16 Not the Man Luciana POV "Now that it's just the two of us sweetheart, how are things going? I thought I felt some tension when you and Enzo arrived." I offer her a reassuring smile. "We are doing fine, Marie. We both know that an arranged marriage isn't for the weak." "Truer words were never spoken," she says. "Excuse me for one minute while I text my guard." "Of course, sweetheart," she says, going back to her sauce. I send a quick text to Herbito about using his skills to find out exactly what's being talked about in Marco's office. I quickly shove it back in my pocket and move to help Maria plate the food. She reminds me so much of my mother. I think about the differences between her and my mother's marriage. I can't imagine the things she has endured being married to Marco Caruso. My phone dings in my pocket. She offers me a smile as I pull the phone from my pocket. "Come to the office now," Herbito messages me. "Maria, will you excuse me again? My guard needs to speak to me." "No need to ask permission, Luciana. I want you to treat this like your own home," she says. I press a kiss on her cheek before I make my way to Herbito, who leads me to Marco's office. My heart starts to pound against my chest, knowing Herbito wouldn't have called me to interrupt the private conversation unless whatever is on the other side of the door is bad. I grab the handle, pushing the door open. I can't believe this man. He couldn't even make it a f**king day into our marriage. "That's strike three" I say, before turning just in time to see the disappointment in Marie's eyes as she walks toward me. As I go to pass her, she pulls me in for a quick hug. She says nothing because there is nothing really to say at this point. She saw exactly what I did. She releases me and heads toward the office as I make my way outside. I'm shocked to see Jules waiting in an SUV, but I should have known that Herbito would have thought ahead since he didn't drive here. Herbito opens my door and I slide inside. Once Herbito gets in next to me, Jules pulls down the long drive and out of the gate. "Am I taking you home principessa," Jules asks, sympathy in his eyes. "No, take me to Lana's boutique." He looks at me in the review mirror with a confused expression but does as I ask. "Herbito, contact Romano and get me access to Club Six." Herbito's eyes get big. "How do you know about Club Six" he asks sounding more like my father than my guard. "I may be a good girl, but that doesn't mean I'm naive or innocent about our world Herbito. Besides young women in my circle love to gossip." "Luciana, we need to talk about what I heard before you busted into that office" he says. "Bullsh*t, there is absolutely no explanation for the man that married me less than twenty-four hours ago to have a puttana on her knees in front of him." "I agree, but I don't think that is what Enzo wanted. I heard the whole conversation on the listening device. A great leader keeps a level head and doesn't let emotions rule their decisions," he says. I know he's right, but I don't think I've ever been this angry. I take a deep breath and try to push the hurt and anger to the side. "Fine, what did you hear?" "The minute Enzo stepped into his father's office, he was assaulted both physically and verbally, which I'm sure is not new for the man. Marco dangles the carrot of leadership in front of Enzo at every turn. He has been told all his life that he is to become Don, but I have often wondered if that ba**ard ever really intended to pass the title until it's pried from his cold dead hand," he says. 1/3 16 Not the Man "I was actually quite shocked when Enzo talked back to the pr*ck. Marco threatened to take him to the basement, which I'm sure is code for a torture room. Again, I don't think it's the first time he has done it to his son. Don't get me wrong as men we have all been slapped around by our fathers, but even my father, who was a complete ba**ard, never tortured me. Marco is worried that with you by his side, the boy he has molded into an obedient soldier to do his bidding will finally oust the boss Marco thinks he will always be. Truth be told, of all the families your father controls, he is the shittiest leader. When Enzo finally takes over he will likely have to clean house," he says. "What am I supposed to do with this information, Herbito? Am I supposed to overlook my husband getting a blow j*b from a puttana on his father's orders? That's what you are insinuating right that Marco ordered it and Enzo was simply following orders like he always does." "No, I am not saying to ever overlook disrespect, bite your tongue. The boy needs to be taught a lesson, but I don't think it should be in the way you are thinking. I don't actually think anything happened, and I truly believe he would have stopped it before it did, he says. "Then why call me to the office? If you truly believed he had no intention of betraying me, then why have me see that puttana on her knees ready to touch what is only supposed to be mine." Herbito gags slightly. "Never say such a thing to me again. You