For Luca (Chicago Syndicate Book 2) (28 page)

“James is going to be there?” That amazes me.

“I’m not sure; Salvatore was vague as usual. However, I do think you should join me and show your face before they start to get wind of how often you’ve been absent lately. You know I don’t mind, and I’m more than happy to cover for you so that you can be with Fallon right now, but we have to be careful.”

I nod in agreement. “You’re right. James is already pissed with how many resources I’m utilizing to find Ashton, and he realizes it has more to do with Fallon than the fact that he waterboarded me. I want Ashton in order to settle the score for Fallon. And we still need to find out what James was doing alone at Club 7, but we can’t ask Fat Sal. No one can know about the issues James and I have because it would be used against us. And I’m not positive if he’s deliberately keeping us in the dark.”

“Neither am I, but where do we start?”

Opening the desk drawer, I file the papers and then turn the key. “We’ll discuss it later, and I’ll meet you at the house. Now I’m off to Fallon’s therapist because she has had appointments twice a week but is curiously adamant about not letting me take her on Mondays. On Thursday, she loves it when I drop her off and pick her up, but every Monday, she declines. According to her, it’s because she doesn’t want to alienate her friends, so she lets Wade drop her off on Mondays, but she’s obviously lying. I just need to ensure that she’s all right.”

“How has she been doing?”

“Surprisingly good. She mostly just cries at night, when we’re in bed. And I can’t determine what else is bothering her. She’s opened up about her misery over losing her parents, but I have a distinct feeling that sometimes she wants to say more yet holds it in. The therapy is helping a lot because she always comes home in a positive mood after meeting Sylvia. She writes down her emotions and started yoga classes.”

“And you two?

Standing up, I take my jacket from the back of the chair and throw it on. “I don’t know. We avoid having the talk, and I’m not pushing while she’s still grieving. But at one point, I will let her know where we stand.”

Adriano perks his brow and grins. “Doesn’t she have a say in it?”

“Fallon is not going to push me away because I can read her. She’s slowly coming to terms with the fact that she still wants me – even though I’m the underboss of the Syndicate. Why do you think I haven’t allowed anyone to interfere with the investigation of her parents, or why I haven’t put any pressure on the Lake Forest police department? Because I don’t want anything to obstruct or affect the trust we’re rebuilding.” When Adriano opens his mouth to interrupt, I hurriedly add, “Yes, I’m aware that following her to the therapist is not helpful when trying to rebuilt trust, but I can’t change myself. I’m only giving her enough space to come to the same conclusion that I have: that we can’t be apart. There will come a time when she’ll ask for my help because I can sense the aggravation in her about how the case is being handled. She’s disappointed and mad but just hasn’t voiced it.” After pocketing my phone, I head to the door because I want to arrive there before Fallon does. “See you later.”

***

I park my car two blocks from Sylvia’s and walk to her office fifteen minutes before Fallon’s appointment. As I pass a children’s store, a familiar face steps inside the building across the street. Ducking inside the store, I witness Fallon being dropped off by Wade five minutes later.

“Sir, can I help you?”

Turning around to a friendly old lady, I quickly answer, “No, thank you. Just looking for a gift.” She retreats, and I call Adriano. “Guess who I just saw?”

“Don’t keep me in suspense,” he retorts with an obvious full mouth. He’s always eating.

“A certain Italian beauty you have a weak spot for.”

His chewing stops immediately. “Cam?” he asks as if he can’t believe me.

“Unless there’s another Italian you’re crushing on?”

“She’s in The Loop?”

“And she’s in contact with Fallon,” I elaborate.

“You sound pretty calm, even though you just caught Fallon in a lie.”

“That’s because I’m trying to think ahead. I’m going to confront her because I’m pretty curious what the deal is with Camilla and what these two women are up to. Honestly, I don’t believe Fallon is willingly lying to me.” I could be wrong, but I don’t reveal my doubts to him. 

“I want to be there,” he comments.

“I don’t think that’s wise. Listen, let’s not do anything rash. We need something against James if it ever comes to that, and he wants Camilla because of the bombing at the house.”

“You don’t know that was her.”

“Fine, but we suspect her—”

“Luca, don’t hurt Cam.”

“I’m not going to do anything. I’m going to let her leave, and then I’ll confront Fallon. After that we’ll discuss our plan of action.”

“Call me after you’ve talked to Fallon.”

Ending the call, I look up and see Camilla leaving. I return to my car and park it in front of the building. Patiently, I wait for the end of Fallon’s session in the waiting area on the second floor.

When the door opens, I can tell from her slightly red eyes that it was a tough session. Instead of shock, she smiles when she spots me, so I hold open my arms while nodding to Sylvia, whom I’ve met several times when I picked Fallon up on Thursdays.

“This is a nice surprise,” she mutters against my chest and pulls back. “Couldn’t Wade come?”

Shit! I didn’t think of that.

“I don’t know, but he’s not here yet. Text him that he doesn’t need to come. Let’s get you home.” I circle the thick, white shawl around her neck twice because it’s cold outside and just started to snow again.

***

I throw the keys on the kitchen table when we enter her apartment while she makes herself a cup of tea. This woman can live off of tea.

The ride home was pleasantly silent, and I’m actually stunned that I’m not mad at all. Quite the contrary, I just want to hear her out first before jumping to any conclusions.

“
Dolcezza
, we need to talk.”

Uh-oh.” She slams the cabinet shut. “That’s never good.” But she joins me on the sofa, and the swelling around her eyes has me incapable of being angry at her.

In the past, I’ve allowed our lies and deceit to break us up, but I’m not about to make that same mistake again and decide to just throw it out there. “I was at the therapist’s office before your session began.” Her eyes widen, and I can see the tears building immediately. This emotional reaction is what I anticipated and calms me even more because I was right; she isn’t lying to me willingly. “I saw you with Camilla.” Her pale appearance softens me. “Talk to me.”

