Page 30 of Depths of Obsession
Nico steps into the elevator beside my father. “Gladly.” His voice is cold, and he stares at my father, who is reaching behind him. “You pull out that gun, and I can guarantee it will be the last thing you ever do.” Luca’s voice is calm, but my knees weaken. If my father pulls out a gun, I think I might collapse right here.
Papa glares at me, then at Luca and Nico. “Stronzo,” he spits. “You think you’re untouchable. You’re not. No one is. You will pay.” He turns to look directly at me, his eyes dark with malice. “You are dead to me. You will all pay.” He pulls down the elevator door and hits the button, and the elevator slowly descends, taking him away.
My knees give way, and Luna catches me and guides me back to the stool. “Are you okay?” she asks, her voice gentle, her eyes full of concern.
I shake my head, releasing a tear which has prickled my eyes. “He’s crazy,” I whisper, my voice breaking.
“I’m so sorry,” Luna says, squeezing my hand.
Luca’s arms are crossed over his chest, and he is still and silent as he stares at me. His rage is palpable, bouncing off the walls, but he says nothing.
“Maybe some tea?” Luna suggests, glancing at Luca, her voice shaky.
He stares at her, raising an eyebrow. Apparently, making tea isn’t something he does. It doesn’t matter. I’m not sure I could even get it down right now. Luca turns abruptly, striding over to the opposite corner of the room. He returns a moment later with a large glass of bourbon in his hand. “Drink this.”
Blinking away the lingering tears, I take a large swallow, the liquid burning its way down my throat, warming me from the inside. I put the glass down as the heat settles in my belly, but it does nothing to ease the ache in my chest. There are no words that can fix this moment. My father just showed himself to be an uncaring piece of shit, and there’s nothing—no drink, no conversation—that’s going to change that.
Luca’s cell phone buzzes. “What?” he snaps, his voice curt. Then silence, followed by a muttered curse. “Fucking hell. I’m on my way.” He ends the call and shoves his phone back into his pocket. He turns to me, his eyes still stormy. “I have to go to my club.”
Panic rises in my throat, making it hard to breathe. I can’t be alone. “W-what if my father comes back?” I stammer, my voice breaking.
“He won’t, but I’ll have Rocco send over several men to keep you safe.” Luca grabs my chin, forcing my gaze up to his. His eyes bore into mine, intense and unwavering. “I promised to keep you safe, little one. You must have faith in me.” He drops a quick kiss on my forehead, then turns and disappears down the stairwell.
I stare at Luna, my heart still racing, my mind still spinning.
She stares back, her eyes wide. “Are you and Luca a thing?” she asks, her voice hesitant.
I shake my head, my voice barely a whisper. “Luca is just keeping me safe.”
“Are you sure about that?” Doubt laces Luna’s question.
I dismiss her question with a wave of my hand. There’s no point in telling her that I wish we were lovers. It doesn’t matter. I rub my face, exhaustion starting to weigh me down. “I just can’t believe this is all happening.” I reach over to squeeze Luna’s hand. “I’m ready to go if you are. Let’s just take off. Be free. I can’t deal with this anymore. My father is willing to pimp me out to save himself. And my mother, she... Oh my God, my mother. He’s going to hurt her.” I leap to my feet, rocking the stool as I push away from it. My heart pounds like a timpani. “Luna, I need to get to her before he does.”
Luna frowns, worry clouding her expression. “Do you really think so? I mean, I know he’s angry, but you think he’ll drive all the way to Genoa and hurt your mom?”
“He’s out of control, and he will definitely hurt her. I told you, when I confronted him before about his gambling he hit me. He also beat up my mother because he said she had no control over me. It was bad, Luna. He broke her ribs. I begged her to get help, but she refused. She’s the only reason I’ve stayed. I can’t let him hurt her like that again. I have to go.”
“What about what Luca said?”
I shrug. “What about it? He’s not here. It would take too long to get him on board, and I can tell you he would never let me come with him. He’s been told by Renzo and Mia to keep me safe, so that’s what he’s doing. I need to keep my mother safe.” I grab my phone and dial my mother’s number, but it goes straight to voice mail. “Damn.”
“Call Mia. Let her help,” Luna suggests. “They can send someone over to your mom’s.”
“I will, but I have to do it from the road. I’m wasting too much time here. My mother is in danger.”From my fucking father.I move over to the wall of monitors, opening drawers frantically until I find a set of Porsche keys. I have no idea which one it is, but I’ll take it. I try my mother’s cell again but still no answer. “Where the hell are you?”
Luna stands up, her face etched with concern. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
I nod, determination settling in my chest. “It’s only a few hours to Genoa but my father has a head start. I’ll go, and I’ll call Mia and my mom on the way. Do me a favor and call your dad. See if he can get mine to calm down. Ask him to reach out to Aldo. Maybe Mia’s dad can calm him down.”
“What about Renzo’s security guys?” Luna asks.
“Mia will fill them in.”
I run down the hallway, grabbing my purse. I try my mother’s number again, but it still goes straight to voice mail. What the hell can she be doing? There’s no way my father is there yet. She’s probably out in the garden and left her phone inside. I’ll keep trying her on the drive.
Luna reaches out, grabbing my arm. Her eyes are wide, pleading. “Be very careful, okay?”
“I will. I don’t have a choice. I can’t let him take all his anger out on her.”
