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BECKA
When Lorenzo drew his gun I closed my eyes.
I’m such a fool.
The words tore at my soul. I leaned on the prospect that by returning of my own accord it would prove my commitment to not breaking my word. Giving Luca a reason to trust me and maybe be willing to open up.
I expected to see a resemblance of the man who’d been considerate and reasonable the past few days. The one who’s touch set me on fire. A man who could appreciate what I went through to come back to him.
That man had been drug down into black waters.
My heart shriveled in my chest. He would never trust me no matter what I did. And it burned. When he roared at me it had burned hotter and hotter until rage replaced hurt. Anger. Pain. None of it mattered now. It was over.
So, I waited. With all hope draining from my body I waited for it all to end. The one thing that gave me hope for the future spit in my face. I just wanted to be free. Though I faced death without fear, my heart was still crushed with agony.
Several seconds slipped by and the air in front of me became heavy. I could feel my own breath coming back to brush my face. I opened my eyes expecting to see Lorenzo basking in the moment before he blew my head all over Matteo’s beautiful rug. Instead a wall of shoulders incased in a dark suit blocked my view. Luca?
“I believe her,” Luca said calmly. Shock had my heart skipping in my chest as I looked up at the back of his head.
“So do I.” I heard Matteo add from across the room.
“You dare defy me boy?” Lorenzo’s words were calm but overflowed with fury.
I leaned to peek around Luca’s back to see Lorenzo’s beet red face. He held his gun inches from Luca’s forehead. My heart stalled altogether at the sight. I sucked in a loud breath. Then I felt Luca’s large, warm hand on my hip, gently nudging me back behind the human barrier he’d created.
“She is my wife,” he said as I hid behind him. “I have never asked you for anything, but I’m asking you now. Don’t do this?”
Eyes as wide as saucers I stared at his back. Luca glanced over his shoulder at me and what moved in his deep brown eyes snuffed out the anger still smoldering inside me. Luca’s gorgeous face was haunted. Full of worry and apology. His eyes conveying what he couldn’t say.
My heart swelled so fast I clutched at it. The urge to reach out and touch him so strong I nearly gave in. He schooled his expression and turned back to Lorenzo.
“Very well,” I couldn’t see his face but heard the wicked grin in Lorenzo’s voice. “I won’t shoot her.” He paused. I got a sinking feeling in my gut at the amusement in his tone. “She must prove she is not waring a wire. Step. Aside.”
Luca’s body stiffened. He held his ground. His body swayed and his head rocked back at the sound of Lorenzo shoving the gun into his forehead.
A muffled curse came from the other side of the room. The worry in Matteo’s delivery was more than evident. Lorenzo’s threat was serious.
Lorenzo is going to kill Luca. Cold dread ran down my spine.
I couldn’t let that happen. I didn’t understand fully yet what drove Luca to do what he did, but people don’t risk their lives for someone they don’t care for. Embers of hope sprung from the fire I thought extinguished. If I didn’t do something Luca would die.
Reaching out I gently placed my hand on his bicep. He turned to look at me, his eyes hard. I gave him a tight, sad smile. “It’s ok.”
He shook his head lightly, mouth pressing into a thin line.
I gave his arm a small squeeze, using my eyes to beg him to give into what he knew had to happen. Or we were both going to die. My life was one thing, but to have someone else die for me needlessly was unacceptable.
At my urging, he reluctantly moved away, never taking his eyes off mine. Luca took a place beside Matteo, carrying the same look and energy he had that first night in Lorenzo’s office .
I turned my attention to Lorenzo. His grin was venomous as he backed away. Crossing his arms over his chest, the gun hanging lightly in his grip, he leaned against Matteo’s desk. “Remove your clothes.”
A lump formed in my throat large enough to choke on. Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of Luca shifting on his feet, his fists balled at his sides. My hesitation lasted long enough to have Lorenzo narrowing his eyes at me in warning. I tried to keep a placid persona as I began to remove my clothes. Inside, I began shattering into a million pieces.
The boots and cardigan were not so bad, but when I reached for the hem of my shirt my hands started shaking. After my shirt I reached for the button of my pants. Goose-bumps rose on my skin, the backs of my eyes burned with restrained tears.
I slid out of my pants, standing fully displayed in a matching, black-lace bra and thong. Tipping my chin up I willed my expression to show confidence. I did not want to give him the satisfaction of knowing I was terrified.
Lorenzo took his time drinking in every inch of my exposed skin, smiling arrogantly. He pushed away from the desk, approaching like a stocking predator. The closer he got the faster my pulse raced. He’s going to touch me. I could see it in every flicker of his gaze over my body. My skin started crawling with millions of beetles. I stood stock still with my arms at my sides.
