Page 83 of Knights Game

“Come on. I’m hungry.” I lead her out the conference room, and she giggles.

She fucking giggles, and it’s the best sound I’ve ever heard.

28

Layla

Luca leads me toa table where Rome and Katy are already sitting, along with four other couples who are all talking quietly. Thankfully none of them are Levi or the other leaders. Although I can still hear the rambunctious laughter from their table, along with multiple people who continue to mill around them like they’re some celebrities.

A couple moves away, and my eyes meet Levi’s.

I shiver.

“Everyone, this is Layla, and her friend, Katy.” Luca introduces them one by one, but by the end I can’t remember a single name. He pulls out my chair whispering in my ear as I fold into the chair. “My people.”

I’m safe. He trusts them.

“If for any reason we become separated, these men at this table, they are who you find.”

“But you promised.”

“And I meant it,” he says seriously. “But you need to know who you can trust.”

“I have Katy,” I say, smiling over at where she bickers with Roman.

“Who is being held over you, therefore making her a target and someone who is unable to protect you. These men and women,” he glances around the table, “will protect you.”

“Okay.”

Things are shifting between us. I can’t say what. Today felt different, tonight feels different. There’s something in me, a parasite feeding off the drama, feeding off Luca.

I’m under his spell, andprotection.I need to remember that. This is an arrangement, a deal, it’s fake.

He’s shown a different side to me, yes, but he is ruthless and I still wonder whether he will kill me when I run out of use.

We haven’t spoken about the phone that Levi gave me in the manila envelope, we haven’t spoken about what information I would start to feed him. But its there, in the back of my mind like an annoying gnat.

“Layla, tell him,” Katy says, and I turn to where Rome is sitting grumpily next to her.

“Tell him what?”

“He doesn’t believe that I can still do the splits.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose on a groan. Here’s my life falling apart, and then there’s Katy talking to one of the most dangerous men I’ve ever laid my eyes on about being able to do the splits.

“Prove it,” he goads her, and Katy goes to stand. I pull her back down.

“You are at a black-tie event—you cannot just crack into the splits like it’s a perfectly normal thing to do,” I hiss. “You.” I point at Roman who points at himself mouthing “Me?”

“Stop winding her up. Katy will call your bluff every single time. The sooner that gets through your thick brooding skull the better.”

“He is broody,” Luca adds from behind me, his arms draped on the back of my chair, his thumb skims the skin on my shoulder.

“That he is,” pipes up one of his men, Henry, from the other side of the table, his green eyes twinkling from behind his glasses. “He’s always got that pensive, intense thinking look on his face.”

“That’s what you call it?” Katy says looking at Roman, who ignores the jabs and takes a sip of the red wine the waiters have just poured us all. “I thought he was trying to suppress a fart.”

The table erupts in laughter and to my surprise even Luca joins in. The rich sound washes over me and makes me sit up straighter. I glance across at him, and his eyes are alight with humour.

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