The Marriage Debt (Underworld Kings)

“Yes, sir,” Max says, and he immediately walks off to meet with the others in their room upstairs near the penthouse. Always keep security close, my father constantly said.

Suddenly, my phone rings again, and I’m expecting the same client to call again asking about that overdue shipment. “Hi, let’s continue where we—”

“Hey, it’s me. I’ve got news.”

My eyes widen at the sound of my private detective’s voice, and I brace myself against the car seating. “And?”

“Meet me at the terminal. We’re flying out in an hour.”

Fuck.

This is fucking happening right now.

I haven’t prepared for any of this. It’s too quick.

There’s no time to pack, no time to even say bye to Jill.

I’ll have to come up with an excuse and get Lita to take care of her while I’m gone. My guards will make sure Jill can’t escape. She’ll forgive me for my abrupt departure later.

I have more important things to do right now.

Jill

* * *

When I leave the room, there’s no one here, which is … odd.

I’ve never actually been alone in Luca’s home.

It’s quite a big penthouse too, now that I finally have a chance to stroll around. The paintings on the walls are as breathtaking as the view. Kinky, too, just like Luca’s personality, with nudity taking the centerpiece in almost all of the artworks scattered throughout his home.

Suddenly, the door opens, and in walks Lita with a whole bag of groceries.

“Hey,” she says. “You’re out.”

Out … as in, out of the room.

Why does she make it sound so normal?

“Yeah,” I reply awkwardly.

“So I take it you and Luca are getting along better now?”

I don’t know how to respond. Instead, I shut down with my mouth hanging open.

Lita laughs. “It’s fine. You don’t have to tell me.”

She packs the groceries into the fridge and then grabs a cutting board and a knife.

“Oh, are you cooking?” I ask.

“Of course,” she replies. “Can’t let you go hungry, now, can I?”

I nod, wondering what other amazing dishes she’s got up her sleeve.

But another important question is looming in the back of my mind. “Um … weird question. Do you happen to know where Luca is?”

She pauses mid-slice through a cucumber. “Oh, well, he’s off to do some business for a few days. He’ll be back later.”

I frown, confused.

Off to do some business for a few days?

“He didn’t tell you?”

I shake my head.

“Oh … that’s odd,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. “Well, no wonder he asked me to keep an eye on you.”

I cringe. “So you’re my babysitter basically.”

“Luca wants to make sure you have everything you need,” Lita replies, adding a smile.

“So he is really gone? He didn’t even say goodbye,” I mutter to myself, wandering off to look out the window to see if I can still spot him.

When he left so abruptly while I was in the tub, I thought he’d be back in no time to finish what he started. I was prepared. I was ready to face him head-on. To give him what he wanted in order to steal something back.

But now that’ll all have to wait, and it really throws me off track.

“Did he say where he went off to?” I ask as Lita peels some potatoes.

“No, he said he’d be gone for a couple of days and that it was important. But he’ll be back in no time, you’ll see.”

“Hmm …” I look out onto the streets, but there’s no sight of his car anywhere.

“He’s probably on the plane by now,” she adds.

What could be so important that he couldn’t even tell me?

It can’t be the regular stuff, a drug deal, or meeting a new client or supplier. He wouldn’t hurry off like that without saying anything. It has to be something bigger than that. But what?

I sigh to myself, racking my brain over and over, trying to figure this out.

That’s when my eyes settle on one thing.

The door leading to his office.

I get up and head toward it while Lita is busy unpacking more food and cutting up veggies. I jerk the door handle softly, hoping no one will hear me as I slip inside. But the door is locked. Of course, he wants to keep me out.

Whatever it is he’s hiding in there, it can’t be good.

And maybe, just maybe, it’ll tell me why he suddenly ran off without even saying goodbye.

But how the fuck do I get in without a key and with Lita watching me?

I sigh again and plant my forehead against the wood.

“What are you doing?”

Lita’s sudden voice makes me spin on my heels.

“Nothing. I was just … looking for the toilet.”

She points at another door in the hallway. “There.”

“Thanks,” I say, walking to it like a zombie.

“You know he doesn’t want anyone going into his office, right?” she says, making me stop in my tracks.

I nod. “Yeah, I just … you know. I’m curious about this place. Now that I’m out of my room, I thought I could explore.”