Dreadnought (Nemesis #1)(24)

When Drago entered the room, she expected Lucca to follow behind, but he didn’t.

“He’s not here. He left early this morning,” Drago told her as he made himself a cup of coffee.

She looked at him, wondering why he had said that. “I-I didn’t say anything.”

“Maybe not, but you were looking for him.”

Trying her best to swallow her dry toast, she clasped her hands together. “N-No, I wasn’t.”

Taking a drink of the dark liquid, he stared her down for a long, hard minute. “Are you sure about that?”

No.

The front door opening saved her from having to answer the embarrassing question.

Drago smiled, keeping his voice low for only her ears. “Looks like he’s back just in time for you.”

Turning, she saw Lucca come in with what appeared to be a blonde wo—

“Maria!”

Drago practically slammed down his coffee cup. “Oh, fuck no.”

Maria came in, smiling from ear-to-ear like the beautiful goddess she was. “Hi, Chloe. Hi, Drago!”

“No, no, no. I can see where this is going, and I’m not having any part of it. I signed up to watch the one too scared of her own shadow, not the spawn of Satan.”

Spawn of Satan? Looking over at Maria, who was dressed in a light rose-colored dress with nude pumps, she looked like a beautiful angel. Chloe always thought of her as one, too. She was the sweetest person in the world.

Maria looked like she was about to cry. “That hurt my feelings.”

He laughed. “What feelin—”

“You are being rude,” Chloe spoke without thinking, becoming angered by the man. “Maybe you need to go back to sleep, because you’re not being very nice this morning.”

Maria had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing as Drago’s face fell.

Grinning, Lucca stepped forward to stand beside Chloe. “Was he being mean to you, darlin’?”

She thought about it for a long moment as she stared at a now pissed off Drago. He had been trying to push her buttons about Lucca just a few minutes ago, and she had half a mind to say yes. Or I’ll fucking kill them. But … she figured she would spare his life. This time.

“No.” She smiled at Drago, brave only because Lucca was a step away.

Taking his coffee, Drago started to leave the room. “I’ll watch them from the security room, but if they burn the house down, don’t expect me to save them.”

Now that he was gone, Chloe’s focus went to Maria. “I can’t believe it; you’re here.” She had sometimes felt as if she no longer existed, but now that someone was here who was actually her friend, she felt alive again.

“Yep.” Maria smiled happily down at her. “Give me a second; I’ll be right back.”

She watched Maria head toward the stairs then looked back at Lucca, not understanding. “But why?”

He gave her a smile unlike one she had seen before. It was like a smile Vincent would give her, except it was more deadly and sure to make any girl succumb to him then and there.

“I told you I would see what I could do for you.”

She had to pull her eyes from his, afraid the smile would work on her. “Oh.”

Like always, he picked up a strand of her hair. “I know we were supposed to take care of the garden today, but I thought you would enjoy being with Maria more.”

Watching him twirl her black hair around his finger was almost mesmerizing.

“Does tomorrow sound okay instead?”

“Y-Yes.” Looking away from the twirling was hard, but she finally managed to look back up at him. “Thank you, Lucca.”

Another deadly smile made her heart skip a beat. “You’re welcome, darlin’.” They heard Maria start back down the steps, and Lucca started to twirl the strand slower, like he was savoring it. “I’ll be back later tonight.”

When is later tonight? Where is he going?

The thoughts that popped into her head scared her to her bones. Why did it matter? It shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t matter.

The footsteps were now closer, and right before they were too close, the black lock fell from his fingertips with a final twirl.

Maria walked in, now wearing pink shorts and a tank top, carrying movies. “Okay, now we’re ready for a girls’ day!”

Chloe’s cheeks started to feel warm. If Maria had walked in a second earlier, she would have thought something was going on between Chloe and Lucca.

Maria started pushing Lucca out of the way while she sat the movies down. “Okay, bye now, Lucca. You can go.”

His dark voice came out as a threat as he walked away. “Remember what I said, princess.”

Her voice seemed to carry her own threat. “Don’t worry; I’ll play nice, overl—”

“Good-bye, darlin’. Have fun, because I won’t be bringing her ass back.”

“He’s joking.” Maria giggled as he slammed the front door behind him.

It didn’t sound like he was joking.

Maria spread the chick flicks across the counter. “So, what do you want to watc—”

“How’s Elle?” Chloe was unconcerned about the movies.

“She’s good. Now, we have Dirty Dancing, Greas—”