Stomping her expensive heel on the pavement, she huffed, “Because you kicked us out of the house!”
“I thought you liked it here? You’re able to get into more trouble.”
“I was before they amped up security. I practically have someone going into the bathroom with me now.”
“Aw, the poor, poor mafia princess.” He pretended to care.
“You know I don’t like it when you call me that, Lucca.”
“We both know that you do. Otherwise, you wouldn’t act like one.”
It was her turn to change the subject as she went toward the passenger door. “Are you taking me to school or not?”
Lucca moved swiftly, not letting her open the door. “No, I need your help with something.”
She tapped her heel again. “That depends on what it is.”
He gave her a warning look. “You’ll have to keep it a secret.” Or I’ll have to kill you.
A wicked smile touched her lightly pink lipstick lips. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, Lucca. I hope you’ve saved up enough money for the blackmailing I’m going to put you through.”
Opening the door for her, he laughed mockingly at her. “No one’s been able to blackmail me so far, princess.”
She patted him on the chest. “Oh, poor, poor mafia overlord. I know your secret already. I’ve just been waiting for the upper hand.”
Mafia overlord? “Have you been watching movies with Elle aga—Never mind. Just get in the fucking car. You don’t know shit.”
A perfect eyebrow rose. “Tell me, Lucca; is having her all to yourself everything you ever dreamed of?”
His voice went dark. “Get in the fucking car.”
“I guess Amo doesn’t stand a chance now with Chl—”
Placing a cold hand over her mouth, he shushed her. “Tell me, Maria; is today the day you want to die?”
Eighteen
Sure to Make Any Girl Succumb to Him Then and There
Chloe was sitting at the kitchen island, eating her toast with orange juice and wondering why Lucca wasn’t already up. He had always been well past awake by this time, and he had told her they were going to finish the gardening today.
When Drago entered the room, she expected Lucca to follow behind, but he didn’t.
“He’s not here. He left early this morning,” Drago told her as he made himself a cup of coffee.
She looked at him, wondering why he had said that. “I-I didn’t say anything.”
“Maybe not, but you were looking for him.”
Trying her best to swallow her dry toast, she clasped her hands together. “N-No, I wasn’t.”
Taking a drink of the dark liquid, he stared her down for a long, hard minute. “Are you sure about that?”
No.
The front door opening saved her from having to answer the embarrassing question.
Drago smiled, keeping his voice low for only her ears. “Looks like he’s back just in time for you.”
Turning, she saw Lucca come in with what appeared to be a blonde wo—
“Maria!”
Drago practically slammed down his coffee cup. “Oh, fuck no.”
Maria came in, smiling from ear-to-ear like the beautiful goddess she was. “Hi, Chloe. Hi, Drago!”
“No, no, no. I can see where this is going, and I’m not having any part of it. I signed up to watch the one too scared of her own shadow, not the spawn of Satan.”
Spawn of Satan? Looking over at Maria, who was dressed in a light rose-colored dress with nude pumps, she looked like a beautiful angel. Chloe always thought of her as one, too. She was the sweetest person in the world.
Maria looked like she was about to cry. “That hurt my feelings.”
He laughed. “What feelin—”
“You are being rude,” Chloe spoke without thinking, becoming angered by the man. “Maybe you need to go back to sleep, because you’re not being very nice this morning.”
Maria had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing as Drago’s face fell.
Grinning, Lucca stepped forward to stand beside Chloe. “Was he being mean to you, darlin’?”
She thought about it for a long moment as she stared at a now pissed off Drago. He had been trying to push her buttons about Lucca just a few minutes ago, and she had half a mind to say yes. Or I’ll fucking kill them. But … she figured she would spare his life. This time.
“No.” She smiled at Drago, brave only because Lucca was a step away.
Taking his coffee, Drago started to leave the room. “I’ll watch them from the security room, but if they burn the house down, don’t expect me to save them.”
Now that he was gone, Chloe’s focus went to Maria. “I can’t believe it; you’re here.” She had sometimes felt as if she no longer existed, but now that someone was here who was actually her friend, she felt alive again.
“Yep.” Maria smiled happily down at her. “Give me a second; I’ll be right back.”
She watched Maria head toward the stairs then looked back at Lucca, not understanding. “But why?”
He gave her a smile unlike one she had seen before. It was like a smile Vincent would give her, except it was more deadly and sure to make any girl succumb to him then and there.
“I told you I would see what I could do for you.”
She had to pull her eyes from his, afraid the smile would work on her. “Oh.”
Like always, he picked up a strand of her hair. “I know we were supposed to take care of the garden today, but I thought you would enjoy being with Maria more.”
Watching him twirl her black hair around his finger was almost mesmerizing.
“Does tomorrow sound okay instead?”
“Y-Yes.” Looking away from the twirling was hard, but she finally managed to look back up at him. “Thank you, Lucca.”
Another deadly smile made her heart skip a beat. “You’re welcome, darlin’.” They heard Maria start back down the steps, and Lucca started to twirl the strand slower, like he was savoring it. “I’ll be back later tonight.”
