Page 39 of Tangled Deceit

I want to keep her to myself, but I won’t be selfish enough to ruin her plans. Plus, I still have things to do for work that I’ve been neglecting, so I nod. “Have your fun. I just needed that before I grab food and head to my office.”

“The one here or at work?” Olivia asks with a glint in her eyes.

“Here.” I answer, hoping that means I’ll see her there before I’m done.

Justine grabs her hand. “Come on, my little nympho friend. I’m getting you out of here before I lose you completely.”

I kiss Olivia once more, and when she’s pulled from my arms, I do my best not to glare at Justine. She’s only doing what Olivia needs, and even in the moments I hate having her away from me, I want her to be happy here. That means I can’t be the only reason she stays.

No matter how much I wish otherwise.

18

OLIVIA

After being in the garden for nearly two hours with Justine, our friend date has concluded. As hesitant as I’d been to leave the apartment, I’m more grateful than ever that she got me out of there. I’m still not sure what I was afraid of—maybe just the idea of being taken again—but now that I’ve ventured out, I don’t have any desire to go back to the empty apartment.

Saying goodbye to Justine with promises to see her again tomorrow for breakfast or lunch, depending on how things are looking with Tori, I head to Luca’s office in hopes that he has positive updates for me.

I let yesterday go by without pressuring him for more information after he reassured me that Tori was safe. More than that, I didn’t want to think any more about how Titan hadn’t laid a finger on her.

Do I feel like a terrible person for those thoughts? Absolutely, but more than that, I’m glad she’s safe. Deep down, I know the guilt of having my best friend hurt because of me would be far worse than being jealous that she's being treated with respect.

When I step into the elevator, I take another look at the painting I did while Justine had her fun planning for more than flowers on the balcony and talking about getting a greenhouse for year-round, home-grown vegetables. I didn’t expect it from her, but I have a feeling that making this “compound” more of a home now that we’re both here is going to be something she succeeds at, no matter how long it takes.

And I’m going to have no problem helping her. Though, the idea of living here and not at my mother’s house as previously planned does cause an ache in my chest, especially as I take in my latest painting.

It’s the first time I’ve created anything since being kidnapped by Titan. The colors are darker than normal. More deep blues and purples with forest green foliage added between the violets. It’s good and something I intend to give Luca, but it’s different.

Then again, so am I. I’m not the same woman I was a month ago. Hell, not even last week. I thought that would frighten me, but I’m choosing to embrace these changes as I realize I’m stronger than I thought possible. More than that, though, I know I don’t have to do any of this alone.

I lost my mother, my only blood family that I’ve been close to throughout my life, and Tori is… Well, I don’t want to think too hard about that right now. Regardless, I have a new sense of peace and belonging because of the people here. Mafia life be damned, I can see myself making a new family here and not feeling so fucking alone.

When Mom died unexpectedly, I knew I still had Tori and even Sandi on a certain level, but I think a lot of my numbness came from knowing that my circle was just that much smaller. Now it’s not, and that knowledge is what’s kept me moving forward instead of wallowing in the trauma of all that’s transpired.

I arrive at Luca’s office back on the first floor, and I’m glad his door is open because I wasn’t entirely sure I would remember which room was his. I felt pretty confident in the general vicinity, but I was mostly guessing once I turned down the hallway, allowing my thoughts to keep me distracted.

As I step inside, his eyes are focused on the computer and fingers are flying over the keyboard with a precision I don’t expect from him. Though, he’s confident in everything he does, even this work. I shouldn’t have expected anything less.

When I sit down in the chair, still holding my painting in front of me, I remain quiet, not wanting to interrupt whatever he’s working on. But it’s only a second later that his eyes shift toward me, even while his fingers keep typing away.

“What do you have there, Raven?” he asks, glancing down at the canvas in my lap.

“Just a little something I painted while I was with Justine.” I keep the art turned away from him until he’s done typing and use that time to glance around his office.

It has an industrial feel to it with exposed brick, metal piping, and tarnished yet pristine wood furnishing. There are shelves on one side of the room, filled with books and a few keepsakes I intend to get a better look at, but as soon as my eyes move to the other side of the room, I forget about everything else.

Hanging on the opposite wall, front and center, is the painting of my ass and boobs, now framed with a chestnut wood that matches his desk and shelves. My eyes widen, but at the same time, a smile forms on my face. I take in the mess that is my personal body parts and think back to how perfect that day was before we left the garden.

There had been so much joy in there. A peace had settled within me and had me feeling confident about my choice to stay with Luca. But within the blink of an eye, my world had been turned upside down.

“What do you think?” he asks, catching me by surprise since I didn’t realize he had finished typing.

“I think I’m shocked you have that painting on your wall.” I chuckle, trying to hide the tension that’s begun to rise within me.

He stands and comes around his desk, stopping once he’s in front of me. “I had it framed the day after you were taken, then hung it in my office, so I could enjoy the view in here for once.”

My smile turns into a smirk. “And you don’t care that anyone who comes in here will get a view of my…ass and boob prints?”

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