Undressed By The Mafia God

"How? How could she?" Vee cried.

"Come here... come here, babe." Luca pulled her closer, carefully because Matteo was still in her arms and her belly sat between them. He could feel the sob she was trying to hold back. It trembled through her body and then she swallowed it.

She was being strong. He knew that. He also knew this was not the moment to tell her the worst was yet to come.

Valentina’s days on earth were limited. And if Massimo had his way, so were Marco’s. Marco had done nothing except love the wrong woman under rules designed by men who believed mercy was a crack in the foundation. And Matteo, innocent little Matteo could not even be raised by the famiglia if Marco was gone and Valentina was dealt with.

Val had managed to take so many people down with her without even understanding the consequences.

Luca rested his chin lightly against Vee’s hair and closed his eyes for a moment. "You should rest...I’ll keep an eye on Matteo."

"Where is she?"

He should have known she was not going upstairs to nap while half the family burned beneath her. Veronica had never been particularly gifted at ignoring disaster. If anything, she usually walked directly towards it. "I was thinking we could talk about what happens next after you have—"

"Who decides what happens to her?" Vee cut in.

There was no point softening this. Not anymore.

"Ultimately, Don."

Vee nodded slowly. He studied her face, trying to read what was happening behind the calm. She looked tired, but not weak. Hurt, but no longer confused.

"There is something else you should know then," Luca said.

Her eyes moved to his.

"Marco..."

"I know." She looked down at Matteo and brushed a thumb over his cheek. "Isn’t there anything you can do?"

Luca exhaled. "Don won’t listen."

"As he should not," Vee said.

"Babe. You don’t mean that, surely. Valentina may be irredeemable, but Marco has done nothing wrong."

"I’m not saying it’s right," Vee said quietly. "I’m saying rules are rules."

For some reason, hearing those words from her disturbed him more than hearing them from Massimo.

"They were made for a reason," she continued. "You just have to find a way to keep him safe,"

"I am trying."

"Would it matter if I speak to Don?"

"Situations like this, he won’t budge," Luca said.

Vee nodded slowly, absorbing that without argument. She understood Massimo well enough now to understand his stubbornness. Famiglia law was meant to be absolute. She needed Luca to understand that but mercy could be shown every once in a while, she also needed Massimo to understand that.

"So there is no way to save Marco without breaking the rules of the famiglia?" she asked.

"No."

"Is the word out yet about all of this?"

"I’ve tried to keep it contained from the very beginning," Luca said. "No one outside the immediate family knows."

"If you can find a way to get Valentina without making too much noise," she said. "I’ll talk to Massimo. He is concerned about sending the wrong message, I get that. But if we can keep this inside, maybe he will see reason."

"You get some sleep first."

Vee nodded. "Fine." She turned and headed towards the stairs with Matteo still tucked against her.

Halfway up, he called after her.

"Bambola?"

Vee stopped. She turned slightly, one hand resting on the banister while Matteo leaned sleepily against her shoulder.

"I love you," he said. His eyes dropped to her stomach before returning to her face. "I love you both."

"I am obsessed with you." Vee turned away before he could see how serious she was.

Somewhere down the line, the mantra had switched. Love no longer seemed like a big enough word for what she felt for him. Love was soft.

What she felt now had teeth. She was sure her love for him had become obsession, because nothing, nothing in this world would take her husband from her. Nothing would hurt him. Nothing would destroy the family they had fought so hard to build.

It didn’t matter if the one holding the gun was family.

******

The moment Valentina entered the private lounge at Bastione Casino and requested to see Renato Bastione, the atmosphere changed.

It happened almost instantly. She gave her name to the man at the door.

"Valentina Montgomery."

Then she added, "Wife to Marco Montgomery, Capo of Luciano Genovese."

Every gun in the room came up. Men positioned around the lounge raised their weapons with impressive coordination, barrels aimed directly at her. She wasn’t supposed to be here, fraternising with the enemy.

But sensible decisions had left her life several catastrophes ago.

Renato Bastione remained seated. He did not draw a weapon. The men surrounding him had already produced enough firepower to make the point, and Renato seemed far more interested in studying the woman foolish enough to walk into his private lounge carrying Marco Montgomery’s surname.

One hand rested near his drink. The other was impossible not to notice. He was missing a finger. Courtesy of her husband.

Valentina didn’t need to know that yet though. He still needed to know why she was there to see him. "Aren’t you dicks ashamed of yourselves?" She demanded, looking around the room at the collection of guns pointed in her direction. "How many guns against one unharmed woman?"

Renato smiled. Then he lifted one hand. The gesture was enough. His men lowered their weapons, though none of them looked particularly pleased about it. Renato leaned back in his chair. "As I live and breathe," he said, amusement spreading across his face. "This is one encounter I did not see happening."

"I need to speak with you alone."

"I do not trust anything that has to do with Luciano, unarmed or not."

"You and me both."

That got his attention. He sat forward slightly, studying her as though she had stopped being an unexpected guest and become a potentially useful problem.