Page 30 of Lucky In Love

“Anya!” I shout as soon as I open the front door. My live-in housekeeper has been a lifesaver. She’s my cousin, Nic’s friend of a friend or something. They weren’t close, but she needed a job, and I needed help. It worked out.

“Luka! You’re back!” She shouts, running into the room. The smile on her face drops when she sees Keira. “Who’s this?” she asks, quickly schooling her face. It’s the first and last time I’ve brought a woman home, so I understand why she’s confused. I don’t do this.

“This is Keira, my fiancée,” I reply. I’m not asking, so no isn’t an option anyway.

“Fiancée? Okay…”

“Show her to the master bedroom. I need to talk to Albie. I’ll be in a few minutes, baby.” I lean down and kiss Keira. Albie was in Lombard, Illinois, just outside Chicago, with Autumn doing a special cleanup for the DeSantis. Those girls don’t play.

“Okay. Hurry back,” she says, kissing me again before following Anya down the hallway.

After talking to Albie, I head into the bedroom and find Keira sitting on the edge of the bed. She looks different. Sad, maybe…

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she says, standing.

“Are you sure?” I ask, moving toward her. I can’t believe how much I want her again. How much I’m already head over heels in love with her. I don’t care how insane it is. I want her to know. I’m just about to tell her when she shakes her head.

“Yes. I’m fine.” She says fine in the way women do when they are absolutely not fine.

“Why are you lying to me?” I demand.

“Because I want to go home and I’m afraid you won’t let me go.”

“You are home.”

“No. Home. Brooklyn. I want to go home. This isn’t what I want.” I watch as a tear escapes and trails down her cheek.

“What happened to make you change your mind like this?” Second thoughts? Remorse? Someone else? All these thoughts are running through my head when she surprises the fuck out of me.

“You don’t even want me.”

“Excuse me? That’s fucking news to me.”

“I know I’m just one in a long line of girls you’ve had in here, Luka. I can’t believe you bring women here, fuck them, and toss them away like trash. Literally. You kill them and discard them like a fucking serial killer. What is wrong with you?” It’s so ridiculous that I can’t help the laughter that escapes me. “Why is that funny?”

“Because, baby. I would never hurt a woman. Ever. It’s a Vitali rule. If a woman needs to be dealt with one of the ladies handles it. We’re hands off. I’d never, have never. You are the first and last woman I’ve had in this house. Who filled your head with this shit?” I ask, but I already know the answer.

“Anya.”

“Anya. I have no idea why she’d do something like that.”

“I do. She said you get tired of me, kill me, and be back in her bed before the week was over.” How long was I on the phone?

“I’ve never been in her bed, never so much as shaken her hand.”

“What a psycho.”

I pull my phone from my pocket. “Albie. Revoke Anya’s compound privileges immediately. Thank you.” I go to the bedroom door and open it. “Anya!” She immediately pops up from around the corner.

“Luka?”

I step out into the hallway. I don’t want her in my room. Keira comes with me.

“You’re fired.”

“Excuse me? You can’t fire me. I work for the family.”

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