Page 106 of Flawed

When I hear the shower start, I peek inside the room. Water runs down over Luca's beautiful body, cascading over his muscles. Then I see the birthmark on his shoulder, forcing me to tear my eyes off him.

It's now or never.

I toss on my dress and shoes then sneak out of his penthouse. The moment I step outside, a taxi pulls up to the curb. Relief hits me, and I jump in it. When I'm several streets away, my insides start to calm.

Guilt, regret, fear, and the pain of already missing Luca all hit me. I'm an exhausted mess when the taxi driver pulls up at my building.

I pay him, get out, enter my building, then freeze.

Massimo sits in a chair, a disapproving expression on his face. He crosses his arms.

"What are you doing here?" I question.

"You want to have this conversation here or in private?" he asks.

My gut sinks… The club.

He's pissed.

Damn Pina!

"Private," I answer, then continue toward the elevator.

He follows, and we say nothing until we're in my condo.

I state, "I'd offer you a glass of something, but I'm tired, so let's get this lecture over with."

He scowls. "The club isn't a place for you."

His words ignite a fight within me. I tell myself it has nothing to do with being able to see Luca again. Yet, I'm not sure why I decide to go to bat with Massimo. It's the first time I've ever done it. Perhaps it's because I can't have the one person I want, even when he's within reach. So I retort, "Because I'm a woman and you're a man? Or because it's okay for everyone, including Pina, to go but me? Oh wait, maybe it's because I'm supposed to be a naive, boring, single mother who needs everything vanilla in her life?"

His face drops. "I never said that."

"You didn't need to," I fume.

"Chanel, it's not a safe place," he states.

"Save it! My father works for you. I work for you. I'm not innocent, and neither are you," I point out.

He scrubs his face, adding, "Look, I know there are things that happen on the plane—"

"Things! Don't even try—"

"It's not the same thing as the club!" he shouts.

I glare at him, take a few deep breaths, then assert, "I've never judged you, Massimo. Not once."

"I'm not judging you," he claims.

"No? Then why are you here?" I challenge.

"There are dangerous men in the club," he reiterates.

"Yeah. I know. And Pina told me the rules."

Confusion fills his expression. "Then why are you fighting me about this? Why would you want to be in the presence of those types of men?"

Men like Luca?

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