Page 118 of Flawed

When my mother opens the door, everything becomes clear.

"I'm so glad you're here," my mother states.

Zara throws herself into my mother's arms. She's still Grandma's girl. She and my mom still have their special bond, and while sometimes it makes me feel left out, right now, I'm grateful for it.

Before I know what I'm saying, I blurt out, "I need to go somewhere. Can you watch Zara?"

"Where are you going?" my mother questions.

"I have somewhere I need to be. Watch Zara," I demand as I leave.

I hustle through the building and get back in my car.

I give my driver directions to Luca's penthouse. When I get there, I run to the front desk and tell security that I need to speak with him.

The man picks up the phone, but after a few seconds, he shakes his head. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but he's not here."

I close my eyes then pull it together. I take a seat in the lobby and wait.

For hours, I curse myself for never getting his phone number. I wait so long that it turns dark. It passes midnight. It's not until the early morning hours, when the sun is almost starting to rise, that he finally walks into the building.

Exhaustion is all over him. His hair is disheveled, and his eyes are bloodshot. He freezes when he sees me.

I rise.

"Stellina, what are you doing here?" he inquires, moving toward me.

"I need to talk to you."

He puts his arm around my waist and leads me to the elevator. We don't speak until we get into his penthouse. I blurt out, "What have they done with Pina?"

He shakes his head. "I don't know."

"Don't you lie to me, Luca! You're an Abruzzo," I hurl.

He stares at the ceiling.

"Luca, tell me where she is," I demand.

He slides his hands on my cheeks.

I push him away. "Do not touch me! Tell me where she is!"

"I don't know," he repeats with pity in his eyes.

Emotion gets the best of me. I sob, "She's my best friend."

He steps closer, and I retreat. He takes another step, and I retreat farther until my back is against the wall. He pins his forearms on either side of my head so I can't escape.

He's too close. The years I've waited for him to be this close again were agony. And all my senses perk up just as before.

I can smell his weed, white musk, and patchouli scent. The scar on his cheek somehow looks deeper. The tiny wrinkles around his eyes have exponentially multiplied. It's all a reminder of how we're both older, yet nothing has changed. He still affects me the same way as when I was eighteen and naive.

His breath merges into mine, sending tingles throughout my skin. I reprimand myself for thinking about anything besides my best friend.

Tears fall fast. "Please, Luca. If you ever cared about me," I beg.

"I've always cared about you, stellina. I love you, for God's sake," he reveals.

---