He watched her take a bite of her food with a fallen look on her face. "Did being with Sal still bother you after I left?"
"No, I liked him. He was nice."
She liked how Lucca only questioned her misplaced feelings of Sal in the beginning and not the fact that Sal might have upset her or done something to her. It showed her how much Lucca trusted him and that she could trust Sal, too. The strong bond between the two was obvious. Just like Elle and I … Seeing Lucca and Sal together made her want to be with her best friend.
"Then tell me what's wrong, darlin'. Is there something I can do for you?"
"I just miss Elle. We used to talk every day, and I feel like I haven't talked to her in forever. I don't even have a girl to talk to here, and I think it's just making me miss her more and more."
A deep, thoughtful breath came from his chest. "I'll see what I can do."
Really? "Really?"
"I can't promise you anything, but I'll see what I can do to make you more comfortable."
It was strange to think he would do that, considering he was holding her captive. She was slowly starting to learn that he wanted her happy for some reason. She was grateful for whatever reason it was.
Smiling, she told him, "Thank you."
After that, Chloe was able to fully enjoy the delicious meal. Dang, he's really a good cook. She hadn't had one bad meal since being here, and already she could see herself weirdly missing the food when she was finally set free.
"So, you liked Sal, huh?" he asked, grinning.
"Yes, he was really nice to me and patient while teaching me how to solve the problems."
"Good."
Looking over at him, she saw that Lucca didn't seem surprised by her answer.
"You knew I would like him, didn't you?"
"Yes, everyone likes Sal. I haven't met a person who doesn't like him, from the worst to the best types of people."
Chloe didn't doubt it. "He's like a genius, isn't he?"
Looking up from his food, he stared directly at her. "He's not like a genius, darlin'; he is one."
By the serious expression on his face, it was clear that Sal was even smarter than she believed to be possible. She just couldn't believe the polar opposites took to one another.
She wasn't sure if he would answer, but she was too curious not to ask, "Why did your father take him in?"
The question didn't seem to bother him in the least. "Sal had lived on and off the streets with his mother since he was a baby, but by the time he was ten, his mother had OD'd. She had been dead a while before my father picked Sal up, and after that, he became family."
"That was nice of your father."
He nodded. "Yes, my father took to Sal. He liked him better than he ever liked me. Sal is definitely the son he always wanted."
Sadness washed over her at his statement. She felt bad for the young boy who thought he wasn't the son his father wanted.
"I'm sorry you felt that way."
"Don't be sorry, darlin'. It never bothered me. I was never much for feeling anything, especially toward my father. I was glad Sal was able to have a relationship with a father figure, even if it was mine. He deserved it more than me."
She bit her lip as she stared down at her food, feeling every word he had said and knowing there was no jealousy of the relationship Sal had with his father. Dang it, she really wished he would stop surprising her with how little she understood him.
"I'm glad you two found each other then."
His eyes turned that beautiful shade of green. "And I'm glad you like him. It means a lot to me that you feel comfortable around him."
The crazy thing was, she had. She even felt comfortable with scary Drago. The question was: how? She wasn't comfortable with anyone, especially men. However, not once had she feared they would even touch her.
Chloe remembered then that, when Sal had sat down, he had pulled his chair far enough away from her and was very careful not to touch her during their tutoring session. It was the same with Drago. He was always careful of the distance between them and to not come close to touching her.
Looking into the green eyes before her, she now knew why, and it had been in front of her the whole time.
"You told Sal and Drago to be careful around me, didn't you?"
Smiling, he answered, "Yes."
"W-What did you tell them?"
Lucca leaned in, caressing a strand of her hair. "That they are only allowed to get so close to you." He twisted the strand around his finger once. "And that they are to never touch you unless it is life or death." Another twist made the strand wrap around the length of his finger. "Or I'll fucking kill them."
A cold tingle trickled down her body. She saw it in his eyes then, that he would even kill a man he considered a brother if he touched her. There was no question about it; she was sure he wouldn't even second-guess it.
"W-Why?"
He caressed the strand wrapped around his finger with his thumb. "For you."
It turned out that she not only never understood him, but I don't know him at all.
Seventeen
Is Today the Day You Want to Die?
Lucca parked his car in the parking garage, right in front of the door he expected the person he was waiting for to come out. Getting out, he leaned against the hood of his classic black Cadillac. Then, pulling out a cigarette, he lit the end. It was his first cigarette of the day, still being early in the morning.
He sucked the contents faster than usual as he waited. Then he pulled out another one, wanting to savor it.
It was rare for Lucca to need help, but he was going to ask for it. He needed to ask it from probably the only person who understood him; the only person who knew how his mind worked, because their mind was like his.
We both hear the whispers.
Finally, the door opened, and he heard the clicking of heels. The man to come out the door first held his hand up, stopping the person behind him. When he realized it was just Lucca, he exited, waving for the one he held up to come out.
The clicking of the heels moved closer until the stilettos stopped right in front of him.
"Why does it look like my big brother wants something from me?"
Lucca motioned to the two men standing behind her. "Leave us. I'm taking Maria to school today."
"No. No, you will not! I'm pissed at you. Don't leave me with this psychopath!" she yelled after her bodyguards. But despite her effort, the two men made their exit.
Removing the cigarette from his mouth, he looked at his sister incredulously. "I'm the psychopath?"
Maria crossed her arms. "Yes, you are an unstable and aggressive person who lacks empathy and remorse." She was obviously spending too much time in her psychology books.
"First of all, I'm the stable one; you're not. But I think you are forgetting a major part of that diagnosis. A real psychopath appears normal and charming, hiding the fact they are aggressive, and lack empathy and remorse." Taking one long and final hit, he tossed the bud to the ground. "Now, who does that sound like to you? Because it sure as fuck isn't me."
Uncrossing her arms, she flipped her long, golden hair behind her shoulder. "You were never good at hiding your true colors. Unlike you, I like the surprise when they find out I'm crazy."
"Because you are a true fucking psychopath."
Maria went silent for a moment, becoming serious. "Yes, but if I'm a psychopath, what does that make you?"
The question wasn't meant to be answered, because the question was an impossible one to answer. They both knew Lucca was too fucked up for a definitive diagnosis.
Folding his arms across his chest, he was done talking about who was more fucked up. "So, why are you mad at me?"
Stomping her expensive heel on the pavement, she huffed, "Because you kicked us out of the house!"
"I thought you liked it here? You're able to get into more trouble."
"I was before they amped up security. I practically have someone going into the bathroom with me now."
"Aw, the poor, poor mafia princess." He pretended to care.
"You know I don't like it when you call me that, Lucca."
"We both know that you do. Otherwise, you wouldn't act like one."
It was her turn to change the subject as she went toward the passenger door. "Are you taking me to school or not?"
Lucca moved swiftly, not letting her open the door. "No, I need your help with something."
She tapped her heel again. "That depends on what it is."
He gave her a warning look. "You'll have to keep it a secret." Or I'll have to kill you.
A wicked smile touched her lightly pink lipstick lips. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time, Lucca. I hope you've saved up enough money for the blackmailing I'm going to put you through."
Opening the door for her, he laughed mockingly at her. "No one's been able to blackmail me so far, princess."
She patted him on the chest. "Oh, poor, poor mafia overlord. I know your secret already. I've just been waiting for the upper hand."