Inferno(28)

‘The question is,’ Luca said, leaning back on his palms and hunching his shoulders, ‘if we’re right about where Jack is hiding, what exactly is Donata Marino getting out of the arrangement?’

‘So you really haven’t been following me, then,’ I muttered. I didn’t mention Purple Hair. If she was his enemy, the news would just unsettle him. I already had enough to worry about now, without confirming the Marinos had gone ahead and danced all over whatever truce they had had with the Falcones.

Luca’s eyes widened. ‘What?’ He stood up. ‘Why would you say that?’

I backed up a little. Now was not the right time to be pouring fuel on the fire – breaking open that old wound before I knew what it even meant. Besides, I could be wrong … I could be. Purple Hair could be anyone. ‘It’s just … with Nic showing up in my garden the other night, I was wondering if there was a plan or something …’ I trailed off.

Yup. That ought to smooth things over.

Rage flashed across Luca’s face as he took a step towards me. ‘Nic did what?’

Or not.

‘Um, never mind,’ I said, turning into the main passageway. ‘I have to find Millie.’

Luca cut in front of me. ‘You need to tell me about this.’

‘Why?’

He blinked at me. ‘What do you mean “Why”?’

‘Why do you care?’

‘I care about the movements of my brother when they go against explicit family orders and when they endanger someone else. Don’t be so smug about it, Sophie. This is serious.’

‘Oh, I’m smug because I won’t tell you my personal business? Well, excuse me.’

‘Sophie, this isn’t a game,’ Luca warned. I could tell he was fighting to keep his voice level. ‘Don’t be so stupid.’

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Why the hell was he always calling me stupid?

‘Oh, this isn’t a game?’ I repeated, seeing red. ‘You think I don’t know that? Did you forget who else was in that warehouse with you? I remember every damn second of that night!’

‘Then take this seriously!’

‘I couldn’t be taking it more seriously if I tried,’ I hissed, raising my palm so he could see the jagged cut. ‘I haven’t slept in weeks. My mother is a zombie. Don’t you dare preach to me about the seriousness of all this. You have no idea what your family has done to me. And I don’t care who you are, you have no right to demand to know my business!’

He came closer, tension rippling from him. ‘I have a right when it involves my family.’

I had to tip my head back to look at him. ‘You’re not my underboss, Luca. I don’t owe you a thing.’

I pivoted around him, expecting resistance, but he let me go, his expression crumpling with something I couldn’t place.

‘Oh, so you yell at me about everything that happened!’ he shouted after me. ‘But you meet him in your garden like some pathetic reincarnation of Romeo and Juliet!’

I swatted his words over my head as I marched away from him.

‘In case you didn’t realize, Sophie, that play was a satire! You’re not meant to aspire to it!’

‘The way you’re talking right now, you’re aspiring to my fist in your face!’ I yelled over my shoulder. I reached the door but he was there in a flash, sliding in front of me. He was so tall. So broad. So immovable. ‘Move,’ I hissed. ‘Or I swear to every god and planetary system I will hit you in your smug face.’

‘Sophie,’ he said. His voice was deceptively controlled, but his blazing eyes told a different story. ‘You saved my life. You threw your body on top of mine to stop Jack from killing me. So don’t think I’m not grateful or appreciative of what you did when I tell you that you are acting like a complete moron.’

He caught my wrist before my hand connected with his cheek.

‘Don’t,’ he growled.

‘Let go of me,’ I huffed.

He released me, and my arm fell to my side with a dull thud. I took a gasping breath.

Luca’s gaze was hard and shining. I felt like it was crushing me. Whatever he was about to say, I sure as hell didn’t want to hear it. I pushed past him and heaved the door open, bounding down the steps.

Millie was lying on the grass by the lake, taking a selfie. ‘Well, finally,’ she groaned, clambering to her feet. ‘What the hell took you so— Holy crap, Soph. Watch out! Luca Falcone is behind you!’

‘I know.’

‘Oh.’ She started circling us. ‘Wait a second … What’s going on here? What were you two doing in there for so long?’