LUCA
Iwoke up the next morning with Veda sprawled across my chest and her hair tickling my nose. Even in sleep, I held her tight against me, my arms wrapped around her in a vice-like hold and one leg thrown over hers. Glancing over at my phone on the nightstand, I was surprised at the time. For the first time in weeks, I'd slept completely through the night.
She sighed when I loosened my hold and rubbed my palms against the soft skin of her back, but didn't wake. So I gently moved her off of me and pulled the blankets up around her waist before I got out of bed. She laid on her stomach with her arms bent out from her body, her hands shoved under the pillows and her face turned toward me. Her lips were parted in sleep, and her soft wheat-blonde hair was spread across her bare shoulders and her pillow. I stared down at her for a moment, then I picked up my phone and took a picture. I wanted to hold this image of her forever.
Veda was still asleep when I came out from my shower and got dressed. I pressed my lips to her temple and cheek, but she didn't stir. So I grabbed my jacket off the chair and then gently closed the bedroom door behind me and made my way downstairs to get some coffee and check in with Enzo and Tristan.
Three hours later, we were about to head out to do rounds at the clubs when I got a phone call. I frowned when I saw the name on the screen. "Rene? What's going on?" I wasn't expecting to hear from Maria's brother for a while. Not until he'd taken care of a little "problem" happening on his end of things that was putting a glitch in our usual shipment. "Did things get taken care of?"
"No, amigo. I wouldn't say that. As a matter of fact, my little issue has grown significantly larger and I'm not going to be able to get our usual shipment to you for a month. Maybe more."
"That's not going to work for me, Rene."
"Si, I am aware. And that's why I contacted one of my cousins to see if he could cover things for me this time around."
"And what did he say?"
"He said he would. But he would feel better if you were there personally to receive it from him. He's not familiar with your men, but he remembers you from Maria's funeral."
An unusual request, but not completely surprising, all things considered. Still... "I don't think I'll be able to make it. I have my own personal issues going on here. I can send Enzo or Tristan—"
"No. He wants you or no deal," Rene said. "Honestly, between you and me, my cousin is a little loco, and it makes him a little too suspicious sometimes. But as long as he knows you, he's cool. He'll make sure the job goes off without a hitch as long as you're the one who's there with the money."
Fucking hell. "It's really not a good time for me, my friend."
"Well, you better make it a good time, or this deal will have to be postponed."
That was not an option. Not with my father already up my ass, just waiting for a reason to call me out. I cursed softly and sighed. "When and where?"
"Can you be at the drop spot by tonight? The usual time."
"I can be there."
"Good. I'll tell him you're coming. His name is Jesus, and he looks like me. A few inches taller and a few pounds lighter."
"Easy enough."
"Call me if there are any issues at all. I'll have this shit straightened out on my end by next month, Luca. I promise you."
"I'll see you then." Hanging up the phone, I relayed the information to Enzo and Tristan.
"What of your guests?" Enzo asked. "Do you want me to stay here?"
I shook my head. "No. Even though Rene vouches for this guy, I don't know him. I want you both with me, just in case. We'll leave only the necessary amount of men to watch the house. It will only be for one night."
"And you're going to trust that Veda and her parents will still be here when we get back?"
I looked at Tristan. "No, I'm not. She's way too intelligent to leave alone. I'll leave Tony here to make sure they stay in the house."
"Tony?" Tristan asked. "I don't know if that's a good idea."
Enzo and I exchanged looks. "It would be one way to find out what he's up to," he said.
"Agreed. Perhaps I'm being too suspicious, but he's been acting strange lately. I would like to know for sure where his loyalties lie. Especially with Veda back in the house. We can keep an eye on him with the security cameras while we're driving. He'll be relaxed with just Vita and Lisa in the house. And if he says or does anything suspicious, I'll confront him when we get back."
"Do you trust him enough to leave him here alone?"
"No," I told Enzo. "Have two of the men outside on alert. If anything happens, they can hold Tony until we get back."