When I woke up the next morning, I was alone in bed. I sat up, disappointed that Luca had not woken me up. I slipped out of bed when he entered the bedroom from the hallway, already dressed in black, with a holster on his chest containing two knives and two guns, and who knows how many more holsters on the rest of his body with more weapons. “Are you leaving already?”
He grimaced. “The Bratva took one of ours. They left it in pieces around one of our clubs.”
“Someone I know?” I asked with dread. Luca shook his head. “Will the police be involved?”
“Not if I can help it.” Luca cupped my face. “I’ll try to get home soon, okay?”
I nodded. He lowered his head, watching me all the while to see if I would back off. His lips brushed against mine. I opened my mouth for him and indulged in the kiss, but it was over too quickly. I watched his back as he walked away. Then I picked up the phone and called Gianna.
“I thought you would never call,” was the first thing that came out of his mouth.
I smiled. “I haven’t even showered yet, and it’s only eight o’clock in Chicago. You can’t have been up long.” “You didn’t call yesterday. I was sick with worry. I couldn’t sleep because of you. I hate that we’re so far apart and I can’t see for myself if you’re okay. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I am.” I told her about my conversation with Luca and how we had spent yesterday’s day together.
“How noble of him to agree not to cheat on you anymore and really try to make the marriage work. Give the man flowers.
“He is not a good man, Gianna. There are no good men in our world. But I think he really wants to try. And so do I.”
“Why don’t you ask him if I can visit you for a few days? I’m not going to school for another two weeks and I’m bored out of my mind without you. We could spend a couple of days at the beach in the Hamptons and shopping in Manhattan.
“What about Dad? Did you ask him?”
“He told me to ask you and Luca.”
“I’ll ask him. I don’t think he’ll mind. It’s not like I’m home very often right now. Most days I’m just with Romero.
“Why don’t you ask Luca if you can go to college? You have perfect grades. You would have no problem getting into Columbia.
“For what? I will never be allowed to work. It’s too dangerous.”
“You could help Luca with his clubs. You could be his secretary or something. You’ll go crazy if you stay in that penthouse all the time.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” I said, although I wasn’t really sure. Gianna was right. “I’ll talk to Luca about your visit. Right now I really need to take a shower and get something to eat.”
“Call me as soon as possible. I need to book a flight.”
I smiled. “I will. Stay out of trouble.”
“You too.”
I ended the call. Then I got ready and put on a breezy summer dress. It was sunny outside and I wanted to walk around Central Park. When I entered the living room, Romero was sitting at the dining table with a cup of coffee in front of him.
“Was Luca very angry with you?” I asked as I walked past him toward the huge open kitchen.
The homemade carrot cake was laid on the counter and I could hear Marianna humming somewhere. She was probably cleaning up. Romero stood up, picked up the cup and leaned against the kitchen island. “He was not happy. You could have been killed. I should protect you.”
“What is Luca doing today?”
Romero shook his head.
“What is he doing? I want to know the details. Why is he carrying so many weapons?” “He, Matteo, and a few others will find the boys who killed our man and then take revenge.”
“That sounds dangerous.” A hint of concern pervaded me. Revenge was never the end of things. Bratva would in turn take revenge on Luca’s revenge. It was a never-ending story.
“Luca and Matteo have been doing this for a long time, they are the best, and so are the men with them.”
“And instead of having fun, you have to babysit me.”
Romero shrugged, then smiled. “It’s an honor.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’d love to go jogging in Central Park.”
“Are you going to try to run again?”
“Why should I? There’s nowhere for me to run. And I doubt you’ll let me run away again. You look pretty good.”
Romero straightened up. “All right.” I could tell he was still suspicious of my motives.
I put on shorts, a tank top, and running shoes, then walked out. Romero had put on sweatpants and a T-shirt. He kept a stash of clothes in one of the guest rooms, but he lived in an apartment about ten minutes away. “Where did you hide your weapons?”
“That’s my secret,” he said with a rare smile, then recovered and assumed his professional face.
Romero was fit and could easily keep up with me as we ran along the many paths in Central Park for the next hour. It was wonderful to actually run outside for once instead of always being limited to the treadmill. I felt free and almost as if I belonged to all the people doing ordinary things like walking the dog or playing baseball. Maybe Luca would run with me someday when the Russians wouldn’t give him so much trouble anymore. When would that ever happen?
*** Later that day I sat on the rooftop terrace, watching the sunset, my legs resting against my body.
Romero was checking his phone. “Luca will have more time for you soon.”
I looked at him. Had I seemed lonely to him? “Did he tell you when he was coming home today?”
“He hasn’t written yet,” he said slowly.
“That’s a bad sign, isn’t it?”
Romero said nothing, just frowned at the phone.
I came into the house when it was too cold outside, put on my nightgown and curled up on the sofa, turning on the TV. I couldn’t help but worry even more as the clock approached midnight, but I finally fell asleep.