Page 14 of Legacy
“I was with an old friend.”
His eyebrow lifts. He steps back, sliding his hands into his pockets like he has all the time in the world. He looks me up and down like he’s already picked the lie apart.
“Which one?”
“Claire,” I say too quickly.
He smirks.
“Not unless the Claire who was sucking my dick last night has a clone, try again.”
“Gross,” I groan, pushing past him and collapsing onto the bed like I haven’t just had the most emotionally confusing night of my life.
He follows. His perfectly polished shoes leave little dents in the plush carpet with every deliberate step. He sits on the edge of the mattress, elbows on his knees, watching me like I’m a suspect under a hot interrogation lamp.
“You need to stop screwing my friends,” I mutter, grabbing a pillow and covering my face.
“My dick stayed in her mouth, nowhere else,” he shrugs, unapologetic. “Who were you with?”
His tone shifts again, quieter now.Deadlier.
He pulls the pillow from my face.
“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “Some guy I met at the party.”
Luciano shakes his head slowly, a sigh dragging through his chest like I’ve disappointed him on a molecular level. He pinches the bridge of his nose like I’m both the migraine and the disappointment that caused it.
“Adriana, you can go fuck around,” he says, voice clipped, “but keep your shit intact. Otherwise, you’re worthless in a trade.”
Trade.
Right. That’s what I am.
He rolls his eyes. “Is he political?”
I shrug. “Something about a family business.”
Luciano narrows his eyes, thinking. “Is he a Beaumont?”
“We didn’t exchange last names.”
“Good.” He nods once. “If you’re seeing him again, see if he’s good for business. Weak points, assets. You know the drill.”
I nod because I have to. Because not nodding leads to more questions, more pressure, more guilt. But inside?
I refuse.
My father and Luciano have used me as bait before. A whisper of affection here, a kiss there, and suddenly men who thought they were in love were handing over secrets and signing deals they didn’t understand until it was too late. But Angelo? I don’t want to do that to him.
Even if this is nothing. Even if it was supposed to be just one night.
“Good,” Luciano says as he heads for the door. “Take Rafael with you next time.”
The door clicks shut.
The silence is immediate and sharp, and I breathe out like I’ve been holding air in my lungs since he walked in.
I grab my phone and text Angelo.
