Dark Heart (Dark Heart 1)

“Guess you men are all the same.”

“How many men do you know about?” I murmur, teasing.

“Only one. Only ever one.”

I pull her up against me, and I keep her there a long time. I know that I need to go home. This whole day has been me avoiding what I know is waiting for me. This fucking perfect day has been the calm before the storm. I know it in my gut—this shit with my dad is not going to end well. So I stay exactly where I am.

We lock the stateroom door and lock the bathroom door and get into the tub. Elise giggles the whole time and turns bright red when she steps into the bubbles.

“If someone comes in, I will die,” she tells me.

“I’ll distract them,” I tell her, smirking down at myself.

“Hard to miss.” She lifts her brows.

We don’t stay in the water long, but it feels so damn good to have her arms around me. Then we’re kissing again, we’re back on the bed. I run my hand down her soft belly, but she moves it away.

“You’re still infirm. You need to take it easy, mister. Maybe even one more nap.”

I shake my head, kissing her before I get up. “Let’s go to the deck. I think it’s actually almost time to dock again.”

I don’t say it because it sounds stupid, but I want to stand up there with her in the warm breeze and look out at the lights. I need to hold her for a little longer. She’s done so much for me, and I know what I have to do for her. I have to make it to Columbia. I have to stay the hell away from Tony—even though I’ve promised him I’ll work for him all summer. Even as my family is at risk because Dad did something—he didn’t bother to tell me what, before or after he jumped me.

I’ve got to find out what went wrong before I can extricate myself from Red Hook. Why did Roberto Arnoldi threaten Dad at his store? How is it my fault—as Dad claimed while he was kicking my ass. And what can I do to fix it?

Then I have to move Mom and Soren out. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts. I simply have to. Then I leave.

“You’re doing the thing again,” Elise whispers.

I blink to find her dressed and standing by the stateroom’s door.

“Sorry. My brain sucks.”

She steps closer to me. “Your brain is perfect. Treat it nicely tonight if you go home. Are you going home?” I can hear the worry in her voice.

“I have to, but don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”

“Careful for your father?”

I try not to answer questions like that. I don’t want to make her worry. “He won’t be around. Last night he told me he was leaving.”

“Leaving? Like…forever?”

“I don’t know. He was drunk and wasn’t making any sense. I’m gonna find out.”

Her eyes well as I close the space between us.

“Don’t be worried, la mia rosa. Last time, I didn’t know it was coming. He just…fucking jumped me.”

She wraps her arms around me. “God, I’m so, so sorry. I don’t know what to say to make it better.”

I close my eyes and cup the back of her head. Her hair is soft and warm and I love every inch of her against me. “You don’t need to say anything. You make everything better just by being here.”

Her cheek presses against my chest. “Soon you’ll be away from him.”

I nod.

“I want you to be careful,” she says. “Very careful. I’ve got a weird, bad feeling, Luca.”

I look down into her pretty eyes. “Don’t have a bad feeling. It’ll be all right. I promise.”

We go up to the deck, and I do just what I want, holding her against me as I lean against the yacht and we look at the water.

“Get a good night’s sleep,” she tells me as the vessel docks. “And if you can’t, promise you’ll call me and we’ll pick you up.”

“I don’t deserve you.” I kiss her forehead.

“You do.” She rises on her toes and kisses my lips, soft and gentle. “You do.” She smiles sadly. “We’ll work on that part, okay? Until it sticks.”

I feel uneasy as we walk the plank-like walkway bridging the boat and the dock. Like…it’s all some kind of drug-induced dream. I’m playing a role that isn’t meant for me. I think about that as I ride the subway home. I tell myself that I’m just tired. I need to sleep tonight. Maybe I can find out about my dad and all that stuff tomorrow.

I’m fighting to keep my eyes open when the train stops at Red Hook. Everything hurts when I stand up.

I step out into the warm, still air, and someone grabs my arm. My whole body reacts. I throw a punch before I see the person. There’s a grunt and my own “fuck” as pain flares through my head and shoulder.