Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“This is the last time you’ll ever see me, Lucifer.” Lucca made him another grave promise. “The next person who comes to visit you … will be your maker.”
The sheer fear in Lucifer’s eyes grew, but Lucca couldn’t see it as he had already walked away.
“How long will that be?” the devil screamed at his back, his emotions warring between terror and anger.
When Lucca slid the heavy metal door closed for his final time, there was no compassion in his cold voice. “When he’s ready.”
Her driver pulled into the front of the Casino Hotel. When he exited the car, Maria looked up at the roof to see a million little lights that looked like stars as she waited for the door to her pearlescent Rolls Royce to open.
“Thanks, Vic.” She smiled at the big man who had opened the door for her as she slid out. Maria refused to call him by the name Blue Park had given him as Big Vic.
As he tipped his expensive hat, Maria walked by, leaving him there until her return.
Entering and walking through the casino, she went up the elevator before reaching the door of the war-room they continued to use for meetings.
Sending the door swinging open, the new consigliere entered in an all-white women’s suit she’d paired with nude pumps. She would definitely be returning to the designer store to get a smaller size after she had her baby.
“Hello, boys.”
The sea of black-suited men’s mouths dropped to the floor. The only ones who didn’t were the boss and his temporary underboss, Enzo.
“I’ve been told black isn’t my color.”
The sliding of the partition had Lucca looking through the ornate window.
“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been a long time since my last confession.”
The shadow on the other side slightly moved, knowing who sat on the other side of the partition by that dark voice. “Yes, my son?”
“Did you know Emilia?”
He had come to ask only for a favor, so why was it he was asking a question about a past that no longer served a purpose?
The shadowed man sat there in silence.
“Emilia Vitale?” he clarified, but Lucca was pretty sure that the figure had known exactly who he was talking about the first time.
“I—” The priest cleared his dry throat. “I do.”
“Can you tell me about her?”
“Well …” The priest was well aware Lucca wasn’t here to speak to him as a son of God but as the King of Kansas City. “What would you like to know?”
“Is she still alive?” he asked, supposing what he wanted was to tie up loose ends.
“Yes.” It was obvious, even though a wall separated them, that the priest was uncomfortable answering, but knowing who was asking the questions had him doing so honestly. “She still cares for children at the very first orphanage she went to after she spoke her vows.”
Was it relief overcoming him?
“So … she is a nun?”
“Yes,” the priest confirmed, growing nervous. “May I ask why you are asking me this, Lucca?”
Content with that information, Lucca was finally able to let the past go.
“It no longer matters.” When the shadow nervously shifted, Lucca continued, “Don’t worry, Father; I have no intention of murdering a nun.”
He heard a quick, quiet prayer on the other side. Then there was calmness in the priest’s voice when it returned. “Then, is there something else I can help you with, my son?”
“There is.” Lucca came to finally ask the favor. “Would you marry my fiancée and me?”
Warmth exuded in his words, as the father said, “Of course. Your mother would be very proud, Lucca. The church—”
“Not here, Father,” Lucca politely stopped him. “At our home.”
“Lucca …” he warned, “you know, as a man of the faith, there are rules I must follow. Getting authorization for a wedding outside of the church is few and far between.”
“I know that,” Lucca gritted out. Having to remind himself to stay calm, he tried again. “I was hoping you didn’t need their authorization.”
The priest thought for several moments before answering, “I don’t think I can do that, Lucca.”
He got up and left the confessional. Not even bothering to close the wooden door, Lucca began walking out of the church, planning on never returning.
“Lucca,” the priest called out, hoping to change his mind. “Your mother would be very happy to see you married here.”
At the mention of his mother, Lucca spun on his heel to face him. “Forgive me, Father, but my mother isn’t here.” He looked around at the cathedral that his mother had dragged him to, but he didn’t feel any connection to it … It was only to the priest who spoke to his mother every Sunday that he did. “She’s with me at home, where the flowers she taught me how to grow are.”
TWENTY-SIX
WHERE THE FLOWERS GROW
Unable to stop herself, Chloe snuck a peek of the back garden, at the guests waiting for the wedding to begin. Before she could count how many guests there were, Maria slid the curtain closed, putting them out of sight but not out of mind. Chloe still knew there were a lot of people waiting for her entrance.