Deception, page 5
He was sitting on the bed, elbows on his knees. But he was anything but relaxed. His fists were balled tightly, his eyes dark, his jaw muscles working overtime.
He sat up, his attention on my neck. “Give me something else about your attacker. His eye color. Height. Anything.” His eyes roamed over my face, his expression growing stormier with each pass.
I shrank back against the door. Right now, he was ten times scarier than the person who did this to me.
I was exhausted, emotionally and physically.
When I didn’t answer, he jumped up, lithe as a jungle cat, and stalked closer. He was magnificent in his anger but at the same time terrifying.
I stared at him with wide eyes, wondering if this was a test. Did he think I knew who’d attacked me?
My breaths came in short bursts, and I was struggling for air. I couldn’t read his expression, other than that he was clearly pissed off.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on the roaring in my ears. I took a deep breath in. And out. In. Out. I just had to keep breathing.
He didn’t move, and he didn’t talk, allowing me a moment to calm down. When I was sure I had myself back under control, I slowly opened my eyes and stood up, feeling at too much of a disadvantage sitting on the floor. I met Lucius’s gaze and was taken by surprise at the anguish I saw. The anger was gone, replaced with a sadness that seemed too great to comprehend.
He reached out, tracing the bruises on my throat, his eyes following where the tips of his fingers travelled.
Without thinking, I placed a hand on his arm that wasn’t touching me. The urge to comfort him was laughable. He wasn’t the one being held prisoner. Or getting hurt. Yet I couldn’t help myself, the draw too strong. His muscles tensed under my hand, but he didn’t move away.
“Give me a name.” His voice came out broken, the hand that had been caressing my throat dropping back to his side. Even though the touch had barely been there, I still felt its echo down to my soul.
I studied my hand on him, liking the feel of his muscles playing under my fingers and hating myself for it. “I don’t know who it was. I’ve never met him.”
We stood in a silent standoff before he finally relented.
The fight left me, my hand dropping back to my side, curled into a fist.
“Lock the door behind me, and don’t open it for anyone.”
He seemed to take all the warmth with him when he left the room, and I slumped over in exhaustion.
Somehow, I didn’t think my story would have a good ending.
Chapter 8
Lucius
“Don’t move from this door unless you see Santino or myself,” I barked at one of my most loyal men, who was standing guard.
To say what happened had shaken me was an understatement. I’d spent the last two nights looking for answers about who hurt Everleigh. My instructions had been clear when she arrived: “Don’t touch the girl.”
But someone seemed to have a death wish. Defying my orders was enough reason for a swift sentence. But hurting the one thing I cared about in this godforsaken place was reason for a slow death.
I hadn’t slept since the incident, and I had only visited her once before tonight—the night after it happened. I had to see for myself that she was okay.
We had cameras all around the property, and I’d seen her walk through the house when she wasn’t supposed to. Santino was now sporting a black eye for leaving her by herself.
If he wasn’t already punishing himself enough about what happened, he’d have a lot more injuries to add. She’d done the impossible and gotten through to Santino who had been trained to be the perfect soldier since he was a little boy and didn’t know much else. But it was impossible not to like Everleigh. And while her spirit may have been slightly bent, it thankfully wasn’t yet broken.
But despite our relentless search for answers, we were missing something. The sunroom had a few cameras that picked up Everleigh walking inside before she disappeared under a blind spot.
She’d gone inside in one piece, only to stumble back out broken. And all we’d been able to get from the security footage was the top of someone’s head.
But the attack couldn’t have been planned since Everleigh wandered off at random. Nobody would know she’d be there.
I’d turned the area upside down, trying to find something that would lead me to her attacker, but came up empty.
“You need to sleep.”
Santino’s voice broke through my thoughts. I’d walked to the surveillance room to review the camera footage once more. But he was already there, studying every single tape of not only that day but the one before and after.
I stepped up next to him. “So do you.”
“I’m not responsible for hundreds of men. Nor do I have to watch my back because half of them want nothing more than to stick a knife in it.”
“When you put it that way….”
He looked up from where he was leaning closer to the monitors, his eyes bloodshot, dark circles marring his skin. “I’ve got it under control. If there’s anything to find on these tapes, I’ll find it.”
I believed him. Because nobody accepted failure less than Santino.
“Fine. But call me if you find anything.”
He lifted his chin in response and then turned his attention back to the screens.
The thought of curling up next to Everleigh was too enticing to ignore, and I found myself walking back to my rooms. I chastised myself for growing too confident, for thinking my men were too scared of me to try anything.
I’d had a glaring reality check. One Everleigh had had to pay for.
But I’d make this right. I’d screwed up enough. No more.
I’d avoided her as much as possible since she arrived here. But I found it harder and harder to stay away, as if an invisible string connected me to her. And I didn’t understand the burning attraction I felt.
She seemed scared of her own shadow, preferring to hide in the closet rather than fighting for herself. I’d always valued strength and courage, but one look at her big blue eyes and all I wanted to do was erase the sadness in them. Right after I did whatever she asked of me.
