Page 28 of Broken Prince

“Listen, I need someone and you are the least…objectionableso far.” Objectionable, that was a way to put it. Enticing was more like it.

“Okay…” she trailed off.

“Stay until the summer and—”And what, you idiot? You didn’t think this through, did you?I scanned her room, my eyes stopping on the picture frame on her nightstand of her and her little brother. “I’ll help you get your brother back.”

Her face brightened and I knew I had something. “Jude? How?”

“I know people—I have contacts.” That was a way to put it. In truth? I used to own the city. “If you stay until then, I will make sure you have a job, a place to live, and a nice judge to sign the papers. I promise.” I could do that so easily, at least I used to. Surely three months was not the end of the world to get everything she wanted.

“How do I know I can trust your words?”

That was a fair question; she didn’t know me. She might have been desperate but she was not stupid, and that made me respect her a lot more than I already did.

“Because I never make promises I don't intend to keep. Because I believe that respecting a promise given is a question of honor and believe it or not, I'm all about honor.”

She looked at me silently, her lips pursed. “Remove your hood.”

I was taken aback by her request. “What?”

“Remove your hood,” she repeated slowly. “I like to look at people when we’re talking, especially when they’re making commitments.”

I balled my hands into fists. It was so bright in her room and with the way she looked at me yesterday. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why not?”

She was going to make me say it. “I saw your reaction yesterday. Why force yourself to look at the beast?” It was hard to admit that her flinching yesterday cut me. I knew I looked like a beast, but somehow her reaction managed to hurt me when I thought I was above it all.

She shook her head. “It was not your face that made me flinch; it was the murderous look in your eyes.”

I had a hard time believing her; I’d heard Francesca talk behind my back. She was the worst gold digger there was and yet she’d said she could not marry me with the way I looked.

“Please.” The gentleness in her voice surprised me because I didn’t deserve it.

I stopped breathing altogether when I brought my hand up and lowered my hood slowly, revealing my face in the unforgiving morning sun.

I met her eyes, ready to see her flinch or tip her mouth down or even avert her eyes like many did—all the subtle signs of disgust that people often showed without meaning to.

Surprisingly there was none of those on her face as she looked at me, detailing my face with a scrutiny that made me self-conscious.

“You have nothing to hide,” she said gently. “The only thing beastly about you is your attitude.”

I let out the breath I was holding. As impossible as it seemed, she didn't look fazed or bothered by my scars. It was like she could see past them, see the Luca I used to be.

“What’s your name?” she asked now but she looked more responsive; her arms were now relaxed by her side, the tension of her shoulders visibly gone. Was it really possible that she didn’t mind me?

“You know my name, Luca,” I replied gruffly. I'd shared more than I expected by bargaining with her and showing her my face. She was staff and yet here, in this room, she seemed to yield all the power.

She shook her head. “No, I mean your full name.”

I knew that once I told her, she would rush on Google and find out my sins and then even if the scars hadn’t disgusted her, the rest would, but I owed her that much and maybe it would be for the best too if I disgusted her and she kept away. I wasn’t sure what it was about her, but she made me unsettled and I didn’t like it.

“Gianluca Montanari,” I replied with finality in my voice. I was done for now. “Let me know if you decide to stay.” And I left her, closing the door softly behind me.

* * *

I waited in my office for an hour, staring at the HCS, wondering what could take her so long to decide.

I waited with some trepidation, relaxing when no car left in the next thirty minutes, but the more time passed, the more I was getting anxious and somehow irritated.

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