Twisted Minds Book 2
Автор
Cassandra Rock
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Luca Marchesi, recently released from prison, returns to a life of crime and family tension in Chicago. As he navigates his strained relationships with his father, fiancée, and twin sister, Luca becomes entangled with Caroline, a waitress with her own troubled past. Their connection deepens, but Luca's dangerous world threatens to pull them apart. With secrets, betrayals, and a looming arranged marriage, Luca must decide how far he will go to protect Caroline and defy his family's expectations.
Chapter 1
LUCA
“Luca Marchesi,” the guard announces, stepping into the cell block. I glance up from the newspaper I’m engrossed in. A middle-aged man with a bit of a belly is making his way toward me, clipboard in hand.
“You’re getting out early. Your sentence has been reduced.”
I can’t believe it. He knows I was supposed to be here for four years, right? Why on earth would they let me out after only six and a half months?
I rise from the table, an eyebrow raised as the guard nears. “Really?”
“Unfortunately,” he replies, his tone sharp. “But it seems you’ve lucked out.”
A chuckle slips out as I meet his gaze. “I’m always lucky.”
And it’s true, for the most part. Being an Acerbi, I’ve always managed to wriggle out of tight spots.
Even though I use a different name to keep my Mafia ties under wraps, I still enjoy the perks that come with my family’s reputation.
Once the guard sets me free, I’m led to fill out paperwork, still puzzled about why they decided to let me go.
Just eight months ago, I was in a packed bar, stabbing a guy in the throat with a broken beer bottle.
He didn’t survive, but that’s usually the goal when you stab someone.
I sign the paperwork, smirking at the unimpressed officers in front of me. “It’s been a pleasure, gentlemen. I’m sure we’ll cross paths again someday.”
As I step outside, everything clicks into place when I spot my father leaning against his black SUV. Of course, he’d fly all the way to Spain to check up on me.
I left Chicago eleven months ago to escape the drama that comes with my family.
My overbearing father, naive sister, and my clingy fiancée, who I didn’t even choose.
My mom is the least annoying of the bunch, but she has her moments.
“Marchesi, huh? Not proud to be an Acerbi anymore?” my father asks as I approach the SUV.
Smug bastard.
“You’re the boss. Shouldn’t you have better things to do than chase your son around the globe? Is this what happens when you get old?” I snap back.
His attempt to assert his dominance irritates me. That’s not going to happen. No one dominates me, especially not my father.
I can see the anger in his eyes as he grits out, “Get in the car, Luca. We’re going back to Chicago. Alessandro is worried about your reliability and I can’t say I blame him.
“His daughter is at home, wondering where her fiancé is, and you’re in Spain, killing people.”
“I wouldn’t call one person a killing spree,” I retort, sliding into the SUV and straightening my white t-shirt. They don’t have ties in prison, but I prefer the casual clothes anyway.
My father slams the car door and starts the engine. “I’ve had enough of your attitude.
“Sofia is seventeen. You’re committing to her within the next year, and if you mess this up, we could all end up dead.”
“I swear you’re hard of hearing. How many times have I told you I’m not marrying that girl?”
I slam my fist onto the dashboard. “I’m not a one-woman man. I don’t want to be tied down or responsible for anyone, especially Sofia Rom—”
Before I can finish her name, my father’s forearm is pressing against my throat, his face red with rage.
“You will respect me or you’ll be the one with a broken beer bottle in your throat.”
I try to laugh, but his arm is blocking my airway, slowly sapping my strength. But I’m not scared. The worst he can do is kill me. It’s bound to happen eventually.
When he finally lets go, he stomps on the gas, making the SUV lurch forward.
He’s quite a character, my father. He’s amusing, in a way. He raised me without my mother’s input, and now he doesn’t like the monster he created.
Well, tough luck for him. This is all I know.
***
The jet ride back to Chicago is quick, and my first morning ‘home’ is a twisted kind of nostalgia.
This room is filled with memories from my childhood, mostly bad ones. I’ve spent years trying to change it, painting the walls burgundy, getting new furniture.
But the memories of my father choking me or slapping me across the face are still there.
The dark walls make the room dim enough; the drapes are drawn and the room is practically pitch black, just the way I like it.
A knock on my bedroom door interrupts my dark tranquility. The door creaks open before I can even respond. My mom’s voice follows. “Luca, honey. Can I come in?”
“Isn’t it a bit late to ask?”
She doesn’t respond, but when the door swings open fully, I can see the sadness in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I was just excited to see you.”
