Page 47 of Depths of Obsession
“I would like to go home to my apartment,” I say. “I asked Mia and she says Renzo put Gazzago off about the wedding so I should be okay.”
Luca swivels his chair once more. “No,” he says simply and then again turns back around.
I stare at him. “What do you mean, no? Did you hear me? Mia and Renzo think it should be safe. I just need some…space,” I finish lamely. I don’t add,distance from youwhich is the reality of it. Being around Luca just twists me in knots. I just need to be alone to figure this all out.
Luca’s cell rings. He picks it up and launches into rapid fire Italian, but not any Italian I know. I can’t make out more than the odd word and they don’t make any sense. I wait as he continues speaking. Then he stops, says, “Si,” and hangs up.
“Luca?” I say, waiting for an answer to my request.
He spins around and rises off his chair. “Pippa, you cannot go home. Gazzago is still a threat, but as you just pointed out, we don’t know who your father owed money to and word of his death has gone out. I have guards posted by your mother in Switzerland. You will have to stay here for the time being. I promised Renzo I would keep you safe. I will keep that promise even if you don’t like it. I’m going to work.”
“But I don’t want to stay here,” I all but whine.
“Fine,” Luca says then looks down at what I have on. A pair of sweatpants and an oversize shirt. Very American looking. “Then change and you can come to the club with me. Or you can stay here. I have several men stationed downstairs to make sure you will be safe. Entirely up to you which option you pick, but to be clear… Those are your only two options, Pippa. You choose.”
I grind my teeth. I want to argue with him. I want to tell him to fuck right off but I know he won’t care. “I’ll stay,” I snarl. Then I turn on my heel and go back to the spare room. I’m sure as hell not going to share his bed again. I need my own space.
The freight elevator door clangs loudly as he leaves. Only then do I venture out to the main living space. I flop down on the sofa but realize I’m hungry. I go over and open the fridge door thinking I can rummage something up but the only thing in there is several bags of blood. I slam the door and swallow hard. As if I needed a reminder that Luca’s a vampire.
I scroll through my phone and decide to order Thai. As I wait for my food I start to wonder about escape. I know if I can get out of here, I can get out of Milano. Out of Italy. But how do I get out of here? I reach for my phone.
“Luna?” I say when my best friend answers.
“Oh my God, Pippa! I’ve been so worried about you. Mia said you were recovering and needed some space, but I’ve been so concerned. How are you?”
I blink back tears. My friend’s voice brings up all the feelings I’m trying to keep tamped down. “I’m okay,” I say but my voice cracks.
“Oh, honey. I am so sorry about your mama and your father and all of it. I just wish you’d said something sooner. But I totally understand why you didn’t. Being part of this world, it fucks you up in ways you don’t even realize. The truly bizarre becomes the norm and we don’t even realize it.”
“You can say that again,” I comment, but I immediately feel better. I suddenly realize Mia is more like them now but Luna is like me. Thank God. “Look, what we talked about? I want to do it.”
“Are you sure? I mean your mother might need you.”
“I’m sure she will but if we don’t do it now, we may never find a way out. My father owed a lot of money, and you know how that goes. If I can get out, I can bring my mother. She’s going to be recovering in Switzerland for a while. That buys me a bit of time.”
“Thank God you still want to go,” Luna says, relief flooding her voice. “My parents are killing me— I am so sorry. That was a thoughtless thing to say.”
“Don’t worry about it. I know what you mean. Are they on you about marriage?”
“Marriage, children, keeping the family name going, honestly there’s no break. They’re keeping something from me, Pippa, I can tell, and it worries me.”
“Something like what?” I ask.
“I don’t know but I see guilty looks flash between them and they’re increasing the pressure. Something is up and I need to get the hell out of here before it explodes.”
“Okay, so we’re going. I’m stuck at Luca’s. He has guards here apparently. I haven’t looked but I don’t doubt it. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.” My phone beeped. I glance at the screen. Luca. Shit. Does he have the place bugged? Does he know what we’re talking about? My heart hammers in my ears. “Hold on a sec,” I say and then take a deep breath while I switch the call to Luca.
“Did you order Thai food?”
“Er…yes.” Is that all he wants?
“Warn me next time.” Then he hung up.
I blow out a breath of relief and then go back to Luna. “Sorry about that.” The freight elevator starts to move. “Tell me about your new job,” I say in a chatty voice.
“Shit! Is someone there?”
“Uh-huh.” The elevator comes into view and this mountain of a man is standing there holding my bag of Thai food. He lifts the gate, hands me the bag and then pulls the gate down and hits the button for the elevator again. He slowly disappears from sight as I stand rooted to the spot.
