Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
At one of the poker tables, I see Marco, but I don't spot Luca. Where the heck is he? Worry starts to fill me. I'm stressing over the possibility that he's hooking up with a girl when he might actually be locked up in the basement, or worse, dead. It’s risky, but I have to check. If he's down there, I can't leave him in the basement. That place is what nightmares are made of.
Right when I’m about to sneak to the front of the house, I see him. Luca walks out of one of the many rooms that are off the main party area. He’s following behind a tall, thin blonde running her fingers through her hair like she is trying to fix it.
She’s only wearing a sexy red bra with matching panties, and it shows pretty much everything. There are garters connected to some kind of belt around her waist, and she’s wearing a pair of heels that I would break my neck in.
I'm so fucking stupid. Why did I ever think that I could actually turn Luca on in my overalls and cotton panties? At least not when he had other options. I swallow the lump in my throat.
I will not cry. I was about to risk my life to save him. The hurt makes me clench my fists. I knew better.
All these men are the same, and I hate that I let myself get close to Luca. I’m a stupid girl searching for a fairy tale in the middle of hell. No one around here pretends to be good, which is why I thought Luca was the real thing.
Looks like I was wrong about him.
Chapter Seven
LUCA
I’m in the bathroom trying not to throw up when someone opens the door behind me.
“It’s occupied,” I call out, but by the time I turn away from the sink, I see it’s too late. The woman who has been following me around is already here and locking the door behind her. “Get out.”
My teeth are clenched, and my fists are at my side, but I won’t touch her. I’m not like those men out there, and I refuse to pretend any longer.
When Marco told me what was going on tonight, my stomach soured. I’ve heard of the kinds of parties they have, and I knew he’d expect me to participate. I’m good at pretending, but I can only do it for a short time. After a while, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to hide my disgust much longer. Which is why I came into the bathroom alone.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like what you see?” She moves her hands down her body, but I don’t watch where they go. I’m too fucking angry to look at her or anyone else here.
“Leave,” I say, and the threat is clear.
“Come on. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. We can go to a private room and talk.” I turn my glare in her direction, and that seems to put some fear into her. “I’m sorry, I just thought maybe you weren’t interested in the group activities. Or women.”
“If you don’t get the fuck out of here, I’m going to tell Marco you were the one turning me down.” I know these girls get paid well for their services, and the boss doesn’t want anyone complaining about their performance or eagerness to join them.
She squares her shoulders like she’s offended at the suggestion. At least she’s happy to be here. “Fine. Enjoy your evening.”
When she walks out of the bathroom, she makes a show of fluffing her hair and wiping her lips like she was servicing me in there. She knows I’m not going to say anything because it would make me look suspicious.
Once I’m out of the bathroom, I realize there’s nowhere safe for me to go. The party is a way for Marco to show off to all the other men and get in their good graces. If Pru’s father Renzo isn’t going to be leading this organization any time soon, then we’ll all have to endure Marco’s reign. I have to give it to him, it’s a smart play to keep the women, drugs, and money flowing. They’ll all be so addicted to it that they’ll do whatever the fuck he tells them to. And when he decides to overthrow Renzo, he’ll have their allegiance.
Vitaly wasn’t this kind of leader. He would rather have his men loyal to him because he made smart decisions and aligned himself with leaders who did the same. He didn’t rule with emotions, and that’s all Marco seems to be doing. This might benefit him in the short term, but if he manages to take over, he’ll be left with people working for him that would rather party than work.
Glancing around the room, I see that Marco is occupied at the card table. He’s not winning, which means he’ll be there even longer.