Page 49 of Depths of Obsession
I put my phone down and stare at the Thai food bag. My stomach is doing flip flops. I know if I go, there’s no coming back. Luca will be beyond pissed but more than that, so will Mia. I’m breaking away fromla famigliawhich has been my family since before my birth. This is a whole new world and it’s not going to be easy.La famigliawill not forgive or forget. When I go, there’s no coming back. Not ever. Not if I want to live.
CHAPTER 16
The beat hits me in the chest as I walk into the club. The neon lights of The Emerald Dagger pierce the darkness like shards of glass, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the crowded dance floor. The thumping bass line of an EDM track pulses through the air, making it difficult for anyone to focus on anything other than the rhythm. Friday night and the club is jumpin’.
As the crowd surges forward in unison, the DJ's hands fly across the console, weaving a sonic tapestry that seems to ebb and flow with the collective energy of the room. Sweat dripped from the brows of the dancers, who lost themselves in the music, their bodies swaying like puppets on strings.
I’d heard of the Emerald Dagger but I had never been. I certainly had no idea that Luca owned it. I might have come in earlier if I had, not that I was big into clubbing. The three of us had left those days behind us in New York. God knew if we went clubbing here, the whole ofla famigliawould be talking about it the next day. Nothing happens here without them knowing. It’s like living in a fishbowl.
I look over at the bar. The line is two deep. Behind the bar, the bartender expertly mixes cocktails, her eyes flashing with a knowing glint as she watches the crowd's antics unfold before her. It was obvious she is a seasoned veteran of the club scene. She knows how to get the drinks out fast and who to flash the biggest smiles to. I am sure she makes big money in tips. Maybe I could take up bartending in whatever place we land. Probably not. I wouldn’t last without slugging some asshole who said the wrong thing.
I see a break in the crowd and slide up to the bar. I could use a drink. To my left, a group of friends laugh and joke, their faces illuminated by the glow of their phones as they snapped selfies in front of the bar. They remind me of us. Mia, Luna and me, or at least the way we used to be. Mia has changed. A lot. She seems to believe all that shit about vampires. The blood in the refrigerator notwithstanding, I still can’t wrap my head around it. I wave at the bartender. I could really use a fucking drink. Maybe I’ll order two.
I order my drink and then glance over toward the dance floor. A woman is standing in the middle of the crowd. I see flashes of her. She’s a statuesque blonde with glowing skin. Her hair is tied back in a sleek ponytail, revealing a tattoo of a butterfly on her shoulder. She moves to the music, her hips sway seductively, drawing the attention of every man within a ten-foot radius. She’s flirting with someone, touching his chest, giving him an inviting smile. The crowd parts.
It’s Luca. She’s touching Luca.
The air rushes out of my lungs as blood pounds in my ears. Jealousy is an ugly thing, but I can’t stop it from raging through me. How the hell can he be here flirting with that blonde after what we did last night? I want to go over there and slug her one, break that pretty little nose. She is everything I am not. I grind my teeth.
You told him you didn’t want him to touch you, remember?the voice in my head reminds me. He’s a vampire. A monster. He killed my father and all I can think of is how much I want to kill that woman for even talking to him.
The bartender nudged me as she set the drink down in front of me. I reach out with my credit card but a hand closes over mine. Rocco is standing there. “You don’t pay in here,” he says quietly in my ear.
I nod my thanks and tuck my card into in my clutch. He stands next to me and waits. I cock an eyebrow, and he gestures towards the stairs that are against the wall. I assume Luca’s office is upstairs. I glance over at the dance floor again and the blonde is still there. So is Luca.
The lights flickered and dimmed, casting the club in an eerie gloom. The music screeched to a halt, and the DJ's voice boomed through the speakers, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Emerald Dagger! Get ready for the main event!"
As one, the crowd turns their attention to the stage, where a mysterious figure stands waiting. Dressed in a black leather jacket and ripped jeans, the person exudes an air of confidence and danger that makes even the most seasoned clubbers take notice.
"Meet tonight's special guest," the DJ announced, his voice dripping with drama. "The infamous rock star, Alessandro Bianchi!"
