Undressed By The Mafia God-Chapter 158: I Feel Really Crappy

"It’s fine. I’ll just change into something else in the store," she said, finally, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Cassidy gave a small, almost theatrical sigh. "I will get you a cup of coffee to pay for the dry cleaning. Unless you collect cash." He let a grin tug at the corners of his mouth.

"It’s okay, thank you. I’m sure it was an honest mistake," she said.

He leaned just a fraction closer. "Are you sure? I feel really crappy." He tilted his head slightly, using every tool in the charm arsenal he’d perfected over the years.

Bianca considered him. "Okay, how about this?" she said finally. "I change first and we can walk together to get the coffee."

Cassidy felt a flicker of triumph. "That’s a reasonable bargain." He said.

Bianca handed the shopping bags to the driver. Only one bag remained in her hand, which she carried back into the shop. Cassidy watched her go.

When she emerged again, she wore a short dress beneath a flowing kimono, the combination of colors and fabric highlighting the perfect balance of grace and subtle seduction. Even from a distance, she exuded confidence — a woman completely at ease in her own skin, moving with a rhythm that seemed natural, unstoppable, magnetic.

Take away the fact that she was Luca’s wife, Cassidy thought, and she would still command attention. The woman was breathtaking. It made him wonder, not for the first time, why Luca would chase after Veronica when he already had all of this — all of Bianca, standing there.

Veronica was pretty, yes, but her charm was understated, small-town subtle. Bianca, on the other hand, was a vision. Tall, statuesque, the perfect figure. She was made for high society — someone who fit into Luca’s world.

And yet, Cassidy’s mind stumbled over the other thought, the one he didn’t want to dwell on but couldn’t shake: was Luca planning to use Veronica and dump her? Vee may have broken his heart — hell, he was still nursing the edges of that wound — but she didn’t deserve to be treated as a convenient distraction.

Bianca turned slightly, catching his gaze with a casual, flirty lift of her brow.

"Do you always look magnificent?"

She laughed softly.

Cassidy watched, fascinated, as the kimono swayed with her movement.

"I have been asked that a number of times and my answer has always been yes. Coffee?" Bianca asked.

He nodded quickly. "Of course. Of course," he said.

They walked side by side.

At the coffee shop just around the corner, they waited at the counter, the hum of conversation and clatter of cups filling the air. Cassidy’s mind spun.

"So, what is your name?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

"Bianca... Bianca Genovese," she replied, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Cassidy made a show of stiffening, exaggerating surprise, pretending not to know who she was.

"Fuck! I have to go," he blurted suddenly.

"What? Why?" Bianca asked, her eyes narrowing, a spark of irritation and curiosity dancing in her gaze.

"You are a Genovese," he said finally.

"Yes. Why do you look like I’ve got the plague?" she countered.

"I’m sorry. I’m sorry about today. Sorry about everything." He rifled through his wallet, hastily placing cash on the counter.

Bianca’s hand shot out, grabbing his arm before he could slip away. "What is going on?" she demanded.

Cassidy exhaled slowly, letting the tension drain from his shoulders, then pulled down the collar of his jacket, exposing the tattoo etched starkly on his neck. "Bastione," he said.

Her eyes widened instantly. "You work for them?" she asked.

"Yes. I’m sorry, Miss Genovese. It won’t happen again."

"Mrs...actually. Luciano Genovese is my husband." Bianca said. Her eyes held his calmly as if she was curious to see how he would react.

"That’s even more terrible." Cassidy said.

"Look, its just coffee, okay. And do me a favour, keep that tattoo hidden while I am around you."

"You are not going to shriek and have me flogged?"

"God no! I love to play with guns instead. I did shoot my husband’s mistress a few days ago." Bianca smiled.

Colour drained from his face.

Veronica.

He forced himself to breathe, to keep his expression from shattering completely. Stay calm.

"Is that so? Your husband had an affair."

Bianca gave a casual shrug. "Men of the familia are barely satisfied with one woman. All the danger and violence they experience. Women throwing themselves at them at every turn. We get used to these things. The insult is when the mistress thinks too much of herself."

There was something unsettling about the way she spoke about it — not angry, not bitter, just... practical.

And suddenly he understood that this woman had grown up in this world.

This wasn’t new to her.

"Don’t think me forward but why make the mistress suffer," Cassidy said slowly. "Why not your husband? Or why not just have your own affair or better yet, leave?"

Bianca’s eyes flicked to his face.

Then a faint smile curved her lips.

"That’s treason. You haven’t been working in the familia for long have you?"

Cassidy huffed quietly. "You got me. Still learning the ropes."

Their coffee came then, the barista sliding the cups across the counter. They stepped out of the shop together, the glass door chiming softly behind them.

Cassidy walked beside her for a few steps, sipping his coffee mostly to give himself something to do with his hands. His mind was already calculating, replaying the entire encounter piece by piece. Timing, tone, body language. Every word mattered in a situation like this. "It was nice to meet you Mrs Genovese." Cassidy said.

"You too. Have a good day." Her driver had stepped out and was opening the rear door, watching Cassidy with suspicion.

Cassidy nodded once, as if that was the end of it. He took a few steps away.

Then paused.

"one more thing. You are an extremely beautiful woman. I mean, you are...there are no words. You shouldn’t be treated anything short of amazing. You should be worshipped, bowed to." He finished and began to walk away.

(Brought to you by Jennifer Willard)