Luca

12 - Something is off

Luca

“I can’t believe you’re doin’ this, man.”

I roll my neck and sigh. I was on my way to the steam room to clear my head after a tough day at work. I’m in nothing but a towel around my waist, yet Dray couldn’t wait to stop me. I’ve been in less in front of my brother before; we’re twins, and we’re not shy in front of each other. Not that we walk around in front of each other naked on a daily basis.

At dinner last night, my brother was silent. It was just family, Sofia, and Lorna, and mostly pleasant—except for Dray being off. Sofia was quiet too, only speaking when addressed.

I noticed how Sofia smiled every time my mother asked her a question. It’s nice that my future wife feels comfortable around my mother. I still don’t know everything Mom said to Sofia when they were alone, but they seem to have come to an understanding.

Sofia was nervous around my father, but that was no surprise. Most people feel intimidated by the Don. Lorna, however, seemed to have no problem looking my dad in the eye when speaking to him.

Of course, Dad is keeping a close eye on Lorna. Draven Vidal doesn’t trust outsiders, which is what Lorna is. Regardless of why she came to him, even if she does want to protect Sofia, Romano could have planned everything. Lorna could be a mole, here to gather information about the Don and pass it back to Romano.

That won’t happen. My dad’s too seasoned and careful for Lorna to learn a thing from us.

I walked Sofia back to her room after dinner. I asked if something was on her mind, sensing she was uneasy about her new environment and our situation. She said she was just trying to adjust. I wanted to push, but realized trust takes time. I kissed her cheek and walked away.

At breakfast this morning, Sofia was just as quiet. She smiled in all the right places, ate a small amount of food, and I began to think something more was going on. Observing the looks my brother was giving Sofia, I worried Dray’s attitude toward her might be affecting her, or that he might know something I don’t. Something doesn’t sit right with me.

I took my brother aside and asked him if he’d said anything to Sofia. Dray said that he wouldn’t talk to Sofia if I paid him.

But something in his eyes unsettles me.

Why can’t I trust his word?

I will get to the bottom of this. And if I find out Dray threatened Sofia, I’ll break his neck! I don’t love Sofia, and I doubt I ever will, not in the romantic sense. But I respect her enough to ensure she’s safe and happy. Sofia deserves to be protected, especially from my psychopathic brother, and I feel responsible for that.

“I’m doing this so that you don’t have to, Dray. Of course,” I swing a folded towel around my shoulder and hold it in my hands. “If you’ve changed your mind...”

“I haven’t,” Dray cuts me off with a shake of his head. “I’m not saying the girl isn’t hot as hell, but marriage is not my thing. Besides, we both know that I’d break her in less than ten minutes.”

Of that, I have no doubt.

“I am sorry that you have to go through with this, though, Luca.” Dray continues. “All this bullshit just to have Romano believe Dad has fallen for his shit.” My brother shakes his head in disgust. “You know Dad’s plans for Sofia once Romano’s out of the picture.”

“He’s going to kill her,” I mumble.

Dad wasn’t shy in telling me earlier just what he would do to Sofia and her brother, Marchello, once Romano is dead. I knew what he would say when I asked him last night. However, I hoped I was wrong. But then, my gut feelings are never wrong.

I tried to argue with him about it, but you don’t argue with the Don. What he says goes, and he doesn’t give a damn how it makes you feel. He told me in no uncertain terms that this marriage is a business transaction. He wanted Dray to marry Sofia because my brother would have no problem killing his own wife, and he would lose no sleep over it.

But I am not built that way. I cannot let my father take out my wife, not because I love her—I don’t even know Sofia yet—but because I refuse to be complicit in hurting someone innocent. I can see she’s been through hell with Romano; she deserves a chance to heal, free from more pain.

I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Sofia alive. No matter what it costs me.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to handle that, Luca?”

I take a deep breath in through my nose. Both my brother and father will honestly have no problem killing Sofia once Romano is out of the way. In any other situation, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid either, but there’s something special about Sofia that I can’t put my finger on. My motivation now includes a sense of obligation and curiosity—something about her compels me, and I’m hoping to understand what that is.

