Nero (Made Men #1)(69)
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Chapter Thirty—Two
I Didn’t Mean to Scare You
Chloe sat under the beautiful white gazebo that sat in the middle of what was possibly a garden with white lights strung around. She thought the backyard was lovelier than the inside, and that was saying a lot.
There was a light snowfall, dusting the backyard. She had never seen anything whiter.
The backyard was huge for Kansas City. She could only imagine what the yard looked like during the spring. She just wished she could see it.
The gazebo had an iron bench, two chairs, and a small table, all close together. Luckily, they hadn’t accumulated any snow yet because of the roof. She had chosen to sit on the bench since it was in the middle, overlooking the whole backyard.
She felt a sudden peacefulness here in the backyard. I would live here if I could.
Technically, Chloe wanted to live anywhere besides where she did now. That was why she had applied to every college in the country practically. She only had a few months to go and then she would run as far as she could get.
She was happy she’d decided to sneak out here, doing what she had always done. Chloe had always snuck away if she had to go to a function with her father or if important people had come to hers. Chloe was always there for looks. For a picture-perfect family. Little did the city know how much of a fraud it was.
Chloe moved her eyes to the house, peering into it, seeing them all sitting around the table, laughing and eating pizza. I don’t belong anywhere.
She had trouble fitting in. Every time she met a new person, she felt like they only stared at her scars. She had lost all confidence in herself when she had gotten the marks. Before them, she had been outgoing and free. Now, she could barely talk to anyone, merely responding minimally.
The only person I can be myself with is Elle.
Being around Elle, she felt safe, and the old Chloe was able to come out. However, once someone else came around them, she cowered back. Recently, however, she would peek her head out when she was around Nero, Amo, Vincent, Leo, and just now Maria. A little. She didn’t even understand why she was because honestly, people scared her, and she had good reason as to why.
Chloe continued to watch them. I don’t think they even know I’m gone. Her heart had been empty for too long, wanting to find a safe place she could belong.
“Hey, darlin’,” a deep voice sounded behind her.
Chloe jumped at the sound. A second later, a man appeared on the other side of the rails. He was terrifyingly beautiful and scared the hell out of her, regardless of how handsome he was. She didn’t think a man that good-looking should ever exist, nor a man that chilling.
Chloe didn’t move a muscle, completely frozen in place.
He kept walking toward the entrance of the gazebo and went up the step. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She had no idea how she hadn’t heard him. She didn’t even know where he had come from.
She watched him lean up on a pillar, blocking her exit. After every hair had managed to stand up on her body at one look of his eyes, Chloe darted her gaze down to her lap and started fiddling with her hands.
“I’m Nero’s brother, Lucca. I would shake your hand, but you wouldn’t shake it anyway.”
Chloe quickly glanced back up at him before looking down again. How did he know that?
Lucca read her eyes. “I overheard that you’re apparently germaphobic.”
Chloe glanced back up at him again. Apparently? He was really starting to freak her out now.
Chloe attempted to decide if she should honestly be afraid and try to run away. Yes, I should. However, Lucca was blocking the only exit, and she was not going anywhere near him.
Chloe saw him move; as a result, she regretfully had to look at him again. She held her breath when he put his hand into his pocket to pull something out. When a pack of cigarettes came out, she let out her breath. She continued to watch him pull a cigarette out and then hold it between his lips as he put the pack back in his pocket. Going into his other pocket, he pulled out a lighter. Chloe thought she was going to have a heart attack if he went into his pocket again.
Lucca flipped his lighter open and lit the end, making it burn a bright red as he inhaled.
“You don’t mind, do you?”
Chloe slowly shook her head. She wished she could look away from him, but she was too afraid. She could tell he was Nero’s brother without a doubt; they both oozed confidence and sex. They looked very similar, as well.
Lucca had the same skin color, but she couldn’t quite tell if his hair was black or brown. The same went with his eyes; she couldn’t tell if they were blue or green. She would swear they were one color before the string lights picked up the other color, changing her mind all over again. Lucca, however, was a billion times more frightening and a million times more handsome than Nero. She figured it had to do with the age gap, but one thing they were very different about was the way they dressed. Nero only dressed in button-up shirts and slacks while Lucca was wearing a black sweatshirt and dark, loose jeans.
She wasn’t used to seeing hair as long as his. It was swept back, yet it touched the back of his neck. He clearly didn’t care if it wasn’t trimmed and neat, just like his unshaven stubble. Everyone she was around always looked immaculate, making his bad-boy appearance more like ‘don’t cross me or I will murder your entire family tree.’ I don’t think it matters what he wears; he would look like that regardless.