Exhausted, Tommaso freed her from her bonds, and the brothers stroked her body as she caught her breath.
Afterward, she started to laugh, and they looked at her curiously. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but this is like some kind of weird fantasy palace.”
Raffaelo grinned. “But very real, my love.”
She put a hand on both of their faces. “I love you, both of you. You have changed my life. I’m just scared that when the snow outside melts and the world is able to get in, our little bubble will burst. I’ll have to go back to work— wherever that will be—go back to seeing my parents, my friends and try and keep this—us—a secret.”
Tomaso shared a glance with Raff. “In Italy, it would not be such a big deal. No one knows you there.” He drew his fingertips down her belly. “Isn’t that right, Raff?”
“Right.”
Inca looked between them. “Why do I feel like a conversation has been had that I wasn’t part of?”
Raff grinned sheepishly. “I was just saying to Tommaso last night—we cannot reasonably expect no one here to find out what we have been doing. It’s like you said, once people are able to see us again, they’ll know.”
Inca felt a sadness. “I don’t want this to end.”
“Neither do we ... which is why we thought up a plan. You said you didn’t know if you could work in the Sakura again. Here’s our plan. Sell the business. Come to Italy with us for a year. There we have a home in Sorrento, set high on the hillside. Completely secluded, but with views of Naples and, of course, Vesuvius.”
Inca’s heart began to thud in excitement. She propped herself up on her elbows—the fact that she had two beautiful men naked either side of her didn’t escape her attention—but something else was bothering her. “I couldn’t be your kept ...” she searched for a word that wasn’t whore, but her face reddened and her smile faded. Raffaelo guessed her thoughts.
“You would be our guest, Inca. Our friend and our guest. Anything else is nobody else’s business. You would be able to regroup there and decide on your next move.”
Inca smiled at him. “It is tempting.”
Tommaso chuckled. “Then it is decided. And anyway,” he glanced out at the snow still battering the huge windows. “I am so sick of seeing this white stuff. I need the sun.”
He had no idea where Inca had gone, but he assumed wherever she was, she would be fucking somebody.
Whore.
Stuck in Willowbrook, it irked him that he could not kill when he needed to. As soon as he was able, he risked driving into the city. Luckily, although the roads were still treacherous, the snow ploughs had cleared the main highway into the city, and he immediately drove to the only place he could think of where there would be plenty of people and plenty of opportunities.
The hospital.
He chose the biggest in the city; he knew the layout, knew the dark places. Knew where the staff and patients came out to grab an illicit smoke.
He had to wait a couple of hours before he saw her, and when he did, he almost laughed out loud. She was the most similar yet. She had Inca’s soft features, sweet smile, and long, dark hair. He took her as she passed the alleyway where he was hidden, and he smothered her until she lost consciousness. He ripped her uniform open, and because she was already unconscious, he started by carving Inca’s name on her stomach, gouging the words deep into his victim’s lovely skin.
He had already decided that he couldn’t wait much longer. Inca would die soon. Very soon. She would bleed to death slowly from the damage his knife would inflict on her glorious body. He would make sure she suffered every moment and felt every inch of the knife that would tear through her tender flesh over and over.
Her name carved, blood dripping, he waited for this girl to come around and, when she did, her eyes widened in terror, the pain hit, and she opened her mouth to scream as he plunged his knife deep into her abdomen.
When she was dead—and she died disappointingly quickly—he sucked in a few deep breaths, smelling the salty rust stink of blood.
Inca ... I’m coming for you.
He closed his eyes and thought about her body, the honey-skin ... he would fuck her before she died, dominate her body completely. She would beg for her life, but he would not listen.
Soon, Inca, soon.
Inca was right, of course. The bubble did burst, and spectacularly so. A week later, the snow had almost completely disappeared, and the mansion staff came back to work. They would find no trace of the debauchery that had preoccupied its three occupants for the last week. Tommaso had business in the city one day and, try as they might, Inca and Raffaelo could not find a moment to themselves as the house filled with trades people and staff.