The crowd erupts into cheers, and Emerald Dagger becomes a vortex of sound and color, swirling with an energy that makes my head spin. The lights flash in rhythm with the throbbing bass, and bodies move as one, a sea of people losing themselves to the music. Bianchi is all the rage these days, and it shows. The crowd is wild; their excitement palpable, and I can't help but be swept up in it. I spot the blonde making her way toward the stage. I look for Luca but he’s still standing in the same spot, unmoved by the chaos around him.
As the crowd surges, Luca looks over, and our gazes lock. My heart skips a beat, but something’s off. My stomach twists as I realize it’s not Luca. It looks like him, but it’s someone else. This guy is leaner, and while his eyes are green, they lack the deep, mesmerizing emerald color of Luca’s. He’s a reasonable facsimile—a copy that doesn’t quite get the original right. A cousin, perhaps? I’ve never heard of any Valdici cousins, but then again, I’m not exactly close with the family.
Rocco gives me a nudge, snapping me out of my thoughts, and I grab my drink. When I turn back, the man is gone—vanished into thin air. I scan the crowd, my heart thudding in my chest, but he’s nowhere to be found. I don’t even see the back of a head receding away from me. Weird. A chill runs down my spine and unease settles in my gut.
I make my way up the stairs to Luca’s office, and a wave of relief crashes over me. It wasn’t Luca with that woman. There’s no reason for me to feel jealous. But now I’m all messed up. I thought I didn’t want Luca, thought I wanted to run. Now, I’m not so sure.
I walk into the office, and Rocco points to the chairs across from Luca. He’s sitting behind his desk, his face illuminated by the light from his computer screen. I go over and take a seat, but Luca doesn’t even glance my way. I shift in my seat, feeling a pang of something I refuse to name. I glance at Rocco, then take a healthy swallow of my drink, trying to steady myself. I give myself a mental shake. It doesn’t matter if Luca acknowledges me. I’m leaving. That’s why I’m here. It will be easier to get lost in the crowd and slip out the door here than at the loft. Luna is packing. She’ll text me when she’s here, and we’ll make a break for it. Royce has his jet on standby.
Luca finally looks up from his screen. His gaze meets mine, then runs down over my body, lingering for a beat too long. I’m wearing a little black dress with a halter-style top that shows my boobs off to great advantage. It hugs the rest of me and stops mid-thigh. I paired it with thigh-high black boots. Luca’s jaw pulses, but he says nothing.
Finally, I break the silence. “I didn’t realize you have cousins here.”
Luca blinks, his brows knitting together. “What are you talking about?”
“The guy downstairs. He’s the spitting image of you. I assumed he’s your cousin. He was talking to some tall blonde.”
Luca is on his feet in an instant, his expression darkening. “Rocco,” he barks, but before I hear anything else, he’s out the door. I stand and walk over to the glass wall, my eyes following Luca and Rocco as they move through the crowd below. They’re searching. My gaze darts around, and there, in the corner—I spot him. He’s with another woman, a brunette this time.
Luca seems to sense my gaze. He looks up at me, and I point toward the corner. He changes direction, heading to the area I indicated. Rocco does the same. The man sees them coming and starts to push his way through the crowd to his left. Luca reaches the corner, looking around. He looks up at me again, and I point toward the stage. He heads that way, Rocco splitting off to the left. They’re trying to come at this guy from both sides, closing in.
I lose sight of the man, my heart pounding as I scan the crowd. There—he’s in the crush of people near the stage, working his way toward the exit. Luca is approaching, but he’s looking too far to the right. I want to bang on the glass, to shout, but I know he won’t hear me over the noise. I just have to wait for Luca to look up. My gaze flicks between Luca and the stranger, anxiety gnawing at me.
Finally, Luca looks up again, and I point toward the hallway by the bathrooms. He changes direction, Rocco taps his earpiece and follows. They push through the crowd with urgency, and my breath catches as Luca’s body goes rigid. He’s seen his double. The stranger glances up, and for a split second, our eyes lock. His gaze narrows, and then he’s gone, disappearing down the hallway. Luca and Rocco follow in pursuit.
My cell goes off, vibrating in my clutch, and I jump. I pull it out. It’s Luna.
