Page 24 of Danica's Revenge

“Not in front ofher.Shut up, Ali.You’re going to get us in trouble,” Luca looks panicked.

“What’s going on?”I demand but neither of them look at me.

“Nothing.She’s just jealous,” Luca covers quickly, nervously.He looks fidgety, guilty.

“Yes, yes I am.Because my asshole druggyboyfriendcan’t keep his addictions at bay long enough to follow a simple plan,” she hisses through her teeth.

“Your boyfriend—as inhim?”I ask, looking at Luca, not all that interested in this part of the story.But they clearly know something about Dante’s kidnapping.

“I’m not a druggy,” Luca says quietly, shoulders drooping.“Please stop.”

But his “Ali” has no intention of stopping.She is furious.And fed up.

“No, Luca.This has gone too far.You said Dante wouldn’t get hurt.They would just rough him up.I’m starting to realize nothing that comes out of your mouth is ever the truth.”

“Where’s Dante?”I beg.

“Tell her, Luca.Tell her what you did.You want to be the bad boy.So own up to your shit.Tell Danica how you sold out your own brother to pay off your fucking gambling debts.Tell her about all the cocaine.About how you promised to help them get into Dante’s study so they could blackmail the family for more money and you could pay off your debts.How you got me to help you drug Dante’s coffee so he’d be defenseless, how I spiked the two guards’ food and gave them all food poisoning.Tell her how you promised this would be the last time, this would solve all our problems and we’d finally be free, done with it all.How you were ready to make an honest woman out of me.Tell her the truth for once, Luca.”Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

“You didn’t?Luca?Tell me she’s making this up,” I look at him in desperation, not willing to accept the words.

“No one was supposed to get hurt…” Luca lowers his eyes shamefully.

“Where is he?”I ask for the umpteenth time.

“I don’t know.They were supposed just to take him and then demand money.I was going to transfer it to them as blackmail money to pay off my debts and they were going to let him go.Easy peasy.But they haven’t even called yet…”

“You’re an idiot, Luca.They fucking double-crossed you.The same way you double-crossed your own brother.Howcouldyou?”I clench my fists, listening to my knuckles crack.

“I had no choice.I asked him for help.He didn’t help me.He never fucking helps.It is always just about the business.Or you,” he glares at me in accusation.

“You gave your brother to the literal fucking enemy, Luca.He doesn’t deserve this.”

My desperation is quickly turning to anger.

“I called him, you know.He didn’t even bother to answer.Last week.Where was he then?When they were beating the shit out of me?They cut off my fucking little toe, Danica!Did Dante even bother to answer his phone?No!”He is pacing around the room.Alicia stands to the side, leaning against the bookcase, arms crossed over her chest.The look of a woman who is done with this shit.

“Is that why you were limping at the banquet?”

“It’s beside the point, but yes.He didn’t even answer…he never does.”

“You know that’s not true, Luca.He’s always bailing you out of shit.”

“Ha!Is that what he tells people?”Luca scoffs.“I—”

He’s interrupted by Emilio’s unexpected entry, carrying a tray.“Miss Matthews?”

?

Chapter fifteen

Lost

TimepassesbutIdon’t know in what measure.

I’m blindfolded.There is no telling day from night.There is just darkness—darkness and discomfort.

I’m still tied to this fucking chair, held captive by some unknown enemy for some unknown reason.

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