Page 11 of Hard Lessons

The expression on his face changed in a split second when Luca set the sole of his boot on David’s ass and kicked him into the room.

“What the?” David staggered forward then spun around, half stooped as he flailed to hang onto a dresser. “Who the hell...?”

“Am I?” Luca curled his arm around Serena’s waist and ushered her into the room. He then slammed the door closed.

“Yes, who the bloody hell are you?” David seemed to gather himself, straightened and tilted his chin.

“I’m the guy whose woman you’ve been groping with your sweaty little hands for the last hour.” Luca stepped up to him. His shoulders seemed impossibly wide as he loomed forward. “I’m the guy who knows what disgusting thoughts were going through your head when you picked up that key and hired a room.” He fisted David’s tie and pressed his knuckles beneath his chin.

David gasped and went onto his tiptoes as his torso elongated. “Leave me be.”

“Leave you be?” Luca gave a hoarse chuckle. “Why would I want to do that?”

“She... she didn’t tell me she was married.”

“She doesn’t have to be married to belong to someone,” Luca growled. “Though I know you’re a married man, David Watson.”

“What? How do you know my...?”

Luca released him, shoving him backward so he sat on the bed with a bump. “Are you really so dim?”

Serena checked the nails on her right hand. Had she broken one sliding it up the banister? No, seemed okay.

“Dim?” David repeated.

“Yeah, you really think a beautiful woman like that would want you?”

Serena set her attention on David then slid her hands from her breasts, over the dip of her waist and the curve of her hips.

“Stop it, Serena,” Luca snarled. “You’ve done enough already.”

“Don’t say my name.” She frowned at him and folded her arms.

Luca grimaced. He knew he’d messed up.

“Serena. Serena what? I’ll need to know for when I go to the police. This is... this is... not on.” David reached into his pocket.

“I’ll take that.” Luca whipped the phone from his hands.

“Hey.”

“Giovanni Bianchi will be interested to know what communication you’ve had with Parvo. I’m guessing this little beauty will give up the secrets.”

“Giovanni Bianchi.” David’s mouth hung open, then after a moment his eyes seemed to clear a little, as though a shot of fear had sobered him up the way a cup of coffee might.

“Si, Giovanni Bianchi. He’s none too happy with you,” Luca said.

David gulped.

“You’ve been double crossing my boss,” Luca said. “And not holding up your end of several bargains from what I hear. They were lucrative for you, but left Giovanni seriously out of pocket and a tight spot when it came to... the logistics of his business interests.”

Serena walked to the window and looked out. Beardy was still waiting opposite, in the doorway of a bank with a picture of a black horse on its sign.

“Let me go. You have no right...” David said. “I have no idea who this Giovanni fellow is.”

Luca cracked his knuckles, first on his right hand then his left. “You know what I hate almost as much as someone creeping all over my woman?”

David twirled his thumbs and shook his head. “No.”

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