Page 61 of Luciano

“It’s for you.”

I pressed it to my ear.

“Ava?!” Dewanda’s voice.

Relief broke through me like lightning cracking glass.

“D… I'm so glad to hear from you. Are you and Dre alright?”

“I’m with Dre right now. He’s okay. I’m putting him on a flight to California, but I’m staying.”

“No, you don’t have to—”

“I’m not letting you stay there alone. You can argue if you want. You’ll lose.”

I smiled through the lump in my throat.

“Oh—and by the way?” Dewanda’s voice turned smug. “I fucked Brooker. He’s paying for my hotel.”

“What?!”

“Stress relief. Don’t judge me, Mrs. Married to the mob.”

I laughed. A real, sharp laugh. “I wasn’t.”

We talked a little more. I learned who Brooker was from her. Then she hung up, promising to see me soon.

Luciano came out of the bathroom in nothing but gym shorts slung low on his hips, chest still damp. A T-shirt slung over his shoulder.

My eyes followed him without permission.

He moved like something coiled. Always ready to strike.

Dangerous.

Hot.

My pussy perked up.

But I shut her down. Not now.

Later.

I thought about what he’d done to Matteo’s brother. What he’d done for me.

I thought about Aria. The way she walked into that warehouse like she couldn’t be touched. Like she was untouchable.

I wanted that.

“I want you to teach me everything you know,” I said before I could second-guess it. "how to fight. How to kill. How to shut off my emotions.

He froze.

“I want to be like Aria,” I added. “She’s fierce. Unafraid. Vicious.”

Luciano turned slightly.

“Aria is dangerous,” he finally said.

---