Chapter 580: You Both Are Getting Married
That was true. Massimo loved, but he loved through structure.
"Speaking of Massimo," Marco said quietly, "I hear when he retires to Singapore, you both are getting married."
Slowly, she turned her head. Her face was calm. That was how Marco knew he had made a mistake.
"If he touches my son," she said, "the first thing he will get once he steps off that airplane is a gunshot to the head."
Marco sighed. "You love him."
"Yes...And I forgave him all those years ago for choosing the famiglia over me and Luca. This time?" she said. "I’ll kill him."
Marco stepped closer. "Ma, you realise this is probably the kind of thinking that set Val on the wrong path. Massimo is a Don. You are asking him not to be what he is."
Carol turned away, trembling with the effort of not falling apart again. Marco hated himself for pressing, but he had to.
"If he picks and chooses who to punish," Marco said, "no one will fear him. His men will question his leadership. Enemies will see weakness. Everything begins to crack from the inside. Despite what you say about Luca, as much as he is trying to save me, he is also trying to maintain balance. That is what this life is. Impossible choices, Ma. Every mercy becomes precedent."
"I am no longer in the famiglia, Marco. I walked away from its rules. If Massimo makes the decision that you must pay for your wife’s sins," she said, "I will kill him. There is nothing you can say about it. Maybe it is time for the damned rules to change," she said with finality.
God have mercy. Marco exhaled. What had Valentina done?
*****
"What do you mean he left the country?" Valentina demanded. She stood in the precinct looking like a woman who had just returned from hell. Her hair was pulled back carelessly, strands escaping around her face. She had thrown on shorts and a T-shirt, but even dressed casually, there was nothing relaxed about her. Her entire body looked strung together by panic, and one very fragile thread of denial.
Voss stood across from her, exhausted before the conversation had even properly begun. "He booked a flight out to Singapore,"
The answer hit her like a slap. Marco had left. Her husband had put distance and silence between them without giving her one chance to explain.
That could not be right. Marco did not leave her. Marco always stayed. He always stayed. That was who he was. Loyal. Steady. Hers.
"Why would he leave without talking to me?" she asked.
"Val..." His jaw tightened. "You already knew the risks before deciding this journey. I explained it to you...Several times. I explained consequences." Voss stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Your husband is Luca’s right-hand man. You didn’t really think he was going to choose you over Luca."
"He is just afraid of Luca," she said quickly.
"As you should be too."
"No."
"Val—"
"No!" Her hand flew to her throat as the shout scraped the soreness there, but she did not stop. "I have to finish this. Everyone will understand once he is gone from our lives."
For the first time, he truly saw how far she had gone. Valentina was not merely frightened anymore. Every loss, every bad night, every scream had been gathered and tied to him until removing Luca felt, to her, like removing death itself.
"My husband will come back to me," she said. "He loves me."
He believed Marco loved her. Anyone with eyes could see it. Marco Montgomery loved Valentina with dangerous devotion. But love did not erase the board she had placed herself on. "Your sister is Donna to the most dangerous mafia famiglia in both New York and Italy...Have you thought of what she would do?"
"Vee won’t hurt me."
"You believe that."
"I know that."
"Even after she finds out you helped build a case against her husband?"
"I am saving her from him."
"But Veronica may not see it that way."
"She will."
Voss softened his voice. "I really need to get you and Matteo into protective custody. And after that, witness protection."
"Witness protection?"
"Yes."
The words seemed to echo. A new name. A strange city.
"No," Valentina said instantly.
"Listen to me."
"No. I am not leaving."
"You may not have a choice."
She shook her head. "No."
"Val—"
"I am not going to stay away from Marco or Vee."
"They may not be safe for you anymore."
"They are my family."
"They are also tied to Luca."
"Vee has protected me my entire life," Valentina said, voice breaking. "Marco has done his best to keep me safe, putting himself on the line again and again." Her tears spilled over, but she did not wipe them away. "You want me to just leave them?"
"Val..." Voss said carefully, "this has gotten out of hand."
"I need to talk to my father first," she said. "Tonight. Arrange it."
Voss stared at her. "No."
Her eyes snapped to his. "No?"
"The first time was dangerous enough. I cannot risk it."
"Detective, We passed dangerous several exits ago. You keep standing there with your badge and your careful little warnings as if this is still a case file. It is my life."
"It is also my case," Voss said.
"And your case is falling apart. I need to talk to him. I need to make sure he is not going to pull a last-minute trick on us."
"I assure you, I have eyes on him."
"Then tell me how Luca found out he is your witness."
"Maybe you misspoke."
Her expression changed instantly. She pointed at him. "I hate it when people treat me like an idiot. Don’t do that."
Voss raised both hands slightly. "Look, I’m sorry."
"You are doing what everyone does."
"I’ll see what I can do," Voss said.
"Tonight, detective."
He looked at her properly then. He had been worried before, but now the worry settled heavily in his stomach. Valentina was on the edge. Her eyes kept darting everywhere.