I laughed, and even Luca’s lips twitched. I wasn’t sure why but I reached out and put my hand on his leg. His eyes snapped toward me briefly, then he covered my hand with his until he needed it to shift gears again. Gianna’s eyes were attentive as they watched. She’d bombard me with questions the moment we were alone, no doubt.
***
When we stepped into the apartment, the smell of roast lamb and rosemary wafted over to us.
“I told Marianna to prepare a nice dinner,” Luca said. Gianna’s red eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Thank you,” I said.
Luca nodded. “Show your sister to her room and then we can eat.” He was still withdrawn and stiff. I watched him head around the corner toward the kitchen area.
I showed Gianna her guestroom, but she quickly pulled me inside and closed the door. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I told you on the phone. I’m fine.”
“I prefer to hear you say it when I can see your face.”
“I’m not lying to you, Gianna.”
She gripped my hand. “Did he force you to sleep with him?”
“No, he didn’t. And I haven’t.”
Her eyes widened. “But something happened between the two of you. I want details.”
I pulled away. “We need to have dinner now. Marianna will be mad if the food gets cold. We can talk tomorrow when Luca’s busy with business.”
“Tomorrow,” Gianna said firmly.
I opened the door and led her toward the dining area. Her eyes took everything in, then became slits when she saw who else would be having dinner with us: Matteo. He and Luca stood beside the table, discussing something, but stepped apart when they noticed us.
“What’s he doing here?” Gianna said, her nose wrinkled.
Flashing his shark grin, Matteo walked toward her and gripped her hand to kiss it. “Nice to see you again, Gianna.”
Gianna snatched her hand away. “Don’t touch me.”
She needed to stop provoking him; he liked it way too much. Luca and I sat beside each other and Matteo beside Gianna. I wasn’t sure that was the best decision. I glanced at Luca, but his cautious gaze rested on his brother and my sister.
Marianna bustled in, serving roast lamb, rosemary potatoes and green beans. We ate in silence for a while until Gianna couldn’t keep her tongue anymore. “Why did you crush that guy’s throat?”
I put my fork down, expecting Luca to explode but he only leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
Gianna huffed. “Come on. It can’t be that big of a secret. You got your nickname for it.”
Matteo grinned. “The Vice is a nice name.”
Luca shook his head. “I hate it.”
“You earned it,” Matteo said. “Now tell them the story or I will.”
I’d been curious about it for a while. Nobody from the Chicago mob wanted to give me details and I hadn’t dared to ask Romero yet.
“I was seventeen,” Luca began. “Our father has many brothers and sisters, and one of my cousins climbed the ranks in the mafia alongside me. He was several years older and wanted to become Capo. He knew my father would choose me, so he invited me to his house and tried to stab me in the back. The knife only graced my arm and when I got the chance I wrapped my hands around his throat and choked him.”
“Why didn’t you shoot him?” Gianna asked.
“He was family and it used to be tradition that we put down our weapons when we entered the home of a family member,” Luca said coldly. “Not anymore, of course.”
“The betrayal made Luca so angry, he completely crushed our cousin’s throat. He choked on his blood because the bones in his neck cut through his artery. It was a mess. I’d never seen anything like it.” Matteo looked like a kid on Christmas morning. It was more than a little disturbing.
Luca glared down at his plate, hands clutching his thighs. No wonder he didn’t like to trust people. To be betrayed by family must have been horrible.
“That’s why Luca always sleeps with an eye open. He never even spends the night with a woman without a gun under the pillow or somewhere at his body.”
Luca shot his brother a glower.
Matteo raised his hands. “It’s not like Aria doesn’t know you screwed around with other women.”
I didn’t think that was the reason for Luca’s reaction.
“So are you wearing a gun now?” Gianna asked. “We’re all family after all.”
“Luca always wears a gun.” Matteo leaned toward Gianna. “Don’t take it personally. I don’t think even I have seen him without a gun since that day. It’s Luca’s tic.”
Luca didn’t wear a gun when we were alone. He wore one when Romero or Marianna were there, even when Matteo was there, but when Luca and I shared a bed, there wasn’t a gun under his pillow or anywhere else. That’s probably because he could overpower you with his hands bound behind his back. Still it seemed like an unnecessary risk.
Luca spent the rest of dinner, tense and silent, but Gianna’s and Matteo’s arguments filled the silence. I wasn’t sure who got off more on their fights.
When we were done eating, I got up to clean the table. Marianna had already left and I didn’t want to leave the dirty dishes waiting for her when she came back tomorrow. Luca surprised me when he rose as well and carried the serving platters and plates over to the dishwasher. I yawned, exhausted.
“Let’s go to bed,” Luca said quietly.
I glanced at Gianna. There was so much I wanted to talk to her about, but it was late and tomorrow was another day. “Not before Matteo leaves. I won’t leave him and my sister alone.”
Luca nodded grimly. “You are right. She shouldn’t be alone with him.” He went over to Matteo and put a hand on his shoulder before leaning down and saying something into his ear. Matteo’s face darkened with anger but he rose smoothly, gave Gianna his shark grin and then walked out of the apartment without another word.