may not be my daughter by blood, but I want to believe you are still my little principessa," he says. I roll my eyes but can't stop the smile that spreads across my face. "I needed you to see it, so Enzo learns to be the man he is meant to be. I guarantee right now he is panicked and may even put a bullet in his own father's head for the mess he just made. I know you are angry but don't make a decision that can't be undone," he says. I lean my head back against the headrest as my mind reels with everything Herbito just told me. After a few minutes, an idea forms that may serve to teach my husband exactly the man I need him to be. "Call Romano," I say. Herbito goes to open his mouth, but I raise my hand to silence him. "Trust me." He pulls the phone from his pocket. "If your father finds out about this my oldest friend might kill me," he says as he puts the phone to his ear. I smile and lean back in my seat. Enzo POV Without a second thought, I push the b**ch away from me and refasten my pants. "What the f**k are you doing," my father asks as I start toward the door. "I'm going to find my wife and pray she forgives me one last time." I stop in my tracks when my mother steps into the room. Her eyes are colder than I've ever seen them. There isn't a glint of warmth in them as she looks between me and my father. "Get out of my house puttana," she says, her eyes moving to the woman still kneeling on the floor. "If I see you again, you'll find out exactly what it means to pray for death," she says. The b**ch scurries to her feet and runs out of the door she entered earlier. "Marie," my father says her name like a warning. She ignores him, moving to stand in front of me. "I never thought I would be ashamed to be your mother, but I am. I have raised you to be a good man despite the world you grew up in. I never cared that you jumped from bed to bed because I believed when you finally made a sacred vow before god and family, you would be a better man than him," she says, pointing at my father. I see the first crack in my father's hard facade. "Marie" he says, his voice softer this time. "I'll deal with you in a moment, stronzo," she says. I've never heard my mother raise her voice at my father, let alone call him out of his name. "Don't you ever speak to me with disrespect, Marie. This is my house. I am the boss here and you are my wife. You don't give orders in my house. You are angry that I have made him a man. If it was up to 2/3 16 Not the Man +15 Points) you, he would be a p**sy who was led around by his wife like Alberto," my father says, spitting on the ground. My mother whirls on him. "You are a pathetic man who thinks because he has a little power that makes him the boss. You are a boy playing in a man's world. You think that you measure up to Alberto Rizzo, you don't. He demands respect but also gives it. You think because you f**k wh*res it makes you a man, it doesn't. In fact, I feel sorry for the women that bed you," she says. Without warning, my father backhands my mother, knocking her to the ground. Without a second thought, I take the gun from my holster and point it at the man I thought was everything I wanted to be. At this moment, I realize he isn't the man I thought he was. My chest aches at the realization. "You point a gun at me in my own house, boy. I think you forget yourself. You need a reminder of exactly what I'm capable of," he says. "You forget papa, those lessons are hard to forget when they are beaten into you until your unconscious." My mama gasps, but I can't take my eyes off the ba**ard in front of me to offer her comfort. "You disrespected my wife and hit my mother. I promise you that teaching me how to be a hard man is a mistake you are going to regret for causing them a moment's pain. Bruno" I call out. My second steps into the office, his eyes giving nothing away. "We are leaving. Help my mother to the car." "She isn't going anywhere" he screams. Bruno helps her to her feet. She spits at my father's feet. "You are no longer my husband. I'm done with you, Marco Caruso," she says, before Bruno leads her outside. I move toward the door, keeping my gun trained on my father. I know that this won't be the last time I stand against this man, but right now I have more important matters to deal with. I have to find my wife. Amazingly enough, we make it to the car without a shot fired. He thinks that I'll bow down after being given time to think about everything, but he is very wrong this time. I slide in next to my mother and the car lurches forward to put distance between us and my father. Tears stream down my mother's cheeks and I pull her close. "I'm sorry, Enzo. I didn't know," she says. "It's alright mama. Just call Antonio to meet us at the new house. I would put nothing past Marco right now." My use of my father's name to address him isn't lost on my mother. She takes the phone from her pocket just as my phone dings. A text message from an unknown number has me gripping the phone so tight the screen cracks. "I suggest you go to Club Six. Luciana is not playing with you Enzo," it says.