Undressed By The Mafia God novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97: No Hard Feelings

"Of course, of course." Inferi tucked the money away quickly. He turned toward Veronica, forcing a smirk back onto his face now that he felt safe. "No hard feelings, uhn Scalese. Its just business."

Luca stepped forward and patted Inferi lightly on the shoulder.

Inferi stiffened under the touch. He nodded once, then motioned to his men. They filed out quickly.

The bell above the door chimed again as it closed.

Silence flooded the shop.

For a long moment, Luca did not move as he watched Inferi as his men through the glass doors.

Then his smile vanished.

The warmth drained from his face. His eyes shifted from the door to Veronica.

Valentina instinctively moved aside.

Luca crouched in front of Veronica. Up close, she could see the tightness in his jaw, the muscle ticking near his temple.

When his fingers finally brushed her cheek, they were impossibly gentle.

His thumb traced the swelling bruise. Then the cut at her throat. His breathing changed. He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket again for a pristine white handkerchief. He unfolded it and leaned closer, his fingers steady as he pressed the fabric gently to the thin line of blood sliding down Veronica’s neck. He dabbed slowly, absorbing the red before it could travel further.

"You didn’t walk into a door last week, did you?" he asked.

Anyone standing across the room would have believed he was making polite conversation. But Veronica was close enough to see the truth. His blue eyes had gone distant. Like a man standing at the edge of a cliff, calculating how far he was willing to fall.

"I asked you a question," he said quietly. "You didn’t walk into a door, did you?"

Veronica swallowed. "No," she admitted.

Luca held her gaze. The handkerchief remained at her neck, his fingers brushing the hollow of her throat.

"All that act this morning was for him, wasn’t it?"

She knew exactly what he meant. The way she had pressed herself close to him outside the bodega. The kiss under Inferi’s watchful eye. She had wanted to send a message. To make Inferi believe she was protected by someone bigger.

Vee nodded.

"Use your words, Bambola," Luca said.

"Yes." She had used him.

He removed the handkerchief from her neck and folded it carefully, now stained red.

Then he stood.

The shift in height changed the entire dynamic. He seemed larger now, broader. The softness that had existed only for her vanished.

He turned to Marco.

"Take her home. Have Nonnina take care of her. I’ll take an Uber back."

Marco nodded once, already stepping forward. "Of course, Luca."

"And Marco?" Luca added.

Marco paused.

"Do I need to explain to you what to do next?"

"No."

Veronica’s stomach dropped.

Luca adjusted his cuffs, then finally let his gaze settle on her one last time.

He walked toward the door with the same controlled stride he had entered with.

Luca pulled his phone from his pocket as he stepped onto the sidewalk. Anyone passing by would see a well dressed man blending into city life.

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