Page 56 of On Ice

“Now,” Luca growls, his eyes pinned on me like a laser.

I’m praying that I’ll hear the sound of sirens in the distance, but all I can really hear is the blood rushing through my head, and Luca’s jagged breathing. Matteo reluctantly leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

I jump when the 911 operator says something, but I can’t make out what she said because my hand still covers the speaker. Luca holds out his hand and I stare at him blankly.

“Give me the phone,” he says softly.

“The police are already on their way. I’m on the phone with 911.” My voice is hoarse and I hate that I sound scared. But I suppose he already knows I’m terrified. I don’t live in his violent world and he must know this is like a nightmare to me.

His mouth thins. “Give me my fucking phone, Evan.”

I hesitate and then hold it out to him. What’s the point of resisting? It’ll only make him angrier and he looks angry enough. Besides, 911 already knows the situation.

He grabs it and puts it to his ear. “Thank you. Tell Emilio I owe him one.” He hangs up, tucking his phone into the back pocket of his jeans.

Confused, I hold his icy gaze, and it takes me a second to grasp what just happened, what I just witnessed. Then a chill shivers through me as it sinks in just how screwed I am. No one is coming. There are no police on the way. There never were any cops coming. The woman on the phone was never going to help me. Not the minute she heard who I was calling about. I never had a chance.

Luca’s influence is like a cancer, spreading through every inch of the city. He’s always one step ahead of me. No one will be on my side. I’m not equipped to fight a man like Luca. I don’t know anyone who would be.

He stops a foot from me, and his eyes are so dark it’s like looking into a black hole. I don’t bother making excuses or asking for pity. I’m not going to beg for my life. If this is how it ends, then I’m going to take it like a man.

The smear of blood is still on his cheek, and he’s close enough I can see the side of his head where I hit him is stickywith blood. Good. I’m glad at least I got one hit in before he took me out.

“Are you stupid?” he asks, his voice dripping with malice. “Or just a fool?”

“I’m desperate,” I hiss.

His lips twitch against his teeth like he’s a leopard trying not to snarl. “I’m trying to keep you alive. This is how you repay me?”

My throat is so dry, when I try swallowing, I can’t quite accomplish the task, but manage to rasp, “You think I should be grateful to you for something? Are you joking? I don’t owe you anything, Luca.”

“You owe me your goddamnedlife, Evan.” He steps forward and grabs hold of the front of my shirt, pushing me up against the wall. His mouth is just inches from mine, and his breath warm. I’m terrified, and angry, and weirdly turned on with his lips almost touching mine. “I’m trying toprotectyou,” he grates out.

“So you say.” I struggle in his grip, but he holds me against the wall, using his body weight to keep me where he wants me.

“I brought you to myfamilyhome to keep you safe.” His voice is cold. “You think I’d do that if I wanted you dead?”

I say through gritted teeth, “I have no idea why you do anything.” I’m not lying either. Luca’s motives are a mystery to me. Trying to predict his behavior is like trying to predict the path of a tornado.

“If I wanted you dead. You’d already be dead.” He shoves me harder against the wall. “And after your little stunt tonight, you deserve to die.”

I push my face closer to his. “You want to kill me, Luca? Huh? Then do it. What the hell are you waiting for?”

The heat of his body against mine is doing weird things to me. I can feel he’s hard, and I’m embarrassed to admit, I’m hard too. We have the weirdest, most twisted dynamic I’ve ever experienced.

“I should just end you,” he growls, grabbing hold of my jaw. “What the fuck is so special about you?” His thumb swipes over my lower lip and his breathing becomes jagged. “Anyone else would be dead already.”

“I just want my life back,” I pant, lust coiling through me. It’s like all this monster has to do is touch me, and I’m useless.

“That life doesn’t exist anymore.” He presses his nose to my cheek, inhaling, and I shiver and instinctively turn my face toward him. I’m not thinking straight, that’s for damn sure. I’m driven by a perverse longing for this man I loathe.

Our mouths brush, and we share harsh, hot breaths for a few moments. I’m so hard it’s painful. His cologne mingles with the scent of dried blood and sweat. We stare into each other’s eyes, and the confusion I feel seems mirrored in his eyes. Am I losing my fucking mind from all the stress? Is that what’s happening here? I feel borderline insane wanting him like I do.

“Just stop fighting me at every step,” he says gruffly.“Please.”

His “please” does something to me. That one plaintive word lets loose a damn of feelings I’ve been holding in since the morning Luca revealed his true nature. The night we spent together imprinted on me in a way that’s unsettling. Even though Luca hasn’t behaved like the man I first met since that night, I see glimpses of that guy. Like now. He’s threatening mewith my life, but he’s also tenderly stroking my lip and saying please.

I’m learning a lot of disturbing things about myself since knowing Luca. Apparently I like it when a guy is an asshole. I’d never have thought that was a thing for me, but every time Luca touches me, I want more. It doesn’t seem to matter what he says or does, I still ache for more of him.

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