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He kicks up a ruthful smile and with ease flips me over his shoulder. My drink pours down his back but he’s unfazed as he walks away from the crowd. “Luca, put me down!” I yell. When I look back up, I feel uneasy how everyone is watching us. In truth I never really cared for these events nor what people thought of me. But for the role I played, I had to go unnoticed. At best, be likeable. This is the furthest thing from tactful. “Stop acting like a brute and get a grip on yourself.”
“I don’t need to hear that from the cause of all my problems.” He walks us into what looks like a private, secluded garden. Two teenagers are caught making out, breaking apart the moment we intrude. “Out,” Luca growls.
“Y-yes.” The young man barely makes out the words as they run and close the door behind them.
“Put me dow—”
Ooof. The wind expels from my lungs as Luca throws me onto a small day bed. A water fountain trickles beside us, the only audible sound that comes between us. An array of beautiful, colorful flowers surrounds us as rays of sunlight creep in. It feels so wrong being in such a beautiful setting when Luca and me are anything but.
“What the fuck was that about?” I demand.
His eyebrows perk up. “I could ask you the same thing.”
My blood runs cold. “What do you mean?”
“I find out not only have one of my clubs burnt to the ground this morning, having to deal with my brother, and get his fucking babysitter to pick him up…” I’m quick to take note that my plan worked. He continues. “Then I also receive a photo with my woman taking another man to an event with her.”
“You’re out of your goddamn mind, do you know that? I am not yours.”
My heart is rapidly beating.
How is this the conversation we’re having? Because I went on a date?
Or is he playing with me? Has he figured out I was behind the arson already?
He invades my space, towering over me. I do my best to square my shoulders and standoff with him. “You don’t own me, Luca.”
That arrogant smile kicks up again.
Rage pumps through my veins. Everything is falling apart. I am on the wire and Luca is not my focus so why is he here? Why is he always fucking here?
I hate every part of Luca. The way I stand to attention when he’s around. That even hearing his voice alone, arouses life in me I’ve never had. That despite how crazy he is, I still want him here.
Dangerous and distracting. It’s already too late to cut the budding feelings because they’ve gone past that point now. And I am in every way going to burn those buds to the ground as well.
“Can’t say no to Daddy’s request? I thought you were more independent than a ‘yes’ girl.” He winds me up.
I scoff. “What, you think you know me because you create a cute little file on me? You know nothing about me.”
I find irony in every word.
“I know you’re a highly intelligent woman. Manipulative and conniving even. I know you’ve convinced yourself this could be a place for you to stay permanently and so you run a fucking mile. You want closure but have purposefully made sure it’s out of reach—”
“That’s because you’re in the fucking way!” I yell back, shoving him.
He doesn’t move. The second time I try, he catches both my wrists and gets in my face.
“I only have so much patience, sweetheart. I’m offering you an out. Stop being so stubborn and accept my help.”
It’s a trap. It has to be. If I told him what I was really after he’d kill me right now and think no less of it. I hate how much those words have power over me.
“I don’t want or need you, Luca. I’m not playing your games anymore.”
A cruel laugh escapes him. “Ironic considering you’re the biggest game player I’ve met.”
My stomach twists tight. Those carnal blue eyes are breaking me apart. I think of my mother. Her laugh that I cling to and can still hear. I think of our last few days spent together. I remember the grief, pain and suffering of her loss. The abandonment because of it. The one person who I trusted; my father somehow being involved. Neglecting me from that day forward.
It would’ve been easier if they’d killed me as well.
