Undressed By The Mafia God novel Chapter 429

Chapter 429: We Are Not Open Yet

"Really?" she asked, tilting her head with shameless interest. "Looks like you got more toned here..." Her fingers traced lightly down his torso when he came close enough, and Marco caught her wrist gently before her hand could wander lower.

His eyes met hers. "Don’t start what you can’t finish, love."

Val’s brow lifted. "And since when haven’t I been able to finish you?"

Marco’s smile deepened. "Gospel..." He leaned down and kissed her.

*****

The next day, Luca went to visit the pizza shop. He had absolutely no idea why he needed to go.

That was a lie. He knew exactly why.

Vee had everything handled. Between Tony managing the place, Val refusing to sell it, and Vee pretending she was not emotionally attached while making decisions about expansion, Scalese Pizza was already crawling back to life.

But with this new guy across the street, buying Marino’s place, Luca wanted to get a lay of the land.

A hot, dreamy new neighbour, according to his fiancée. He still hated that phrase.

Luca parked in front of Scalese Pizza and stepped out of the car, buttoning his suit jacket. The shop looked better than the last time he saw it. Fresh paint, repaired sign, clean windows.

Tony was inside, speaking to a man who had a clipboard out.

Instead of going in, Luca stood outside for a moment, looking across the street. Heritage Café. Interesting.

The new owner hadn’t really changed the name. He had simply removed Slices and replaced it with Café, which either meant he was too lazy to think of a proper name or he didn’t give a shit about the business itself.

Through the café windows, he could see people moving around inside. Workers, from the look of it.

Maybe he had nothing to worry about. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to check it out.

He crossed the street slowly, taking in the details as he approached. New paint on the door. Simple gold lettering. Clean windows. A chalkboard sign leaned near the entrance, advertising coffee, pastries, and opening soon.

Cute.

Luca pushed the door open. A small bell jingled above him. The café smelled of fresh wood. The interior had been redesigned with warm lighting, dark green walls, small round tables, brass fixtures.

A man stepped out from behind the counter. "We are not open yet."

Luca gave him a polite smile. "I gathered. I’d like to meet the owner."

The man’s gaze flicked briefly over Luca’s suit, watch, face. "He’s in the back office."

"Thank you." Luca gave a small smile and moved past him.

The café was still unfinished in places. A ladder leaned near one wall. A stack of unopened cups sat on the counter. The espresso machine gleamed. Two workers were arranging chairs around little tables as Luca passed.

He noticed everything including the window that looked directly into Scalese Pizza. Maybe he was paranoid.

Paranoia had kept him alive.

He reached the back office and knocked with three fast taps.

A voice answered from inside. "Come in."

Luca pushed the door open and stepped in. David was seated in his new official chair behind a large desk. The office itself was almost empty. Just the desk, the chair, one empty shelf waiting to be filled, and bare walls.

David looked up. "What can I do for you?"

Luca closed the door behind him. "Nothing really. Just checking out the new enterprise."

The man was handsome, Luca admitted with irritation. "You didn’t need to walk in here for that, Mr. Genovese." He said, cutting to the chase. He was never one for small talk.

Luca’s brows lifted faintly. "You know who I am."

"Who doesn’t?"

This man looked at him and clearly wasn’t impressed.

"I hope my reputation precedes me then," Luca said.

David shrugged.

"My wife and her sister own the pizza parlour," Luca said.

"I heard the rumours," David said. "Bad for business."

Luca stepped closer to the desk. "And still, you choose to have a business relationship with her."

"Not exactly a relationship."

"No?"

"If my customers need pizza with their drinks, I merely have to walk into the shop right outside." David gestured lightly toward the street-facing wall. "Simple business sense. Besides," David added, "I heard the pizza is good."

"It is." Luca turned slightly, taking one last look around the office. "Well, have a good day, Mr...?"

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