Undressed By The Mafia God

"With a dead man already on the floor." Dorian argued.

"She was holding a gun."

"And he was killed by blunt force trauma, unless your medical examiner plans to perform some creative miracle in the autopsy report."

Yes, Voss knew Veronica had not killed Vito. He had known it from the moment he saw the room properly. He also knew Luca didn’t do it. It had none of Luca’s elegance. But what exactly was he supposed to do?

He had not even charged her. He had detained her. Apparently, that distinction meant nothing to Dorian, who had arrived ready to burn the precinct down.

The worst part was that Dorian had come prepared. He had visited the crime scene first before even coming to the precinct. Somehow, within hours, he had walked through the old house, looked at the absurdity of the entire thing, then marched into Voss’s workspace armed with every fact Voss already knew.

"Why would she carry a gun and then kill him with a table?" Dorian asked. "Why would she remain in the house until police arrived? Who made the anonymous call?"

The interrogation room camera showed Veronica sitting motionless for hours. She had sat there with her hands folded in front of her, eyes hollow, face drained, looking like someone mourning a death that had nothing to do with the body on the floor.

Voss knew for certain she was not mourning Vito. Some truth had finally found her. Something in that house had clued her in.

Or something before she arrived there.

Voss had gone over it again and again. He did not have proof, his suspicion didn’t even go to Valentina until Luca mentioned it. There was just no way Val could do such a thing. By her own hand nonetheless. If it was self defense, he certainly could help her and surely Dorian here would have the matter thrown out of court.

He had been trying to get hold of her since dawn. Things didn’t have to get any worse. If she did it, he would help her. Her phone was off.

"Your case has problems. And no chargeable path against my client that would survive ten minutes before a competent judge."

"Competent judges are in short supply when your client’s husband breathes around every man of power in the justice system."

"You’re so damned lucky he is not my client. Or I would be suing your ass right now." Dorian leaned slightly closer. "Make sure you have all your ducks in a row before detaining any of my clients ever again."

Voss considered throwing the file at him. "Take her,"

"I was going to." Dorian turned and walked towards the interrogation room.

A few minutes later, Veronica came out beside him. She looked exhausted. Dorian guided her past the desks with one hand hovering near her back.

As they walked out, Voss tried Valentina again.

Still nothing.

Honestly, he was done with the Genovese family. Done with the mafia in general. Once this was over, he would hand in his resignation.

Luciano Genovese was the one failure of his career. Maybe the captain was right. Maybe he had handled it all based on his emotions.

A pair of fresh eyes would do the case good. Another hungry detective.

*****

Vee arrived home to find Luca sitting in the living room with Matteo in a high chair beside him. Luca looked up the moment she entered.

He had been waiting for her. That much was obvious. Just sitting there with Matteo beside him, his elbows resting on his knees and his whole body carrying the tension of a man who had no idea what version of his wife was about to walk through the door.

Would she be angry with him?

Disappointed?

Would she blame him for keeping the truth from her? For knowing about Valentina and saying nothing?

He had not one clue.

Vee came farther into the room without saying anything. Matteo immediately began bouncing in his high chair when he saw her, little hands slapping against the tray. "My baby." She crossed to him and lifted him out of the chair. Matteo settled against her easily, one chubby hand catching in her clothes while she kissed the side of his head.

Then, she reached down and ran her fingers through Luca’s hair. His hand closed around her wrist.

He pulled her fingers to his lips and kissed them. The relief that crossed his face was so naked it hurt to look at.

"How are my two handsome boys doing?" Vee asked.

"Boys?"

Vee gave a small chuckle. He got to his feet.

"Vee..."

She looked up at him. They simply stared at each other. There was too much between them. Every lie Luca had told because he thought silence would protect her. Every truth she had learned without him.

"You wanna talk about it, love?" he asked carefully.

Vee adjusted Matteo against her hip. "I’ve had a lot of time to think. And I understand it. I understand why you didn’t tell me. I hate that you had to be in that position."

"Babe..." He stepped closer. "Babe, I’m not talking about me now. I want to know how you feel. How do you need me? What do you need? I know your heart is breaking."

"You don’t. You have never had this kind of betrayal, Luca. You have no idea how much I have sacrificed for Val. How much I gave up for her. I cannot even begin to talk about them because it would seem as if I have been keeping count." Her eyes filled. She looked down at Matteo, swallowing hard, then back at Luca.

"I did those things because she was my sister. Because when you love someone, you do not stand there calculating what they owe you afterwards. And the one piece of happiness I have, she tries to take it away from me."

The pain in her face was so deep Luca felt helpless against it. Shattered by the one person she had never expected to be holding the knife.