Undressed By The Mafia God-Chapter 178: You Fucking Wanker

The man nodded quickly, hands fumbling only slightly as he turned the wheelchair and began to push.

His house.

He almost laughed at the thought because no matter where he went, there was no space untouched by Luca.

*****

Renato Bastione sat in his office, leaning back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin, staring at Cassidy. "You?" he repeated in disbelief. "Cassidy? Former high school teacher... fucked Luciano’s wife?"

"Yes."

Renato burst into laughter. "Pardon me," he managed between breaths, waving a dismissive hand, "if I don’t believe you."

"It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not," he said evenly. "I came to give you information on what I know."

Renato leaned back again, still grinning. "Please," Renato gestured lazily, still smirking. "Carry on."

"Don Genovese is still in town," he said. "I have no idea when he will be leaving. But Bianca mentioned something... about a nanny."

Renato’s amusement faltered. "Get the fuck out of here!" Renato snapped suddenly, the humor dropping from his face. "This was an absolute waste of time, you fucking wanker!"

"She says if you want to kill Luca," Cassidy continued, "the fastest way is through his nanny."

Renato’s eyes narrowed, the laughter gone now.

Cassidy held his ground, meeting Renato’s gaze.

"Luciano has a nanny?" He let out a harsh, disbelieving laugh, leaning back in his chair. "What is he, two?" His lips curled in distaste. "You know what? Get out. Get out."

"The least you can do," Cassidy said calmly, "is check out the information."

Renato’s gaze flickered. "What exactly," he drawled, "am I supposed to do with his nanny?"

"Oh, I’m sure a man of your... creativity will think of something."

Renato laughed again. "You’re a fucking bastard, you know that?" He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, eyes gleaming with malicious curiosity. "Maybe I shouldn’t go after this... nanny theory." He paused deliberately, watching Cassidy. "Maybe I should go after the girl Luca stole from you."

"You would rather go after a woman," Cassidy said, "who means absolutely nothing to Luca?"

Renato’s smile widened. "No," he said softly. "I would go after a woman who might mean something to you." He leaned back again, satisfied. "Let’s see where your loyalties truly lie."

Cassidy exhaled slowly. "Luca didn’t just take my girl. He humiliated me. That’s why I came to you. That’s why I endured your initiation, your tests, your games. The girl?" Cassidy continued, shrugging slightly. "She means nothing to me now." A lie. A necessary one. "But Luciano Genovese? I want to see him suffer. And you," Cassidy added quietly, "are the key to that."

"We’ll see," Renato murmured. "Now get the fuck out of my office."

****

Luciano Genovese sat on the sofa, back bare, skin marked in violent strokes of red and purple. The sting had dulled into a deep, throbbing ache. Pain, to him, had long since become a language—one he spoke fluently, one he sometimes welcomed.

Nonnina’s hands, though aged, were steady as she finished dressing the last of the wounds on his back.

"Thank you, Nonni," he said quietly.

She gathered her supplies. She had already attended to veronica, treating the red welt that had formed across her chest.

Nonnina’s eyes were glassy, rimmed with red. "Do you need anything else?" she asked.

"No. Nonni..."

"Yes," she replied.

"Look at me."

She shook her head immediately, a small, stubborn motion.

"Come on, Nonni," he coaxed gently. "Please."

Reluctantly, she lifted her gaze to his.

Luciano gave her a boyish smile. "I’m going to be okay."

Nonnina’s lips trembled. "I know," she whispered. "I know, but I told you...I told you this love is doomed, Diavolino." Tears slipped free despite her efforts. "There has been no calm for days now. No peace. Only this... this storm."

Luciano reached for her, pulling her into his arms. He held her tightly, one hand cradling the back of her head. "Sssshhhh..." he murmured against her hair. "It’s fine."

Nonnina nodded against his chest. "I’ll go make you some soup," she said after a moment, clinging to the mundane.

Luciano pulled back and nodded. "Yeah... yeah, okay."

She left the annex slowly.

Luciano stood there for a moment after the door closed. Then he reached for a shirt, dragging it over his head with a sharp inhale as the fabric brushed against his wounds.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. He moved toward the bedroom, refusing to let the pain dictate his pace.

When he entered, Veronica was still there, still trembling, still quietly breaking.

Luciano paused at the doorway, watching her.

Then he exhaled, before stepping inside.

"Well," he said dryly. "At least one of us is allowed to cry." Luciano stood at the edge of the bed for a moment. She turned away from the door, from him. "Oh boy," Luca muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair before easing himself onto the bed beside her. "I just consoled Nonnina. Do I have to console you too?"

Veronica shifted slightly, turning even further away, presenting him nothing but her back and the quiet defiance of her silence.

"Bambola..." he coaxed softly, reaching out. "Come on. You can’t be giving me the silent treatment." His lips curved faintly. "I just got flogged. You should be fussing. Maybe crying a little harder for dramatic effect, and kissing me and making me feel better."

"You’re not a baby," she said.

Luca’s smile deepened. "I’m your baby," he teased. He reached for her again, turning her carefully until she faced him. His fingers lingered at her jaw. "I love you, Bambola," he murmured. "I love you so much."

"You shouldn’t," she whispered. "You really shouldn’t..."

Luca let out a quiet breath, his thumb brushing against her cheek.

"And yet..." he said simply, a faint shrug in his tone.

Veronica swallowed, her gaze drifting past him, unfocused. "Is this how our life is going to go?" she asked. "Pain, punishment... blood every other day?"

Luca huffed softly, leaning back just enough to look at her properly. "Well," he said, with a dry sort of humor that didn’t quite reach his eyes, "as long as I don’t try to kill any member of my family again in the nearest future, I think I’m golden."

(Brought to you by Jennifer Willard)