Page 81 of Ruthless King
I can feel Luca’s glare boring into the side of my face as I stare gaping at my best friend. “I, um, lost my phone and all my contacts.” I chew on the inside of my cheek. “You saw my dad?” I’m such a sucker; I still worry about him sometimes. “How’d he look?”
She averts her gaze. “You know, okay.”
Drunk, disheveled, looking like a homeless man most likely. How embarrassing.
Luca steps between us and offers a hand. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid this is all my fault. I’ve kidnapped your friend and kept her prisoner in my penthouse.”
Rose giggles as his big hand envelops hers, and I let out an uneasy laugh. “You could kidnap me any day, stranger. Wait a second, you’re—” She taps her temple. “Luca Valentino! You were on the cover ofThe New Yorkera few months ago.”
“Guilty as charged.”
“Ooh, that accent is so sexy.” She leans close and whisper-hisses, “Holy shit. Are you guys together?”
“We are.” Luca’s arm settles across my shoulders, and he tucks me into his side.
Heat blossoms across my cheeks, and I’m sure I’m smiling like apazza.
“Oh my God, Stells. How did this happen?”
“It’s a long story,” I mumble.
Rose rifles through her clutch and pulls out her cell. “Well, give me your new number! We have so much to catch up on.”
I throw Luca a pointed glare over my shoulder. Thebastardonever did let me have my phone privileges back. He reaches for his phone in his jacket pocket. “Give me yours, and I’ll send it to Stella when we get home.”
I hold up my new sparkly Gucci clutch. “My new cell wouldn’t fit in mine.”
“Girl, that purse is gorgeous!” My friend’s eyes nearly pop out of her head as they dart back and forth between us.
“Yup, I’ve been living the dream, Rose.”
Luca rolls his eyes, but the corner of his lip twitches.
She squeezes my hands, bright green irises alive with excitement. “I cannot wait to catch up.”
“Me too.” I pause, my brain finally starting to function after this unexpected encounter. “Who are you here with?” I met my friend at community college two years ago, and she has no more business being here than I do.
She waves a nonchalant hand, motioning toward the bar. “Some guy who came into Dr. Winchester’s office for therapy.”
“Rose! Isn’t that against work policy?” My friend is studying to be a psychologist, and I am fairly certain not dating patients is rule number one. Unlike my mob boss, my best friend is not a stickler for the rules.
Her dainty shoulders lift again. “He’s notmypatient. Not yet anyway.”
I shake my head at my crazy friend. There’s a reason she picked this field of study.
Behind me, Luca suddenly goes rigid. I feel every muscle in his body tense, and I follow his gaze.
Cazzo, Dante.
CHAPTER37
MY COGLIONE BROTHER
Luca
“Fuck,” I snarl as Dante approaches with Caroline wrapped around his arm. Mycoglionebrother knows I won’t make a scene in front of the woman. Her father is too important in the Manhattan business and social scene.
Stella’s friend spins around as Dante nears. “Damn, he’s hot.” Her gaze flickers back and forth between us. “Is that your brother?”