When is later tonight? Where is he going?
The thoughts that popped into her head scared her to her bones. Why did it matter? It shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t matter.
The footsteps were now closer, and right before they were too close, the black lock fell from his fingertips with a final twirl.
Maria walked in, now wearing pink shorts and a tank top, carrying movies. “Okay, now we’re ready for a girls’ day!”
Chloe’s cheeks started to feel warm. If Maria had walked in a second earlier, she would have thought something was going on between Chloe and Lucca.
Maria started pushing Lucca out of the way while she sat the movies down. “Okay, bye now, Lucca. You can go.”
His dark voice came out as a threat as he walked away. “Remember what I said, princess.”
Her voice seemed to carry her own threat. “Don’t worry; I’ll play nice, overl—”
“Good-bye, darlin’. Have fun, because I won’t be bringing her ass back.”
“He’s joking.” Maria giggled as he slammed the front door behind him.
It didn’t sound like he was joking.
Maria spread the chick flicks across the counter. “So, what do you want to watc—”
“How’s Elle?” Chloe was unconcerned about the movies.
“She’s good. Now, we have Dirty Dancing, Greas—”
“Just good? What about Amo?”
“Yep, both good. How about Twilight?”
She was crazily staring at her friend now. “Maria, you’re going to tell them where I am, right? You’re going to tell someone?”
Taking a long breath, she whispered, “I can’t.”
“W-Why? Lucca’s forcing me here. I don’t want to be here.”
Maria was supposed to be her friend. She didn’t understand.
“I … I just can’t, Chloe. I’m sorry.” Maria hadn’t looked in her eyes until now. “Liste
n, is he hurting you?”
Chloe could tell by the look on Maria’s face that she already knew the answer. Still, she solemnly shook her head.
“Are you being mistreated in any way?”
Again, Maria knew the answer before Chloe even shook her head.
Her voice sounded sure when she said, “It won’t be forever. I promise you, Chloe. He will let you go.”
Chloe wasn’t so sure. I fear he won’t ever let me go.
Maria took a seat beside her. “Elle misses you. A lot. They both do.”
She wanted so badly to cry. She missed Elle so much … and Amo.
“Elle says college just isn’t the same without you, but she likes it so much better than high school. She doesn’t get picked on anymore, and even though she wants you there with her, she still enjoys it.”
It was bittersweet to hear. She was so happy Elle was finally able to like school, but she was sad she couldn’t experience it with her.
“Amo misses you, too, but he’s doing good.” She went silent for a second, then continued with a smile on her face, “He works a lot. He really loves his job!”
She laughed, wondering why everyone kept saying that.
“That’s good. I’m glad.” Turning serious again, she looked over at Maria, wanting her to know how much it meant to her that she could hear about how her friends were doing. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Chloe. Now”—she stood, smiling as she picked up a movie—“The Little Mermaid?”
Knowing that was Elle’s favorite Disney movie, she smiled. “Sounds good.”
Nineteen
The Word She Would Soon Regret
Chloe felt like a girl again as she spent the day with Maria. She was happier than she had ever been here and was so grateful that she had been granted the day with her. The only way her day would have been better was if Elle were here, too.
They were stuffing their faces with popcorn and watching too many chick flicks to count. By the time they moved on to Bring It On, it was getting pretty late.
Looking out the window at the pitch black, and then to the clock, she couldn’t believe the time. He’s usually off work by now. What is he doing?
She shook her head from the thought, wondering why she had even wondered it in the first place. You miss him…
Freezing in place, she didn’t know where that thought had come from. It was like her voice, but it wasn’t.
“What color do you like?” Maria asked, setting down her nail kit. When Chloe didn’t answer, Maria gave her a worried glance. “Chloe?”
Trying her best to put her thoughts aside, she looked at the wide range of colors and saw the one she wanted hiding in the middle. “Black.”
Maria gave her a scrutinizing look. “Do you wear any other color besides black?”
Looking down at her black leggings and oversized dark gray sweater, she gave her own scrutinizing look. “This is dark gray.”
Maria rolled her eyes. “That is one shade away from black, and you know it.”
“No, it’s not.” It’s more like a shade and a half.
“What about this?” She held up a different polish. “I always wanted to see purple on you. It’ll make your black hair and gray eyes pop.”
Hell no. “Um, no. I’ll take the black.”
“Ugh, come on, Chloe! Why do you always wear black, anyway?”
“I don’t know.” She had to think deeply a second about it. “I guess I wear black because it doesn’t draw more attention to me. I feel like, if I wear a color, it will make people look at me more.”
“You two are perfect for each other,” Maria mumbled under her breath, too low for Chloe to hear properly.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.” She smiled before grabbing two other small bottles of polish. “Will you at least meet me halfway?”
Chloe stared at the two colors she picked. One was a very dark purple, and the other a dark navy blue. Both were close to black.
“Fine,” she grumbled. “Pick the one you like best.” Not like it matters, anyway. I’m not going anywhere.
“Yay! I like this one.” Unsurprisingly, she handed her the dark purple one.