Raff looked at her regretfully as yet another almost-tryst was foiled by the chef asking him when they would like dinner served. Raff stole a kiss as the chef turned her back and Inca grinned.
Raff nuzzled her nose.
“Wait until we are in Italy—we need not pretend there, mio caro.”
Two days after the snow melted, Tommaso drove Inca to her parent’s house, and Nancy hugged her daughter tightly, smiling at Tommaso.
“Thank you for looking after her.”
“Have you been okay?” Inca looked at her mother’s wan face, but Nancy nodded.
“It’s just a cold. Don’t worry; your father’s been caring for me. Look, have you been into town? Seen Olly?”
Inca looked surprised. “No, why?”
Nancy sighed. “You’d better come and sit, and I’ll call him. He should be the one to tell you. He has some questions.”
She looked at Tommaso. “Dear, would you mind leaving Inca with us?”
Tommaso nodded, his eyes curious. “Of course.”
Inca saw him to the door. “I’ll tell you what’s going on later,” she said in a low voice, kissing him goodbye.
When he’d gone, they waited for Olly. Inca tried to quiz Nancy, but her mother wouldn’t tell her what was going on. Inca realized Nancy’s wan face must have something to do with what Olly had to tell her. Somehow Inca knew she wouldn’t like whatever he had to say. She suddenly felt anxious.
“Mind if I do some baking? It always relaxes me, and I have a feeling I’ll need it.”
Nancy nodded, her eyes sympathetic. “Go ahead.”
Inca went into the kitchen and began to pull together the ingredients for muffins. She had the feeling her bubble of happiness was about to be pricked and burst.
Olly opened the door to the kitchen and walked in, closing it behind him. Inca came out from the pantry and stopped when she saw him. A flash of distress crossed her face when she saw his grim expression.
“Hi.” She looked away from him, grabbing a mixing bowl and dumping some flour into it. Olly leaned back against the door.
“I’ve got to talk to you.”
“Okay.
“About Tommaso Winter.”
She stiffened. “What about him?”
“He’s not a good person, Inca. I don’t want you around him.”
She slammed the bowl down. “Jesus Christ. Really? It’s getting really old, Olly, really very old.” He saw tears in her eyes. “Please, Olly, just go.”
He took a deep breath in. “Just listen to me; there was a murder in Seattle last night. The victim was stabbed to death, no motive, no robbery. Her body was found on the grounds of the hospital. She … Inca … she looked just like you. I did some digging.” He put a piece of paper down on the counter. “Seventeen women of Asian descent murdered over the last few years and guess who was in the cities when the women e died? That’s right—Tommaso Dario Winter. All of the women were repeatedly stabbed in the stomach, some of them disemboweled. Like your birth mother. Like Jasmine Khan. All the women look like you.”
Inca was staring at him, her mouth open. “I don’t believe this. I don’t believe you. Have you actually gone insane?”
“Inca—”
“No. No. Shut up. Just shut your mouth. Tommaso�
��s harmless. He’s been a good friend to me. Both of them have. And you come in here and accuse him of ... are you actually fucking insane? Do you have any proof he has committed any crime at all, let alone slicing and dicing some women who, gosh, happen to look like me? You know how many Asian people there are? Lots of them look like me, and some of them get murdered. But somehow this translates into Tommaso Winter is going to kill me?”
Olly winced. “I’m just trying to protect you.”
She threw the mixing bowl against the wall, shocking him with the depth of her distress. “You don’t get to do that anymore; do you understand me? You don’t have the right.”
Olly ached at the anguish in her voice. He reached for her, but she backed away from him, hurt in her eyes.
“Just stop it. This isn’t fair, Olly. I can’t—” She put her face in her hands, and he heard her sob. Just once. “Please, Olly, you have to stop.”
“I can’t just stop caring about you. I can’t stop it. I love you.”
“No! You don’t get to say that to me again. Ever.” She was angry now. More than that. Furious. “God, I was so stupid to think, to let myself hope we could still be friends, but you’re making it impossible.”
