Marcus was everything she ever wanted and more, but now he felt distant and out of reach.
“Lana?” Freddy called from the doorway. “Can I come in?”
She sniffed loudly and revealed her blotchy red face. “Yes.”
He trotted into the room and bounced on the bed beside her. “You need to call him. That woman could be anyone. He owns Verto Veneri, Lana. There will always be women hanging around.”
Rubbing her wet face, she nodded. “I guess so. It’s just a shock. I’m just feeling really fragile without him here.” Her voice cracked and tears streaked her cheeks.
“I brought your mobile. Call him, honey.” He chucked the phone onto her lap as she heaved herself up the bed and propped herself up at the headboard.
She plucked a tissue from the box on the nightstand and blew her nose. With a heavy sigh she selected call and waited. After a few seconds the ring tone disconnected and went straight to his voice mail.
Her muscles tightened when she hit redial and reached his answer machine again. On the third and final attempt, the line went dead without even ringing.
12
She was wide awake and propped up with pillows when Marcus entered her room after midnight.
He sauntered across the room sporting a playful grin on his dark speckled jaw. “Hey, beautiful!” he drawled.
As he drew closer, his eyes looked puffy and tired.
“Were you ghosting me?” Her voice was shaky. “I called a few times.”
His back stiffened and the grin subsided. “I was caught up with business.”
“Right.” Her gaze dropped to her fingers that wrapped her mobile phone. “You could’ve called me.” She chucked the phone to the edge of the mattress. “You were spotted going into The Fitz with a woman.”
He scowled. “And…?”
“Who was she, Marcus?”
His expression hardened. “An employee, Lana. That’s all.”
“Really!” she scoffed. “I might be a little vulnerable at the minute, but I’m not a fucking idiot. Who is she to you?” A warning bell clanged in her skull. “Was she the business that needed you in person?”
His eyes narrowed. “This is stupid, Lana. It was Donna Marie. The Verto Veneri general manager. I was with her most of the day, sorting out PR for the club.”
A whoosh of air left her lungs. She knew who Donna Marie was, but, for some irrational reason, the idea of him being with her all day made her insanely jealous.
“Guess what, Marcus, I got on fine without you.” She half lied. “If you thought I was at home pining for you, then you’re wrong!”
Marcus closed his eyes briefly and exhaled slowly through his nose. “I was sorting out all the shit that went on in the club with Carl and Rory.”
Lana sucked in a gasp.
“I was working, Lana. It’s not as if I ran back to my ex!”
Her jaw dropped. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
His face hardened. “Let’s face it, Lana, you were going to marry Rory, and even when he told you that he woke up beside a dead girl, you still ran to him like a love-struck puppy.”
“Marcus, I’ve told you, I was trying to help him, that’s all, and I nearly paid for that decision with my life. God, I paid for it, and I’m still fucking paying for it. Every damn night. Every time I hear a noise, or whenever I’m alone that bastard Carl is there, taunting me.” Her shoulders hunched and she wrapped a protective arm around her stomach, seeking lonely comfort.
The pain of her memories added tenfold to the hurt of Marcus’s possible betrayal.
His jaw slackened as ragged sobs bubbled from her throat. The creases on his forehead deepened.
