Page 3 of Stolen Seconds

A literal creep.

I clasped Aurora’s hand and led us inside.

It was an art museum, a magnificent one, with exquisite art pieces decorating the walls and a few statues standing tall along the center.

The environment was spacious, lit up by chandeliers as guests softly murmured to one another and admired the view.

The further we walked around, the more my stomach turned into knots.

These art pieces were erotic. Displays of sensual desires and pleasure.

The one in front of us, in particular, was a skewed painting of vibrant colors. An intimate clashing of bodies and dimension.

“Anyone could create this.” I felt a knot twist in my gut. “What’s so artistic about two peopleravishingone another?”

Aurora glanced at me with pinched lips, and I hated that my expression must’ve told her I regretted dragging us in here.

It was the smell of musk and spice that hit me beforehiswords. “What unfortunate thinking,piccola ribelle.”

I refused to give his unwanted presence attention as I stared at the painting, hoping he would go away from the lack of it.

And when his scent continued to invade my space, I did what I do best. “You’re part of the male population; of course, you’d think that way. And I don’t speak Italian,mudak.”

When I felt his breath, warm against my ear, I stiffened. My hands clenched into fists, hard enough to draw blood as my nails dug into my palm.

“Your tongue will get you in trouble,piccola ribelle.” He dragged those two words, unfazed by my earlier statement. “The next time you call someone an asshole, be aware of who’s on the receiving end of it.”

With that, he stalked off. His physical presence might’ve been gone, but his words and scent clung to me as if they were staking a claim.

I exhaled harshly, unaware that I had even held my breath when he was near. And something strange happened.

This wasn’t the fix I expected, and yet it happened unintentionally.

Nausea flooded my senses.

It couldn’t have been because of him, could it?

I refused to believe that a strange man invoked a rush of adrenaline in me.

“What did he say?” Aurora whispered beside me, bringing me away from my turmoil.

“Nothing,” I grumbled. “Now, let’s go.”Before that creep came back.“This place wasn’t as great as I thought.”

She turned, heading toward the exit. “Mhm.”

Chapter 1

Luca

One Year Later

The worst part of winter? Blood drying on your sweaty skin.

I was unfazed by the body fluid, but washing it off was a hassle I’d rather not inconvenience myself to.

Thank “I don’t have all day.” I caressed the side of Rocco’s face with the tip of my knife. “What happened to the shipment?”

He coughed up blood, saliva mixed with it as it dripped down his chin. I waited for the remorse to hit, but it never did.

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