Luca

Chapter 7

Later that afternoon I heard another knock on my door and was shocked when I opened it and found Luca standing on the threshold. He looked like a gorgeously sinful devil full of lustful promises with his jet black hair and hypnotic green eyes. Those eyes didn’t meet mine but he glanced in a disinterested manner past me into the bedroom and held a mobile phone out to me.

“Freddie wants to speak to you.” He snapped and crossed his muscly arms over his well-defined chest making the old me yearn just slightly for the chance to feel those arms around me just once.

I lifted the phone to my ear expecting Luca to walk away but he stood his ground.

“Hey Freddie, I’m fine. No need to check up on me.” Unless you’re gonna break me out of here and stop all this bullshit, or at least come and visit and make me laugh. I thought restlessly.

“Is Luca being okay with you?” Freddie asked in a hushed tone. He knew his brother well enough to know he was standing near to listen in on this conversation.

“Oh you know, being a closed off prick as usual but he can’t help being an asshole can he.” I grinned over at Luca as I said that and his eyes met mine, boring into me as if to try an

d scold me like a child. Tough luck Luca, that glare doesn’t work on me anymore, well not as much as it used to. Oh hell who was I kidding he totally had my knees knocking and my pulsing racing.

Freddie laughed, “Chloe you still know how to push his buttons don’t you. I bet his teeth are almost ground down to his gums by now aren’t they?”

“I think he’s got a few millimetres left, but I’ll work on it.” I smirked and turned my back on the open door and the six foot tall package of seduction staring my way.

“Listen, I know the situation last night was shitty but I really was doing what’s best for you Chloe.” Freddie sighed. “I wouldn’t forgive myself if I’d walked away and Sanchez had sold you.”

“It’s okay Fred I think I understand but I’m not the same little girl you left behind seven years ago. I’ve been through a lot since then, I can take care of myself better than you realise.” It was a case of having to after you both deserted me and left me to the wolves.

“I know. We owe you this much though. For once let us do the dirty work. You helped us enough over the years.” I could hear the warmth coming from him over the phone.

I gave a heavy sigh, “Okay Freddie, anything for you.” And you’re right, you both do owe me but don’t ever fool yourselves into thinking I’m some weak ass female. I know my strengths and I can play to them pretty well.

“I’m looking forward to seeing you when all this is over.” Freddie sang down the line.

“Me too. See you soon Freddie.” I handed the phone back to Luca hoping to touch his hand as he took it away so I could see if there were any more sparks when he touched me, but he didn’t make contact with my hand. Disappointed, I went to close the door but when I noticed the shopping bags around me I felt compelled to say something.

“Thanks by the way.”

“For what?” He asked staring me dead in the face like I was so inconsequential he couldn’t believe he was stopping to listen to me.

“For the clothes and other stuff. It was…thoughtful.”

He grunted, “It was necessary. I can’t afford for my men to become distracted by you.”

He went to walk away then stopped and turned to face me again, “Don’t kid yourself into thinking I’m some kind of hero in this drama of yours. You need to realise that there’s a reason men like Sanchez do as I say. He might think he’s a big man but I’m the fucking king round here and whatever you think of Sanchez and what he can do, know this, I can do a million times worse.”

I slammed the door shut and huffed out my own annoyance at his ridiculous threats. He didn’t scare me, he’d never scare me, and God forbid the mighty Luca Marquez should ever notice me and be distracted himself. Did I want to distract him? I had made it my life’s goal to distract and win Luca Marquez’s attention when I was fifteen, but now? I doubted he noticed anyone these days unless they worked for him or made him money. I lay back on the bed and let my mind drift back to that last day seven years ago.

Seven years ago on a hazy summer’s afternoon I was heading back home after spending the day with my friend Hannah. We had spent the day trying out different hair styles and make up techniques and I’d kept mine on in the hope I’d bump into Luca in the street and finally wow him. I had my favourite red halter neck top on that made my boobs look bigger than they were and my little denim shorts cut just above my ass.

When I walked past the row of shops around the corner from our house I peered down the alleyway in-between and that’s when I saw him, pressed up against Kate Silvers the sluttiest girl in our school. They were about to kiss I just knew it, she had her hands around his neck and he had his arms around her waist. I felt so mad I had to stop myself from stalking down the alley and breaking them apart. How dare she look at him let alone touch him, but more importantly he knew he was mine why would he cheapen himself and chase her? She’d made out with most of the guys in our school. I hated her with a vengeance.

When I got home I waited at the side of my house and when I saw him walking past I jumped out in front of him and slapped him hard across the face.

“What was that for?” He cried rubbing his cheek as if he was really hurt by little old me and my girlie slap.

“For taking that hoe bag Kate Silvers out on a date, did you kiss her?” He stayed quiet, shuffled his feet and couldn’t look me in the eye. I couldn’t stop myself from slapping him again.

“Jesus Christ Chloe quit with the slaps what the hell has got into you?” He shouted. I had to work really hard to keep my tears at bay.

“She isn’t good enough for you Luca.”

“No one ever is as far as you’re concerned” He sighed.