Page 46 of Vicious Games

I finally get why girls at school go gaga over him. When Lucky wants to be, he’s dangerously charming. Maybe getting kicked in the balls temporarily expelled his dickish nature. I make a mental note of that just in case he needs a repeat.

“I might mean it a little now,” I admit. “Just a little.”

“She feels remorse,” he muses. “Win for me, I guess. Though I don’t feel much like a winner right now.”

“Stop milking it, Lucky.” I roll my eyes. “Remember, you’re the one at fault here. You cornered me.”

“Lesson learned,” he grumbles. “Won’t be doing that shit again. Trust me.”

“Good.” I nod and then think about why he felt the need to shove me up against a tree like that. “And I promise I won’t tell anyone I was here today.”

“I don’t care what you say about me,” he replies. “I just don’t like people gossiping about my family.”

“I don’t gossip.” I shoot him a pointed look. “And it’s not because I don’t have friends or a life like you so graciously pointed out earlier. It’s because Sister Margaretta always says gossiping is a sin.”

“You’re really tight with Sister Margaretta, huh?” he asks, his penetrating gaze trying to read me.

“She’s like a mother to me.”

Lucky snorts. “Jesus. I hope you have better maternal role models than her. Sister Margaretta is evil when she wants to be.”

“She’s not,” I argue. “You and your brother just coax that side out of her. She’s been a godsend to me.” His smirk fades a little.

“Is she the reason you want to be a nun?”

“In part.”

“In part?” He lifts a brow. “So there are other reasons you want to throw your life away just to wear a habit?”

“There are many reasons,” I lie.

There are not that many, but Lucky doesn’t need to know that.

When the mansion comes into view, Lucky slows his pace slightly.

“All I’m asking is for your discretion,” he says, his voice softer now.

I tilt my head toward him and see how important my silence is to him.

“Your family is… different, huh?” I ask, still unsure of what I saw.

He nods. “We operate… differently than most families, yes.”

“I’m not sure what that means.”

“And I’m not going to explain it to you, so quit fishing.” His gaze locks onto mine. “I just ask that you keep whatever you saw today to yourself. Can you do that?” I nod. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

This time when he smiles at me, it isn’t his usual cocky grin or smug smirk. It’s one of genuine gratitude.

Hmm. Maybe we can coexist after all.

I’m not saying Lucky and I will be friends anytime soon, but I think we’ve come to an understanding today.

And if spending my entire Sunday afternoon at the Romanos’ decoy mansion was the cost of that?

Then maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t a complete waste of my time after all.

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