“She’s scared, Luca. I gave her money because she’s broke, and I’ve been trying to convince Cam to confide in you and Adriano.”

I believe her without any doubt, but I need to convey where
I
stand. “
You
should’ve told me.” She sighs and breaks eye contact, so I place my finger under her chin to steer her gaze back on me.

“You’re right, but she’s really scared, and she also told me something about Adriano that confused me.”

Now a hint of annoyance starts to rise because there’s only one person in this world I trust indisputably and that’s my best friend. “Don’t. Stop right there. Don’t you dare plant seeds of doubt in me about Adriano.”

“He told Camilla to disappear. Isn’t that strange?”

I defend my best friend and
Capo
with conviction. “He has feelings for her that go beyond friendship; he wanted to help her. There’s more at stake here than we are both aware of; I’m positive of that.”

“But what if A—”

“Basta così!”
Enough! “I told you once don’t go there, last warning.” Aggravated, I lean forward with my elbows on my knees to get the control back over my emotions because I want to avoid a fight. This relationship we don’t dare to define is still too breakable.

“She planted a bomb at your headquarters,” she suddenly blurts out.

Craning my neck, I evenly demand, “Did you have anything to do with that?”

“No,” she answers in a soft voice as the hurt over my question blisters to the surface. “Do you believe me?”

And it’s that hurt that moderates my temper instantly because she’s already been through enough with losing her parents, so I reel myself in and lean back against the sofa.

Her hand rests on my thigh. “Do you believe that I had nothing to do with it?”

“I do.”

The breath eases out of her, and she straddles my lap. “I can’t handle fighting right now. Don’t be mad at me.”

She brings our foreheads together, and I rest my palms on her hips, stroking the curves, fingers splayed wide over the swell of her ass. I trace her nose with the tip of mine before our mouths meet. Only the lips caress at first, but when I open my mouth she welcomes my tongue and bows into my touch as she writhes on my hardening length, and I push my tongue hungrily inside. Her fingers weave into my hair, making me groan against her mouth while mine dig into her ass, but I pull back because we need to finish our talk. We’re quiet as our breathing slows, and we gaze at one another with the same look we used to share when we first met: the look of lust.

“I’m not mad,
dolcezza
. Tell me everything.” Feeling remorseful over my outburst, I press my lips to hers one more time, softly, and adjust her position a little because my hard-on is straining in my dress slacks.

She fidgets with the top buttons of my blue dress shirt. “A couple of days before my parents died, she came to my house. Cam was petrified because she found out the
Capo crimine
is looking for her. Luca, even
we
realize it can’t be a good sign when
your
boss – who must be a powerful man because you’re a rank lower and you’re already very influential – is trying to track down a person.”

I’m absolutely taken aback that she’s talking so openly about the Syndicate, which is the one subject we’ve been avoiding for weeks. Not wanting to disrupt her willingness to talk, I stay quiet but keep my hands on her to display that I’m not annoyed. I’m proud of her.

“She looked so different, and I was—” Abruptly she stops and startles herself because her eyes round.

She’s clearly holding something back, so I urge, “Keep going. I’m not angry. I know you’ve been through hell since your parents died.”

Opening and closing her mouth, she hesitates and takes a deep breath before continuing. “She didn’t tell me about the bomb the day she came to my house. Cam is also afraid of you and Adriano. She’s been hiding from the three of you: James, you, and Adriano. You and I weren’t really in contact then because it was after…you were done with me. Since the day my parents died, I’ve helped Cam by giving her money. She’s been visiting Sylvia’s office on Mondays for me to give her cash, and every time, I do my best to convince her to let us help her. I’ve told Cam how you and Adriano have been helping me.”

Her story is slightly confusing, so I’m trying to draw a timeline in my head as she relays the events. Cupping her head with one hand, I rub my thumb over her cheekbone. “I believe you. I’m disappointed you didn’t tell me before, but I do understand. Don’t worry about that, okay?” She has enough on her plate while coping with the grief, so I shouldn’t judge her harshly. “What’s Camilla’s plan, and where is she staying?”

“In a hotel. She doesn’t have a plan, and I can’t keep giving her money, but I feel obligated to help her since she helped me at your headquarters.”

I need to know for sure whether Fallon’s opinion about me has actually changed. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” she answers instantly and keeps looking at me directly in the eye.

Good, but I need verification. “Why do you trust me now?” The back of my hand skims down her cheek.

She looks toward the window before explaining. “I think I always trusted you to have my best interest, but when everything came out, my fear forced me into a certain behavior. And…I still can’t grasp exactly what the Syndicate is, but I
am
starting to realize that not everything is what we make it out to be. I was also mad about the deceit, but mostly just confused. But through it all, I haven’t stopped loving you. Even though we’ve been apart for almost five months, I’ve missed you every day.” A few tears rush down her cheek, and I tenderly rub them away. “I was mostly afraid what it would say about me if I could love someone like you so deeply. However, since my parents died, I don’t want to be alone, and I don’t want to think about the future, not yet. I just…still want you to love me.”

“Ma io ti amo ancora.”
I do still love you. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. How often I’ve wished you hadn’t continuously pushed me away. I will still do anything for you, and I want you to know that.” She realizes I’m referring to interfering with the police investigation or handling Ashton as I see fit when I’ve found him.

“I’m not sure I can live with myself if I ask you to help me break the law somehow. I’m just pleased that my grief hasn’t completely consumed me and that you’ve been here for me because that’s what’s kept me sane throughout this nightmare. I-I…No, don’t ask me that. I can’t make that decision now, let’s leave it up to the police, okay?” She presses her hands against my chest and inches closer while still sitting astride me.