I sigh softly, sitting up in bed and forcing a small smile for my mom. “No, I’m just tired… Come in. Let’s catch up.”
She looks relieved, even a bit excited that I invited her in. She steps inside, closing the door behind her and walks over to my bed.
“How was Spain? Did you get a nice break from everything?”
“Until dear old dad showed up, of course.”
My mom’s gaze lands on my arm, where fresh ink is still healing. I got a new tattoo less than a week ago. “Another tattoo? You’re so much like your father, you know?”
“I’d like to think I’m a lot better looking than him,” I joke, but I really hate it when my mom compares me to him.
He’s not even half the man I am. He hides behind his men while I face situations head-on.
“You’re very handsome, Luca. You don’t need me to tell you that. But let’s talk about Spain. Your father mentioned you were arrested under a different name.”
“Listen, Mom. I’m trying to be nice here, okay? But I don’t answer to you or anyone else, and I don’t owe you an explanation. So, let’s end this conversation and mind our own business, okay?”
If there’s anyone I have patience for, it’s my mom. But I have so much anger inside me that even she can’t talk sense into me sometimes.
There’s something inside me that makes me lack emotion, especially towards certain people.
The hurt on my mom’s face is obvious, but I couldn’t care less. It’s not any worse than what my father has done to her.
She forces a smile and steps back toward my bedroom door. “I’m going to run to the store. Do you need anything?”
I shake my head no without speaking and my mom leaves the room. I won’t let people make me feel guilty for minding my own business.
When I get out of bed, I find my suits still in my closet where I left them, but I choose black jeans and a white t-shirt instead.
As a Mafia family, we’re supposed to be discreet, but there’s nothing discreet about wearing a suit all the time. If anything, it’s just asking for attention.
I push my door open, and from across the room, I hear my twin sister’s annoying giggles. She’s so immature.
I wonder if she knows I’m back in town. She’d probably be thrilled. The last time I saw my sister, I had her pinned against the wall with a knife to her throat.
She had been pushing my buttons for too long, and once she started telling my father everything she knew about my relationship with Sofia, I had to scare her into silence.
If my dear mother hadn’t interrupted, I might have left a little scar as a reminder for her, but she was lucky.
Ariella is a total bitch. The little princess to our parents who can do no wrong. It’s embarrassing enough to be her brother, let alone her twin. We’re nothing alike, I’m sure of it.
I decide not to bother her today, not right now. So, I head down the grand staircase, rolling my eyes when I see Sofia waiting at the bottom.
This is turning into an unwelcome homecoming party. Of course, my father would tell Alessandro and Sofia about my return.
“Luca,” she says, smiling as I reach the bottom step, “my father said you were back. I had to come see for myself if my missing fiancé had actually returned.
“How was Spain? I went there to surprise you a few months ago but you’re impossible to track down.”
“You know, darling. Usually, when someone is hard to find, they don’t want to be found.” I stare at her, annoyed by her naivety. “Take a hint and get it through your fucking head that—”
“Luca,” my father interrupts, walking out of his office. His lips are pressed into a thin line and his eyes say he’s not impressed.
Do I care? Not at all.
As he walks toward us, he smiles at Sofia. “Lovely to see you, Sofia. I was talking with your father earlier. He said you’d be stopping by to see Luca.”
“Nice to see you, Mr. Acerbi. I’ve missed Luca while he was away and was hoping to catch up.”
“I’m busy,” I tell her before she can get her hopes up.
“You’ll make time for your fiancée,” my dad tells me, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a piece of paper.
“Go to the new restaurant downtown. The owner owes me a favor. Tell them Valentino Acerbi sent you and enjoy the evening. Luca has been gone for a long time, you two have a lot to talk about.”
This man really knows how to get on my nerves. Trying to control my life is one thing, but he’ll never be able to force a woman into my life. Or make me spend time with her.
A smirk tugs at my lips, and I look at my father. “How about you mind your own damn business and work on your own messed-up relationship? I’m sure you need it more than Sofia and I.”
If Sofia weren’t here, my father would probably have a gun to my head or a knife to my throat. The fire in his eyes clearly says he wants to get his hands on me.
My father and I have had too many fights to count and I’m sure that’s not going to change anytime soon.
I’m pretty sure that if I weren’t his only son, my father would have killed me by now.
Luckily for me, I’m his legacy and he needs me around, whether he likes it or not. The only difference is, when I take his place, a lot of things are going to change.
Starting with where he stands in this business.
