I didn’t want to face it, didn’t want to believe it, but it was there, staring me in the face.
Luca was in the mafia.
Would I be in danger just by associating with him? Wouldhe end up going to prison? Did he kill people? I could feel the panic welling up inside me, a wall of turbulent water threatening to drag me under. I had to stop seeing him—didn’t I? Could I be with a mobster? Did I want that for myself? Absolutely not. But how did I break up with a criminal who had his sights set on me?
Run.
Not just run home. I would need to leave the city.
What about my job and my family? Money wasn’t an issue, but there was a whole lot more to my life than money and possessions. Would I have to leave behind my entire life to get away from Luca? Was there a chance he would let me go if I tried to break things off?
Before my thoughts could devolve into all-out hysteria, my phone vibrated with a call. Giada’s face appeared on the screen, and a plan began to form.
“Hey, G. What’s up?” I used my most practiced voice, the one I used with my parents when I wanted everyone to think everything was fine. There was no way I was telling Giada what a mess I’d gotten myself into. If needed, I’d bring my family into this, but if at all possible, I would handle it on my own. I had plenty of money, and I was a smart girl. I could manage this.
“Hey, I got tickets for the Pretty Woman musical on the 25th, you want to come with?”
“Um, yeah. I could probably do that. And if you’re up for it, I was thinking about a sleepover tonight. I could come to your place, and we could catch up—unless you have plans.”
Please be free. Please be free.
“No plans but you! We can watch the Pretty Woman movie in preparation—I even have popcorn on hand,” Giada said excitedly.
“Sounds good. Mind if I come over straight from work? I’d have to bum pajamas from you.”
“I gotcha covered. Come over whenever you can, and we’ll get this party started.”
“Thanks, G. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Later, babe!”
I leaned back in my chair, exhaling with a small sense of relief. If I could avoid him for the rest of the day, that would give me a little time to figure out a more long-term plan. I was still reeling from what I had learned and the implications. Figuring out what to do about it would be an entirely different matter.
Part of me wanted to confront Luca and verify from him directly whether the allegations were true. I didn’t want to run off half-cocked if I’d been fed false information, but I was scared to tell him what I’d heard. If Lucawasin the mafia, would he hurt me for knowing more than I should? Would he hurt Jackson for telling me? I felt safe with Luca, but that didn’t mean his obligations to hisfamilydidn’t overrule his protective instincts toward me.
I went round and round, debating what I should do, unable to concentrate on anything else. By the time the clock read five, I was halfway out the door. Leo gave me a ride over to Giada’s apartment where I hoped I could unwind enough to figure out the best course of action.
Giada had wine glasses on the counter and loungewear laid out for me. After I got out of my work clothes, we had wine and snacked as we watched Pretty Woman. When it approached time for bed, I was feeling more capable of handling my problems. Luca hadn’t texted as I’d expected him to—in fact, I hadn’t heard from him all day. Maybe hewouldn’t be as persistent in his pursuit as I thought, and I had worried over nothing.
I said goodnight to my cousin and crawled into bed in her guest bedroom. Few of the city sounds filtered into the twentieth-story high-rise apartment, but the city lights were prolific enough to fill the room with a warm glow. I felt hidden away, safe from my boss and the looming threat of the mafia, but that sense of security was an illusion, shattered into the silent night air when my phone began to buzz.
I should have known there would be no hiding from him.
Luca’s name displayed on my phone screen, and I considered not answering but decided it would behoove me to play along until I had a plan.
“Hey,” I greeted him softly.
“How was your day?” His voice sounded worn out, and I wondered what he’d been up to all day. Despite what I’d learned, a part of me still wanted to soothe him—help ease his strain from the day.
“Good, just a standard workday. You?”
A long exhale came across the line. “I had a shit day, but hearing your sexy voice is doing wonders to improve my mood. Work is important, but it fucking pisses me off it kept me from seeing you today.”
I was helpless against him. Even knowing what he was and the dangers that presented, just a few words from him, and my heart soared. “I’m sorry your day was rough.” As much as I wanted to tell him how much I had missed him, I didn’t want to dig myself any deeper—I was already up to my neck in trouble.
“Have dinner with me tomorrow.”
“Um … I have plans with my cousin,” I sputtered, throwing out the first excuse that came to mind. My stomach twisted and clenched with a storm of emotions—fear, guilt, longing. I didn’t want to lie to him, but I had no choice.
