AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’mnumb.It’safeeling I’m accustomed to in general, but not with Carina. I crush my eyelids closed with the heels of my hands, trying to bring back the pain that took me to the floor, but it doesn’t come. There’s nothing but numbness. Maybe I should be happy with that.
“I’ve been looking for you.” I don’t turn at Tom’s voice. He shouldn’t be here. He retired years ago. But he always seems to appear when I need him.
“You found me.” I tighten my hold on the balcony rail and look down at the street below us. People bustle past. Skyscrapers surround our home. Once upon a time, we were the largest building in this borough, but times have changed, and the city exploded up around us. We’ve had generous offers for our building over the years, but my father declined each one.
When he dies, I’ll sell this place to the first bidder. Most people want to cling to their childhood home. Not me.
“I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop in.” Tom joins me on the balcony and leans against the rail beside me.
“Out for a stroll?” I ask, glancing at his suit.
He grins. “I was at a meeting close by,” Tom admits.
“I take it the meeting was with my father.”
He nods. “How have you been?” He turns so his back is to the rail and he can better see my expression.
How have I been? Shitty.
“I’m fine, Tom. Don’t worry about me.” I try to offer a crooked smile, but it falls flat.
What the hell does it say that the head of our family’s security was always more a father to me than my own flesh and blood? Someone paid to do a job?
He runs his fingers across his graying beard. “That’s the thing, Luca. I never worry about you.” There is…”
A commotion far beneath us on the streets grabs my attention. A female voice has me pushing away from the railing.
“Luca?” Tom calls after me in confusion, but I’m already through my room and making my way down the several flights of stairs, the steps faster than the ancient elevator. The voice sounded like Carina’s. I race through the main foyer and out the front doors. A marble wall surrounds the mansion, and my focus is on the main front gates, where the guards are still arguing with a woman.
“Let her through,” I yell, and all attention swings to me. The gates separate, and my men step aside. “Let her through,” I say again. I’m stunned she’s here, but Carina, no matter her initial level of pain or discomfort, isn’t someone who runs and hides for long.
She pushes through, her dog on her heels.
Words tumble from swollen lips she looks to have spent time chewing on. “Luca—”
“Inside,” I say, cutting her off. When she grows silent, worry worms its way through me. I want to grab her and carry her up every one of the hundred or more stairs to my suite, but I don’t dare step one foot across that line in the sand she drew back in the safe house. This is one of those times I have to wait for her to erase it.
I lead her upstairs, Baccio’s nails clicking on the floor alongside us, and pray I don’t meet my father along the way. I don’t have the time or patience for him at the moment. As I reach my rooms, I remember Tom is still waiting for me on the balcony.
Fuck.Now I need to get rid of him.
When I enter and check the balcony beyond, it’s empty. He’s gone.
The door closes behind two of my security, and I spin to find Carina looking around my room like it’s her first time here. Baccio settles himself at a command from her on the carpet, and her eyes flit to the balcony doors before darting away. I see the ghost of a memory, and it makes me want to kick my own ass. It reminds me of the last time she was here, when I made love to her and then took her to the train station.
“What are you doing here? Why are you out walking the streets alone? Don’t you realize what could happen?” I clear the space between us, the idea of respecting lines and boundaries removed until I hear from her lips why she’s here.
“I don’t care,” she says, her fingers reaching up to touch her medallion for the millionth time. “And I didn’t walk. I had Ronaldo drive me over.” Her voice falters, then strengthens. “I keep trying to picture you there with Francis.” Her words gain momentum, and I want her to stop. The numbness that had fallen upon me was starting to lift. Another side effect of Carina Scarpetta.
She makes me feel.
“I keep seeing you in that cage. Like animals.” She squeezes her eyes shut, but when she opens them, there is a strength I haven’t seen in a few days.
“Not just Francis, but you too, Luca.” She takes a step toward me.
“You were put in that cage, too. I can’t even imagine what it felt like to know only one of you was walking out of there alive.” She blinks, and a tear falls. “I know you didn’t want to.” She swipes the tear away.
I don’t know what to say. This almost sounds like forgiveness, and I don’t want that. I don’t deserve it.
