Page 83 of The Hidden Heir

“I’m going to be okay,” I tell her.

It’s the only thing I can say without lying. She can tell from my choice of beverage that the test yielded a positive result. Not once have I ever rejected coffee in the morning.

“I agree,” Susie says. “You’re not alone in this.”

No, I guess I’m not. But I’m not telling Luca anything about it either.

Not yet, anyway.

25

LUCA

Victor and I sit across from each other in my River North office. I haven’t seen Valentina since she stormed out of my study yesterday, and I’m deeply pining for her. But it was the verbal slap I needed to pull me out of that all-consuming, anger-fed haze.

“How are we today?” Victor asks.

Neither of us is talking, merely drinking coffee and looking out the window at the ferries going by. The sun gleams from above and makes the river look like it’s made of diamonds and shards of gold. The scene is almost hypnotic.

“Given how we left it yesterday?” I ask.

My mind keeps wandering to Valentina, but she needs her space, as I do I, considering the horror I’ve had to wrap my head around since yesterday.

“I’m grateful you didn’t take me up on my suggestion,” Victor chuckles dryly, straightening his dark green tie. “You could’ve.”

“I could’ve. But I admit my reaction wasn’t the best.”

“You have every reason to feel that way, Luca. And frankly, had I not pursued that avenue in the first place, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you decided to put a bullet in my head.”

It breaks my heart to hear him say such things. As furious as I was with him yesterday, especially after my tense and violent meetings with Raymond and Tony, I couldn’t bring myself even to contemplate the idea.

“Victor, you were always like a father to me, even when my father was still alive. You’re the one I sought comfort and guidance from, not the old man,” I tell him. “I would never end you without cold, hard evidence. Frankly, you’re the one I would hesitate in front of, even if I did have that cold, hard evidence.”

Emotions twinkle in his tired eyes. “I’ve been nothing but loyal to this family, and so has Raymond.”

“I know. I’ll need to make it up to him. Earn his forgiveness,” I reply. “But if this insanity about Stefano really is true, if there’s no one else who might’ve gained access to our intel… Victor, how the fuck do we handle it?”

“I’m not sure yet. I know the police are on their way to exhume the body today. Once the body is back at the ME’s office, they’ll do another autopsy and a DNA test. Something tells me they’ll confirm what we already suspect. Cooper was certain of it, anyway.”

“We can’t let the cops deal with it either.”

He shakes his head slowly. “No. We can handle it in house, provided we figure out where Stefano after he left the club.”

“Or where he was taken. We don’t know what happened yet. But Victor… he’s my brother; he’s a Petrucci. He would’ve reached out if he were okay,” I say. “Wouldn’t he have?”

“I’m inclined to agree, but nothing about any of this makes sense.”

“This had to be Mancuso,” I mutter. “It had to be.”

“What’s the point, though? What’s his endgame? Mancuso may be sharp-minded, but he’s not a strategic genius. And his ego is too big to play the long game.”

Just then, Raquel walks in, her heels clicking softly on the hardwood floor. “Mr. Petrucci, Miss Mancuso is here to see you.”

“I don’t remember us having an appointment,” I reply, and Victor seems just as surprised. “Did we?”

“No, sir. But she says it’s urgent,” Raquel says. “Should I tell her to come in or ask her to schedule an appointment?”

“Send her in,” I say.