Undressed By The Mafia God-Chapter 110: I Stayed Hidden

"I got all the thanks I need from your sister," he replied.

"Which brings me to the next..." She inhaled slowly. "What are your intentions toward my sister?"

He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands over his abdomen. Was he about to have this conversation with a teenager? In his own office, under the silent observation of a man who would kill on his command? He let out a low chuckle. "What?" he said. "Are you going to break my legs if I hurt her? Is this where this is going?"

"Actually yes. My sister has spent her life protecting me," she continued. "Working for us. Holding that shop together with her bare hands. When Inferi attacked the shop, her first instinct was to hide me. And you know what I did?" Valentina pressed on. "I stayed hidden. I listened while he beat her. She has always been the shield," Valentina said. "And I have always been the one behind it."

"She is quite protective of you," Luca acknowledged.

The resemblance between the sisters was undeniable.

"I know," Valentina replied. "I may not be able to hurt you physically if you hurt her." She lifted her chin slightly, a gesture that felt older than her years. "She seems to care about you, of all people. And I have decided not to question it."

Luca understood perfectly what she meant.

"I have decided to trust her," she continued. "If you make her happy, I’m all for it."

"But I want to stop hiding," she said, and now her voice sharpened. "I want to stop holding her back. I want to protect her too."

"I can protect her," Luca said evenly. "And by extension, you."

Valentina shook her head slightly. "I don’t want to feel helpless," she said. "My helplessness gets people in trouble." She swallowed, forcing herself forward. "Marco tried to help me escape from Bastardi. He had everything right. And I still couldn’t manage to run. I watched him take the hit because I couldn’t move fast enough. Because I was afraid."

Luca’s gaze flicked briefly to Marco.

"So," Valentina said, inhaling deeply, "I would like to join the familia. Your familia, specifically."

Luca stared at her, certain he had misheard.

He let out a short, incredulous breath. "You what?"

Shock rippled visibly across his features now.

Marco stepped forward immediately, abandoning his post at the door. "She doesn’t know what she is talking about," Marco said instantly.

"I do. I do, Marco," Valentina shot back, her composure finally cracking. "I’m done being the weakling of the family."

Luca chuckled under his breath. He lifted a hand slightly toward Marco, signaling him to stand down. "You want to be part of the familia?" Luca said, folding his arms loosely across his chest. "It’s simple. Marry someone from the familia." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"And be a weakling to him too?" she snapped.

"Valentina..." Luca exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "First of all... let’s even ignore the fact that your sister is going to slice my balls, chop them into tiny pieces, chew them and spit them out for even entertaining this conversation. You’re... what, sixteen?"

"I’m eighteen," she cut in instantly. "And my age is not a problem because I have seen boys my age guarding for you. Is this because I am a girl?"

"No. God no," Luca said quickly. "It’s... I..." He turned slightly, helplessly, toward Marco. "Marco, help me out here."

"She will just be on her way, boss," he muttered, clearly hoping to end this before it spiraled.

Valentina stood abruptly from her chair. "If you don’t help me," she said, "I can go to another familia."

Luca’s posture changed instantly. The humor evaporated. The warmth drained from his expression. "Vee hasn’t told you much about me, has she?" he asked quietly. "I’ll kill them to keep you safe," he said. "Whatever hurts Veronica will not see the next sun," Luca continued. "And if seeing you become this version you so desperately want to be hurts her, I’ll kill whoever helps you."

Luca straightened slowly and leaned back into his chair, reclaiming his composure. "Listen," he said. "You want to feel powerful? Learn how to defend yourself. Train. Learn to shoot. Learn to fight. Build something of your own."

"Or marry a powerful man," Luca added. "Hell, I’ll arrange that for you in a heartbeat."

Marco’s head snapped toward him.

"Hell," Luca continued, eyes flicking briefly toward Marco, "marry Marco."

Valentina turned her head slowly toward Marco, studied him as if Luca’s suggestion had painted something obscene across his forehead, and then twisted her mouth in exaggerated revulsion. "Ew."

Marco rolled his eyes with long suffering and smacked the back of her head. "Watch it," he muttered.

She glared at him, rubbing the back of her head.

Luca leaned back in his chair and looked between them.

"Both of you have a weird thing going on. I don’t get it," he said, exasperation threading through his tone. "How about this? Marco can help you."

Valentina arched a brow.

"He can train you in self defense," Luca continued, pointing lazily in Marco’s direction, "and help you snag a powerful husband. How is that? And for fuck’s sakes, talk to your sister about this. I love my balls, please?" He pressed his palms together in mock prayer, dark eyes glinting with genuine anxiety beneath the humor. He flicked his fingers dismissively. "Out. Before I start considering installing a panic button with your name on it."

Marco placed a firm hand on her shoulder and steered her toward the exit.

They emerged into the parking lot.

Marco did not stop walking until they were several paces away from the main entrance.

Then he turned on her.

"What the hell were you thinking? Joining the familia? Are you crazy? Do I need to start worrying?" His hands were on his hips now.

"I said what I said, Marco," Valentina replied, lifting her chin. "Look how many people I get in trouble."

"You blindsided me," he shot back. "If I had known this is what you wanted to discuss with Luca, I wouldn’t have taken you seriously."

(Brought to you by Jennifer Willard)