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She dances between her feet. “Can we come in?”
I glance behind her, and realize that she’s not alone. Catalina Minola is standing maybe ten feet back down the hall.
My brain stutters. I’m still frustrated about earlier, but not enough to not be glad to see her. But, I can’t help focusing on that dinner she was at. Fuck, why is it that every time she sees that asshole something happens? “What’s wrong?”
Etta shuffles between her feet. “Nothing…exactly. You just didn’t answer your phone and,” she takes a deep breath. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
She didn’t know where else to go?
My mind spins as I step aside to let her in. Etta and Catalina follow me into the house with an apprehension that contradicts the confidence Etta showed in the door only moments before.
My friends all look up, as if only just noticing we’re here. I roll my eyes. It’s bullshit. We were playing Texas hold ‘em, and Pierce is holding at least ten cards in front of his face, while Bennet is counting crumpled dollar bills with an enthusiasm that implies he’s never seen money before.
Only Luca frowns, seeming disturbed by their presence. He texts furiously, his thumbs flying across the screen of his phone.
I open my mouth, and come up short, realizing I have no idea how to introduce Etta or her friend. Not that we don’t all know each other. We do. Yet, it’s impossible to ignore that this is an unusual situation. I glance at Etta, and my stomach seizes. She’s uncomfortable. She came here to see me—for my help, and she’s uncomfortable. Un-fucking—acceptable.
Digging deep into the recesses of my personality—whoever I used to be before Marcia died, before things stopped mattering, I reach for her hand and drag her forward and into my lap. No godsdamned introduction necessary.
“Lu!” I bark, and he looks up from his phone, startled. “Get a chair for Catalina.”
“Cat,” Etta mutters.
Whatever.
“I didn’t know you had company,” Etta murmurs as the guys shift around, moving chairs and offering drinks.
“We’re not company,” Bennet says before I can say anything.
“Not at all,” Pierce adds. “I promise you, Montague would prefer we’d all leave.”
He’s not wrong. Especially now, when I want to pull Etta into my room and wipe that frown off her face. That I want to show her exactly what she’s getting herself into by coming here—I want to lock her in my room and never let her out. I would too—I will, but if I know a single thing about her, it’s that she’ll be nervous to leave her friend, and embarrassed if I drag her away with an audience within seconds of her arrival.
Etta looks up at me with mild confusion at Bennet’s statement, but it’s Catalina who replies. “Then why don’t you leave?”
“I live here,” Bennet says, taking another sip of his drink.
“I like poker,” Luca answers, almost nervously, as Catalina turns her gaze to him.
When Pierce says nothing, she fixes him with a dark stare and crosses her arms. He blinks up at her, seeming almost bemused. “I don’t answer to you.”
Catalina pauses for what seems like a very long moment, then smiles, seeming to accept his response.
As if she’s not even listening to their exchange, Etta shifts in my lap, and I can feel the tension in her body.
I lean in, whispering in her ear so only she can hear. “You shouldn’t be here, good girl. You’re not safe in this house.”
She shivers, her eyes flashing with doubt as she cranes her neck around to meet my gaze. “I know. I’m sorry about earlier. I just… I thought—”
I cut her off before she can finish whatever thought is in her head, and plant whatever seed of doubt is there. “To be clear, you’re not safe here because if you stay too long I might never let you go.”
Etta blinks, seeming taken aback before her gray eyes darken with lust. “That’s fine. I’m not all that interested in, ‘safe.’ I would have thought that was already clear, but if not I’m happy to give you another demonstration.”
I choke on a laugh, and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me. I can feel her heart racing against my chest. It’s the most thrilling feeling. She’s so awake. Alive. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
ChapterTwenty
ETTA
