I nod. “Yeah, but when he isn’t at work, he’s sleeping or drinking so…” I realize I’ve said too much and press my lips together to stop myself from saying anything more.
Lucca’s features darken, and he leans in, his eyes zeroing in on my face, making me feel like I’m being inspected. “If you need anything, butterfly, you can come to me. I will help you. Day or night.”
Maybe my life would be different if I had never talked to him, or maybe I would be worse off. I wipe at the stray tears that fall from my eyes and trail down my cheeks.
Why does he continue to do this?
I’m no longer his responsibility.
No longer his problem, and still, he protects me.
I have to prove to him I don’t need him anymore. I have to make him go away. There’s no other option.
4
Lucca
My heart slams against my ribcage like it’s trying to escape as I pull up to the cabin where Markus has been hiding out. I’m not sure what to expect inside. I can only hope that he doesn’t realize anything is off.
Fuck! Not in a million years did I think it would ever come to this. The Moretti family has been the only family I’ve known. I don’t want to cross them, and not only because I know I will die if they ever find out. No, my loyalties are genuine. I don’t want anything to happen to Julian and Elena. Just like I want nothing to happen to Markus or any of the guys, but I have no choice. I can’t let Claire down.
For the last few days, I’ve been feeding my mystery blackmailer information. So far, it’s petty stuff, but I know it’s not going to stay like that for long. He is simply testing me now. Seeing how far I will go and how far I will take it to protect Claire.
I’ve briefly played with the idea of asking Julian for help, but he already helped me once, and now that he has Elena, he will not risk any weakness. I have to deal with this myself. I have to take out this threat, and I need to do it fast. Let’s just hope Markus is going to help me with this.
I get out of the car and walk up to the cabin. I don’t even have to knock. As soon as my foot touches the first step leading up to the door, the door swings open.
“Hey,” I greet.
“Come in.” Markus nods and gestures for me to come in.
Stepping into the living room, my eyes land almost immediately on the blonde woman standing a few feet away.
“Lucca, this is Fallon. Fallon, this is Lucca,” Markus introduces us with a grunt.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Fallon replies meekly. She is clearly nervous, maybe even scared. Like the bastard I am, her fear excites me.
I wonder what Markus has been doing to her. After all, he bought her at an auction, an auction she certainly didn’t attend willingly. He has been keeping her here, locked away from the world, at his mercy.
Letting my gaze drift over her body, I take in every curve. She is beautiful, and I wouldn’t mind keeping her locked up for myself.
Her stare turns from fear to terror as she catches me sizing her up with interest.
“Fallon was just going to start the sides for dinner,” Markus hisses through his teeth, his eyes shooting daggers at Fallon before giving me the same death stare.
“Oh, yeah.” Fallon’s voice is shaky, but she tries her best to act normal. “I’ll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me.”
I watch her scurry away before turning to Markus. I raise my eyebrows at him, wondering what he is waiting for. I am here for a reason, after all.
“Not yet,” he growls under his breath. “Let’s go outside so I can tell you the whole plan.”
He grabs a plate of steaks from the table and heads out the side door where I assume the grill will be.
“What are we waiting for?” I ask. I don’t want to rush him, but I really don’t want to stay long either.
“We’ll eat first, then we’ll do it.”
“Got it.” Steaks first, interrogation later.
This will be fun.
“Fallon,” Markus’ deep voice booms through the room, “come here.”
Fallon drops the dish back into the water and dries her hands quickly.
She turns around and heads toward us. When she sees us both standing in the living room, her steps falter. I can see fear and dread in her eyes, both valid emotions at the moment. She will not like what we have planned.
Her gaze ping pongs between Markus and me, and I’m positive she is thinking about running. Not that she would have any chance of getting away. She must realize it, too, since she is not making a move.
“Come. Here,” Markus orders, sterner this time. “Stand in front of me.”
With shaking legs, she follows his command and stops right in front of him. I move behind her, sandwiching her between us with nowhere to go.
She twists her head to look at me, but Markus grabs her by the chin with two fingers and pulls her back.
“Eyes on me, Fallon.” His voice is smoke wisping through the air.
“What are you doing?” Fallon asks, her voice small and unsure.
“We’re going to play a game. I’m going to ask you some questions, and you’re going to answer them truthfully. Each time I think you’re lying, Lucca is going to take one item of clothing off your body. If you are naked by the end of the game, you lose, and you don’t want to be the loser in this game. Do you understand?”
She doesn’t answer, does not move, probably petrified with fear. If I didn’t know she is hiding something, I might actually feel bad for the girl.
“I’m going to take that as a yes,” Markus says. He doesn’t even skip a beat and jumps right into things.
“First question. Did you know the guy with the camera?”
“No.” She shakes her head. Markus inspects her for a moment, his eyes narrowing.
“I believe you,” he finally says. “So, you didn’t know him. Fine. Next question. Do you know who sent him?”
“No.”
Even I notice how her shoulders twitch. She is lying. Markus saw it too. He shakes his head, as if disappointed.
“Do you want to reconsider that answer?” Markus warns, giving her one last chance.
She stays silent.
Markus looks past her and to me. We’re both so much taller than her, we can easily lock eyes over her head. He gives me the signal, and I grab the hem of Fallon’s shirt to pull it up. She automatically raises her arms, letting me take it off, but I don’t miss how her arms are trembling with fear.
I drop it on the floor next to us, leaving her in a pair of leggings and bra. Goosebumps spread across her body, and I’m sure it’s not only because of the chill in the room.
“Next question. Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No.” She shakes her head, strands of blonde hair flying around her head.
“Were you really going to call your parents from my office?”
“Yes.” That lie falls from her lips a little easier, but Markus still sees right through her.
Shaking his head again, he motions to me again. I make quick work of undoing her bra. I push the straps slowly off her arms and let it fall to the floor carelessly.
“Were you sent to the auction by someone?”