Page 51 of The Hidden Heir

“They were there for you, Valentina, not your sister.”

That much I know. And it terrifies me. They got so close again. Too close. And we still don’t know what their angle is, or if they’re even my stepfather’s henchmen. I thought we were making some headway in figuring this out, yet I feel like we’re being steered farther away from the center of the plot.

“I don’t understand any of it,” I say to Luca.

“I do. It was foolish of me to think I could let you go out on your own, even with an army of bodyguards behind you. They’re determined to get to you, and until I understand why, I don’t think I can let you go out without me again.”

“So, what, I get locked up?” I ask, startled by his declaration.

“Not locked up.”

“Not anything,” I reply, an anger of my own taking over in lieu of the subsiding adrenaline. “I’m not your prisoner; I’m your wife.”

The way he looks at me and says nothing speaks volumes. It tells me the conversation is far from over, and I might not like the outcome once we get to it. But the truth is, I don’t like any of the potential outcomes coming to mind at this point. No matter how I spin this, I could get hurt one way or another.

15

VALENTINA

Icheck on Michael and Susie while Luca waits for me in his study. We’re meant to have a serious conversation about what happened, and I dread it. I’d rather stay up here with my son, playing with blocks or colored circles or just plain old finger painting, rather than address the situation.

“My sweet boy,” I whisper in Michael’s ear, then plant a kiss on the top of his head. “Momma will be back soon; don’t worry.”

“Okay,” he replies with his cute smile, baby teeth gleaming white.

Susie nods politely and stays with my son as I mentally prepare for what comes next.

I go down the steps with heavy feet that grow heavier the closer I get to Luca’s study. Still reeling from the horrific sight of Eddie’s lifeless body, I shake the thoughts away, then let my hand rest on the doorknob for the longest moment before I get up the nerve to twist it.

“I know you’re out there,” Luca says, his voice reverberating. “Come in, Valentina.”

He sounds calm enough. Maybe the anger from earlier has subsided, and maybe we won’t have to argue about sacrificing what little freedom I have left.

Finally, I gather the courage to go in. I don’t look directly at Luca. I close the door, then slowly turn around to find him standing in front of his desk with his arms crossed. His jacket is thrown on a chair. His tie is off, and the first buttons of his shirt are undone.

“How are you feeling?” he asks in a serious, heavy tone.

“I’m better. What about Eddie?”

“Victor is taking care of it.”

I frown, confused. “What does that mean?”

“He’s talking to the cops and making sure the family name stays out of it. And then he’s making sure we get his body back, so we can give him the kind of proper funeral he deserves,” Luca replies. “Eddie didn’t have any next of kin.”

“We’re the only family he had,” I whisper.

“Whoever did this, they will pay, Valentina. Make no mistake about it.”

Nodding slowly, I take a few steps closer. “Do we even have suspects?”

“Aside from Mancuso?”

“What’s his endgame, though?” I ask. “That’s what I don’t understand. If he wants my son so badly, why focus on tormenting me? He could just look for ways to get closer to Michael.”

Luca’s eyes search my face, a twinkle of curiosity dancing across his handsome features. “I completely agree, which is why it’s a mystery. It also suggests that this goes deeper and to a much more personal, more hateful level. It’s directed at you—and me.” He stands up straight and closes the distance between us. “But this isn’t what I want to talk to you about.”

“It isn’t?”