Page 67 of Winter
Inca bridled a little. “Of course. He’s not my keeper either.”
“Just kidding. Jeez, youdoneed to chill out.”
“Sorry.”
Inca triedto relax and tried to forget about the scene with Olly. Luna let her off the hook for a while, distracting her. They chatted about work as Luna had flitted around the tiny kitchen of her apartment, throwing together the makings of a red-hot chili. They balanced their plates on their laps as they ate, watching re-runs ofFriends. Inca felt the tension of the day leave her. She helped Luna do the dishes after, and then they collapsed back on the couch.
“Okay.” Luna grinned slightly as Inca rolled her eyes, then reached over to squeeze her hand as she saw the exhaustion in her friend’s eyes. “Inks, I’m sorry, but you need to talk to me. I feel like you’ve been withdrawing from me since Tommaso—and I think Tyler and Nancy feel the same way. The only person you seem to have time for is Tommaso or his brother. You really at the ‘living with stage’ with him already?”
Inca pulled her legs up to her chest. “I’m notliving with him, if that’s what you’re asking. It was just a matter of safety; then we got snowed in.”
“Seems like it. Sure he doesn’t think you are officially living together?”
Inca rubbed her eyes. “I don’t know.” She winced at the fake sentiment of her reply.
You know what Tommaso wants. What Raffaelo wants. What you want.
She got up and paced around the living room. “I just want to get on with my life, sell the business, move,” and she turned away from Luna then, “move away. I can’t move on here with Scarlett’s murder and how things are with your brother.” She heard Luna’s distressed gasp, but when she turned back to her friend, Luna’s face was hard.
“So, running away?”
Inca sat back down next to her. “No. Well, not exactly. I’m going to Italy with Tommaso and Raffaelo for a while,” she added, seeing Luna’s expression. “Just getting my shit together, is all.” Mentioning her trip, she thought about what Olly had said earlier.
“Luna, you’ve met Tommaso and seen us together. Do you honestly think Tommaso would try to kill me? Or be capable of murdering all those women?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t think a little distance is the worst idea.” And for some reason, Inca felt a wave of terror at her friend’s reply. She shook her head, staring at her friend’s pale face.
“I don’t believe you.”
She got up from the couch and paced around, trying to keep calm. Luna watched her in silence, gnawing on her bottom lip.
“I know, Inca. I know he’s my brother, and I have to side with him, but there’s something about those twins. Both of them. Both of them seem like they’re … obsessed with you.”
Inca felt her face grow hot and she looked away from Luna’s penetrating stare.
“Oh, my God.” Luna breathed out a long, shocked breath. “You’re sleeping with both of them.”
“Shut up,” Inca hissed as if anyone could hear them. “It’s not like that.”
Except it was. It wasexactlylikethat. She sat down and put her head in her hands.What have I become?
“I have to say, I’m impressed.” And Luna really did sound it, to Inca’s amazement. “Of everyone I’ve known, you are the last person I would expect to do that.”
“Can we please not talk about my sex life?” Inca was trembling now, and Luna put a hand on her arm.
“Inca … it’s okay. But maybe we shouldn’t tell anyone. Especially not Olly.”
Inca listened to her in silence, staring out of the window over to Olly’s house. The light from a TV flickered at the window. Otherwise, the house was still. Luna watched her. Finally, Inca looked at her, and her eyes were cold.
“Tommaso would never hurt me. Ever.”
Luna hesitated. “Olly’s been watching your house. We know this. He’s crazy jealous over Tommaso. Would he have seen anything?” Her voice trailed off as Inca flushed bright red and dropped her gaze. Luna gave a little gasp of distress. “Inca?”
“I don’t see how Olly could have seen us, but you never know. I still don’t believe Tommaso would hurt me. I never will believe that. I’d rather believe Olly would be the one who …”
Luna looked as if she would be sick any moment. Inca went to her and put her arms around her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. You have to stop worrying about me; it’s not your responsibility. I can look after myself. Your brother is a mess, yes, but he’s not violent.”
Luna pulled away from her. “I think you’re blinkered when it comes to Tommaso. Olly wouldn’t have said anything if he didn’t have reason to believe what he said.”
