Chapter 3 - Luca Moretti
Luca Moretti was not a businessman.
Well, technically he was.
He owned restaurants, construction firms, warehouses, and enough Chicago real estate to make my monthly rent feel personally insulting.
But those businesses weren't why people became quiet when he entered a room.
The Moretti family had controlled pieces of Chicago's underworld for decades.
And Patrick had worked for them.
Everything I believed about my brother had been incomplete.
Luca moved me into Bellaforte's secured upper office while his men searched my apartment.
I refused approximately fourteen times.
He ignored all fourteen.
“You can't imprison me.”
“You can leave.”
I headed toward the door.
“After Marco checks the street.”
I stopped.
Luca looked up from his phone.
“That's not leaving.”
“Correct.”
“You just said I could.”
“You can.”
“With permission.”
“With protection.”
“You're unbelievably irritating.”
“And you're alive.”
I hated that answer because it was difficult to argue with.
Hours passed.
Eventually Marco returned carrying a cardboard box.
“We found this behind the baseboard in her bedroom.”
My heart stopped.
Inside was a small brass key.
And a note.
Patrick's handwriting.
Nora — if anyone comes looking for this, trust the man with the black wolf.
I looked at Luca.
He slowly rolled up his sleeve.
On his inner forearm was a tattoo.
A black wolf.
I closed my eyes.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
For the first time since meeting him, Luca smiled.
Not the cold half-smile from earlier.
A real one.
It changed his entire face.
I immediately disliked that too.
“What does the key open?” I asked.
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because unlike everyone else you've dealt with tonight, I haven't lied to you.”
That silenced me.
Patrick had trusted him.
I didn't know why.
But Patrick had left the key for me.
And told me exactly whom to trust.
The terrifying man downstairs.
I sat across from Luca.
“Then we find out what it opens.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“You stay somewhere secure.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Nora.”
“Patrick was my brother.”
“And Victor Serrano will kill you.”
“Then you'd better make sure he doesn't.”
Something changed in Luca's eyes.
That same strange interest I'd seen when I interrupted his meeting.
“You think giving me orders is a good idea?”
“No.”
I leaned forward.
“But I'm starting to enjoy it.”
Marco suddenly became extremely interested in the ceiling.
Luca stared at me.
Then the corner of his mouth moved.
“Get her shoes.”
I looked down.
Right.
Mismatched socks.
“Also,” Luca added, “something less ridiculous to wear.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“You're one insult away from getting your fire extinguisher back.”
Marco coughed.
Luca smiled again.
May you like
And somehow that frightened me more than when he didn't.
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