REUNION

It was 1 AM and Bianca was already seated in a corner at the Fezalaro club when her phone chimed. The notification lit up her Lock Screen, it was a text from Luca. A simple message that changed the entirety of her mood. I am not at the club, I won't be there. Come towards the second bridge. Alone. Bianca was a little provoked, Luca's paranoia was now getting to her. But then, she could understand his plight. She had been staying with his prime enemies for over two weeks now, and now she was spotted going on a business meeting with them. And to make matters even worse, the prime enemies she has been living with, were her biological family. This would give no sane man peace. She picked up her bag and stepped out of the club. The parking garage was so quiet compared to the club. Her boots' echo against the concrete was the only sound she could hear initially, but as she approached the BMW she had taken from Isabella's fleet, she heard footsteps walking behind her. The steps were quick and precise, approaching her directly. From how heavy the steps sounded, she could tell it was a man, and a huge man at that. She passed her vehicle and continued walking down the garage. This was a little move to pull off the tail, but she was wrong. The steps came a little quicker towards her. Instinctively, she turned around, her hands going straight to her holster to pull her weapon and point it straight at the stranger with practiced ease. To much of her surprise, it was Luca Vincenzo. He stood there, unflinching, his dark eyes glinting under the sickly yellow lights. No suit tonight. Just a black turtleneck and a leather jacket. For a heartbeat, neither moved. They just stood there, looking at each other. Then Luca's mouth quirked. 'Expecting someone else?" Bianca exhaled sharply but didn't lower the gun. 'You texted me to go to the bridge." 'Yes I needed to make sure you were alone, and that it was safe for me to meet you," Luca said as he stepped closer, ignoring the weapon between them. 'Mia belle assassina, (my beautiful assassin) it has been quite the time since I set my eyes upon you. Seemed like I almost missed you." Bianca slowly put away her gun and put it back into the hostler. 'What's with all the mind games, what are you so paranoid about?" She asked as she put the gun away from his chest. 'You live and work with Isabella Morreti, daughter of Vittorio Morreti, who also happened to be your sister." Luca paused and then continued. 'I have to protect myself. Even if you don't want to hurt me, they can get to me through you." Bianca scoffed, 'That's so ironic, considering the fact that Isabella doesn't see you as a problem, at least not yet." Luca let out a soft chuckle. 'I am her greatest worry." 'Yes, maybe you were, or let's assume you still are. She doesn't see you as great a problem, as one to want to take out." They both kept quiet, nobody dared speak for fear of adding to the tension that simmered beneath. But then, after a long wait, Luca finally broke the silence. 'What does she even want?" Luca asked, turning away from Bianca, 'Isabella… What does she really want?" Bianca looked a lot confused about the question, 'Ehh… total control, I would assume…" 'I would not really be surprised if you knew what she wants." Luca cut her off just before she could conclude her sentence. 'Sometimes I get to even tell myself that Cagna does not even know what she wants. Bianca was quiet for a heartbeat and then continued her state. 'Isabella wants total control over La Fratellanza della Morte," she said, her voice low but steady. "She can never get that on her own. Not truly. So she needs me." Luca's jaw twitched. "Because—" "Because I'm a legitimate daughter of the viper," Bianca finished for him, her grip tightening on the gun. A slow, humorless smirk tugged at Luca's lips. "And she's not?" Bianca exhaled sharply, the weight of the admission pressing down on her. Another stretch of silence filled the garage, heavy with unspoken history. Then, with a long breath, she spilled. "Isabella's mother was an assistant. A nobody in Vittorio's empire. She ran away when she realized she was pregnant, too afraid because of what might happen to her." Bianca's voice dropped to a near whisper. "Isabella grew up knowing she was a Moretti in blood and to make matters worse her mom gave her the name. And now? She wants revenge. On all of them. Including Vittorio." Luca clenched his jaw. He was not there for the family history lecture, but he was getting it anyway. 'So how are you going to help her gain control?" 'She thinks Vittorio would name me heir if he finds out about me." Luca began laughing, 'That is not even possible, you can not be Capofamiglia. Una donna non diventa capofamiglia…" (A woman does not become capofamiglia.) 'Luca," Bianca called him with a stretch. 'The world as we know it is changing. Now I am not interested in their family business…" 'Your family business." Luca chipped in and Bianca stopped talking. She scanned his face for a while, before continuing. 'I said I am not interested in their business," she kept her eyes locked onto his even in the darkness, 'but I believe a woman can be capofamiglia of La Fratellanza della Morte." 'So you want to be the capo?" 'No for God's sake! Have you not been listening to me here since? I am not interested in their business. I want to keep my own end of the contract between the both of us and if taking Isabella down becomes a side quest in doing that, then I would gladly do so. Just keep your own end." Luca was too stunned to speak. Everything Bianca tried to explain to him, only ended up confusing him more. Bianca approached him quickly and gave him a tight hug. Warmth spread between their bodies. 'I missed you Amore Mio, I want to come back, believe me, but Isabella is more dangerous than you think, she's a wild beast. And abandoning just like that will only tip her off the cliff." She looked up at his face, their eyes looked into each other's. 'I am truly sorry about the death of your father." Luca was quiet, he tried to pull away from the embrace but she wouldn't let him. After what may seem like an eternity, Bianca patted his back softly… 'I should get going before they report my absence," she left Luca and took a few steps backwards. 'Some of your business partners are coming to Isabella. And I'm not just talking about the Irish. There is another and I have reasons to believe this person is very close to you." Bianca turned around facing the direction of the BMW. 'I haven't met this one, but he gave her information about the return of a secret daughter of your father that none knew about." She stopped talking and then began walking. 'I am pretty sure the list of those who know about your sister's return is short. One of them is working with Isabella." These were her parting words.