Luca

I had no idea what that meant. Hadn’t Luca said it was close to being sorted? Why would I need extra protection? Maybe I didn’t want to know. Sometimes ignorance was bliss, it had been in my Dad’s case. If he’d have known what a cheating whore my Mum was it would have broken his heart. I was thankful she waited until he died before parading her stable of boyfriends through the town.

“You know, I still don’t know what business it is you guys are into. I know Luca has the club but I’m not stupid enough to think he makes all his money through that.” I was going for the bullseye here.

“And you know I can’t tell you Chloe. That’s Luca’s call, but you’re right, the club is…useful.” He replied cryptically looking upwards in thought and rubbing his prickly chin.

I left it at that and headed back to the pool to do a few lengths before lunch. I was going stir crazy cooped up in the house so any exercise I got helped to stem the boredom and quash my ever growing tension.

I’d just finished my twenty third lap when I noticed Gina sitting by the pool, dressed in a red strappy sun dress and looking quite demure for a high class Madame. She waved over at me so I pulled myself up out of the pool to join her.

“You didn’t need to stop on my account.” She smiled up at me as I towelled myself off.

“I was almost finished anyway. It’s nice to see you again, but I think you’ve come at the wrong time, there’s only me here right now.”

She cocked her head to one side and studied me for a while before answering.

“I didn’t come to see Luca, I came to see you Chloe, well that’s not exactly true. Luca asked me to drop in and check if you were okay.”

I let out one loud laugh, “Check up on me more like. What does he think I’ll do steal his silver?”

“No I think he’s genuinely concerned that maybe you’re lonely or need someone to talk to.”

“Shame he can’t ask me himself, he can’t even bring himself to look at me these days. No, he has to send you to ask me if I’m okay. What a joke! I mean what is up with that?” I felt seriously pissed off with his aloof condescending ways just lately. He seemed to forget his past; our shared past so easily.

“If he’s been ignoring you Chloe, I don’t think it’s for the reasons you say.” Gina looked across at me and put her hand on my knee then smiled and sat back.

“Chloe, I’ll let you into a little secret. Since you came to this house Luca hasn’t used my services, not once.”

“Why would I want to know that? So he’s pissed he can’t get his rocks off because I’m here. Big deal, I’ll be gone soon.”

She shook her head at me, “That’s not what I’m saying Chloe, he came by my place at least three to four times a week and now, nothing. Do you think you might be the reason he’s avoiding using my girls?”

I knew where she was going with this but I still didn’t trust her one hundred percent.

“I’m sorry my being here affects your business. I’m sure he’ll make up for it when I’m gone.”

“Jesus Chloe do I need to spell it out for you, he doesn’t want my girls because he wants you. You two sound as bad as each other. Hell will probably freeze over before either one of you admits to the other how you’re feeling.”

I was gob smacked, and couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of it all.

“Gina, I spent every day for seven years telling Luca I loved him and he pushed me away every day. I’m done. I don’t need his crap in my life. I’m going to become a doctor in a few years anyway, and I plan to work really hard in my specialised area. I’ll forever be independent; answerable to no one but me, that’s what I want and that’s how I like it.”

Gina stood to leave, “Okay Miss Independent, but we all need a little love and affection in our lives sometimes, so don’t forget to keep that part of your life fed and watered too.”

“Maybe you’ll have to expand your business to cater for me, get in some hot males.”

“And let me guess, your preference would be tall, dark and handsome with sparkling green eyes and a moody disposition.”

I rolled my eyes back at her as she laughed hysterically at her own joke.

“Maybe short, fat and bald would be better, less hassle in the long run.” I bit back.

“Chloe I don’t think there’s a man alive other than Luca who could hold your interest for longer than a night or two. I think that goes the same for him too.”

“What he struggles to find guys that can hold his attention too?”

“Haha, you’re not funny you know and I know you’re using humour to hide what you really feel. Now finish your swim and burn off some of that sexual frustration that’s seeping out of your pores sweetie, I’ll see you soon okay.” Gina gave me two air kisses and breezed back towards the house.