Page 44 of On Ice

I stay in the shower until my fingers are wrinkly and my muscles loose. I dry off with soft fluffy towels that smell like lavender and sage. So many things confuse me about Luca. That first night, I saw glimpses of a kind, intelligent man. But theLuca I’ve seen since has been cold and unyielding. It seems impossible that those two sides of him can coexist in the same body. That first night, I really liked Luca. I mean, I really, really liked him. How could I have connected to him so deeply when he’s such a horrible human being? How did I not sense the beast within?

Once I’m dried off, I use my finger to brush my teeth with the toothpaste on the vanity. I have to be gentle because my split lip is painfully sensitive. There’s a razor on the counter too, but I don’t use it. I don’t know whose it is, but if it’s Luca’s, using it feels too personal. I don’t want to do anything that makes me feel soft toward Luca. I need to hate him if I’m going to survive. I can’t think about the way he looked at me that first night, like what was happening between us was special. Meaningful. When in truth, he was playing me the whole time. Using me for sex and setting me up as a pawn in his gambling racket.

Embarrassed by the memories of that night, I quickly dress in the sweats and T-shirt I grabbed from the dresser. Running my fingers through my damp hair, I step out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam. I’d hoped Luca might have left the room since I took so long, but unfortunately, he’s still there, sitting on the edge of my bed. I stop a few feet away, arms crossed, waiting for him to tell me what comes next.

“Feel better?” he asks, running his gaze over my body. There’s obvious heat in his eyes and he’s not even attempting to hide it.

I shiver but try to keep my face blank. “A bit.”

He gestures toward the nightstand. “I got you some food and pain medication.”

Surprised he’d be that thoughtful, I eye the food. My mouth waters and I’d kill for a drink of water, but I hesitate. Would he drug the food and drink? Are those pills really pain medication, or are they something to knock me out and make me more submissive?

He studies me and perhaps sees the suspicion in my eyes because he says, “It’s just a harmless sandwich, Evan.”

“So you say.”

He stands and walks closer, his dark eyes impossible to read. He stops a few feet away and I flinch when he reaches out to push a lock of damp hair off my forehead. My heart is racing as our eyes meet.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he says softly.

“You already have.”

His eyes flicker and his gaze drops to my damaged lip. But then he shrugs. “You’re not innocent in this.”

He’s right. I’m not completely innocent. I willingly slept with him and then refused to do his bidding. But I wouldn’t be in this nightmare if Luca had never come into my life. But what’s the point of arguing with him? It’s not like I’ll ever change his mind. He sees nothing wrong with what he did, or who he is.

When I don’t respond, he asks, “You don’t agree? You think you’re innocent?”

I’m too tired to play games with him, and I don’t want to argue. I close my eyes slowly and then open them. “Why did you really bring me here?”

I expect him to be angry that I’m not playing along, but he looks more frustrated than anything. “You may not believe me, but I’m glad you’re alive.”

I narrow my eyes. “That’s probably the most confusing part of this.”

He gives an almost indiscernible nod. “It’s confusing for me too,” he admits. Then he clears his throat. “But anyway, you should eat and take the medication. You look like shit, Evan. You need food and sleep.”

“Do you swear you didn’t put anything in the food?” I know I probably can’t trust his word, but I really want to eat that damn sandwich and drink the water. Plus, my head feels like there’s a buzzsaw slicing through my skull.

He places his hand over his heart. “I swear on my late father’s soul that I didn’t tamper with the food. The pills are just Advil. They have the little logo on them, look for yourself.”

I move to the nightstand and peer at the pills. They do indeed seem to be legit. The scent of the warm bread and meat has me almost drooling. I haven’t eaten since breakfast and it’s almost two in the morning. I give him an uneasy glance, and he sighs.

“I’ll leave you to it. We’ll talk more in the morning.” He’s quiet for a few moments, then says, “Don’t try sneaking out of the house. There are dogs and an army of my men out there. You won’t make it to the front gate and you might even get hurt. My security team isn’t the gentlest with intruders.”

“I’m sure they’re not.” I grab the bottle of water and twist the cap off. I can’t wait one second more for some hydration. I gulp down half the bottle quickly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

He watches me, but then says, “Night, Evan.” I expect him to go out the door we came in through, but instead he crosses the room to a door that blends seamlessly into the wall, next to the dresser. I didn’t even see it until he put his hand on the doorknob.

I scowl. “We have adjoining rooms?”

He opens the door and looks back over his shoulder. “Of course.”

“Why of course?” I snap.

“I need to keep an eye on you, Evan.” His smile is smug. “Plus, this way, if you have a nightmare, I’ll be close by to comfort you.”

I’m annoyed when my pulse flutters at the thought of him joining me in bed tocomfort me. “There’s nothing comforting about you, Luca. I’d rather sleep with an alligator.”

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