Page 90 of Pretty Little Game

With that, Lucca pulls me into a powerful hug, his squeeze making my broken ribs groan, but I clench my teeth through the pain.

“I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am that you not only acted without hesitation but went back for Ellie, even though you could have fled with Bianka. Ellie told me everything, and I know that without you, she could have endured so much worse. You protected her when I couldn’t, and I just… I don’t know that I can ever thank you enough.”

His agonized tone cuts straight to my core. I can see the torment on his face that he wasn’t able to be there for her, to stop her from being taken in the beginning. It’s that same feeling I had watching Bianka dragged from the Rosehill event center. The same feeling as when I had to listen while some Russian scum threatened to violate her. Knowing you would do anything to protect the one you love and not having the means to make it happen is the worst kind of excruciating.

I grip Lucca’s arms firmly, looking him deep in the eye. “I would rather cut off my right hand than let you suffer, brother, and I know how much Ellie means to you. I never would have forgiven myself if I’d let anything happen to her. It wasn’t even a decision I had to make. You love her, so, of course, I went back for her.”

A slow, brilliant grin spreads across Lucca’s face. “I have to admit that I’ve been thinking about it seriously the past month, but I plan on proposing to Ellie over Christmas break. I’m crazy about that girl.”

I chuckle lightly. “It’s about time, isn’t it? I could have guessed that result after about a week of you two dating.”

Lucca snorts quietly and lightly cuffs the side of my head. Then his expression grows serious once again. “Really though, Cass, I’m so grateful to have you as my brother. I love Nicolo and Silvia, but I honestly don’t know what I would do without you.”

A knot of emotion constricts my chest, and suddenly, I don’t have words, but it doesn’t matter because Lucca’s not done.

“I promise to always look after Bianka like you did Ellie. No matter what,” he says fiercely.

“Thank you, Luc,” I murmur, pulling him in for another hug.

The events of the past few days really have brought into perspective what truly matters in my life. And Lucca’s one of those most important things to me. Like he said, I don’t know what I would do without him. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to be such an essential part of me.

“See you back at the apartment?” he asks.

“Not tonight if I can help it,” I say playfully, glancing one way and then the other to ensure we’re alone. “I plan on surprising a special lady now that I find some extra free time on my hands.”

Lucca snorts and gives my shoulder a playful shove. “Lucky dog. I’ll see you later then.”

“Have fun with the fam for me,” I respond, waving over my shoulder as I head out the door with a backward glance.

32

BIANKA

“Seriously, though. They just, like, smashed in the window and grabbed you both? Were you so terrified?” I’m asked for maybe the fiftieth time today.

Now that we’re back from Thanksgiving break, every student on campus has heard about Ellie and me getting kidnapped from the masquerade and wants a full rendition of the terrifying tale.

School security hasn’t helped matters, now that we’ve miraculously procured nearly ten times the number of security guards since the return to school, all of who march stiffly about campus and down the hallways as if a potential attacker might leap out at any moment.

“Yes, it was pretty scary,” I confess yet again, this time to Hannah Fiore after she bombards me the moment our Dramatization and Emotional Acting class ends for the day.

She clings to my arm as if we’re suddenly besties, apparently finding me interesting for the first time now that everyone is talking about the drama that involves me. Fighting to keep my composure, I sling my book bag over my shoulder and head toward the door. Ellie walks stalwartly beside me, looking rather grateful that Hannah didn’t target her.

Why do people think that the person who endured a trauma such as being kidnapped by a bunch of Bratva men and carted to New York would want to relive the moment in detail again and again?Some of the rumors I’ve heard flying around school have made my stomach turn, and don’t even get me started on the boy who actually asked me to autograph his hat.

Overwhelmed by the constant attention, my eyes naturally seek out Cassio for reassurance, and he gives me a sympathetic face. It’s fleeting, there and then gone, as he quickly looks away.

But Hannah notices the silent connection, and her voice drops into a conspiratorial whisper as we exit the theater room. “I heard Cassio and the other Marchetti brothers were there. That they came to rescue you,” she says, subtly prodding me for details on whether Cassio and I might be an item.

“Well, Iamdating Lucca Marchetti,” Ellie points out, coming to my defense. “And I was the other person kidnapped that night.”

“Oh, for sure. That makes total sense,” Hannah says brightly. “But I heard that Cassio was the big hero who gotyouout, Bianka.”

“He got us both out,” Ellie cuts in once again. “I just twisted my ankle, so he came back for me and was with me when I got caught again.”

“Oh,” Hannah says, the wind leaving her sails. The little snake. She’s probably just digging for details in the hopes that she can relay some good information back to her consigliere father. I bet she’s hoping she might get me kicked out of Rosehill.

“Yeah, you shouldn’t believe all the rumors floating around,” Ellie adds pointedly. “But we’ll see you around, Hannah.”

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