Page 55 of Veil of Obsession

My mother takes two steps toward me and backhands me. The sound is sharp, loud, and unyielding. My cheek stings with the pain. Reaching up, I smooth my fingertips over it.

She breathes in, smoothing down her dress before she says, “We want to strengthen our relationship with the Morgans, and this marriage will be the next step to solidify the relationship between the Morgans and the Gambis. Now pull yourself together and stop acting like a damn child.”

20

Lucio

Ibounce baby Bianca in my lap, and she coos up at me, her azure eyes twinkling as she gives me a toothless laugh. “You love your uncle, don’t you, Bee?”

“Are you sure you don’t mind her in your lap, Lucio?” Valentina asks from the kitchen.

I stand up, adjusting little Bee on my hip. The little hellion bites my exposed bicep, and when I go to get her mouth off me, she manages to tug at my hair, laughing. Jesus have mercy.

“Uh…yeah, Val. I’m sure.” I grab Bianca from under her arms and wiggle her till she giggles, fitting her fist in her mouth.

Val comes back into the living room with two cups of black coffee for both of us. She laughs at the sight of her daughter trying to grab at my hair.

“She seems to enjoy pulling your hair.”

I lift a brow. “Just wait until she’s older. I’m going to annoy her all the time and pull her hair every time I see her. The little shit is only getting away with it because she’s still a baby.”

“No swearing in front of Bianca, Lucio. I don’t want her picking up on the filthy things you boys say.”

Rolling my eyes, I take a seat next to her. “Please. I remember when I first met you. All I heard was you swearing at Eli.”

Valentina swats at my arm playfully. “You’re always so flippant about everything, aren’t you?”

I give her wink, which she shakes her head at. “Have you heard from your sisters?”

My brother kidnapped her nearly three years ago, and after she went back to Chicago, we went back for her, and she came back of her own free will. But that caused her to be completely cut off from her family, from the people she loves.

Val presses her lips together and nods. “Yes.”

She finally lets out a deep breath, her shoulders tensing slightly. I don’t cut her off and wait for her to finish what she’s saying.

“I was able to get in contact with Violette, my younger sister. She married the guy she was arranged to, but she doesn’t have information about Marcello and Monica, my youngest siblings. She said that after I left, my father was paralyzed, but he ordered for my mother to be killed off, blaming her for my betrayal…” She pauses, a sob wracking her whole body.

I don’t really know how to soothe a woman, especially one in emotional pain. I’ve only ever dealt with those who are in physical pain.

I try to help by rubbing my hand in circles on her back. “It’s not your fault, Val. Your Pa’s a weak man.”

“Was,” she corrects me. “My uncles killed him a couple of weeks ago. And there’s some sort of struggle over who will become the next Capo of the Outfit.”

“It should be your brother, Marcello. Shouldn’t it?”

Val nods. “Yes, but my uncles are power-hungry, and Marcello is still too young to claim any power. Violette said herhusband hasn’t allowed her out anywhere, neither of them has left the house and he holds his meetings in their house.” She pauses. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this.”

I wave her off. “I don’t give a shit about the Outfit’s territory, and trust me, we all have our own issues to even look over to Chicago. Your sister and her husband are safe as long as they keep their noses out of our business.”

She rubs a hand over her face, distraught, so I ask her, “How do you feel about all of this?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know how to feel,” she admits, her eyes glossing over and fresh tears welling up.

“That’s okay. It’s okay to feel that way, Val. It’s okay to grieve the loss of your relationship with your family, the loss of your Ma, and the loss of your family. But just know that you have created a beautiful family here.” I hold up Bianca, who looks from her Ma to me and back at her Ma again. “And you have this little gem of a daughter who has her ma’s fierceness and her pa’s temper.”

Of course, my brother choses that moment to walk in.

“What’s that about my temper, you little shit?” Emiliano’s eyes zone in on Valentina, who’s still tearful. “What the fuck did you say to my wife?” He kneels in front of her, his hands cupping her face. “What’s wrong,amore?”