Page 94 of The Silence Lies

Levi didn’t ask questions when I told him where I was going. It probably took every ounce of energy for him to hold back his real feelings on the matter, but after last night, it has given me insight into how this is going to be. I made it clear that I could never choose between Luca and Levi, and I’ve made a promise to myself that if this ever becomes an issue, I won’t ask anything of the guys again.

With that thought pushed temporarily in the back of my mind, I stalk through the darkness of the corridor that makes my eyes squint. There’s no seedy red lighting or dramatic glow about the place. No tampered beat steadying the music. It’s quiet and dark, and I sense that’s Luca’s mood down to the letter.

After a few more steps, I reach the end of the corridor, turning left to come face to face with the door I expected to see.

I don’t knock. There’s no need for formalities when I’ve come here to get shit sorted because enough is enough. I’m a goddamn leader and I should be treated as such.

“Wait here,” I say to Giovanni, who refused to leave my side when I left the car. This time, he does as he’s told, waiting stoically beside the door that I push through without warning.

Luca lifts his head from his computer, a cigarette pinched between his lips. I don’t know what I was expecting, but the moody look blended with the busted nose definitely stirs up my insides. Bad boys never did it for me, and I wouldn’t exactly call Luca one, but he’s definitely portraying that look right now.

His blue eyes are darker today, a glint of anger hiding in the depths. “Bianchi,” he greets, sitting back in his chair. He props his cigarette in the ashtray as I approach with determined steps. As soon as the door closes behind me, I speak.

“We need to talk.” I growl.

“I take it went well with Marchese?” There’s a smugness to his words, but there’s no malice to them, he’s merely asking a question.

“First of all,” I say, spinning his chair around to face me. “You ignored my command.”

His brow furrows in confusion.

“Secondly,” I punctuate my words with a poke to his chest. “You didn’t come back for a debrief.”

“Is that really what you came here to say?” His sharp features go from dark and angry to light and playful in a split second. He tugs me close to him, forcing me to step between his muscular thighs.

“No,” I answer honestly.

“So Bianchi has ulterior motives?” He pinches my ass, making me jump. I’m not sure how much I like this playful side of Luca, at least not when I’m trying to have a serious conversation. His proximity just gets me hot and flustered.

Sensing my hesitation, he rubs smooth circles over my ass cheeks, and I can’t say I don’t like the sensation but we need to talk before anything else happens. I need to be sure we’re all on the same page. I’ve managed to make Levi understand, so now it’s Luca’s turn.

“You spoke to Marchese?” he asks.

“He’s willing to put his differences aside, because he knows it’ll make me happy.”

“And what exactly will make you happy?” Luca asks, grabbing me by the hips and tugging me closer. Just the heat from his palms stirs up desire. I have to squeeze my thighs together just to focus on what I need to say before I lose my willpower.

“You and Levi make me happy. I want both of you, and yes, I know how fucked up that sounds, but it’s the truth.”

“We’ve already had this discussion, Sera.”

“I know. But I’m making it clear now. It’s both of you or nothing. I’m not choosing. So don’t put me in that position because we will all lose. Understand?”

Luca grunts something inaudible, blue eyes touring my features so intricately I swear he’s trying to glimpse the depths of my soul. Little does he know he only really has to ask and I’ll give him the key to the lock. That’s how much I like Luca, and I never thought I’d say that three weeks ago.

“I can’t fault your honesty,” he says. “But you guys have history. It might not be a competition, but I’m not stupid enough to think that won’t trump whatever is going on between us.”

Well, shit. I think this is the first time I’m seeing the raw vulnerable side of Luca Fontana. We might have skated close a few times, but his words break through his harsh exterior, giving me sight of what really wars inside. Doubt.

Framing his face between my palms, I lower myself onto his lap, straddling him on the chair. “That’s not how I see this, Luca. That’s not how I feel.”

He gazes up at me, concern swimming in his eyes as he contemplates my sincerity. After a beat, he draws a short breath, the tension in his shoulders relaxing slightly. “I’m not a sharing kind of guy.”

“I know,” I smile weakly. I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming. My own insecurities creep out from the depths to face the light.

“But… neither of us know how this works. I just know I like you, Bianchi. And if Levi is willing to give it a go, then so am I. Besides, I can’t let him have all the fun.”

The elation I feel over his words sparks a newfound level of admiration and desire. I finally feel like the weird puzzle pieces I’ve been hoping would fit on their own are doing so, and there are no words to describe this feeling other than hope. Hope that this will work, that we can be happy. It doesn’t have to be forever, but for now I have two guys willing to give me something I want.

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