Now I want that. Thanks.
The conversation flowed easily until I heard a knock at the door. I jumped guiltily, closing the chat window down before I heard Mom greeting Steve warmly. I stood up, fixing a smile on my face as he strolled towards me.
“Hey babe, something smells nice,” he commented, kissing me on the cheek briefly. He dropped his bags on the floor before heading into the kitchen. I watched as he tugged off his jacket, throwing it over a chair as he sipped my wine. I felt a twinge of annoyance but decided to let it go.
Everyone had quirks that annoyed us, right?
17
ALICE
I was raging internally.
Throughout dinner, I glared at Lucas, refusing to eat a morsel of food.
He sighed, his fingers meeting in a steeple motion, resting under his lips. His eyes burned into mine as he nodded at my plate.
“Not hungry?”
“Funnily enough, no. Actually, Lucas, I’m going home.” I drained the glass of wine while he narrowed his eyes at me with irritation.
“Cara, you need to keep your head about you. You’re losing it like some silly little girl.” Lucas snapped, easing back in his chair.
“I’m not your fuckingCara, nor do I wish to maintain a clear head. I’m sick of you fucking with me, so I’m going home. Have a wonderful time in Italy, Mr. Deacon. Thanks for dinner.”
I stood abruptly, and he stared at me in disbelief. I threw my napkin onto the dinner plate before turning back to him one last time.
“Don’t follow me,” I ordered stiffly, gathering my things.
His delicious eyes blinked slowly as he stood.
“Fine. My driver will-”
“No, thank you. Consider this my notice. Find yourself another...personal assistant,” I hissed, walking towards the door, tears blinding my vision. I couldn’t look back because if I did, I would give in to him. I had to accept that no matter how attractive he was, no matter how insane the sex was, in the end, his business would always come first.
Not me.
I gulped in the fresh air as I pushed the doors open, turning away from the sleek black car that waited out front. I prayed he wouldn’t come after me because I doubted my resolve would be strong enough to resist. My heels clicked on the sidewalk as I glanced around, becoming uneasy as I noticed I was the only person on the street.
“Fuck,” I muttered, turning a corner and stopping to rifle through my bag for my phone. It was colder than I had thought, despite my adrenaline pumping through my veins from ending everything with my boss. I was annoyed I’d even left my job, that cushy little number.
Mom wouldn’t be pleased, but then Dad would be. You win some; you lose some. I couldn’t believe I had contemplated speaking to my Dad about potentially being with a goddamn gangster. He would’ve chained me to the goddamn ground if he knew.
Knew that I’d started to fall for Lucas Deacon, a criminal mastermind and businessman.
But I refused to be Lucas’s whore while he married some Italian beauty to help him run his empire. I brought the Uber app up on my phone when suddenly something damp covered over my mouth, strong fumes invading my nostrils as I clawed desperately at the hand that held it there to no avail. My eyes closed as strong arms lifted me, my body weakening as I tried to look at my kidnapper.
Everything was going black quickly, and the last thing I heard was my phone clattering to the floor.
Lucas
I paid the bill, glancing back to the door where Alice had just left through. She was a fiery fucker, that was for sure. She irritated me beyond belief, her lack of empathy for my situation proving to me that she was just another broad. I nodded my thanks to the waiter as I walked out, marching to my car. She’d refused a ride home, and it wasn’t my place to babysit the girl.
Nero nodded at me as he opened the door, pursing his lips with disapproval. I raised an eyebrow to him, making the expression disappear from his face instantly.
“What is it?” I sighed, my leg halfway in the car.
“It’s late, Boss. The young lady went in that direction, alone,” he stared at the floor as he nodded behind us.
