Chapter 56 Early Morning Bodies

Chapter 54 Luca's Secrets Wrapped in Untold Memories
LUCA - 9 Years Old

Luca was sitting in the black leather-clad seat of his father's new car, and it smelled funny. Like too much oil was smeared on not enough leather, but he would never tell his papa that.

Besides, he was too excited to be seeing Eveet again. The last time they had played, he'd given her a folded crane, and while he'd forgotten the other origami animal he'd made her at home, he couldn't wait to tell her about it.

A long sigh came from the other side of the seat, and it pulled little Luca out of his daydreams. His father was reading through the letter he'd received this morning.

How many times is he going to read that?

Each time he did, his worry grew, and the tension in his muscles doubled. Antonio Caruso was not one to show worry. He was the hitman for the most powerful Mafia family in the South. If he worried, something was truly wrong.

"What is it, Papa?"

At his words, his father looked at him, and Luca saw the worry in his eyes before he shoved it away. It was something he saw him do a lot recently.

"It's just a missive from Eveet's mommy. She's worried about things that are hard to explain. It's okay. I'm sure it's nothing we can't handle together. Huh?"

He reached over and mussed Luca's hair.

Which wouldn't do. He'd worked hard for most of the morning, combing it and making sure it was perfect.

"Paaapa! Don't!"

His father's laugh filled the small interior as he reached up and made sure his hair wasn't too messed up.

He turned to look at it in the window when he noticed that they were pulling onto Matranga Lane. At the sight, his little tummy did weird things and his heart felt funny.

The maids at his house were always teasing him about his "crush" on Eveet. Which was crazy. He didn't crush on anyone. He was like his papa, and silly things like crushes weren't for him.

He was going to be strong and fast. Like his papa. The Matranga's needed that, didn't they? And his papa was always talking about how he would take up his mantle when the time was right.

Eveet and he were friends. They didn't have whatever "puppy love" was. The maids were just making fun of him by saying that, and he knew it. Even so, he would never tell them that.

Another sigh from his father pulled Luca's attention back to him, and he couldn't help but look over at him.

He had his chin in his hand as it rested on the car door frame, and his eyebrows were creased. He had a small frown, and he was tapping his finger on his cheek.

"Papa?"

Leaving his arm on the frame, he turned his gaze down to Luca, but before Luca could ask what he wanted, his father spoke. "I don't like how the day feels, Luca. Something's off. Promise me that once you and Eveet start to play, you won't leave her side? Hmm? Not until we leave, okay."

"What's wrong? Is she in trouble?" His mind went to all sorts of situations. A bad man kidnapping her, or a gun fight breaking out, and Eveet being injured.

"I'm not sure." He glanced back down at the letter in his lap before he continued. "You remember your training in hand-to-hand? You're young still, but you're showing a lot of promise."

At his words, Luca's face lit up. His father didn't compliment just for show. If he said anything, it was genuine, and his heart felt fuller somehow at hearing those words.

But Antonio wasn't done talking. "And I want to make sure you're confident in your abilities if you need them."

"D-Do you think I'll be needing them today?" His own worry was beginning to spike, so instead, he tried to pull up the practice he'd had early yesterday morning. They were having him work on his footwork and speed. Something that came naturally to his little but lithe body.

"No, son." He smiled lightly, but Luca could tell that his attention was elsewhere now as they were pulling up to the entrance of the Matranga estate. "But we can never be too careful. Just stay a little more wary today for me, okay?"

"Okay, Papa."

They were walking up the long stairway that led to the entrance when the driver pulled away with the car. Although Luca was still trying to go over the lessons from yesterday, and didn't really notice.

They made their way to Don Sam's study. Luca had been in there many times as he and his father spoke of plans and their "future".

When they entered, Sam was sitting behind his desk, and since it was sitting in front of a large window, all he could see was a dark figure outlined by the light.

"Oh, good. You made it. Come here, Antonio."

Antonio nodded but looked down at Luca and said, "Sit on the couch for a bit, while Don Sam and I talk."

"But I wanted to see Eveet!" He whined before he could think better of it.

A laugh came from Don Sam. "In a minute, my boy, I just want to talk with Don Sam for a moment."

Embarrassed about his outburst, Luca simply nodded and sat obediently on the couch as his father moved to stand beside Sam.

He couldn't hear what they said, but the longer they spoke, the more heated the conversation seemed to get, until Sam stood up so fast that he shoved his chair into the table behind him that sat in front of the window. The bump made the vase sitting on top of it tip over and fall to the floor, sending water into the carpet.

Frustrated, Sam looked at Luca and asked, "Please fetch a maid while I finish talking with your papa, and be fast about it."

Immediately, Luca shot to his feet and ran for the door. If anything had been trained into him from birth by his father, it was to do as Don Sam said without hesitation and follow through until the request was complete.

He was turning the corner but turned back around, thinking that it was better to head for the kitchen, when a small white blur slammed into him, sending both of them to their butts on the floor.

He was rubbing his head when he looked up and saw that it was Eveet.

Immediately, he was on his feet and holding out his hand for her. “I’m sorry, Signorina Eveet, are you hurt?”