Dreadnought (Nemesis #1)(37)
The smile on his face had yet to disappear while he kept spinning her hair. “They did, huh?”
“Yes.” What is going on? Something told her she might not want to hear exactly what Amo did.
“Well, the basement is actually an underground casino. They are kind of like bouncers.”
She looked at him strangely. “An underground casino below a casino?”
Lucca winked. “Exactly.”
An illegal casino covered by a legit one? The more she thought about it, the more it made sense, yet also only confused her more.
She gave up trying to understand it. She still felt like she was missing something, though.
“What do the bouncers do exactly?”
“They watch the floor, looking out for any customers who may not be following the rules and also making sure that the customers, along with the workers, are safe at all times.”
“Oh, that sounds kinda nice.” They make sure everyone’s safe. “Why do Nero and Vincent hate it then?”
“You would have to ask them. I put a lot of thought into giving them that position, and I thought they would all love it, not just Amo.” He thought about it for a second. “Well, Vincent did love it there for a while … Maybe one day, I’ll show you down there and you can find out for yourself.”
Chloe stared at him for a second, thinking he looked awfully innocent, but she didn’t know why.
“You won’t give Nero and Vincent a new job?”
His innocent act quickly changed to a sinister one. “I can, but that doesn’t mean I want to, or that I will. They need to work up from the bottom like everyone else.”
She could understand that they were new to the family and shouldn’t get special treatment. At least Amo’s happy.
Her mind instantly drifted to sad thoughts of being locked up here without her friends.
Sitting back up against the couch, she sat stiffly again without realizing she had loosened up or the fact his dark jeans had been touching her arm, which she suddenly moved.
A scent of strong, clean mint touched her nose. It was so fresh and cool, almost tingly. Taking a deeper breath made her recognize the scent was him.
Never before had she noticed his smell until now. She should still smell her own floral scent since they both had taken a shower after gardening, but it had faded and now the only scent that kept surrounding her was Lucca.
Lucca rubbed the hair he held. “What’s wrong, darlin’?”
Clasping her hands together, she wished she could wring them, but she was unable to with the bandages. Not wanting to tell him she liked the way he smelled and that it made her feel uncomfortable, she nervously gave him half the truth.
“I-I miss them.”
He went silent but continued to twirl her hair. Then his voice finally reached her ears. “Do you want to talk to her?”
Turning, she looked at him, more surprised by this than by anything else he had said all night.
“Elle? You’ll let me talk to her?”
She knew before the next few words were passed his lips that it was too good to be true. Everything came at a price.
“Yes, darlin’ … But you will have to give me something in return.”
Twenty-Six
Hovering His Fingertips Over the Top of the Scar
“W-What do you want?” she whispered, wishing she hadn’t asked.
“You will have to let me touch you …” Letting go of the strand he held, he leaned over. Then he raised his hand to the scar on her face, tracing it as he hovered his fingers from inches away. “Here.”
Her racing heart thumped through her ears. “If I-I say yes, y-you’ll let me talk to Elle?”
Leaning back in the chair, he removed the hand that was dangerously close to her face. “Yes, but only for a few minutes, darlin’.”
“W-Why are you letting me?” It was too hard to believe, even if he was getting something out of it. Lucca had proved up until this point that whatever he wants, he takes.
“I have pushed her off long enough by texting, and she’s now demanding a phone call. It’s to the point she will know something is wrong if I don’t let you talk to her.”
“I-I’ll do it.” Maybe I’ll be able to warn her.
It was like he could sense exactly what she thought as his eyes went dark. “I’ll be right here listening, so you won’t be able to try anything, Chloe. You have to make her believe you’re in California. Do you understand?”
You have to make her believe you’re in California. She understood exactly what that meant, knowing Lucca wouldn’t be above hurting Elle. “Y-Yes.”
His eyes changed back, softening now. “If you can do that, I’ll let you talk to her every once in a while.”
“Really?” She couldn’t help feeling an ounce of hope.
“If it will make you happy”—he ran his fingers down a strand of her silky hair—“then yes, darlin’.”
Giving him a smile, she couldn’t believe how she was getting used to him touching her hair in the little time she had been here. Chloe was trusting him, even when he got extremely close to her skin.
Pulling out her phone from his pocket, he pulled up Elle’s contact. “Ready?”