Luca

“So what’s the story between you two?” Vinnie asked as he flipped his pancakes and turned the bacon over.

“Our story?” I bit my bottom lip, “It’s…complicated.”

“I can see that, I’ve never seen the boss show so much emotion in…well ever.”

I knew what he meant, Luca was closed off, emotionally detached. But I knew how to get under his skin, I always had.

“We go way back. I lived next door to him and Freddie for years. We have a lot of…history.”

I found it difficult to put into words what Freddie and Luca meant to me, Luca especially. I’d spent half of my life loving him unconditionally and the other half despising him for being such a coward and leaving me. I’d never found out what happened that night seven years ago. All I knew was they all disappeared; Luca, Freddie and their father. The police found traces of blood and a bullet lodged into the wall but nothing else, or so they told us.

“So you think you’ll stay around for a while?” Vinnie put a plate of bacon, eggs, pancakes and waffles in front of me and sat down next to me.

“I doubt it. I think all the bridges are burned as far as me and the Marquez brothers are concerned.” I sighed and bit into another strip of bacon.

“I don’t believe that for a second.” Vinnie stood up to leave but his raised eyes didn’t go unnoticed. Did he know something I didn’t?

I spent the rest of the day in my room. As much as I loved sparring with Luca or Marco I felt tired and wanted to be alone. I sat watching the beach outside where surfers waited to catch the perfect wave and the odd dog walker went past as their dog pranced along the seashore jumping over the trickle of the waves meeting the shore and barking in delight.

I was just about to start climbing the walls when a knock sounded on my door.

“Come in.” I called from the windowsill where I sat.

The door swung open and Marco came strolling in loaded down with shopping bags. Vinnie and a few other men followed behind and started depositing boxes and bags onto the bedroom floor.

“What’s going on?” I asked confused.

“New clothes.” Marco gestured to the bags around him, “New shoes, new erm…under things.” He blushed saying this and I couldn’t help thinking that he was kinda cute really.

“Did you get these?” I stood up and glanced into one of the bags noticing the name of a popular designer I could never afford in a million years.

“No. Bosses orders. Gina brought them and we collected them from her just now. They should be the right size. Let us know if not.”

Marco nodded at me and ushered the other guys out of the room and locked the door behind him.

Jeez there must have been hundreds if not thousands worth of stuff here. Everything from dresses, jumpers, jeans, boots, shoes, underwear and nightwear. There were even toiletries, perfume, make-up and some hair products especially for curly hair. I had no idea who this Gina was but at the very least Luca must have told her I had curly hair. It left me confused as hell. One minute he’s barking orders at me as if I’m the biggest pain in his ass then he’s buying up a whole store of clothes for me and paying special attention to my hair and make-up needs. What was up with that?

Another knock came at the door and I opened it to find Vinnie standing there.

“There’s gonna be a party here later tonight. I just thought I’d tell you so you were prepared, you know, in case you wanted to get dressed up or whatever.”

“Thanks Vinnie. Should I be dressed up?” I asked.

“I don’t know, the boss will probably kick my ass for even telling you about it, but it’s not like you won’t hear the noise or the music.”

Vinnie stood at the door looking at his feet like a gawky teenage boy then sighed to himself and looked up at me.

“Maybe it’s better if you stay in your room. Wouldn’t want to upset the boss any more than you already have right?”

“Are you kidding? Miss out on a party? No way!” I replied and gave a sexy grin as I went to push the door closed. Then I figured with Vinnie in such an accommodating mood I might try for one more favour.

“Hey Vinnie, can I borrow your mobile? I really need to talk to my roommate Teresa. I just need to know she’s okay. I won’t tell anyone you lent it to me.” I pursed my lips and gave him a sexy smouldering look as if his relenting to this favour would bring further ‘favours’ his way.

“Sorry Chloe, no can do. Boss would cut my balls off.” With that he sighed and walked away.

I slammed the door shut with a frustrated groan and made my way over to the treasure trove of goodies awaiting me on the floor to help distract me. My mood was tempting me to rip every damn thing up into pieces to spite Luca for being such an ass, but my head said ‘girl don’t take it out on the shopping, for the love of God!” My head won out.

Maybe I could put off leaving Luca’s for a little bit longer, have a bit of fun teasing him instead. The idea of toying with him a little longer was just too damn tempting.