Undressed By The Mafia God-Chapter 144: You Do Seem Happy

Valentina narrowed her eyes at him. "You’re different," she insisted.

He shrugged slightly. "I think what you are seeing as different is me no longer giving a shit about women."

Val immediately shook her head. "No, it’s not that."

She studied him again, more carefully now. It wasn’t just his clothes or the tattoo. It was the way he carried himself. There was a confidence there that hadn’t existed before.

"Okay, Val... stop analysing me and tell me about yourself," Cassidy insisted.

"Fine, fine. Uh... I’m seeing this extremely cute guy."

Cassidy raised an eyebrow.

"Oh my God..." she sighed dreamily, her head tipping back slightly as she smiled to herself.

Cassidy chuckled.

It was an expression he recognized instantly. He had seen it many times before.

Too many times, maybe.

Valentina looked exactly like her sister.

The same expressive eyes.

The same way her lips curved when she smiled.

The same dark blonde hair falling around her shoulders.

Even the way she sighed dramatically felt painfully familiar.

For a brief second, Cassidy’s mind tried to wander somewhere it absolutely shouldn’t.

He snapped his thoughts back quickly.

Nope.

Not happening.

He forced his attention back to the conversation, shaking the thought away.

Valentina was still talking, completely lost in her dreamy excitement.

The sight made him smile faintly.

Some things, at least, hadn’t changed.

"He makes you happy?" Cassidy confirmed.

"Yeah." She answered.

"You do seem happy."

Valentina didn’t realize how much that simple observation meant until she heard it said out loud. Her smile softened slightly, less dreamy and more genuine. For all her teasing and dramatics, the truth was simple—she was happy. Nervous, confused sometimes, but happy in a way that felt new and fragile.

Once his order was ready, Val grabbed it from the counter. She set it carefully in front of him and added a cold can of soda beside it without asking.

Cassidy reached into his pocket and placed a bill on the counter. "Keep the change."

"Thank you. Come again!" she said brightly.

Cassidy picked up the pizza box, then paused for a moment before leaving. His eyes rested on her face, thoughtful. "Always keep your smile, Val. Don’t ever lose it."

Before she could respond, he was already turning toward the door.

The bell above it jingled softly as he stepped out onto the street.

At the exact same moment, Ricardo was stepping inside.

The two men passed each other in the doorway without stopping. Ricardo glanced instinctively at the stranger, the same quick assessment he had developed from working around Luca’s world.

Something about the man triggered his instincts immediately.

Maybe it was the quiet confidence in his walk. Maybe the way his eyes briefly scanned the room before he exited. Or maybe it was the glimpse of dark ink peeking out just above the collar of his jacket.

The tattoo.

Ricardo’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Valentina waved cheerfully toward the door. "Bye Cassidy!"

Then she turned back toward the counter just as Ricardo approached.

"Hey boyfriend," she greeted easily.

Ricardo didn’t return the smile immediately. His attention was still lingering on the door Cassidy had just walked through.

"Who is that?" he asked.

Valentina blinked, slightly confused by the tension in his voice. "Uh... that’s Cassidy," she said casually. "He’s Vee’s ex. It’s a whole story."

Ricardo’s brow furrowed. "Vee’s ex works for the Bastione familia?"

Valentina stared at him like he had just spoken a different language. "What familia?" she asked. "Cassidy is a high school teacher," Valentina said firmly, as if correcting a ridiculous mistake.

Ricardo slowly looked back toward the door. "Judging by the tattoo I just saw peeking out of his jacket," he said quietly, "that guy is not a high school teacher."

Valentina’s head snapped back toward the front of the shop, her eyes darting to the door as if Cassidy might still be standing there.

But he was gone.

The street outside had already swallowed him up.

"Oh no! Oh no... oh my God." Her hands flew to her head, fingers digging lightly into her hair as panic started creeping up her spine.

"Whats wrong?" Ricardo asked.

Valentina turned to him slowly, her face pale with sudden realization. "It’s a long story, Ricardo." Val sighed.

And it was.

*****

Bianca’s name flashed across the screen of his phone as Ricardo drove back to Commissioned.

"What does she want now?" he muttered under his breath. He already had a bad feeling.

Bianca never called without a reason lately, and those reasons were rarely pleasant. He swiped to receive the call and her face immediately appeared on the screen, looking as immaculate as ever.

Perfect makeup. Perfect hair. Perfect posture.

"Is she dead?"

"I haven’t gotten news of anyone’s obituary, Bianca."

"You think you are sleek, uhn, Ricardo." Bianca smiled.

"Okay, listen to yourself," he said calmly. "It’s quite flattering that you think I am the kind of man to butt heads with Luciano. Thank you for your strong faith in me."

Bianca’s eyes sharpened slightly at the sarcasm. "I could always let him find out about our little affair back in school, Ricardo. A whisper there, a gossip here..."

Ricardo almost laughed.

Of all the things she could threaten him with, that one barely made the list.

"I have been in New York long enough to know Luca would not give one cent of a crap about that," he replied. "Find something else to threaten me with. Get creative, Bianca."

The car slowed at a red light as he continued.

"I know you well enough to know that when it comes to being brutal, you’re quite good at it." He didn’t wait for her response. Ricardo ended the call. He knew she would be fuming.

Bianca’s temper was legendary, though most people in the Genovese circle had never seen the full extent of it. They only knew the polished version of her.

Ricardo knew better. He drummed his fingers lightly against the steering wheel as he drove, his mind racing through possibilities. He had to do something about Bianca very soon. He couldn’t exactly go to Luca and tell him, hey your wife plans on putting out a hit on your mistress.

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