She was sobbing now, and Olly managed to get his arms around her. Inca struggled with him, but he wouldn’t let go. She went limp, burying her face in her hands.
“You can’t just hold me and think that it’s going to make everything okay. I won’t let you do this to me again. You’ve broken me, Olly, and you can’t fix me this time.”
He let her go then, her words cutting into him, fracturing what was left of his heart.
“Please go.” She turned away from him.
Olly’s throat was closed, his shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry.”
She looked at him then, and he saw the heartbreak and the endless loss in her eyes. “It’s not good enough.”
After he left, Nancy quietly slid back into the kitchen. Inca was still crying, albeit silently, and her mother wrapped her arms around her. “It’s okay, darling.”
There was a knock at the back door then, and Nancy opened it to see Luna outside. “Hi,” she said uncertainly.
Nancy pulled her in out of the cold. “See if you can cheer Inca up. Your brother’s just upset her.”
Luna’s mouth formed a line, but she rolled her eyes. “That’s what he’s good at.”
“I’m okay,” Inca said shortly, wiping her eyes. She didn’t look at Luna. There was an awkward silence, then Luna looked at Nancy.
“Look, Inks, why don’t you stay with me tonight? I bet you could do with a girl’s night in for a change. Although I know, it must have been hell trapped in the luxurious mansion with those two gorgeous billionaires.”
Inca looked sharply at her old friend, then realized she was grinning at her. She smiled and rolled her eyes. “Utter hell.”
Luna shifted her weight to her other foot. “Well? What do you say? Chili and a Friends marathon like the old days?”
Inca smiled. “That sounds good to me, Loons.”
“Don’t call me that. That okay with you?” She looked at Nancy, who shrugged.
“Fine with me. I’m not Inca’s keeper.”
“Will Tommaso be okay with it?”
Inca bridled a little. “Of course. He’s not my keeper either.”
“Just kidding. Jeez, you do need to chill out.”
“Sorry.”
Inca tried to relax and tried to forget about the scene with Olly. Luna let her off the hook for a while, distracting her. They chatted about work as Luna had flitted around the tiny kitchen of her apartment, throwing together the makings of a red-hot chili. They balanced their plates on their laps as they ate, watching re-runs of Friends. Inca felt the tension of the day leave her. She helped Luna do the dishes after, and then they collapsed back on the couch.
“Okay.” Luna grinned slightly as Inca rolled her eyes, then reached over to squeeze her hand as she saw the exhaustion in her friend’s eyes. “Inks, I’m sorry, but you need to talk to me. I feel like you’ve been withdrawing from me since Tommaso—and I think Tyler and Nancy feel the same way. The only person you seem to have time for is Tommaso or his brother. You really at the ‘living with stage’ with him already?”
Inca pulled her legs up to her chest. “I’m not living with him, if that’s what you’re asking. It was just a matter of safety; then we got snowed in.”
“Seems like it. Sure he doesn’t think you are officially living together?”
Inca rubbed her eyes. “I don’t know.” She winced at the fake sentiment of her reply.
You know what Tommaso wants. What Raffaelo wants. What you want.
She got up and paced around the living room. “I just want to get on with my life, sell the business, move,” and she turned away from Luna then, “move away. I can’t move on here with Scarlett’s murder and how things are with your brother.” She heard Luna’s distressed gasp, but when she turned back to her friend, Luna’s face was hard.
“So, running away?”
Inca sat back down next to her. “No. Well, not exactly. I’m going to Italy with Tommaso and Raffaelo for a while,” she added, seeing Luna’s expression. “Just getting my shit together, is all.” Mentioning her trip, she thought about what Olly had said earlier.
“Luna, you’ve met Tommaso and seen us together. Do you honestly think Tommaso would try to kill me? Or be capable of murdering all those women?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t think a little distance is the worst idea.” And for some reason, Inca felt a wave of terror at her friend’s reply. She shook her head, staring at her friend’s pale face.
