Page 112 of Sweet Deception

"Don't worry, you and Gio can have your fun with her before I do."

The recording cuts off, and the room goes silent.

My chest heaves as I search his face, looking for any sign of remorse. Instead, Luca goes stone cold. Realizing all hope is gone, I wrench my hand back and throw my phone at him, not the least bit satisfied when it hits his chest and falls to the floor. I turn to leave but before I can take even one step, Luca tackles me onto the bed.

"It's not what you think. Let me explain." Luca flips me around so that he can pin my back to the bed, bringing us face to face.

"Really, Luca. Really? You're going to use that sad, old as time—it's not what you think—line?" All the fight leaves my body when I realize he's going to give me lame excuses. I'm already tuning him out when the sound of his laughter jerks me back to the moment.

My eyes widen in disbelief, then narrow as my anger comes rushing back.

"What the hell?" I attempt to tug my arms out of his hold so I can punch him again. He doesn't budge even a little.

The bed shakes from the force of his laughter and I see red.

When hefinallybrings his laughter under control, he lifts his head and his eyes skate around my face with a tender look, throwing me off kilter again.

"Baby, you're so fucking cute when you're mad."

I'm so confused by his behavior it takes me a moment before I resume trying to break free. I almost succeed this time.

"Get. Off. Me."

I don't know why I thought I couldn't leave him because my anger is so huge right now that I could leave and never look back.

If only I could believe those words.

Luca moves my hands higher to clasp both wrists in one of his hands. Then he has the gall to lean his head on his free hand and smile down at me as if everything in our world is okay.

It's not okay. It's far from okay.

I feel my brows furrow and tilt my head. "You're unhinged, aren't you? I'm leaving, you know that, right? You can't keep me here. You let me out of the contract. I'm gone as soon as I can get free from you."

More chuckles. "You're not going anywhere. You're going to let me explain and then I'm going to love you so hard, you won't be able to walk tomorrow."

I turn my face away so he doesn't see my eyes glistening.

"Angel baby." Luca puts his hand on my face and turns me back to him. "I'm sorry for laughing. I swear I did not mean any of those words. My only intention was to keep you out of danger. I promise. Just let me explain everything." He searches my eyes for my compliance and I hate that he's put a dent in my resolve. He must see it because he nods before stealing a kiss.

I jerk to the side, but he's already pulling back.

"Enough. You better be able to back up this story or I'm gone."

"I can. I love you, Angel, and I was already going to tell you this as part of our talk that never happened because of the break in." He sighs. "I hate that our night got interrupted, but it actually ties in with the recording." He nods toward my phone on the floor.

I furrow my forehead, feeling confused about how the two could be connected.

"How?" I'm so desperate to hold onto him, I'm afraid if he lies to me, I'll believe it.

"Do you remember the blonde server the first night we met? You asked me about her?"

"Yeah." Hope sizzles in my gut. I knew she was trouble, and it seems I'm about to find out why my instincts warned me about her.

"I believe she's the one who sent you the text. She's also the one who got arrested the other night for breaking into my home." He frees my wrists and runs his hand through his hair.

"Great. I'm glad you caught her, but how does that explain what you said in that recording?"

"I'm getting there. There's something I need to tell you and I hope you'll keep it to yourself. Your dad being a cop, he knows already. We even discussed it when he came to see me at the office. So I don't want you to worry about them when I tell you this. Still, it's not something we talk about with outsiders."

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