Page 11 of Depths of Obsession
Renzo and Luca exchange loaded glances, silent but speaking volumes. Their unspoken communication only adds to the knot forming in my stomach. There’s so much more going on here than I understand, and I’m sick of being in the dark.
My phone vibrates in my pocket again. My father. I shiver involuntarily as I hit silence. I don’t have the energy to face him right now, not with everything spiraling out of control. I’m too angry and hurt. I will say something I can never take back. Worse, I know I won’t want to.
“We need a plan,” Mia says, breaking the silence. “Something that will get Pippa out of trouble and not put a target on our backs. Any ideas?”
Renzo sighs, the weight of the situation clear in his voice. “I have a few ideas. Let me think on it a bit more and do some digging into this necklace. I’m going to reach out to Ria Tailor and see what she knows. She usually has her fingers in these types of pies. If anyone knows what’s going on, it’s probably her.”
“I know Ms. Tailor. She’s also big in the art scene. She’s been in the gallery a few times.” I add, “Which, when I think of it, is sort of odd since she’s way out of Marcello’s league. She uses the big galleries to do her bidding.”
“Ria will visit every gallery in town once or twice regardless just to make sure she’s got her finger on the pulse of business. She doesn’t want anything to get past her.” Renzo glances at his phone. “I’ll work on this and call you later,” Renzo says before the screen goes black, leaving an unsettling stillness in the room.
I turn to Luca, frustration bubbling over. “Now what?”
“Now, I go to work.” He says it so matter-of-factly, like everything’s just business as usual.
I blink at him, feeling a surge of panic at being left alone and then irritation at my own panic. “What am I supposed to do?”
Luca shrugs, walking across the loft with a casualness that steams my blood. He tosses a comment over his shoulder. “I don’t fucking know, but you’re staying here. I don’t trust Gazzago not to make a move, and I promised Mia I’d keep you safe.” He pauses at the start of a hallway I didn’t notice earlier. Presumably it leads to his bedroom. “So, you’re going to have to stay put.”
I cross my arms, my voice rising. “Wait! You’re just going to leave me here? Alone?” I blurt out my panic rising.
Luca stops, turning to face me with an exasperated look. “Yes. You’ll be fine. No one’s breaking in here, Pippa. That would be signing their death warrant.” He says it like it’s obvious, like I should just be okay with it.
I glance around the loft, suddenly hyper aware of the isolation. “What about food?” I ask, more out of spite than real concern.
Luca snorts, shaking his head. “I’ll have something delivered by one of my people.” He checks his watch, muttering under his breath. “I’m already late.”
He disappears into the bedroom, leaving me standing in shocked silence in front of all the monitors. I’m still there minutes later when he emerges dressed to kill. His damp, dark hair curls over his forehead, and he’s wearing a black dress shirt that clings to his broad shoulders, along with sleek black pants and shoes that probably cost more than my rent. Everything about him radiates power and control. The only color evident on him comes from his eyes, which gleam like rich emeralds in the dim light.
“I won’t be back before dawn,” he says, his voice low and dismissive. “The couch is comfortable, and you can sleep there. Blankets are in the closet.” He nods toward the hallway he came out of.
I mutter a half-hearted thanks, but inside, I’m seething. This day has been a nightmare, and now I’m being dumped here like an afterthought. It fucking sucks.
As Luca steps onto the freight elevator, he glances back at me, his expression unreadable. “And, Pippa,” he adds in a dark voice, “don’t do anything stupid.” With that, he pulls the door down, leaving me alone.
Easy for you to say.I stand there staring but see nothing. I started out this morning thinking about how I was going to sell a couple of paintings we have at the gallery. I was worried about picking up my dry cleaning and how to keep my mother at bay. She’s still furious that Mia’s parents announced her engagement before giving her a heads up. Thanks to Mia being engaged, no one else could do anything until she was married, at least, not without being seen as upstaging her. But once Mia married, my father was no longer one of the top dogs, so my prospects as far as they are concerned have gone downhill. Not to mention Uncle Luigi’s betrayal did not add to my appeal as a wife. Like I give a fuck.
The sound of the elevator hitting the bottom floor and the grate being thrown up reaches my ears. Luca really is leaving. My eyes sting, and I breathe shallowly, trying to stem the flow of tears. But I can’t hold them at bay any longer. I’m too upset, angry, devastated. My vocabulary isn’t big enough to convey what I am. The whole thing is just beyond comprehension. I still have the dead man’s blood on me. I need a shower. I need to breathe. I need…
I have no fucking clue what I need. My knees wobble, as if unable to hold me upright even a second longer. I gasp for breath like a fish on dry land.
Suddenly, Luca is in front of me, pulling me into his arms. I try to resist but he just crushes me to his chest. “I’ve got you,” is all he says but he holds me close and I cry into his shirt. A while later my tears finally subside but I don’t let go. Now I’m just mortified. His shirt is soaked and, after ugly crying, I know I look like hell.
Luca ease me away from him but leaves his hands on my shoulders. “Feel better now?” he asks. I swear he’s gritting his teeth.
Anger flares inside me. I take a large step back, freeing myself from his touch. “Yes. Sorry. Unlike you I’ve never seen a dead body outside of a funeral, much less actually touched one. It’s been a long day.”
Luca nods, his hands hanging loosely at his sides.
“I’m fine. You can go,” I say stepping back further. “I didn’t mean to hold you up.”
He just stands there staring at me and then he raises his fingers and traces my jawline. “I’ll keep you safe, little one. I won’t let anyone touch you. Promise.” His whispery soft voice does more to me than just allay my fears. His words come across like a promise.
My heart hammers away. I swear he can hear it, it’s so loud. Our gazes are locked, and I’ve lost all ability to speak. Is he serious? Will he really protect me from all this? Does he actually care? His touch has set my skin on fire. I want nothing more to crawl back into his arms. His emerald eyes glow and sparkle, like they’re inviting me to touch him. I put my hand on his chest as I move forward slightly.
He immediately drops his hand and turns to go. “I’ll send someone over with food,” he tosses over his shoulder as he disappears through a door next to the elevator. Standing motionless, like a mannequin with my hand still outstretched, I catch a glimpse of a stairwell before the door clangs shut. Moments later, I hear his Porsche start up and then silence.
What the hell am I supposed to do now?