After listening at the door and detecting no movement, I stepped into the dark room, following the faint glow of the bedside lamp.
The fit out of my rooms alone cost more than the small apartment I’d lived in with Sofie back in Chicago. But never had I been happier than when I’d been with her. I’d loved my job. The guys I’d worked with had been my family. I finally felt like I belonged. Only to have it all ripped away when I betrayed them.
The decisions I made would always stay with me, no matter how hard I worked at making amends.
I took a cold shower, the water like needles on my skin. It didn’t have the desired effect of waking me up. As soon as I was wrapped in a towel, my eyes started drooping again. I’d forgotten to bring any clothes with me, so I had to walk to the closet in the towel.
Everleigh would hopefully be asleep; otherwise, I’d traumatize her even more than she already was. But the closet was quiet when I stepped inside, a small form curled up under the blankets in the corner underneath my suits.
I dropped the towel and pulled on some boxers and sweats, then a thin T-shirt. The clothes felt stifling, but sleeping in my boxers wasn’t an option right now.
Everleigh’s breaths were even, and I was glad she’d found some rest. Her days were long and her nights short.
Peeling back the blankets she’d layered on top of her body, I carried her to the bed. The feel of her against me was like a drug, relaxing my racing mind and releasing the tension I’d been carrying around all day.
I reluctantly laid her on the pillow remaining on the stripped bed and retrieved the blankets. Once everything was back where it belonged, I slid in on the other side, turning to face her. She looked ethereal in the low light, her brown hair almost black. What I wouldn’t give to run my hands through it and feel its softness.
But Everleigh was not for the likes of me. She would always remain a dream, fading to nothing but a memory once I got her out.
Maybe I should take Santino up on one of his many offers to visit Georgetown with him. I needed a distraction, and I needed it soon. A visit to the city would offer that and more.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t immediately notice Everleigh’s breathing change. When her eyes opened, they went wide at the sight of me, but she didn’t make a sound.
Our eyes met, as if we were waiting for the other to make the first move. I didn’t know what possessed me to slide my hand between us palm up, but that was what I did.
But the more astounding thing was Everleigh fitting her small hand into mine, holding on. Her eyes closed again, and her breathing returned to normal.
And I finally drifted off as well, never once letting go of her hand, still holding it when I woke up a few short hours later.
Chapter 9
Everleigh
A knock on my door woke me up, my body still tired, my eyes slow to open. I’d closed the heavy drapes last night, and the room was as dark as when I went to sleep. A glance at the clock on my nightstand told me I must have slept through my alarm. That had never happened before.
My whole body flushed at the reminders of last night. Of waking up to Lucius lying in bed with me. Of holding his hand. It was big and calloused but closed around mine with a softness that was addictive.
I didn’t know what had possessed me to put my hand in his. But deep down, I knew he would never hurt me. He was different from Maurizio’s other men. What I hadn’t been able to figure out was why he was here. This place wasn’t for him.
Another knock sounded, and I opened the door to Santino. “I overslept. I’ll be ready in five minutes.”
All my movements halted when I set eyes on him. The black eye he’d had since yesterday was turning a dark purple, rivaling the bags under his eyes in color. His usually shiny hair was dull and hung on his head in limp strands. “Are you okay?”
He took up position next to my door, arms crossed, eyes forward. “I’m fine. We’re running late.”
Okay, then. Guess it’s going to be that kind of day today.
I raced through the room, clothes flying everywhere during my search for my jeans. I had two pairs, and one was in the wash. Unearthing the remaining pair from underneath the bed, I rushed to the bathroom to get ready.
A quick splash of water on my face before cleaning my teeth, a brush of my hair that I then put into my usual French braid, and after getting dressed, I was ready. I didn’t bother making the bed; the room was always impeccable when I returned, a housekeeper attending to it every single day. She was the only one besides me and Lucius who had access to the room.
Santino walked me to the kitchen and took his seat, not once looking at me. Mariana, on the other hand, watched me with too much interest, her face worried, her usual happy chatter absent.
“More?” she asked, pointing to the scrambled eggs in her pan. I had hardly touched what was on my plate, but I couldn’t get myself to eat it. She must have felt mighty sorry for me to attempt to speak English, but I couldn’t even get excited over the fact that she was trying.
“Thank you, Mariana, but I’m full.” I patted my stomach to emphasize my words.
She shook her head at my refusal to eat more and continued to fuss over me. She patted my hair every time she walked past and asked me if I needed anything, at least as many times.
I forced a smile onto my face. She didn’t buy it and continued to push pastries and cups of tea at me. I ate a bit of everything to be polite. She went through a lot of trouble baking so much.
Santino nursed his coffee and read the paper, ignoring me as usual.
Mariana took both of my hands and kissed my cheek when I stood up. She gave me another one of her amazing hugs, and with one last squeeze, she released me.
Santino led me to the office and locked me in with a grumbled “Stay.”
