Page 57 of Luka

Mila’s hand moves to her heart as her eyes widen to saucers, but I continue before she can interrupt.

“The cartel thug killed Piper when he found them together, and the girl, Lucia, managed to get away. But one of Leo’s junkie friends tipped him off on her being in one of the tunnels, and Leo took her. The bruises around her neck are from him.”

“Jesus,” Mila says, her eyes moving to stare off. No apology. Great.

“When he told me what happened, I insisted on taking the girl myself. I told him I’d get rid of her, which…” I slide my hand over my face, then show her my palm. “Maybe we should? I mean fuck, she’s acartel princess. If her father ever found out what Leo did…”

“We wouldn’t be able to protect him,” Mila says grimly. She covers her face with her hands. “Oh my God,Leo.”

“I know…”

Mila lowers her hands and turns toward the door, staring already with remorse. She hates killing the innocent—especially women. Mila is tough, but she isn’t totally hardened. That’s why I chose to go this direction with her.

“The thing too, though, is she went with the cartel thug willingly. She thought she was in love and running away from home with him, and she insists that she never wants to go back. I guess she was mostly a prisoner there as well. She said she only left her compound for the first time a few days ago.”

Mila frowns but doesn’t say anything.

“So she’s caught between hiding from her father and hiding from this other cartel, and I just…” I shake my head. “I don’t know, Mi. Would it be crazy to let her hide out here for a week or two, just until we can make a more informed decision? When I was talking to the kid, it sounded like she’d never caught a break in her life. It just kind of … reminded me of you.”

Mila’s frown relaxes at my words, her eyes brightening like for the first time in her life, someone has seen her. She looks away, as if sensing her vulnerability showing. If she knew how easy she was to play, she’d hate herself.

“I don’t know how Vitaly would feel about it,” she says, her voice sympathetic.

“Then let’s not tell him.”

She turns back to me with her eyes narrowed.

“Just a week or two,” I say, holding my hands up. “If you still want me to kill her then, I’ll take her out to the desert without protest. You’re the boss. Just,please, for once, let’s at least think about doing therightthing instead of thesmartthing. Vitaly wouldn’t understand that there’s a difference.”

“You don’t even know him,” she says, her arms crossing defensively. “You’ve never eventriedto. Don’t tell me what my husband will or will not understand.”

Now, I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Fine,” I say through gritted teeth. “Tell him. Like I said, you’re the boss.”

When I go to step around her, she puts her hand on my chest to stop me. I stare down at her, my annoyance flared, although it doesn’t make much of a difference what Mila does. I’m not actually going to kill Lucia. I feel good about the deal she and I made. But it would work out best for me if she could stay here, so whatever Mila needs to hear is what I’ll say.

“You’re my brother.” Her neck arches to peer at me. She gestures over her shoulder to where Lucia went. “This is your decision, and like I told you before, you are always welcomehere. If you say the girl being here is no danger to us, then I will believe you and I’ll say nothing. I’ll just … tell Vitaly she’s your girlfriend, and you’re both staying here for the next week or two because your apartment flooded. If that’s what you want.”

The muscles in my back unwind as I nod. I relax on an exhale. “Yes. Thank you.”

Mila opens her mouth to say more, but then closes it and gives me a tight smile and nod. When she removes her hand from my chest, I start down the hall but pause again when she calls my name.

I turn to look at her over my shoulder, getting a look at the vulnerability she works so hard to hide.

“I’m proud of you.”

17

LUCIA

Ipace the room while running my hands up and down my arms, my heart heavy in my chest.

Why am I trusting him?Himof all people? After I wasjustbetrayed by a man I swore loved me? I could’ve gone out on my own. I’m certain Luka would’ve let me go.

And I would’ve been dead by morning.

My steps halt at that thought. I close my eyes and focus on my breathing, focus on quelling my panic. Whether panicking is justified or not, it does me no good.

When the door opens, I jerk toward it, my arms falling to my sides as I watch Luka enter the room and quietly shut the door behind him.

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