Opening the polish, Chloe started to regret her decision when it didn’t come out as close to black as she thought. She almost decided to grab the black instead, but she didn’t want to get into an argument with Maria again, knowing Maria would win, like she always did when she wanted something bad enough.
Beginning to paint her nails a pink nude, Maria asked a question Chloe didn’t think she would. “So, do you really hate it here?”
Stunned, Chloe looked at her questioningly. “Are you going to tell Lucca?”
“No.” Her face held a definite possible lie.
Chloe pointed at the ceiling where possible cameras were. “Can Drago hear us?”
“No.” It was another possible lie.
Chloe looked at her, trying to decipher if it was the truth or not before she gave up. “If Lucca weren’t holding me against my will and would let me talk to Elle, then I … might not hate it. But it’s a strong might.”
“Do you like him?”
She did not just say that! “What!”
Blowing on her nails, Maria had no problem elaborating. “Do you, you know, like Lucca?”
“Are you seriously asking me if I like the crazy—and frightening, I might add—man holding me hostage?” Am I in la-la land? What the hell is going on?
Maria held up her hands. “Jeez, okay. I was just asking. Every girl falls in love with Lucca immediately, so I was just wondering if he got to you as well.”
Every girl falls in love with—Nope, don’t care.
Maria’s voice changed, turning almost ominous when she asked, “Are you sure you’re being held hostage?”
Is she crazy like him, too?
“What are you talking about, Maria? He won’t let me leave. Drago watches every move I make. What does that seem like to you?”
“Sorry, I just—Never mind. I’m sorry. You’re right.”
A weird feeling started coming over her, not understanding why Maria wasn’t the least bit concerned. It was like she was used to Lucca doing this, like it was normal behavior, like it was his job or something.
“Is Lucca the vice president of the casino hotel?” The words seemed to spill from her mouth.
Maria busted up with laughter. “That’s a funny way of putting it. Who told you that?”
Putting the brush into the bottle of nail polish, a cold chill began moving up her back. “Sal did.”
When Maria looked over at Chloe, she saw the serious look on her face. “Crap. He hasn’t told you yet.”
The chill spanned her whole body now. “T-Told me what?”
“You really need to ask Lucca about that.”
“That’s exactly what Sal told me,” she whispered.
Closing her bottle of nail polish, Maria put it back in the kit. “Uh, yeah, for a reason.”
Chloe shook her head. “No, I-I want you to tell me.”
Maria shook her head. “No way.”
“Please, you’re my friend, Maria.”
Staring at her, Maria seemed to be contemplating something before she stood up. “Come with me.”
What the …?
“Hurry up,” she told her, quickly going to the stairs and making her follow.
Running up the stairs after her, they went into the huge upstairs bathroom.
Closing the door behind her, Maria locked the bathroom door, making Chloe more chilled than she already was.
“You’ll want to sit for this.”
Taking a seat on the lip of the tub, Chloe felt like she was going to pass out.
“Why did we come in here?”
“The bathrooms don’t have any video or audio surveillance,” she said like it was no big deal.
“You said he couldn’t hear us!”
“Yeah, well, I lied.” Maria put her hands on her hips. “Now, do y
ou want to know or not?”
No. She was now sure she didn’t by the way Maria was acting, but that was the exact reason she probably should know.
Holding her breath, she uttered the word she would soon regret … “Y-Yes.”
Twenty
The Calm Before the Storm
Closing the door behind him, Lucca pulled out his keys to lock his penthouse at the casino hotel when he heard the door opening behind him on the other side of the hall. He turned to see Nero, Elle, Vincent, Lake, Adalyn, and Amo leaving Nero’s penthouse.
Turning back toward the door and realizing he was a minute too early or late leaving, he slid the key into the lock, locking it.
“Hi, Lucca!” Adalyn slid out from behind the boys with a huge smile on her face.
Dammit. He was too tired for this and just wanted to get home.
Putting the next key into the top lock, he didn’t turn around as he said, “Hello.”
Lake was the next one to slide out from behind Vincent and Nero. “You’re making sure your house is awfully locked up for this to be a now guarded area.”
To keep out nosey, little shits li—
“How come I’ve never seen the inside of your place? Have you been in there, Nero?” Elle came out from behind the boys as well.
Finally, Lucca turned around, leaning up against his door and crossing his arms. He looked at Nero, hoping he would lie.
Elle, Lake, and Adalyn turned their heads eagerly toward Nero.
Vincent looked at him in speculation as well.
Then Amo turned, too.
Nero looked at Lucca in pity. “No.”
I’m gonna fucking kill you. His younger brother did not, in fact, lie for him.
“That’s pretty weir—”
Vincent grabbed Lake to shush her.
“Yea—”
Nero did the same to his girlfriend.
“Kinda fucked up you haven’t even let your own brother inside your place,” Amo stated.
Lucca flexed his jaw, staring at Amo. A flash of him gouging out Amo’s eyes appeared before him. Taking a single blink made the satisfyingly gruesome vision go away before he calmly looked at Elle.
Lucca (Made Men Book 4) Page 8
