Page 16 of De Luca: The Sinister Game

Giada giggles while splashing in the pool. “I’ll be fine. Sitting down isn’t nearly as hard as getting up.”

Placing my hand on her stomach, I look up at her. “Gia, I’m thrilled for you. You’re going to be an amazing mom.”

The sobs are immediate, intense, and I do not know what I did. However, in under three minutes papa bear comes growling toward the pool, “What did you do?”

Domenic grabs a towel and holds it out for her as she steps out of the pool, still crying. He wraps her up and pulls her into his chest. “Hormones,” she squeaks out as she wraps her arms around him.

I watch him hold her like she’s the only thing in the world that matters to him and feel jealous, which I hate. Jealousy isn’t an attractive trait. How can I not? She has everything. I’m not exactly dying to have a baby, but I think I want one someday. Having a husband who would literally do anything to protect you, though? I want that. I take a deep breath and try to think positively. Maybe tomorrow’s date will go differently than the others.

CHAPTER 14

NATALIA

As I stand in their bathroom, I stare at my reflection in this pink bikini Giada convinced me to buy a few months ago. I compare my body to my sisters. I know I shouldn’t still I do, it’s become a compulsion I can’t fight. Her arms are smaller than mine, as are her breasts. Mine are too big, they don’t fit with my body. Then nothing looks right when I stare at myself. I’ve always been heavier than my twin, but now that I don’t dance, it’s worse. Tears roll down my cheeks as I allow the self hatred to seep in. It’s not that I want to feel this way, I don’t. There's nothing I wouldn't do to have confidence in my own skin. I fake the smiles. I put on a convincing performance, but it’s all an act. It always has been.

The door opens, and my heart slams against my ribcage as the two men I try to avoid step beside me, Drake on my right and Dante on my left. I freeze, my eyes still on the mirror but watching them instead of myself.

Dante grips my chin and turns my face to his. “I’m tired of waiting for you.”

“So don’t.”

He drags his thumb across my bottom lip. “Finally we agree,” lowering his head, he presses his lips to mine and I don’t fight him. Instead, I part my lips and accept his tongue into my mouth. While he kisses me I feel Drake's gaze burning my skin, then his fingers trail my arms before he places his hand under my chin, breaking my kiss with Dante, and he cups my face with his powerful hands and slams his lips to mine. I should stop this, but I can’t think straight. Their scent is overpowering and has me weak in the knees. Dante’s kiss was sweet, but Drake’s is anything but. He pushes his tongue into my mouth hungrily and moves my head the way he wants it. He pulls back from me with a glare on his face, and hands me my phone.

“If you want to see your sister alive again, you’ll be at the address I texted you in an hour.”

I turn so I can see both of them. “What? What did you do?”

Dante grins, “Be a good girl, and nobody will get hurt. You will say goodbye to Giada and then come to the address Drake sent you.”

“What?”

My head is spinning, I do not know what’s happening right now, “What?”

Do I know any other words? Right now, I am not sure about anything.

Drake leans into me and kisses the corner of my mouth. “See you soon, Pretty Girl. Do as you're told or she’s dead.”

“She hates me. My sister would not lift a finger to save me, so why should I?”

Dante smiles, “Because you couldn’t be more different from Nicole if you tried. If she were a complete stranger, you’d save her, wouldn’t you?”

I swallow the lump in my throat because he’s not wrong. I don’t know what they know about my family, but I won’t let her die. Not even when I know if the roles were reversed, she’d sit and laugh while they killed me.

Drake reaches around and pats my ass. “Tick Tock, Pretty Girl.”

And with that, they both turn and leave.

Jesus, Nicole, what have you done? According to Giada, they don’t kill women. Is she wrong? Obviously, her husband doesn’t know about this.

My phone chimes with a text message. I glance down at it and see it’s from Dante, which is odd because I never put his number in my phone.

Dante: Fifty minutes.

Had you asked me an hour ago, I would’ve told you that Dante was lethal, yes, but sweet. He’s always been kind to me. Caring even. Now though? He’s obviously as unhinged as his brother. Fear swirls in my belly as my mind continues to race, but underneath it all is sorrow. Am I really going to show up at this address to save Nicole? How do they even know her? I have far more questions than I do answers.

Me: How do I know you actually have her? How do I know she’s alive?

I get changed into the clothes I came in while I wait for Dante's response. My phone chimes with his response as I slip on my sandals. Glancing at my phone, it says a picture is downloading.

---