Page 97 of Flawed

Luca

Since my altercationwith the O'Connors, I've stayed away from the club. My ban was lifted a few months ago, but Jacopo's kept me busy redeeming myself.

As long as I stayed on cleanup duty, I couldn't get anywhere near Jacopo. So earlier this week, Angelo and Tully met with me. They fed me "inside information" on the O'Connors' newest gambling house. I told Jacopo about it and suggested he allow me to rob it then burn it to the ground.

He approved the idea, and everything got put into motion. But it cost Angelo a pretty penny—over a million dollars in cash that I delivered to Jacopo. Tully's sons added dead bodies of men they killed earlier that week, and I burned the place to the ground.

It worked, and now I'm back in Jacopo's good graces

I didn't mind not going to the club, but now that Chanel is here, I'm furious.

She doesn't belong here.

If anyone's touched her, I'll kill them.

I need to get her out of here.

When Chanel walked into the club with Pina, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. She's the same yet different. Her hair is slightly shorter. It's now brown with blonde highlights in it. The confident expression I witnessed glimpses of is no longer slivers. She carries herself as if she owns the place. And the curves on her body...

Fuck me. I'm ruined.

The eighteen-year-old young lady no longer exists. She's come into her own. I don't need to talk to her to notice. But she's sexier than I remember. She no longer resembles a sweet, innocent, semi-naive young woman. She's a voluptuous vixen, and there isn't a man in all of New York who wouldn't notice her and think lewd thoughts.

Which is only partly why I've kept a close eye on her since she arrived. I've lurked in the shadows or crowds, waiting to make my move.

Pina finally left her side. It made me happy I could approach her, but I was also pissed. Pina had no right to bring her here or leave her alone in this cesspool. I don't know what she's thinking.

Then again, I don't understand why Dante allows Pina to roam freely inside this place.

Chanel's green eyes turn to flames, and the hard-on I've been fighting all night wins. My entire body aches. I've missed the way she wears her emotions. Plus, she still smells like strawberries.

"But this is a place for you?" she seethes.

"I hate this place," I state.

"Then why are you here?" she challenges.

I glance behind me. There's a crowd outside the window several rooms away, but no one seems to be looking at us.

Fuck this.

I spin her and move her toward the staircase.

"Luca! What are you doing!" she cries out.

"Be quiet," I order and open the door.

"What are you—"

I push her against the wall and put my hand over her mouth. Her eyes widen, and fear fills them, making me want to die on the spot. But this isn't the time to make nice. I keep my voice low, unsure if anyone else is in the stairwell, asserting, "We're leaving. You can ask me whatever you want when we get in the car. Until then, don't speak. Do you understand me?"

"I'm not leaving with you," she argues.

"The hell you're not. Now, either do as I tell you, or I'll carry you out of here kicking and screaming," I warn.

She glares at me.

I add, "Don't test me, stellina."

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