Chapter 57
“Nothing short of what he deserves.” Luca answered, bored. He sank deeper into the chair, crossing one leg over the other, his fingers drumming idly against the armrest.
Veronica’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her nails digging into her palms. “What exactly does he deserve? What has he done? He is fighting for a woman he loves. And you? What are you doing? Fucking some slut p>
“Are you jealous p>
“In your wildest dreams, Luca. Where the fuck is he?” She leaned forward, almost lunging at him, the intensity in her gaze like fire.
“Do you actually think the louder your voice is, the faster you will get an answer p>
“Have you killed him p>
“He chose death.” Luca replied calmly.
Veronica gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Her eyes glistened, the fire turned to panic. “What have you done p>
“I told you there would be consequences for your actions p>
“The cops are asking me questions, Luca! They think I have something to do with his disappearance p>
“Tell me honestly. Are you really worried about him or yourself?” Luca’s piercing eyes bore into hers, searching, weighing, testing.
“Do you even know how to be a human being? Of course, I am worried about him!” Vee snapped.
Luca watched her, dark eyes steady, assessing. “He isn’t dead,” he said calmly. “But he will be soon. He just has to make the right choice p>
Her shoulders sagged in relief. “And what choice would that be?” she asked, quieter now, warier.
“Stay away from you and stay alive. He is currently making the wrong choice. That’s not on me p>
Vee dragged a hand down her face, exhaling shakily. “I can make him make the right choice p>
Luca stopped. Turned. One brow lifted. “Can you? Let me guess. You want to talk to him again p>
“No.” She squared her shoulders, lifting her chin. “Put him in that viewing room you put me in the last time I was here p>
“You want him to watch me fuck you?” Luca asked bluntly.
“No. No! Not all the way,” she said quickly, heat flooding her cheeks. “Just enough to make him believe he has lost me p>
“You would trick a man you claim to love this way p>
“If it will keep him safe, yes,” Vee answered without hesitation. “I can live with him hating me. I can live with him thinking I chose you. I can’t live with him dead p>
“That’s bullshit,” Luca snapped. “I think you want him to leave you alone so you won’t feel guilty when you do beg me to fuck you, Bambola p>
She dragged a hand through her hair, pacing once before turning on him with flashing eyes. “Get your head out of your ass for a second, you bumbling buffoon. I’m beginning to feel like I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” She spread her arms, taking in the room, the entire absurd world that kept chewing her up and spitting her back at his feet. “Besides, I don’t see you coming up with any brilliant ideas except to kill him.” She tilted her head. “It’s a good idea p>
“So why don’t I like it?” he asked.
“Because you’re an idiot,” she shot back, reflexive. “That’s why p>
Luca straightened, the strategist in him snapping into place. “Let me lay out your stupid plan for you,” he said, pointing a finger at her chest. “You want me to pretend to fuck you so your boyfriend can watch. The whole show is for him. It wouldn’t even be real.” His jaw tightened. “It wouldn’t be you. Not the you I saw last night p>
She looked away, shoulders stiffening. “Last night was different,” Vee said. “Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have happened p>
She told herself that was true. She told herself fear had pushed her into his arms. She did not tell herself how right it had felt.
Luca closed the distance between them. “Different?” he murmured. “You were basically weeping in my arms, Bambola. Begging me for more. Moaning my name.” His eyes searched her face. “Your cum was everywhere. On my dresser. My fingers p>
“Luca Vee started.
“You’re telling me it means nothing?” he demanded. “Did you even remember who the fuck Cassidy is when you were chasing release p>
“That’s unfair,” Vee said, immediately, instinctively. Her spine straightened even as her heart stumbled.
His hands rose to her neck. His fingers curled slightly. “Would you stop me now?” he asked quietly, his breath warm against her cheek.
“Yes.” She meant it. She needed him to believe she meant it.
“What if,” he said slowly, “I promise to let Cassidy go and you give in to me right now p>
“That defeats the point of letting Cassidy believe what we want him to believe,” she said.
Luca scoffed. “I don’t give a fuck what he believes.” His hand slid from her throat to her shoulder. “What matters is what I believe.” His gaze dropped to her mouth, then lifted again.
“This is not what this should be about,” Vee said. “You’re turning everything into a test p>
“Like I said,” Luca replied, “I don’t care. Cassidy’s fate ends here. What happens next depends on what you do p>
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her neck, a claim rather than a caress. Vee’s breath hitched despite herself, her head tipping back as her body betrayed the logic screaming in her mind.
And while she was lost in that moment, in the heat and confusion of it, Luca reached behind her without breaking contact. His fingers found the switch hidden beneath the table, a small, unassuming thing built into the underside of polished wood. With a quiet click, the sound setting on the camera in his office came alive.
The game, it seemed, had moved into its next act.
Then his hands went to her sides as he covered her lips with his, not asking, not easing in, just taking. The kiss landed hard and unapologetic, all tongue and intent. Vee felt it immediately, that familiar vertigo, the sense that the floor had tilted under her feet and the only thing keeping her upright was him.