Page 156 of Savior

His eyes go wide as I reach over him and open the door.

“Should I be more worried about how hot that sounded?”

I shrug, motioning for him to get out of the blacked-out SUV Ardesia had sent for us. “I don’t know, should you?”

“I’m much older than you. I don’t think you should praise me that way.”

I roll my eyes. “But in sexual years, Father, I’m much more experienced.”

He steps out, putting his hand out to help me onto the street, and I grab my bag and take it.

“We’ll discuss this excursion further after we’ve talked to Myra, hm? Once all the dust has settled and you feel up to it,” he says, reminding me how I have to talk to Myra and cut ties with her.

I nod, letting him lead me into our building and apartment. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

When we’re in the elevator, he wraps around me and leans down, his lips hovering over my ear tantalizingly. “God, I hope you do.”

I meetMyra with Luca at theAriston Coffee Baron 5thAvenue. It’s a sleek little coffee shop with bright white walls and floors. The mahogany colors of the tables and chairs are offset by pink loungers lining the back wall and faux plants all around the room.

I swirl my iced coffee again, and Luca reaches over and places his hand over mine to steady me.

“It’s going to be alright.”

I nod, not fully believing him.

When Myra sits across from me, it only takes one look at my face to realize why she’s here.

Her fake smile falls, and her eyes go devoid of emotion.

“You know, then?” she asks, monotone.

I search for worry or shame on her features but find none, and anger digs deeper into my soul. I told Luca I’d try to forgive her and move on with my life after telling her today that I’m done with her, but I don’t know how easy that will be, judging by the cunning look twisting her features.

She sits back in her chair, arms crossing over her chest.

“Yes. I know,” I answer, sitting back and mirroring her stance.

“Then why am I here?” she asks.

“Why are you here? Are you fucking kidding me?!” I say it a bit too loud, and Luca reaches under the table and squeezes my knee.

I clear my throat and look around at the eyes I’ve pulled over to our corner table.

“You sold me out to save your ass, Myra? Really? After all I’ve been through in my life, you used me as your fucking pawn? How much truer to your stereotype can you be?”

She gasps, eyes going feral. “Oh, get over yourself and your sob backstory. I did what I had to do to survive, just like you do when you flash your fucking tits to every man in that club every night.”

I no longer work at the club; she wouldn’t know that.

And even so, I enjoyed what I did. It gave me a power I never had when I needed it most. I owed her no explanation. Giovanni offered me my spot when I got in touch with him a little over a week ago, but I politely turned it down, wanting to take my life in a new direction now that it’s changed so much.

“My sob backstory.” I scoff. “I wanted to meet and hear your explanation. I thought you might even be sorry, Myra. I guess you’re not, though.”

She looks away from me, arms still crossed and body rigid. “I am sorry I did what I did, but it was necessary. He would’ve killed me.”

“Mmm, so you decided that your life mattered more than mine? Because he was on track to kill me when the Ricci family stepped in and saved me.”

Her eyes snap to mine. Now I have her full attention. “The Ricci family knows I sold you out?”