Born in Blood Collection Volume 1 - Cora Reilly Page 0,49

letter. Another moan drifted out of the room, and I peeked inside. Heat rushed up my face, then seemed to drain out of my body completely. Grace Parker was on her knees and forearms on the bed while Luca fucked her from behind. The slaps of his body hitting her ass filled the silence, only occasionally disrupted by her encouraging cries and moans. Luca’s eyes were closed as his fingers dug into her hips and he rammed into her over and over again. Grace turned her head to meet my eyes, and smiled triumphantly. Bile traveled up my throat. So this was what Luca had been up to the last two nights.

For a crazy moment, I considered taking the gun out and throwing it at her head. I wouldn’t shoot her, even if I wanted to. I wasn’t a mobster. I wasn’t Luca. My shoulders slumped and I took a step back. I needed to get away. Luca’s eyes shot open, hand reaching for a gun on the bed beside him, but then he found me. He jerked, then froze.

“What’s the matter, Luca?” Grace asked, wiggling her ass against him. He was still buried inside her. Luca and I stared at each other, and I could feel tears gathering in my eyes.

I whirled around and ran. I needed to get away. Just away. The moment I stepped out of the elevator on the first floor, I began shaking, but I didn’t stop. I rushed outside, almost bumping into Romero, who must have followed my phone’s GPS. He stumbled back, looked at my face, then at the building, and his eyes widened. He knew. Everyone seemed to know, except for stupid me.

I stormed away, running faster than I’d ever run in my life. When I crossed the street toward the underground station, I caught a glimpse of Luca in an unbuttoned shirt and pants staggering out of the door. Romero was already chasing me.

But I was fast. Years of working out on the treadmill finally paid off. I practically flew down the steps, fumbling for the Metro card my sisters and I had purchased before the wedding, after we’d forced Umberto to show us the subway. I managed to squeeze into the already closing doors of a subway wagon. I wasn’t even sure where it was going. But as I saw Luca and Romero heading for the tracks, all that mattered was that it was taking me away. Away from the triumphant smile Grace had given me, from the sound of Luca’s body pounding her ass, from his betrayal.

On our wedding night I’d told Luca I didn’t hate him. I wished he’d ask me again tonight. I sank down on a free seat, but I was still shaking. Where was I going?

I couldn’t run away. Luca was probably already sending every soldier at his disposal after me. I let out a choked laugh and got a few strange looks from other passengers. What did they know? They were free.

I grabbed my mobile and called Gianna. She answered at the second ring. “Aria?”

“I caught Luca in bed with Grace.” More people looked my way. What did it even matter? They didn’t know who I was. The wedding announcements in the newspaper had never included a photo of me. I really didn’t need any more attention.

“Holy fuck.”

“Yeah.” I got out at the next station as I began telling the whole story to Gianna. I quickly moved away from the subway, because that would be the place they’d look first. Eventually I landed in a loud and dark place where burgers and beer were sold. I ordered a Coke and a burger, though I had no intention of drinking or eating.

“Where are you now?” Gianna asked.

“Somewhere. I don’t even know. In a restaurant, sort of.”

“Be careful.” I didn’t say anything. “Are you crying?”

I was. Again I stayed silent.

“Don’t. Not when I’m not around to console you and kick Luca’s fucking ass. I knew he was an asshole. Fucking bastard. You haven’t slept with him yet, right?”

“No, I haven’t. That’s probably why he’s off cheating on me.”

“Don’t you dare blame yourself, Aria. Any decent man would have kept his dick in his pants or used his hand.”

The burger and Coke arrived, and I thanked the waitress who lingered beside my table for a couple of seconds, her gaze focusing on my tears. I gave her a smile and she finally took the hint and left.

“What will you do now? Are you thinking of coming back