Luciano
I sat at my table, staring out the window, a warm glow of satisfaction washing over me.
For the first time in a while, it all felt right, but then of course, that wouldn’t last for long.
An urgent knock sounded on my door, and I immediately knew who it was. Only one person in the whole entire fucking world would dare bang on my door like that.
“Come in Georgia.” I said calmly, I had been expecting her visit.
She barged in, her eyes almost red with rage, “What the hell Luciano?”
I smirked, unable to stop myself, “And a good afternoon to you too my dear.”
“Cut the crap.” She snapped, “What the hell is going on?”
I shrugged, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Luciano, tell me the truth! Did you turn our own men into the police? Did you betray us?”
I paused, reluctant to admit it. More likely than not, she wouldn’t understand my thought process.
Ah fuck it, she could think whatever she wanted. “Yes, Georgia, I did.” I replied calmly.
Her eyes widened in shock, “You did it.” She repeated silently, like she didn’t hear me the first time.
“I had to do it to protect our family. To weed out the traitors, the scum still loyal to Luka.”
“Betraying our own, Luciano?” She room a step forward, shock written all over her face, “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
“No, Georgia, I haven’t lost my mind. I’ve made a difficult but necessary decision. Luka’s stranglehold on this family had to be broken-”
“Oh my God,” she interjected, throwing up her arms.
” Those who were still devoted to him, they were the cancer eating away at our foundation.”
She paused for a moment, speechless, “But they were our brothers, Luciano! We grew up with them, fought side by side with them. We trusted them.”
“And they betrayed that trust, Georgia! It’s not an easy choice to make, but loyalty to our family comes above all else. We can’t afford to have weak links jeopardizing everything we’ve built.”
“So you become the judge, jury, and executioner?” She pressed, “Do you think this will make us stronger? Can you live with the guilt?”
“It’s not about guilt, Georgia.”
“The what?” She cried, “What is it about? Power? Ego? Is that it Luciano?”
“Georgia…” I growled, a warning, she was starting to cross a line.
“Is it about Raven?” She pressed ignoring me, “It is, isn’t it?”
” It’s about SURVIVAL!” I barked, finally losing my temper.
“This war with Luka has been dragging on for too long, and even with him gone, the aftermath shall drag on for even longer, unless I take action.”
I glared at her, who the hell did she think she was? Telling me how to run my fucking business?
“It’s time to end it, even if it means sacrificing some of our own.”
“Sacrificing?” She asked, raising her voice, “Is that what you call it? These men had families, Luciano! Children who will grow up without fathers!”
“I know the consequences of my actions, Georgia. I’m not proud of what I’ve done. But if we don’t act, our enemies will devour us. I chose the lesser evil.”
“You’ve become like them, Luciano.” She spat, disgust scrunching up her face, “Just another ruthless leader willing to do anything for power.”
“Leaders do exactly what they have to do. And that is what I did, what exactly is wrong with that Georgia?”
“What happened to our sense of honor, of loyalty, to protect our own no matter the cost?
“I had to make a difficult choice, Georgia. It wasn’t easy, and I wish there was another way. But Luka’s corruption was spreading, poisoning the roots of our family. We had to sever those ties for a chance at redemption.”
“Redemption at what cost, Luciano?” Her voice was cracking now, “Our souls? Our humanity?”
“Enough!” That was it, I had, had enough. “I am the Boss, my decision isn’t up for debate, this isn’t a fucking democracy, my word is final. I will hear no more nonsense on this matter Georgia.”
She fell silent for a while. I could tell she still had a lot to say, but to her credit, she turned to go.
“I hope you’re right, Luciano.” She whispered “I hope your sacrifice was worth it.” But she didn’t believe it, I could here the bitterness in her voice.
She didn’t trust me anymore, and that hurt. More than I wanted it to.
I looked at her, “Only time will tell, my friend.” I said calmly, “But I promise you this, I will do whatever it takes to protect what remains of our family. Even if it means carrying these burdens on my shoulders alone.”
Georgia’e eyes widened, a look of desperation crossing her face, “Luciano, that wasn’t what I me-”
I raised a hand, shutting her up. “Irrelevant, that’s what I can tell from you, what my instincts tell me you mean”
“Luc-”
I walked up to her, looking into her eyes, my voice lowering dangerously as I drove the point home. “I love you Georgia, you are one of my closest friends, ad I cherish our bond, but if I ever find out you are undermining my leadership, my legacy, what I have spent years building, because of your petty jealousy of Raven, I will treat you like a mother fuckin traitor. Is that clear?
She swallowed hard, her eyes never leaving my face. “Crystal.”
“Good.” I opened the door, holding it open for her, “Now leave.”
* * *
I needed to see her, I needed to calm my nerves, badly.
I walked into Raven’s room, almost immediately feeling the atmosphere turn heavy with tension, and Raven was visibly upset, sitting on her bed, shaking.
Oh boy, what the hell was wrong now?
I frowned , concerned and at the same time slightly annoyed, after the shit with Georgia, I was in absolutely no mood for dealing with an emotionally charged woman.
“Raven?” I called gently, watching her from a distance, unsure o what exactly to do.
She looked up, shaking slightly, “Luciano…”
The adjoining door opened, the elderly doctor Hartmann striding into the room, his slight limp even more pronounced.
“Mr Moretti,” he called, peering at me over the rims of his gold rimmed half-moon glasses, “I was about to send for you.”
My heart sank as a wave of anxiety washed over me. “Why? Is anything wrong?”
He shook his head, “Not really?”
” Then what is going on?”
He waved his hands, gesturing I leave the room and following me behind, “Not in here Mr Moretti, come with me. ”
With another glance at Raven who looked up at me, her eyes also pleading, I followed him.
“What is wrong doctor? Its she not responding to treatment?”
He ran his hand through the bald patch on his head, “Oh, physiologically, she is. The drugs are working.”
“It sure doesn’t look like it?”
“Trust me Mr Moretti, the drugs are not the problem, which is why I wanted to see you.””
“What is it then Goddamit?” I snapped, feeling my temper rise dangerously, “Get to the fucking point and stop wasting time”
He sighed deeply, “I am afraid she isn’t looking better not because of physical reasons, more like eh… Phycological.” He said cautiously.
“Oh.” I got it now, even though I had no idea why, she was feeling down, depressed.
“What do you suggest?” I asked him, after a moment of silence.
“I don’t want to get her on any anti depressants now, go in, talk to her and see what is wrong.” He looked back at the closed door as though addressing her, “I am not sure if it is transitory, or if there is something really bothering her, I suggest you talk to her sir, see what is wrong.”
I nodded at him, pushing the door open and walking into the room.
“Raven?” I asked softly, “What happened? Why are you so upset?”
“Luciano, it’s all my fault. Everything that happened… it’s because of me.”
I hadn’t seen her like this, beaten, defeated, weak. I couldn’t bear it.
I walked up to sit next to her, placing a comforting arm on her shoulder, ” Hey, hey, don’t say that. It isn’t, Okay? We’ll figure it out together.””
“It’s just… I made a terrible mistake, Luciano. These fights, they are my fault.
“No, Raven. Stop blaming yourself.”
She looked up at me, “Promise me one thing Luciano.” Her eyes were wide and teary, her voice pleading.
I pulled her into a comforting hug, burying my face in her hair, “Anything Raven, anything at all.”
Quietly, calmly, snuggling up to me, she whispered. “Never fight for me.”
I wanted to argue, I wanted to promise her I would, that I couldn’t stop fighting for her, that I would be there no matter what.
But I didn’t. I just held her there until she fell asleep in my arms.