Page 15 of Depths of Obsession
You sure?Nico asks.
Yeah.Nico fades out, and I’m left alone with my thoughts.
There’s got to be a way around Pippa marrying Gazzago.
The door opens, and Rocco strides in. “We got a problem.” I brace myself for his report. “Pippa isn’t at your place.”
“What?” I demand, standing up so fast the chair topples over. “What do you mean?”
Rocco shrugs. “I took her some food, but she wasn’t there. I checked the security camera, and they showed her getting into a rideshare car and disappearing. She’s not at her own place—I checked. Do you think she might have gone home to her parents’ place?”
“No way in hell. Fuck!” I reach for my phone and dial her number from memory, but she doesn’t answer. But I don’t know if it’s because she doesn’t want to or can’t. Nerves tingle under my skin as I bark out, “Call someone and get them to run the plate of the rideshare and see where it went. I’ll try tracing her phone.
“Okay. I’ll let you know what I find out,” Rocco says, then exits my office again.
I sit back down, my heart pounding. “Fucking hell, Pippa,” I snarl. I don’t have time for this kind of shit. There’s too much on the line. One wrong move and someone will wind up dead—and it sure as hell isn’t going to be Pippa. Not if I can help it.
CHAPTER 5
The sound of movement jolted me from sleep. I sat bolt upright in bed. “What the fuck?” I shriek as Luca storms across the room toward me, eyes ablaze.
“I could say the same to you. What the fuck, Pippa?” His voice was raspy as sandpaper. “I told you to stay at my place. What are you doing at this fucking hotel?” He stands next to the bed, his hands on his hips, staring at me. Jesus, are his eyes glowing? I shiver with the pure animosity in his glare pinning me in a death stare.
I try not to squirm. “I didn’t feel comfortable at your place, so I left. I didn’t go home since you were worried about that and because my parents probably have the place staked out, so I came here. Seemed like the best idea.” I have no interest in going to my parents’ house, or in ever seeing them again. At least not my father. Not that my mother is any better. She’s giving her silent approval by standing back and letting all this happen.
“What part of stay the fuck at my place was confusing to you? You think you’re safe here? You think if Gazzago wanted to, he couldn’t find you? Are you fucking out of your mind?”
Anger creates a tension that grips my shoulders, so I shrug. “The Jasmin Door is a five-star hotel with five-star security.” Oh God, he growled when I shrugged. I hold up my hand, palm up. “I’m not downplaying the danger, but even if Gazzago could find me, he couldn’t just come waltzing in here.”
“Oh really? I just did.”
I stare at him. Fucking hell, he’s right. I frown. “How did you do that?”
Luca shakes his head at me. “I know people, and you can bet your ass so does Gazzago. Get dressed. We’re going back to my place.”
“No.” I know I sound like a petulant child, but I cannot stand being told what to do by anyone, let alone Luca. It’s been a shitty day, and I just need time to myself.
“Pippa,” he says between clenched teeth, “go get dressed. We are leaving here. You have five minutes.”
“I was perfectly safe until you got here. I don’t need you hovering over me. I’m fine. I’ll call Mia in the morning. I’ll even call you if you want, to prove to you I’m safe,” I huff. He had seemed to care earlier…right up until he left with me standing there staring after him. I’m still humiliated by his abrupt departure.
“Now you have four minutes. I’m leaving here with you even if it means throwing you over my shoulder and carrying you out just as you are.” His low voice rumbles out of his chest, sending shivers across my skin. His gaze trails down my body, the irises turning a deeper green.
I glance down realizing the sheet has fallen away and he can see what I’m wearing. The matching black lace bra and thong set leaves little to the imagination. I scoop the sheets back to my chest but it’s way too late. I’m sure he can see that my nipples are hard.
“Three minutes.” His gaze lingers on my chest and I swear he can see through the sheet and my bra. My cheeks get hot as I glare at him and will the color out of my face. Suddenly I realize someone else is behind him. I lean back to see another man, massive in size which kind of matches the large scar on his eyebrow, leaning against the wall watching me.
“Who the hell is that?” I’ve been so consumed by Luca that I didn’t even notice the other man.
“My security,” Luca retorts. “His name is Rocco. Tick tock, Pippa. You’re down to two minutes.”
“You have your own security?” I stare at him. How do I not know this? Luca never struck me as not being able to take care of himself. Why does he need security?
“Yes. One minute.”
“Be reasonable. I’m fine here. Despite the fact that you managed to break in, I don’t think Gazzago would be able to. I have friends here. They’re looking out for me.”
“Clearly,” Luca scoffs. He leans down until his gaze is level with mine. “One last chance, Pippa.”
