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“Hello?” I hear the uncertainty in her voice when she answers.
“It’s me. I don’t have much time.” I cup my hand over my mouth, almost doubled over with my back to the door. “Something’s happened. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Lila? Where are you?”
“It’s fine, I’m fine. But I need you to do something. I need you to pretend to be me for a while.” I look over my shoulder. It seems I’m still alone.
“What?”
“Listen, damn it. My bank card is in my wallet, I left it at your place. The PIN is Mom’s birthdate. You remember it?”
“April eighth, seventy-five.”
“Good. There’s a couple thousand in my savings account. Use that for as long as you can. I have a paycheck coming through at the end of the week and that goes directly into checking. Pawn a few of your things if you have to, like your jewelry. You still have it?”
“Yes.”
Thank God Greg didn’t get his hands on that. “Pack up whatever you need and go to my apartment. You still have the spare key?”
“Yes, but I really wish—”
I talk over her. “Go there. Keep your head down. There’s food in the fridge and the bills are paid up. Just don’t go back to your place until I say it’s okay. Got it?”
“What’s happening?” There are tears in her voice, making it thick. “Lila, where are you? What’s this number you’re calling from?”
“Oh, for God’s sake, don’t ever call back. Do you understand? Not ever. Forget this phone call. But don’t forget what I told you. The PIN, laying low. Okay?”
There are footsteps coming down the hall. My hand tightens around the receiver. “Okay?” I whisper, hovering over the phone’s dock.
“Okay,” she whimpers. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. So much. Take care of yourself and I’ll do my best to call when I can.” The footsteps are just outside the door now. I hang up the receiver with shaking hands and scoot over on the sofa, breathing fast.
The door swings open not a second later and in walks Luca. He stops short at the sight of me, though the stormy look on his face doesn’t change. “What’s wrong with you?” he snaps.
I have to force a shaky laugh. “I’m a little nervous, is all. Sitting in here all by myself, not knowing what’s happening.”
He accepts that fast enough. “There’s been a change of plans.”
Again, my heart leaps even though I should know better. “You’re letting me go?”
His laughter is snide, nasty, and it makes me want to claw his eyes out. “No chance of that happening, Deanna—sorry, Delilah.” It rolls off his tongue and he relishes it, I can tell. I’ve never hated my name until now.
“So what’s changed?” I clasp my hands between my knees and squeeze tight, willing them to stop shaking.
“You’re not going to one of my brothels now.”
“Where am I going?”
There’s that smile. Cold, unfeeling. “You’re staying here. With me. That’s how you’ll work off your debt.”
Something tells me he’s not looking for a housekeeper, either. My blood runs cold while butterflies flap around in my stomach.
It looks like I’ve graduated from nameless prostitute to Luca Bruno’s sex slave.
And I don’t know if that’s a step up or a step down.
Chapter Five - Luca