Seriously, would it kill him to at least speak in full sentences? Or say “please”? You don’t see me going around growling at people. And I have way more reason than he does to be pissed off.
At least work would take my mind off my impending doom at seeing Maurizio again. I’d closed all the accounts the old accountant had used to funnel money into. Once I found them, it wasn’t all that hard to take control. It also helped that during my senior year in college, I had a light class load and developed a crush on the resident computer nerd, Stan. That year I learned how to write code, hack computers, and that Stan wasn’t interested in what I had to offer. But I’d made a lifelong friend, and I had great fun hanging out with him and his boyfriend, Toni, before they moved to New York.
They were two of the only friends I had besides Thea.
I’d made no progress on finding a way out and I felt defeated. Hopeless. And, most of all, useless. I couldn’t even get myself out of this mess. How was I supposed to help Archer? He was still out there somewhere, and I wouldn’t give up until I found him.
I’d graduated at the top of my class. Everything I had in life, I had built myself. I never took anything for granted. Never took stupid risks. Except for going after my brother. And it seemed my one mistake would cost me my life.
I was too tired to think anymore and placed my head on the desk.
“Wake up.” Santino nudged me, and I shot up, disoriented at first. I nervously studied him, but he didn’t seem to care that I’d been sleeping.
I followed him out the door, wiping my face and smoothing down my hair. I had drool stuck to my chin, and my hair had somehow gotten free of the messy braid I’d wrangled it into. I’d never spent too much time on my appearance. Even less so now. Thea would be horrified if she saw me.
The sudden realization that I might never see my best friend again made me stumble. Santino stopped and looked at me with a frown.
Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. I knew it was another panic attack. For someone who was usually levelheaded and put together, the lack of control was something I couldn’t handle.
I didn’t know how to stop the overwhelming onslaught of emotions. A look at Santino confirmed that he was just as clueless. But instead of staring at me, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and barked into it. I steadied myself against the wall, but my feet were unable to hold me up any longer and I slid to the ground. My breathing sped up, and my heart was doing its best to break out of my chest.
I was sure I was having a heart attack.
Santino kneeled in front of me, reaching out as if to touch me. I scrambled back with a panicked cry and cowered away from him. “No.”
He immediately retreated. My breaths were coming hard and fast, and I was close to passing out. Black spots appeared in my vision, making it hard to see anything. I blinked a few times, trying to clear it, with no effect.
I put my head between my legs to stop myself from losing consciousness when someone cradled my face. A familiar scent engulfed me, and I leaned into the touch.
“Calm yourself,” Lucius whispered into my ear. Still a command, but for once he didn’t sound angry.
My body’s response was to fall forward and into a hard chest. My forehead rested against his soft shirt, his hands a warm comfort against my cheeks.
“You are safe,” he continued. “Nobody is going to hurt you.”
My hands tightened on his shirt in a death grip that would be hard to pry off. He kneeled in front of me, a steady presence in my raging storm. I didn’t understand my reaction. He was one of the bad guys. But I sought comfort from him. Craved it. Let it calm me.
Why isn’t he pushing me away?
His hands went around me, holding me close. My breathing slowly returned to normal. My grip relaxed, and I was now leaning against his chest, breathing him in.
As soon as he noticed my return to normal, he gently took my arms and peeled them off him, standing back up. I whimpered at the loss of his touch. How embarrassing.
I still made no move to stand up and studied the floor instead. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.”
“You need to eat something. Mariana said you barely touched your food this morning.” He gently took my elbow and helped me up. As soon as I was standing securely on my own two feet, he let go and put space between us. His eyes were a glowing ember today. And they were solely focused on me. Watching. Assessing. “Mariana made you empanadas.”
Santino nodded at us before disappearing, and Lucius walked me to the kitchen. He greeted Mariana with a kiss on her cheek, then pulled out my chair for me.
“Mariana is worried you’re losing too much weight.” He pushed a filled to the brim plate closer. “Eat.”
She had made enough empanadas to feed an army. I managed a few bites before my throat closed up and my stomach revolted. I put the fork down and shot an apologetic look at her.
“What’s wrong? Why did you stop? You hardly ate anything,” Lucius said, picking up the fork and holding it out to me.
“I’m not hungry.”
He studied me, as if he was looking for something. A frown marred his beautiful face, and he turned to Mariana. They fired Spanish words at each other, and she handed my plate to Lucius.
Holding both items, he nodded to the hallway. “Let’s go back.”
Mariana kissed both our cheeks when we left, and I promised to drink the hot chocolate she pushed into my hands.
I followed Lucius, jumping at every noise, my hands damp, causing me to tighten my grip on the mug, fearing it would slip out of my hands otherwise. We went back to his room, and he deposited everything on the table inside and then turned to exit. A jolt of panic shot through me at the thought of him leaving and I reached out a hand, catching his arm.
I was acting like a lunatic. He’d taken me against my will. Held me here against my will. And all I wanted in that moment was for him to hold me. He turned to face me and I released him, even though everything inside me screamed to pull him closer.
