bring her back, would it? It won’t bring any of them back.” I feel sick. It’s a combination of being back in this house, Lucas and my uncle seemingly in cahoots, this conversation. Hell, it’s this whole situation.
“We don’t need to keep talking about it. You’re obviously uncomfortable.”
“How would anyone be comfortable with this topic? My God, are you even human, Lucas?”
“He won’t do it. That’s all. He has other plans.”
That makes me stop. “What other plans?”
My uncle drinks.
Lucas just studies me.
“What other plans?” I push.
Nothing.
I exhale loudly and weave my fingers into my hair.
“I like it short by the way,” he says.
I get to my feet, exasperated. When I turn to him, he leans back in his seat and puts his feet up on the coffee table as he sips his whiskey.
“You’re pretty. My brother got lucky there, too.”
“Are you for real? Is this a fucking joke to you? Is my life a joke?”
“I was just giving you a compliment. Relax.”
“Relax? When you’re spinning stories and confusing me even more than I already am?”
“I’m not spinning stories. That’s my brother’s area.”
“This was a mistake.” I walk to the door.
“Sit,” he commands, his tone darker. Not joking.
I give him the finger and keep walking, unzipping my purse as I go and hurrying my step when I hear him get to his feet. I reach inside to take out the switchblade and push the button to open it just as he catches my arm.
“Get your hand off me!”
“Cristina!” My uncle’s eyes grow wide.
Lucas looks down at the knife, cocking his head to the side. “Careful with that, sweetheart. It’s sharp. I know. I made it.” He sounds casual. Like me pulling a knife on him is nothing. “Now put that away before you hurt yourself and sit down.”
“I said, let me go.” He doesn’t. I keep the blade pointed at him. “I agreed to get in that car with you because you promised to give me answers. Honest ones. You’re jerking me around, and I don’t like it. We’re finished. This is a waste of time. You want to fuck with me just like your brother does. I don’t know why I thought you’d actually tell me anything. And you.” I turn to my uncle. “I don’t know what you’re doing with him. I’m not even sure I want to know!”
“I’m trying to save you,” he says. “Put that away, Cristina.”
“You’re trying to save me? Or are you trying to save yourself? Tell me something, did you only take me in because they paid you to?”
“You’re my brother’s daughter. Of course not.”
“But it didn’t hurt that you got a better-than-new apartment and money and whatever else they gave you. And you made sure not to break any of their rules. Is that why I wasn’t allowed to date? Or to even hang out with friends?”
“The point is moot, isn’t it?” Lucas says.
I turn from my uncle to Lucas. “Fuck you. I’m done.” I tug to get free, but he tightens his grip.
“Cristina,” he says, voice so low it’s more a rumble.
“Let. Go.”
“Poor little rich girl. You finished feeling sorry for yourself?”
“I’m going to kill you.”
“No, you’re not.”
Before I can even open my mouth to reply, he spins me around, locking my arms painfully behind my back. All it takes is a twist of his hand to have me crying out in pain as the knife falls to the Persian rug beneath my feet.
“Jesus Christ, you’re going to break her arm! Let her go!”
My uncle’s warning comes a beat too late as he’s still across the room. Why isn’t he hauling Lucas off me?
Lucas ignores him, leans his face so close to mine that I feel the scruff on his jaw against my cheek. “We’re finished when I say we’re finished. You summoned me. I came. Now, you do as you’re told, and you sit your ass down.” He releases me so abruptly that I stumble forward, almost falling.
“What the fuck is wrong with the Di Santo men thinking women should do as they’re told? Do you know what year it is?”
“Cute.”
Before I have a chance to scoop up the blade, he does. He closes it and tucks it into his pocket.
“You’ll get that back when we leave. If you’re good.”
“That’s mine!” I charge him.
He catches me easily, holding me at arm’s length. “No, actually, it’s Michela’s. She only lent it to you.”
“So I could protect myself against Damian, but maybe the one I need protecting from is you!”