“Tony?”
Glancing momentarily my way, Tony said, “Yes, Clara?”
“Shut up and drive, will ya?”
Chuckling, Tony nodded. “Okay. Anything you say, boss.”
Being so used to my blunt behaviour, Belinda smiled at me. “What?”
“You get away with so much shit, you know that? I don’t know how you do it.”
I laughed, giving her a light slap. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Giggling my drunk ass off, I didn’t even realise we were back in front of The Castle until Tony opened my door. Suddenly—without warning—my arse met the cold ground outside.
Belinda cackled, and I heard an “Oops” leave Tony’s lips. Leaning down, Tony offered to pull me up.
“Don’t you fucking dare!” I would know that voice anywhere. I was in perfect tune with it.
Leaning my head back on Tony’s legs, I felt him stiffen as he raised his hands up in the air in surrender. It was so comical.
“Tony?” Looking down at me, he smiled. “Thank you, darling.” Seeing him smirk, I soon felt a pair of arms around me. I knew them straight away, too.
“Go help Belinda, Tony. I’m sure she would more than love you to.” I giggled and heard Belinda do the same.
“Yes, sir.”
“Take me to my chambers.” Belinda raised her hands in the air, and a very obliging Tony stepped in to take her in his arms. He was so gentle; it was adorable.
“I see we’ve had a lot to drink.”
I snuggled my head into the crook of Luca’s neck and inhaled deeply. I instantly felt dizzy from his scent. “Take me to bed.”
Luca held on tight to me and snorted. “It’s about the only damn sensible thing you’ve said to me all night. Come on.” Shutting my door, he carried me in his arms up the front stairs and towards our tower. Tony was doing the exact same thing to an ever-giggling Belinda.
Reaching the stairs, I gripped Luca’s arm. “Hold up a sec… Belinda?”
“Yes, sweetie?” she asked, tossing her feet up into the air.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, and we can compare notes.” Luca—obviously not liking my joke—stiffened and growled.
Giggling some more, Belinda shouted, “Okay!” Before they were completely out of my view, I took another peak. I could see a big grin spread across Tony’s face. It would seem he thought he was getting laid tonight—and it didn’t look like he was hanging around for anyone.
Not quite knowing what to make of it, I shrugged my shoulders and wrapped my arms around Luca’s neck.
Pretty soon, I was being laid on my bed with the covers wrapped around me. I tried to speak again, but Luca gripped me tighter in his arms. “Shh. I got you, baby. We’ll speak in the morning.”
I wasn’t sure what happened after that because I didn’t have a bloody clue!
Why was I being tortured like this again? I had been to that damn place twice, and it had given me the two biggest hangovers I had ever experienced in my life.
I moaned and tried to open my eyes to the light, but it blinded me.
“Morning, beautiful.”
I didn’t know whether to punch him or kiss him for sounding so damn cheery. How could he sound so fucking happy when I felt like shit?
“Here, take these.” Forcing my eyes open, I found a couple of tablets held out in front of me. “They helped before, and they’ll help again.”
I took the pills and popped them down. “Why are you looking after me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I love you, and I care for your well-being. I stayed up half the night trying to get you to drink plenty of liquids and making sure you wouldn’t puke.”
Rising up from the bed a little, I tried to remember any of that. Nope—nothing.
“You stayed up to take care of me?”
“You’re my world. Why wouldn’t I? I take care of what is mine.”
Swallowing hard, I quickly remembered why he had that face. The guilty face. “Where have you been?”
“Scotland.”
My eyes furrowed. “Scotland? Why Scotland?”
“I have a house there, and sometimes I use it to get away and think. The people that know me realise that once I go up there, I’m not to be disturbed. I knew I had to come back to you, though. In fact, I was already on the verge of doing so. When I got the call from Alessandro earlier today about your plans, I knew I couldn’t leave it any longer.”
I shook my head, but I kind of knew Alessandro would rat on me. If he hadn’t, it would have just been someone else anyway.
“What could you possibly go up to Scotland to think about? How does running away from your problems help?”