Page 52 of His Vicious Desire

Remembering it, I laugh because of how crazy it sounds.“She wanted to thank me for not trying to go after Luca.”

“What?”He presses the button to start the car.

“I thought the same thing.I guess she thinks Luca’s all that, and women can’t help themselves going after him.”I watch him pull out his cell phone from his inner pocket and start typing.“Are you telling Sandro?”

“Yeah, he and Luca were worried Tracy was being a mean girl and trying to intimidate you.They asked me to take you home to find out what she said.”

I deflate, sad I was wrong.How stupid of me to think he volunteered to drive me home so he could spend time alone with me.Even Luca was worried…wait.“Luca was worried she was a mean girl, too?”

After reading a text, he sends back a short reply and nods.“She’s been different since he refused her request to go with him to Chicago to spend Christmas with his family.Put your seatbelt on.”

Annoyed at him and myself, I put on the seatbelt with a click and stare out the window.

Tossing the gift I gave him into the center console, he shakes his head at me.“What the hell with the gift, Bianca?”

“Why are you being an asshole?It felt wrong to get Luca something and not you.”I lie through my teeth.Seeing them, I knew he would use them.I wanted him to use them and think of me.If I’m haunted by his ass, it’s only fair.“I was surprised when she wanted to go to the restroom with me.I didn’t even think she knew my name.”

“She knows who you are.Luca probably got her interested in you by being insistent if you wanted to come tonight, that you could—despite Sandro’s preference that you not attend.When Bobby texted he was on his way with you, she seemed annoyed Luca was glad you were coming.”

“Why was Luca glad I came?”

One shoulder lifts.“I have no idea.But I’m sure once she saw you in that dress—which is too damn short—she wondered why Luca was glad you came too.”

“My dress is not too short.”I roll my eyes, annoyed he can’t see me doing it.The lights from the parking garage don’t reach past the windshield.“Joanna wanted me to wear one that was even shorter.If I wasn’t already annoying Sandro by going, I might have worn it.”

“Why the fuck did Joanna want you to wear a short dress?”He practically spits out the question.

It’s my turn to shrug.“She’s on me to get a boyfriend.If even she has time to have a boyfriend, then she says I should too.”

“Hmm.”Comes out of the dark.

“What does that mean?Even Sandro agreed with her.I didn’t think it was a good idea to remind him in front of her, though, that the last time I tried giving a guy my phone number, he disappeared.”

“It means I thought you were doing double majors and in a hurry to graduate.If you weren’t doing those two things, then maybe you’d have time for a boyfriend.Have you changed your mind?”

“No.Although when I finally told Sandro why I wanted to do the double major in business and marketing, he wasn’t happy.And has already tried to talk me out of it once.”I can’t believe it’s taken until now to realize it.“Where’s your awful music?”

“My awful music is off because I had to answer a call before I got to the hotel.I can turn it on if you want.”His hand goes up to the stereo, and I push it away from the touchscreen.

“No, please.I’m sorry.”There’s that damn electricity all these years later, and it’s still there.“Sorry.”

“Why do you want to get the double major?”

“I’m shocked Sandro didn’t tell you.I want to get a double because I want to work in the main hotel.”I thought Sandro told him everything.

“When did you tell him this?”

“A few weeks ago, when I got stressed about almost failing Spanish.He’s all, don’t worry, chill out.He actually said he’s more worried that I don’t party and go out.I’m aware he means well.But it’s almost worse the way he urges me not to work so hard.As if what I’m working toward isn’t important.It’s important to me.”

“Ah.”Is nothing more than a whisper.

“Okay, now what doesthatmean?”

“It means I figured out why Luca wanted you to come tonight.If Sandro didn’t talk to me about you wanting to work at the hotel, then he talked to Luca.Probably with the hope Luca would nix it.But Luca didn’t—Sandro would have told you if he had.Which means Luca wants you to work at the hotel.”

My stomach twists, and I’m not sure if it’s good or bad.“He does?”

“The thing about the mafia is it’s a family business in every way.To have someone on the business side who is aware of what we really do is a benefit, which is why he’d welcome you with open arms into the hotel.And why Sandro was so pissed you came tonight.With his desire for you to be out of mafia business, my guess is he thinks it’s too close for you to be in the hotel.”

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