Mafia Heir

Chapter 19

Charlotte

From Luca's back patio, you could see the ocean. Not just the bay or one of the many clouded and dirty inlets in New York. The whole Atlantic disappeared into a dark abyss. The line of the horizon was gone now, and the both the night and water were so black, it was hard to see where one ended and the other began. We weren't close enough to hear the waves, but every once in awhile, I could see a white cap crash against a levy or pier. It was beautiful and reminded em the tiniest bit of home.

Jamestown was on Conanicut Island, and my parents' house was situated right on the cliffs. It was a beautiful place to grow up, with its lush green rolling hills, and air so fresh each breath rejuvenated your entire body, filling up your lungs and freeing your mind. Summers were hot, and winters were brutal, but it was hard to complain too much when you were in such a beautiful place. In fact, when storms would roll in and and sheets of ice would coat the lighthouses, it was one of the most incredible sights you could ever see. It was a good reminded of just how powerful Mother Nature was. 

"A penny for your thoughts?" Marco joined me on the patio.

"I was just thinking about when I was a kid." I smiled. "I didn't know you could see the ocean from here and it reminded me of going to the shore with my family when I was little."

"That sounds like a really nice memory." What I loved most about Marco was how genuine he was all the time. His smile was goofy and cheeky, but it was always real. I felt like he was a true friend and alley to me here. 

"What's your favorite childhood memory?" I asked, continuing to stare out into the night.

"To be honest, I don't have many good childhood memories." For the first time since I met him, Marco's mood fell. "My dad left us when I was a baby. My mom spent almost every waking hour working so we could survive. Before Luca came around, I was in a gang, not sure which day would be my last."

I sucked in a sharp breath thinking of a poor, young Marco turning to such a terrifying lifestyle. 

"If I had to choose, though, every Friday night that I can remember, my mom would bring home a pizza from her shift at the restaurant. She wouldn't get home until two or three in the morning on those nights, but she'd always wake me up and we'd eat it together talking about the week." His smile was back as he shared the special memory.

"Where's your mom now?" I asked.

Marco's breath hitched. "She got breast cancer a few years back. Luca made sure she had the best treatment and doctors in the world, but in the end, it didn't stop anything. She passed away about a year ago."

"I'm sorry, Marco." I smiled sympathetically, setting my hand on his and squeezing. The more I learned about Luca, the more I was beginning to think he wasn't just the ruthless Mafia leader he wanted everyone to think he was. There was much more under that tough exterior. 

"It's okay. I got to spend a lot of time with her in the end I wouldn't have otherwise." He looked lost in his thoughts. "Luca made that happen. He turned my entire life around. He's tough, but he's compassionate, and that's what makes him such a fierce leader. We'd all die for him." 

Marco and I stood in silence for a few minutes, both of us lost in our own thoughts. 

"What do you say we go do something fun?" I finally said. Once I was done at the gallery, I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the estate. Luca's tour only scratched he surface of the place, every new room was like a treasure trove to me. I spent hours thumbing though the books on his shelves, studying the pictures and art that decorated the place. Unlike the penthouse, this place was older and overflowed with character. I could only imagine the stories these walls could tell. My exploration had been fun, but I was ready for a something a little more active now.