Luca saw that Marie was having a hard time dealing with the "Lesson" she had learned and decided to plan a trip to help take her mind off things. They could not travel far so he decided a long weekend would do the trick. After asking around he decided on Catalina Island and the town of Avalon. He booked the hotel room and rented a private cabana on the beach for them to hang out in. 

He had made all the plans but now had to convince her to go. She was sitting downstairs having just brought the mail in. He walked over and started flipping through the mail when he noticed one from a name he only sorta recognized Rick... He wondered what he wanted and noticed it was addressed to Marie. 

"Whats this?" He asked her showing the letter from Rick. 

Marie looked up from the cup of tea she had been making for herself and looked confused for a moment until she remembered.  "Oh that came in the mail yesterday."  She walked towards him to take them envelope from him.  She studied it closely and then started to open it using a letter opener from the desk. 

"To be honest I don't know what it is."

She opened it and pulled out a large sum of cash.  Her eyes grew large not believe what she was seeing.  "What on Earth?!?"  She looked confusingly at Luca and then handed him the money so that she could see if there was anything else in the envelope.  There was not. 

She looks dumbfoundedly at her husband, "The only Rick that even comes to mind is the guy I met down at the pier the other night from Philly."  She looked at the envelope trying to remember every detail of the encounter and it all came out in a jumble mess.  "We did not even share last names.  How could it be him?  I did not tell him where I lived or anything.  We just talked about potential business opportunities in the area and he pointed out a couple of attractions near the pier."  Marie's eyes suddenly grew large as she realized what this must look like to Luca.  Nobody tracks a person's address down and just gives that person that they hardly know that much cash.  "I swear Luca we just talked.  That was all.  And only for a few minutes."

Luca takes the cash and counts it quickly

"Why the fuck is he sending you 100k!!" he says almost shouting. 

"No one sends 100k to someone they only had a short chat with." He looks like her with an angry look. 

Luca tosses the cash on the table unable to process why Don Rick would send his wife a 100k. 

"There is only one man that this could be and that is Don Rick for Philly. Why did he send you this cash."

Marie panicked, "I swear Luca really.  I did not even know he was a Don.  He just said that he was from Philly and came most every weekend to LA for business and pleasure.  I told him that my husband and I had recently moved to LA from Miami and that I was looking to possibly open a business.  He pointed out a few attractions and hot spots near the pier and we talked about potential business opportunities.  The subject of the track for sale down the road  came up and I got really excited.  Maybe... maybe he wanted to become a business partner with me?"

She reached out to lay a gentle hand on his arm and her eyes pleaded with him.  "Please Luca believe me nothing happened.  I swear I don't know why he sent it."

Luca was still upset but he trusted Marie with his life and he knew nothing had happened. Maybe they both really need this weekend away. 

"I don't like other men mysteriously sending you money. I believe you that nothing happened," he told her. 

"Just send the money back," he said sticking it back in the envelope.

"I wanted to tell you to pack a bag for a long weekend at the beach. I have booked us a hotel and a cabana on the beach."

"We are going to Catalina Island," he said to her with a smile. 

In that moment, Marie would have agreed to anything so long as it got them off the subject of Rick.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, darling.  Thank you for thinking of it."  She pulled him into an embrace and kissed him lovingly.  Then she looked at him with a smile, "I will go pack some things for us.  Do you want to take along anything special?"

Luca smirked and had all kinds of things run through his mind. 

"No sweetheart I don't care what you wear, Hell go naked, don't matter to me," he says giving you a wink. 

Luca got up and walked over to her and hugged and kissed her. He looks lovingly into her eyes and says "I just want you"

Rick chilling in his LA beach house, recieved word that he had been given 100k by Marie and began wondering what he had done.

He took a walk to the Lucania place of residence, and he saw they were outside with suitcases obviously just about to take a trip. Rick approched Marie but not before he acknowledged Mr Lucania with a friendly nod.

"Did my gift offended you?" Rick asked Marie, "We was down on the pier and you was mentioning business opportunities and wanting buisness partners i thought i would help" 

Rick paused he could feel the eyes on his back from Sal, turning to look at Sal he said "Do you not trust your wife Mr Lucania?" "Can she not have friends?" Rick sensed that last question may have angered Sal so he stopped before he put his foot in it even more.

There were many things that Luca was very good about, but there were things that he was not very good at.  It was why they made such good partners in life.  In this situation tact was needed.  Marie may not know how nor have the stomach to torture someone for information, but she knew how to dance herself around politics.  Sicilian woman knew that dance very well.

Marie moved herself in front of Don Rick, and consequently placed herself between the two men.  "Your gift was unexpected and a bit pre-mature.  I was not aware of who you were at the time.  Before I can take on a business partner of your stature there are certain individuals within this city whom I must inform.  Luca and I are new to this city and we wish to remain in good standing with them.  I hope you can understand." 

"If those individuals are good with the idea, and my husband -- my chosen life partner -- has no objections than I will be happy to present my business plan to you for your consideration.  I would be very honored to have you as a business partner in this horse racing venture of mine."

Marie smiled at the Don.  She trusted her husband to have the good sense to keep his anger in check.  The last thing either one of them needed was to get on the wrong side of a Don in this thing of theirs.  Especially when the potential payout that such connection would bring was so great. 

Rick stood and listen to Marie, he could understand that certain individuals of LA should know of the plan to go into business from a man from Philly he was after all an outsider to LA but, he could not however understand and probably because he was a single man, why she needed her husband permission.

Without trying to anger Sal more than he clearly already has he stopped Marie as she spoke and asked "Why would you husband not want you to make money?" 

"Ill tell you what." He slipped Marie a piece of paper and came closer to her and said "You know where to find me if you make up your mind"

With that he turned away from Marie, acknowledge Sal with a slight wave and walked off back down towards the beach.

Marie glared daggers at the man's back as he walked away.  When she was sure he was out of ear shot she turned to her husband and started walking towards him.  

"What the fuck was that about?  Who does shit like that and treats people with such disrespect?  I am so sorry he was so incredibly rude to you."  She pulled him to her and whispered something in his ear.

Luca walks closer to Marie releasing the grip on his gun. He knew he couldn't shoot a Don but it was his gut reaction. 

"I don't like it, Sweetheart," he says to her. 

"You can make money, you know I would never stop you from doing so. But the way he has handled everything..." he said trailing off at the end. 

"We will talk about it later, and we will make a decision about what is best for us." Marie smiled and caressed his jaw.  "Now... let's get to that weekend away from all this shit."