Dreadnought (Nemesis #1)(71)

His eyes turned a striking shade of green as he tightened his hand around her throat and plunged into her tightness harder.

“Again,” he ground out.

“I love you!” she cried out as he gave a thrust that had her screaming as she fell into the abyss that was waiting for her. And Lucca was, too. It was like a beautiful nightmare she never ever wanted to awake from …





Forty-Seven





Reborn





Now that Chloe and Elle lived right across the hall from each other, they were making up for the time they had missed over the past month.

It was like a dream come true. For the first time in her life, Chloe felt like she truly belonged, which was right beside Lucca and only a few steps away from her best friend, the girl who had protected her with her own life.

Chloe had already applied to the university here in Kansas City so she would start next semester. She was still trying to figure out what to major in. At Stanford, she had taken a bunch of different classes, trying to figure out what exactly she wanted to do. Lucca had assured her, however, that in time, she would know what it was. If that was to stay in her greenhouse all day, that was okay by him.

The truth was that Chloe had never thought much about a future, because she never really felt like she had one. The only thing she had ever wanted in her future was to leave Kansas City, and college was the best way to do it.

Even now, she didn’t know what the future held for her, but she knew, as long as it was with Lucca, then everything was the way it was meant to be.

Her friend, however, still didn’t think that.

“You know what it means, right? To be with Lucca …?” Elle asked.

“I know,” she tried to assure Elle. Then she looked over at her strangely. “You do know who you’re with, right?”

“Yes, but Nero isn’t the underboss.”

Has he not told her?

“Um, you do know he can be, right? When Lucca becomes the boss?”

“Yes, but he will never be the boss.” Elle’s big blue eyes drilled into her. “And if Lucca has a son …”

Chloe swallowed the huge lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. She couldn’t believe she had never thought of that. Oh, shi—

Lake came storming through the door, slamming Nero’s door shut behind her.

“What’s wrong?” Elle asked as their attention went to the tall, furious brunette.

Lake fell onto the couch, crossing her arms. “I’ve told Vincent a million freaking times to make Lucca find him somewhere else to work. He says he has, but I think he’s lying to me.” She threw a pillow at a laughing Elle. “I don’t know why you think it’s so funny. Nero’s working down there, too!”

Having dodged the pillow, Elle tried to sound confident when she said, “Nero promises he doesn’t watch the women.”

Women?

Lake rolled her eyes. “They aren’t blind!”

“I don’t think he’s lying,” Elle said as she shook her head, but her confidence seemed to be leaving.

“Trust me; they are.”

“Maybe it’s important they watch the women,” Chloe said. Lucca had told her they were like bouncers protecting the workers.

Lake huffed. “Yeah, it’s real important that Nero, Vincent, and Amo watch the women with skimpy outfits give lap dances.”

What? “I thought it was an underground casino?”

“It is. One where the dealers are all women in slutty outfits.”

That’s why Amo loves it down there. Wait …

“H-How do you know so much about it?” Chloe asked, confused.

Elle busted out in laughter.

Lake paused then dodged the question. “That’s beside the point. The point is that Nero and Vincent are down there right now, in a sea of practically naked women!”

Elle’s laughter quickly died, which made Chloe burst out in her own.

“You shouldn’t be laughing. Lucca practically runs it,” Elle snapped at her.

Her laughter started to die. “H-He does?”

“Yep.” Elle stuck her tongue out. “Lucca isn’t so perfect, now, is he? Bet his greenhouse ain’t so freaking grea—”

“I trust him,” she said without a doubt. “He said he hasn’t been with a girl since he met me nine months ago. I don’t have a reason not to trust him.”

Elle and Lake stared at her, blinking.

It was Lake who spoke first, practically fanning herself. “I’m sorry, Elle. I can’t pretend anymore that I’m not team Lucca. Are you sure the greenhouse isn’t a sex dungeon?”

“Team Lucca—What? No!” Chloe stared at the girls, who appeared a little warm.

“Oh my God,” Lake whispered, her eyes getting a weird look to them as she looked over at Chloe, and then to Elle. The two of them looked like they knew what each other was thinking.

Elle scooted closer to her. “I’ve changed my mind. Lucca is good for you.”

I don’t like where …

Lake scooted closer to her, too. “He will do anything for you, right?”



Leaving Nero’s place, she was beginning to think being so close to Elle might not be such a good thing.