Page 28 of Hidden Ties

Lucca’s voice went even lower as he stared at the girl in concern. “What’s wrong with her?”

“She plays video games too much.”

“Ah …” He nodded, getting it now. It was clear that was all Lucca needed to hear to understand her.

“Yeah, so, imagine living next door to that!” Sal quipped, losing his cool.

“Shh …” Lucca reminded him with a laugh. “So, she’seccentric. So, what?”

“If by eccentric you meancertifiable, sure.”

“Do yourself a favor and look around here. We’re all certifiable, Sal,” Lucca told him, knowing it was the truth. Every made man was a psychotic individual, held on by a tight leash that the craziest one of all controlled. They were only one bad day away from Lucca Caruso and the whole family crashing down.

Smiling, his boss and friend looked over at her once more, and Sal really didn’t like the look of his shit-eating grin.

“Something tells me she’ll fit right in.”

“It’s settled,”Lucca spoke up again to finally include her in the no-longer-private conversation. “You’ll stay with Sal at his place here in the Casino Hotel until further notice.”

What?

“Listen, I, uh … really don’t think that’s a good idea.” She crossed the room closer to him. At this point, she thought she preferred prison rather than living with Salvatore.

However, Lucca’s patience had finally been worn thin. “And I really don’t car—”

“But isn’t he married?”

“Excuse me?” Lucca asked her in disbelief while Sal put his face in his palm.

“Isn’t Sal married?” she asked again, more clearly. “I just really don’t think it would be appropriate if I stayed with him. I promise not to run or anything. Maybe you have an extra room I could use here—”

Lucca held up his hand, silencing her. “I can assure you, Valerie, Sal is not married.”

“Oh.” Valerie didn’t know why a part of her felt happy at that fact, but there was the question of … “Well, maybe he has a girlfriend?”

Another smile touched Lucca’s lips, this time lingering longer. “That, I do not keep track of, but you will still be under his supervision and staying with him.”

When she went to protest again, it was Sal who stopped her from arguing by nudging her along.

Knowing she had pressed her luck too far on that subject, she still dared to ask a different question. “Can I at least keep my bat?”

Lucca’s deadly smile continued as he looked over at Sal and said, “Be my guest.”

Wow. This might be better than prison after all—

“Oh, and, Valerie,” Lucca said, stopping them before they left, “you have my full permission to use it on any of my men that you see fit.”

Way better than prison.

But before the door could close, he finally spared one of his men.

“Anyone but Sal.”

Damn, you can’t win ’em all.

TWELVE

CHIN UP