I’m out of my depth here. Surrounded by psychopaths. Then there’s Luca, with his harsh promises and penetrating stare. Why does everyone else scare me, yet he’s become some strange source of stability?
“You’ve got nothing to worry about, shorty.” He takes a step back, preparing to walk away. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
And then there’s that nickname. Shorty. The one word which is far preferable to the things I’ve been called during the last years. There’s the slightest hint of an endearment to it. A lingering compliment of sorts.
But I’m not short. In comparison to him, maybe. Far from it, in relation to other women.
It’s just one of the many thoughts plaguing me as I’m left alone for the rest of the ride into the Naxos port.
Even once we arrive, Hunter and Sebastian disembark without a glance in my direction. They know the drill as they each carry a duffel onto the pier, the bags stocked with guns, ammo, and communication devices.
It’s Luca who attempts to help me from the boat, his arm outstretched, waiting for me to take his offering.
“I can’t.” I keep my expression blank in case anyone in the distance is paying us attention. “You’re not allowed to touch me.”
“Shit.” He quits the gentlemanly gesture with a wince.
I don’t think it’s from the mistake though. It’s his head. “You’re still in pain.”
“The bumpy ride wasn’t exactly my best friend. But I’ll be fine once we’re on land.” He glances around the quiet port. “Is there anything else I need to be reminded of?”
I don’t answer. I’m too busy studying him—the wrinkles of pain, the skin tone lacking a healthy glow.
“Penny?” He raises a brow of impatience.
“I’m to be treated like Luther’s girlfriend in public. Not a slave.” I wave a hand to indicate my lack of clothing. “Like we discussed, you need to act like we’ve been out swimming all day. The police don’t appreciate tourists nagging them to check on my welfare. So act normal. No degradation or punishments.”
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters. “I wasn’t going to—”
“I’m just letting you know you’re to act professional while I’m in the open. It’s in front of Luther’s guards or contacts where you’ll need to treat me differently.”
His jaw tightens. “I won’t be treating you like shit regardless of our company.”
“You will if you don’t want to cause suspicion.”
His lip curls, the faintest rumble emanating from his throat.
“What the fuck are you two doing?” Hunter yells from the pier. “Hurry up.”
I keep my attention on Luca. On the beautiful intricacies of the disgust written all over his face. He feels sorry for me and I both appreciate and despise his reaction. He doesn’t even know the half of what I’ve been through and yet he harbors pity.
“We’re coming.” I climb from the boat and wait for Luca to reach my side before we head toward land.
The march forward is accompanied by coded murmurs between the men surrounding me.
“Two at three o’clock,” Sebastian says.
“One at ten,” from Hunter.
“Three on the balcony at four,” comes from the lethal man at my side.
Their constant chatter drills into my head, increasing my unease. I’m used to being surrounded by arrogant confidence, my captors well aware the only eyes daring to look at them would be from curious tourists or enviable deviants.
Now, everything is different.
I’m flanked by a protector. My safety is a priority. Yet I feel more vulnerable than ever. The slightest possibility of freedom has given me something to lose.
Everything to lose.
“So, in public you’re treated like a girlfriend?” Luca shoots me a glance, his gaze falling to my feet. “But you weren’t given shoes.”
“We’re on an island. A lack of shoes isn’t out of the ordinary.”
“How ’bout a lack of pants?” Hunter interrupts. “I don’t know one hot-blooded guy who wouldn’t pay you attention.”
“Suspicion and attention are two different things. One requires police intervention, the other would increase Luther’s ego. So, no, my lack of clothing isn’t an issue. If anything, it’s more acceptable than the full-length pants I wore out of here earlier.”
“For the love of…” Sebastian runs a hand through his hair. “I wish I was the one to kill that motherfucker. He had all his bases covered, didn’t he?”
They have no idea. I don’t want them to either.
The more they learn, the deeper my shame will sink. I don’t want them aware of the things I’ve done. The person I’ve become.
We reach land and walk through the parking lot to the street, the stabbing asphalt