Page 29 of Ruthless King
With my thoughts whirling, he leads me to a bedroom right beside his, but unlike his, splotches of pink and another bouquet of fresh calla lilies brighten up the stark space. My heart pinches as memories of Mom’s funeral bubble to the surface. The mahogany casket. Covered in calla lilies. They’re a symbol of rebirth, a new chapter in one’s life. Or death. I shake the dark thoughts out and focus on the handful of photographs that line the washed oak dresser.
My eyes flicker to the gilded frames. They look like old family photos. I’m drawn to them, so curious to take a closer look, but Luca ushers me straight to the bathroom. He points at the shower and deep soaking tub. “Take your pick. There’s a ton of toiletries so help yourself.”
“Thanks,” I mumble.
He nods and spins toward the door.
“You don’t have hidden cameras around this place, do you?”
He grins before he stalks out. “Not in the bathroom.”
As soon as the door slams closed, I lock it. Leaning against the timber, I draw in a breath to slow my racing heart. This has been the most insane day of my life, and it’s not even over yet. I march to the tub and turn on the faucet. Then I wait.
Five minutes and I’m out of here.
CHAPTER14
BEST PUNISHMENT EVER
Stella
With the water still running, I tiptoe out of the bathroom and streak across the bedroom. I reach the door, my heart hammering against my ribs. I can just make out the rush of water from the neighboring door. Good. Luca’s still in the shower. Peering through the doorway, I scan the hall one more time. Empty. My eyes lift to the ceiling, searching for the eyes of a roving camera, but there’s nothing. Probably hidden, duh.
Praying to all the saints my mom so fervently believed in, I creep out into the corridor and sprint toward the elevator. I jab my finger at the button, and it lights up, sending my hopes soaring.
Come on, come on.
My foot taps out a manic beat as the floors tick by at a snails’ pace. Of course, he has to live in the penthouse. How high are we for fuck’s sake? Ninety-one. Ninety-two. Ninety-three. I glance over my shoulder at the master suite. Doors still closed. Ninety-six. Ninety-seven. Ninety-eight. I didn’t even know a building could be this high. The elevator doors finally glide open, and I dart inside.
The slap of footsteps across marble sends my heart catapulting up my throat.Cazzo. I stab the L button, and the doors glide closed, the echo of heavy footfalls inching closer. The elevator descends at an alarming rate, and I brace my hands against the gilded walls. My stomach leaps up, and I’m totally regretting that last cannolo from Mrs. D.
Get a grip, Stella. You’re almost home free.
I haven’t quite had time to form a plan, but the gist is easy enough. Disappear. Dad screwed me over big time so I shouldn’t feel guilty about abandoning him to deal with the Kings, right? No. I should not. My stupid heart pinches all the same. Ignoring it, I continue to formulate my plan. I’ll just take my measly savings account and hop on the first bus to Florida. Done. Plan made.
The elevator dings, and the doors glide open. I choke on a gasp as my gaze lands on a wet, completely naked Luca barring the doorway to the empty lobby. I gasp and stumble back, my heart hammering.
So much skin. So much perfectly toned, muscled, scarred and tattooed with a smattering of dark hair leading down—I force my eyes up.
Luca glares down at me, fury raging through those bottomless pits of darkness. “Oh, princess. I’m going to have to punish you now….”
I’m speechless. My brain can’t seem to form a single word with all that fine nakedness sprawled before me.
A big guy in a suit appears behind Luca, jerking my attention from the miles of carved perfection. Even the white bandages across Luca’s shoulder don’t detract from his flawless form. “You want me to take care of this, boss?”
“No, Albie,” he grits out. “She’s mine.”
A chill cascades down my spine at his tone. I should’ve been scared, hell terrified, but all that godly nakedness has my brain muddled and my hormones raging.
He steps into the elevator, and I stagger back until I hit the wall. My heart kicks at my ribs, desperate for an escape.He hasn’t killed you yet. There’s no reason he’d do it now, right?
The mob boss glares down at me, rage pulsing across those midnight irises. “I told you to behave.” His tone is lethal, barely restrained fury ticking the tendon across his scruffy jaw. I try to pull myself together.
“And I told you I never agreed to be your good little captive,” I rasp out.Cazzo, why do I sound so out of breath? I lie to myself and blame it on the spiking adrenaline and my missing inhaler. But that doesn’t explain the heat pooling between my legs.
My gaze drops to the minute space between us and rakes down his muscled chest, the whirling tattoos, then I get distracted by those rippling abs, and that deep V….
“Eyes up, princess.” Luca’s fingers close around my chin, and he tips my head back, capturing me in his piercing gaze. “If you fight me on this, I’m going to have to treat you like my prisoner. Is that what you want?”