Dray and I both know the dangers of caring for a woman. With a family like ours, enemies lurk everywhere. Dad drilled into us early: keep feelings locked away. Have fun with women, but never care—she could end up dead.

I once asked my father what Dray and I should do if we ever fell in love. He told us that a man can’t stop his heart from falling for that one woman who holds it in her hands. However, not all women fall as hard as we might, and that could be dangerous. Never give away your secrets, not even to the woman you can’t live without, because she could give them to your enemies. We all know where that could lead you – death.

Dad bragged about how Mom knows almost all of his secrets, yet there are some that even his soulmate can never know.

I don’t expect to love Sofia, but I think we could be friends. I wouldn’t marry her without at least some respect. I know better than to trust her completely—she’s a Romano, and I’ll stay cautious. For me, respect is a minimum—it’s about making the best of a forced situation without unnecessarily hurting her or exposing myself.

“She’s innocent, Dray. You know what that monster puts her through. I’m hoping Dad will see that Sofia has been through enough, and he won’t hurt her. Besides, do you really think that Marchello will stand by while Sofia is taken out for simply being a Romano? Or is Dad seriously planning on killing Marchello, too? If he is, what will that do to Antonio?”

Antonio is Dad’s Number One's eldest son. He and Marchello fell in love and are good together. I don’t know how Marchello keeps his life here separate from his life with Romano, but he does. It’s a miracle Romano hasn’t figured it out—though, given the man’s idiocy, maybe it isn’t.

Dray shrugs nonchalantly, which only serves to tell me that Marchello really will end up the same way as his father.

I close my eyes, jaw tight, trying to steady the chaos in my head.

Marchello, the only son of Roberto Romano, has been secretly working for my dad for the past six months. All the while, he’s made sure his father believes that he’s loyal to him. Marchello has done a good job of fooling Romano while passing information to my father. Of course, Dad trusts no one, and Marchello is just another in a long line of people willing to sell out their own family.

Dad values family above all. Betray your own, and you deserve death. Never turn on family. Simple.

Maybe Dad had the right idea when he chose Dray to marry Sofia. Apart from treating her like s**t, he’d be able to close off his emotions. To him, it would have been a business transaction, nothing more. However, Dray is smart and knew that if he married Sofia, especially now that Mom is on Sofia’s side, he’d be stuck with her for life.

“I don’t give a damn about Marchello, Luca.”

I roll my eyes. “He’s your best friend’s boyfriend! You’d really hurt Antonio by standing back and watching Marchello die?”

Dray smirks. “You don’t know me very well if you think I’d give a s**t, Luca.”

“That’s your problem, Dray. You don’t care about anyone or anything!”

My brother laughs. “I know!” His smile fades. “Just be careful with your heart, Luca. This whole thing isn’t gonna end how you think it will.”

“Whatever, Dray,” I roll my eyes and walk away to the sound of him chuckling.

It’s all a joke to Dray, but not to me. Whatever happens with Romano and his family, I won’t let Sofia be harmed.

Mom isn’t going to like this when she finds out. Because there is no doubt in my mind that Dad hasn’t mentioned his plans to her, and now that my mother is friendly with Sofia, she won’t want the girl dead. My mother isn’t the type of woman to hold the crimes of one man against his whole family, not like my father.

If the only way to save Sofia is to tell my mother what Dad has planned, I’ll do it. I’ve never tattled to her about anything. I grew up in this life; I know how things work. Dad’s in charge, and that won’t change until Dray takes over. Some things, though, are worth defying my father for—even if it costs me my life.

I don’t know why this girl has gotten under my skin in ways I can’t fight. But I won’t let her die. I’ll go through hell, face my father, do whatever it takes. Sofia will live—even if it means losing myself along the way. My motivation is driven by a need to protect someone innocent, perhaps to prove to myself I can do the right thing despite my family’s ruthless ways.