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Dialing Sophia’s number, I leaned back in the chair, attempting to have the least amount of exposed skin touching the chair as possible. This was definitely the first thing that would need to go. The ringer buzzed in my ear, and I grasped the cool glass, water beading on the outside from how long it had been sitting there untouched while I relayed what I could about New York, and I brought it to my lips, letting the sweet alcohol wash over my tongue. I seriously had to learn how Eve made these things so fucking delicious.
My job and my friends had been two things that had kept me going. I’d gone into it looking for a future that would keep me from being dependent on anyone and I’d found that, if it hadn’t been for Tommaso. Of course it was in the corporate world so I’d always answer to someone, but it was a good job and would’ve afforded me a good normal life if that had been what the fates had planned for me. But in reality, I wasn’t normal. I’d always craved danger, violence, and bloodshed, so maybe I never would’ve been happy with a run-of-the-mill job and life.
“Hello?” Sophia answered hesitantly after a few rings, clearly not recognizing the number.
“Hey, Soph,” I breathed, a relieved smile curling on my lips at the sound of her voice. Just a week before I’d called her, letting her know how my plans had been turned upside down and Tommaso had moved us out of the city. But now it was like that life was a distant memory, my life night and day compared to the last phone call, just before the first time I came to this bar and saw Merrick after six years.
“Holy shit, Giana,” she gasped, sucking in a sharp breath. “Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?”
“I know, this is the first chance I’ve had to call you,” I said, properly chagrined after hearing the concern in her tone.
“What the hell happened? I was about to rent a car and drive down there.” Her voice was muffled as I vaguely heard her canceling a taxi.
I grimaced at the thought, grateful I called her just in time. I could just imagine her storming into town and demanding to see me. That would’ve been really bad … especially when Tommaso wouldn’t hesitate to use her against me, even if her father was a senator.
I pulled in a deep breath and debated what I should say. I didn’t want to put her in danger, but I knew how horrible of a friend I’d been. I barely told her anything about my past, or about the guys who’d been the most important people in my life, since just the thought of them before had made guilt twist my stomach and the pang of loss slice through my chest.
“A lot,” I sighed and took another long swig of my drink before launching into our story, the one of a girl and her two best friends and the obsessive man that threatened their lives.
“Holy shit,” she breathed, the sound of her collapsing back onto her leather couch echoing through the phone. “So that’s who you’re with now? And what about that Spade guy,? He sounds delectable.”
“Yeah, I’m safe with them,” I breathed, blinking as I attempted to clear the fog that had just clouded my vision.
“I—I think I have to go,” I interrupted abruptly, the sound of her voice echoed in my ears, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying.
The phone clattered from my hand, bouncing on the hard desk as I gripped the edge of it, needing something to steady me as I tried to stand. Sweat beaded on my brow, my heart seeming to slow despite the horror gripping me. My pulse should be pounding in my head, I vaguely realized, as my clammy palms slipped against the wood.
My eyes blinked closed as I fought to hold on to consciousness, the faint glow of the fluorescent light fading in and out as my body slid from the swivel chair, unable to hold itself up anymore without anything to support it and I tumbled to the floor, landing in a heap.
I willed my muscles to move as I crawled to the door, needing to open it, for someone to see and call my guys. But my movements were too slow, my body already slipping under the heavy weight of whatever this was pulling me down into its dark abyss. I fought against the urge to let my eyes slip closed as the door swung open, the bright lights from the hallway filtering in. A massive form took up the doorway and thick mitts slipped around my body to pull me up as the last shred of strength I had faded away into nothing.
Chapter twenty-five
Giana
Six years ago …
“Whatareyoudoinghere Tommaso,” I asked hesitantly, planting my feet firmly on the asphalt. I glanced around him at the large bay window at the front of the house, attempting to see if Greg and Pam were up yet. “Our date isn’t until tonight.”
“I didn’t want to wait,” Tommaso drawled, stalking closer to me, each step vibrating through me like a blow to the chest. “Now the better question is, where were you?”
I swallowed thickly as he approached, like a lion stalking its prey, it was animalistic the way he viewed me as a victim, as a commodity he could just order around.
“I just went out for breakfast,” I lied, inching my bag behind me knowing it was already too late, but I couldn’t let him guess where I’d actually been.
“Lie,” Tommaso breathed, closing the distance between us. He stroked the side of my face and cupped my cheek in his hand, tsking in disappointment. “You were with them, weren’t you?”
My chest tightened as I readied another lie on the tip of my tongue. “No, I was—”
“Lie,” he whispered again, leaning so close I could smell the thick scent of his cologne. “That was your second strike, lie again and I can guarantee you won’t like the consequence.”
His finger trailed along my jaw to tilt my chin up, forcing me to meet his mahogany eyes. My throat bobbed as I took in the predatory gleam in them, like a dragon hoarding his treasure—except it wasn’t gold and jewels he was guarding—it was me.
“You look delicious, Giana,” he trailed off, his lips mere inches from mine. “I always like how my women look freshly fucked. I just prefer to be the one doing said fucking.”
My lips parted, a protest poised on them, but it was pointless. I couldn’t take the risk of seeing what that third strike would entail.
“Good girl,” he murmured, easing away slightly, his eyes roving over me. I’d thrown on just a crop top and a pair of yoga pants to sneak back in and his eyes scoured every inch of bare skin as though it was meant for him and only him.
