“See.” She smiled into her son’s big innocent eyes. “Mommy is going to feed you.” She cooed.
She looked around the immaculate kitchen that she cleaned from top to bottom then went to place her baby in his swing. Sanarah limped slowly toward the counter and grabbed an empty clean bottle. She sucked in a breath through her teeth, then quickly made her son a bottle.
As she warmed it up, her mind betrayed her. Luca came to mind each day her life went wrong with Kentrell. It seemed like he showed up in the forefront of her mind when things in her life hurt the most. Luca was the only man who ever made her feel like she was the most precious woman in the world.
He was perfect in every way to Sanarah, practically worshipping the ground she walked on. Falling for Kentrell had been a mistake. Luca had coldly cut her off because of her insecure ways. Instead of Sanarah being Luca’s peace in jail, she was nothing but toxic. She made his sentence feel like he was awaiting death row.
Each day she accused him of things she should have known he wasn’t doing. She even stooped so low into questioning his manhood. She got banned after she fought a woman officer for staring at Luca for what she felt like was too long. Sanarah came up with sick delusions and believed them.
She spent their phone time cursing him out and turning into a woman that Luca wasn’t familiar with. Sanarah, his Ill Na Na, became unrecognizable. Luca didn’t understand it because he never gave her reason to be that way. He wasn’t like the men in his family. Luca stood on principle and honesty.
In the streets he was a demon, with her he was an angel. If a person was to tell Sanarah how much of a monster Luca really was, she’d never believe them. She heard sickening stories, but none of that mattered because Luca treated her like she was made of glass.
Sanarah made herself believe that Luca did her wrong when he cut her off. She made a decision to have some form of get back since he didn’t want her anymore. Kentrell was a beautiful lie wrapped in charm and money, he made promises to her that Luca never said out loud, he just did it with action.
Kentrell was like most ain’t shit niggas. He laid it on thick; fake spoiled her then laid down and had kids with her. The only good thing that came from him was her beautiful son and daughter. She took pride in motherhood but wanted nothing to do with him.