“I don’t believe you.”
She got up from the couch and paced around, trying to keep calm. Luna watched her in silence, gnawing on her bottom lip.
“I know, Inca. I know he’s my brother, and I have to side with him, but there’s something about those twins. Both of them. Both of them seem like they’re … obsessed with you.”
Inca felt her face grow hot and she looked away from Luna’s penetrating stare.
“Oh, my God.” Luna breathed out a long, shocked breath. “You’re sleeping with both of them.”
“Shut up,” Inca hissed as if anyone could hear them. “It’s not like that.”
Except it was. It was exactly like that. She sat down and put her head in her hands. What have I become?
“I have to say, I’m impressed.” And Luna really did sound it, to Inca’s amazement. “Of everyone I’ve known, you are the last person I would expect to do that.”
“Can we please not talk about my sex life?” Inca was trembling now, and Luna put a hand on her arm.
“Inca … it’s okay. But maybe we shouldn’t tell anyone. Especially not Olly.”
Inca listened to her in silence, staring out of the window over to Olly’s house. The light from a TV flickered at the window. Otherwise, the house was still. Luna watched her. Finally, Inca looked at her, and her eyes were cold.
“Tommaso would never hurt me. Ever.”
Luna hesitated. “Olly’s been watching your house. We know this. He’s crazy jealous over Tommaso. Would he have seen anything?” Her voice trailed off as Inca flushed bright red and dropped her gaze. Luna gave a little gasp of distress. “Inca?”
“I don’t see how Olly could have seen us, but you never know. I still don’t believe Tommaso would hurt me. I never will believe that. I’d rather believe Olly would be the one who …”
Luna looked as if she would be sick any moment. Inca went to her and put her arms around her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. You have to stop worrying about me; it’s not your responsibility. I can look after myself. Your brother is a mess, yes, but he’s not violent.”
Luna pulled away from her. “I think you’re blinkered when it comes to Tommaso. Olly wouldn’t have said anything if he didn’t have reason to believe what he said.”
Inca went very still. “What’s that supposed to m
ean?”
“Nothing.”
Inca slowly reached down to grab her purse. “I think I should go.”
Luna turned away from her. “Well, that’s your thing, isn’t it? Like I said, running away.”
When Inca, still upset over the row, got back home, Nancy and Tyler were out and she breathed a sigh of relief. On the drive home she’d tried to make sense of the row with Luna. Inca felt bad; her friend was obviously conflicted, and she hadn’t helped any. She parked the truck and pulled out her cell to call Luna. No answer. She considered leaving a message, then ended the call. She’d apologize in person tomorrow.
Alone in the house for once, Inca reveled in the solitude, stripping the linen from the bed, gathering together dirty clothes and towels, loading up the washer, breathing in the scent of the detergent. She cleaned her bedroom, noting while she did the things that had changed without her noticing. A photo frame missing, books, records taken from the shelves in her room. She scanned the collection of vinyl that she had collected over the years, trying to see if they were just out of place. She frowned, trying to remember if she’d loaned them to anyone or if Nancy had been donating stuff to Goodwill without telling her. It seemed unlikely.
Sighing, she sat down on the bed. Should she call Tommaso or Raffaelo and tell them to come get her? No, she needed a night away for her body to recover, if nothing else. And besides, if she was going to go to Italy soon, then she wanted to spend some time with her parents.
And her friends. Olly. She shouldn’t have lost her temper with him. She would go see him in the morning and apologize, but warn him off Tommaso. She knew in her bones that he would never hurt her—or anyone else.
What about himself?
Inca pushed that unbidden thought away, not knowing where it came from.
When Nancy and Tyler came home, she spent the evening with them before turning in. When she went to bed, she fell asleep almost immediately.
Raffaelo knocked on Tommaso’s door. His brother was sitting up in bed, reading something on his laptop. He pushed his headphones from his head as Raff waved at him.
Dr. Orgasm (A Holiday Romance Collection Book 2) Page 28
