Page 91 of His Enforcer

I don’t know if Luca would tell me this on his own.

“He was sent to live with his aunt and uncle out in the Midwest. It was secluded and quiet. He was able to heal there, to find his way back to the living. Not all the way, but some of it.”

“And he told you all of this?”

“Yes. And some of it came from Laura. He told her too. We shared…a lot.”

I watch Anthony as he sighs and pours us both another drink.

“He loved her, cared for her in many ways that I couldn’t. When she died, he was devastated.”

I can’t even imagine losing someone you love. I’ve never lovedanyone in my entire life. Anthony is the closest person on Earth who ever deserved it.

“It’s amazing what a good partner can do to heal someone broken.”

“I’m not healing anyone.”

“It’s a lot to ask, but I can see it in his eyes. He’s happy when you’re around. And that, in itself, heals many wounds.”

The two of us turn at the same time and find Luca watching us with narrowed eyes. He has to know we’re discussing him. He must see it on my face because he stands up and moves toward me, the room spinning as he approaches. I don’t know if this is the alcohol or just him.

He does things to me, terrible things.

“What are you talking about all alone over here?” he asks, eyeing Anthony and then me.

I roll my lips between my teeth and refuse to say a thing.

“I was telling him all about you,” Anthony replies, and Luca glowers at him.

“Those aren’t your secrets to tell.”

“They aren’t, but I did it anyway.”

Luca’s jaw clicks and his gaze moves over to me.

“What did he tell you?”

“Nothing much,” I manage to say before he pushes into my space, his nose hitting mine, his fingers cupping the back of my neck. I shiver against him and arch into his touch, the alcohol making me sway into him.

“How much have you had to drink? We just got here.”

“You were ignoring me.”

Luca’s grip tightens on me, and I whimper.

“I was conducting business.”

“You said this was a date.”

His eyes bore into mine and his lips curl up. “You said no. You told me it wasn’t and now it is?”

I don’t reply to that, just twist my hands into his shirt and hold onto him tightly.

“It doesn’t matter,” I mumble.

“It does. Anthony told you things about me. Now I want something in return.”

His lips slant over mine, his tongue plunging into my mouth, making me moan before drawing back.

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