Devotion

nineteen ﾒ illicit affairs pt. 2

ANGELICA

So, apparently, we're in Buffalo. It's like Luca never fails to be a mysterious weirdo and put us in weird predicaments like this one. I'm used to organized crimes. It's not that. It's the fact that he never says, "Hey! We might be doing illegal shit today." Like okay, heads up, awesome.

But no, he's so complicated. Ugh. I want to kill myself.

"Why don't you ever tell me stuff like this? Don't you think I should know that we're at least making a pit stop somewhere "important" because I hate having FOMO? It's like the worst, L—B."

A rise to his lips forms until there's a sexy smirk, and he slowly looks at me. "You were about to say my name; how cute. You caught yourself almost too late."

For the first time, I'm embarrassed. Not in the way girls are in books for stupid shit, but genuinely embarrassed because I have to live up to my words. I can't stand on everything I say when there's the occasional slip-up!

Damn it, so much for handling myself. "Be quiet," I say quietly, stuffing my hands in the pockets of my jacket. Gosh, it's cold.

A breath of fog flows out of my mouth as I breathe. Luca rounds the car with the box of cocaine in his hands, and I follow suit. In front of us, there's an airplane that's about to board, but not any attendants that are humans, more like drug attendees.

Alright, so he's transporting cocaine. As much as my family is involved in nonsense like this, I'm never in this part of it. Definitely, I'm more of a fighter girl. If there was a mission to infiltrate and steal back a product that was once ours, I'd do that.

I know how to shoot a gun, kick a guy's ass, and blast a few shots up someone's ass. So, yeah, I'm experienced in that department, but in this part? Yeah, not so much.

The man who's waiting patiently at the airport smiles at me and then glares at Luca. "Hai il pacco?" [Do you have the package?] He asks. Luca nods, handing him the box. The man takes it, hands him a clipboard to sign, and then winks at Angelica before taking the package and the clipboard.

Luca passes him a stack of 100s and shoves it into his chest while keeping his eyes on the lookout for anyone who may be suspecting anything suspicious.

The man makes direct eye contact with me while a smile creeps on his face, then looks at Luca with the same expression. "Viene con il pacco?" [Does she come with the package?]

"Mia moglie, quindi no." [My wife, so no.] The man's face turns into an expression of shock until he decides to nod.

I'm not well versed in Italian, so I'm hoping they're not being rude. Luca tugs me by the waist and drags me away as close as he can. He's holding on for dear life, and it's kind of scary, in my opinion. I feel like he did give me a compliment, though, or else he wouldn't have touched my waist.

Once the man is out of sight, Luca and I walk back to his car. I have a feeling of being intensely nosy, so, "What were you talking about?"

"About how priceless you are," he grumbles as he helps me into the car. Why did my stomach flutter at the answer to the question? I was certainly not expecting that to be the answer, but I will not be complaining.

When Luca started the car up again and we were back on the road, I couldn't help but ask why. "Why am I priceless to you, though? I'm the most materialistic person on this earth," I say.

"I don't think that's a good thing..." He trails off as he stares ahead. I shrug my shoulders. "Of course not. At least I'm self-aware."

"Valid point," he says.

ﾒ

A few years later, we finally get to our destination. It's around 12 a.m., and I can't help but want to fall asleep right here in this car. The heat is on, it feels good, and my body is in an awakened REM. It's awesome.

I audibly groan. "It's so warm and so cold in there. All mansions are so fucking cold, including my house. But at least the floors are always heated, so I guess it helps a little."

Luca takes out his keys, gets out, and comes around to open my door. I slide on my jacket and get out with my purse in hand. "It's warm in there. My dad's old friend and the maid live here, so it's not abandoned completely."

I nod. Okay, right. Here is background information about the Bertarelli estate: this was the first house Marco bought. Luca grew up in this home. He hasn't been here since his mother passed away when he was four, and there's a maid who stays here.

The maid's name is Lucille, and she will be our target tonight. Luca unlocks the front door, and Lucille's eyes widen in surprise, but immediate happiness floats around her features when she notices the baby that used to be in this house.

"Luca!" She yells in her Italian accent. She hugs him tight and laughs before saying, "Oh, don't tell your dad you're here!" She laughs, and Luca looks like she lit up his entire world. God, my heart is starting to hurt a little.

He looks at me and nods for me to ask a question. "Hi, Lucille. Would you mind giving up some information about Marco and Jessica's affair 20 years ago?"

Her face transforms before she nods. "Oh, my. I forgot they were involved. It's been too long; I am so old now." She shakes her head.

Lucille's a little cutie. She doesn't question us any further and leads us to the living room, where all three of us sit down. I sit my phone down and begin recording so I can make this into a transcript later on.

"When these two became involved," Lucille said, "it changed the families. Your families were in heavy battle, and so when they had a few sexual encounters, it was crazy afterward. Jessica and Marco initially met when she was only 18 and he was 26. Eight years later, you, your twin brother, and Luca were born amongst the other Mafia families. And by then, Jessica was 26 and 34."

I shake my head. "It gets worse after the affair."

Lucille looks at Luca and then at me. "Yes, and it caused a few lives to be lost. Luca told me about the project, and I know this is important for you, so I will tell you about it now, and you can choose if you want to hear more."

"I'm in." Luca manspreads and sighs.