No Boundaries

“Nobody asked me.” I said as the tears started flowing.

“Then they're all idiots. Jackasses. Who wouldn't ask a beautiful girl like you? Are they blind?”

I gave him a small smile. “I guess.”

“You are all dressed to go.”

“Obviously.”

“Then you have to go to the dance. I feel like that is some fairytale rule or some shit. If the girl’s got the dress, she has to go to the ball, right?”

I had never heard Luka speak to me this way. He was always usually so brash, so quick to end his conversations with me. It was almost as if he wanted to talk to me but he wasn't allowed. His father had probably made some rule about how he couldn’t be around me.

It didn't matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t break the rules.

No one could.

“I don't have anyone to go with, and I don't even have a ride there at this point. I already told my mom that some of my friends were taking me. I can't go back in there and tell her the truth now.”

“There's no reason for you to go back inside.” He stood up and took my hands. “I'll take you. I have a car, and I'm sure I can get in without a ticket. I can be really persuasive when I want to be.” He gave me a wink.

“You want to take me?”

I placed my hand in his and he helped me up. “I said I would, didn’t I? Let's go.” He opened the car door for me and took a flask out of his jacket. “Want a drink?”

I shook my head. “No I'm good.”

He shrugged, “Suit yourself,” he said as he threw one down the hatch. “I imagine there won't be much to do at this dance, so I guess we'll have to make our own fun.” He winked at me and started the car.

That was the last time I had been alone in the car with Luka Gioti. It had almost been a date. But somehow I felt like there had been more love and attraction then, than there was now. I was here strictly on business.

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To find out the truth.

We sat down at a small table in a dark corner of the restaurant. It was clear that Luka didn't want to be seen. We were certainly there in secret. I didn’t mind. I didn’t need the family following me, figuring out my plan.

“Mind if I order for us?”

I didn't even open the menu. “Go for it.” I wanted him to feel comfortable. Like he was running this game, when the truth was we were both playing.

“So tell me about the restaurant. Was working there your life's aspiration?” He asked with a smirk playing on his lips.

“Not exactly. But it pays the bills. It does what I need it to do. And isn't that the point of a job? To help you handle your business? I thought you would understand that more than most. That is unless you wanted to grow up to be part of the mob. I can just see your five-year-old self dreaming of that now,” I said laughing.

“Still have your sense of humor I see. Regardless of what dire situation you are currently in.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Was he on to me? Was this all a setup from the beginning? I felt my heart race.

“You work at a restaurant Vienna. You have no family, so it seems to me that things were better when you were with mine. Am I right in all of these assumptions?”

I forgot how smug he was when he wanted to be. Especially when he was right.

“Fine you're right, I hate the restaurant. I don't have a lot of friends, and I live in a little studio apartment. But I'm making it. What the hell have you been doing? Do you think that I didn't notice that you've been gone?” I was about to continue but he interrupted me.

“You noticed?”

He smiled at me in a way that made my body ache in all the right places. But that wasn't the job. I needed to stay focused. Even if I did like him playing with my mind a little too much.