The Marriage Debt: Chapter 23

Hate.

The thought sounded so easy at first. When Luca first put this ring on my finger, all I wished for was to rip it off and chuck it in the nearest ocean.

But now that I look at it in the mirror, I don’t know what to think anymore.

My heart is still beating in my throat, my body still hot from the bath.

Or maybe I’m telling myself it was the warm water that did the trick.

Because I can’t stomach the idea that I’m hot for his hands on my face and his lips on my mouth.

My finger instinctively reaches for my lips, remembering the way he kissed me so violently passionate that it still takes my breath away just thinking about it.

I didn’t know kisses could be like this.

Or that a guy like him could make me feel so confused.

I frown and look away from my own reflection, embarrassed by the girl I’ve become.

Old Jill would never allow these feelings to take over. Old Jill would’ve brushed it off as stupid hormones, just like I did when he first jumped into my room through the window and gave me my first orgasm with that same fucking knife he kills his enemies with.

I swallow away the lump in my throat.

To imagine a simple kiss could take all the bad memories away and make them feel distant. As though nothing else matters except his mouth on mine and the desperate need to—

No, don’t fucking go there, Jill. You know he isn’t right for you. He’s only using you as a plaything, as nothing but a prize he stole from the Baas family.

But then why did he say he wanted to hate me like he doesn’t already?

It doesn’t make any sense.

I pace around in my room while I wait for Luca’s return. The only rooms I’m allowed to go into are the bedroom, the bathroom, and the kitchen and living room area. All the other doors are locked. He’s also increased security around the place, so I doubt I’d be able to make a second escape.

Not that I want to try again. What happened in the warehouse scared me off.

Luca is out there right now doing some mafia business while I’m left without answers.

What did he mean when he said I don’t know him?

What is he trying to tell me?

And why do I care so much?

I sigh to myself.

He must be using my own insecurities against me to make me fall for him. That’s what he truly wants, right? My heart. It’s what he told me from the start.

And here I am, almost handing it to him on a platter because of one head-spinning kiss.

I slap myself. Hard.

“Don’t be so fucking stupid, Jill. If you’re going to give him your heart … use it as a weapon.”

A weapon. Hmm …

A devious smile forms on my lips.

I could do that.

I could definitely use my heart.

I’ll make him fall so hard he’ll never see it coming.

Luca

Hours later

“Sir, we have a problem,” Max, my guard, tells me as I’m on the phone with a potential buyer.

“One sec,” I tell him before I lower the phone and raise my brow at Max. “This better be important.”

“We’ve gotten reports from our spies around town that Van Buren’s men are moving around a lot of boxes all over the area.”

“And?”

“It’s not food,” he says, and he holds up a photo he took of the boxes.

There’s a clear firearm warning on them.

My jaw slowly lowers.

Then I bring the phone back to my ear. “We’ll have to continue this conversation another time. I will let you know when you’ll receive the delivery, and then we can talk about more.”

I exit the phone call and tuck the phone into my pants. I was on my way back home from another business meeting my father was trying to haul me to weeks ago. I only just closed the car door when Max came up to me.

“Get some men to follow them. I need all the details. Where, when, what, everything. Don’t get spotted. And call me when you know more.”

“Yes, sir,” Max says, and he immediately walks off to meet with the others in their room upstairs near the penthouse. Always keep security close, my father constantly said.

Suddenly, my phone rings again, and I’m expecting the same client to call again asking about that overdue shipment. “Hi, let’s continue where we—”

“Hey, it’s me. I’ve got news.”

My eyes widen at the sound of my private detective’s voice, and I brace myself against the car seating. “And?”

“Meet me at the terminal. We’re flying out in an hour.”

Fuck.

This is fucking happening right now.

I haven’t prepared for any of this. It’s too quick.

There’s no time to pack, no time to even say bye to Jill.

I’ll have to come up with an excuse and get Lita to take care of her while I’m gone. My guards will make sure Jill can’t escape. She’ll forgive me for my abrupt departure later.

I have more important things to do right now.

Jill

When I leave the room, there’s no one here, which is … odd.

I’ve never actually been alone in Luca’s home.

It’s quite a big penthouse too, now that I finally have a chance to stroll around. The paintings on the walls are as breathtaking as the view. Kinky, too, just like Luca’s personality, with nudity taking the centerpiece in almost all of the artworks scattered throughout his home.

Suddenly, the door opens, and in walks Lita with a whole bag of groceries.

“Hey,” she says. “You’re out.”

Out … as in, out of the room.

Why does she make it sound so normal?

“Yeah,” I reply awkwardly.

“So I take it you and Luca are getting along better now?”

I don’t know how to respond. Instead, I shut down with my mouth hanging open.

Lita laughs. “It’s fine. You don’t have to tell me.”

She packs the groceries into the fridge and then grabs a cutting board and a knife.

“Oh, are you cooking?” I ask.

“Of course,” she replies. “Can’t let you go hungry, now, can I?”

I nod, wondering what other amazing dishes she’s got up her sleeve.

But another important question is looming in the back of my mind. “Um … weird question. Do you happen to know where Luca is?”

She pauses mid-slice through a cucumber. “Oh, well, he’s off to do some business for a few days. He’ll be back later.”

I frown, confused.

Off to do some business for a few days?

“He didn’t tell you?”

I shake my head.

“Oh … that’s odd,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. “Well, no wonder he asked me to keep an eye on you.”

I cringe. “So you’re my babysitter basically.”

“Luca wants to make sure you have everything you need,” Lita replies, adding a smile.

“So he is really gone? He didn’t even say goodbye,” I mutter to myself, wandering off to look out the window to see if I can still spot him.

When he left so abruptly while I was in the tub, I thought he’d be back in no time to finish what he started. I was prepared. I was ready to face him head-on. To give him what he wanted in order to steal something back.

But now that’ll all have to wait, and it really throws me off track.

“Did he say where he went off to?” I ask as Lita peels some potatoes.

“No, he said he’d be gone for a couple of days and that it was important. But he’ll be back in no time, you’ll see.”

“Hmm …” I look out onto the streets, but there’s no sight of his car anywhere.

“He’s probably on the plane by now,” she adds.

What could be so important that he couldn’t even tell me?

It can’t be the regular stuff, a drug deal, or meeting a new client or supplier. He wouldn’t hurry off like that without saying anything. It has to be something bigger than that. But what?

I sigh to myself, racking my brain over and over, trying to figure this out.

That’s when my eyes settle on one thing.

The door leading to his office.

I get up and head toward it while Lita is busy unpacking more food and cutting up veggies. I jerk the door handle softly, hoping no one will hear me as I slip inside. But the door is locked. Of course, he wants to keep me out.

Whatever it is he’s hiding in there, it can’t be good.

And maybe, just maybe, it’ll tell me why he suddenly ran off without even saying goodbye.

But how the fuck do I get in without a key and with Lita watching me?

I sigh again and plant my forehead against the wood.

“What are you doing?”

Lita’s sudden voice makes me spin on my heels.

“Nothing. I was just … looking for the toilet.”

She points at another door in the hallway. “There.”

“Thanks,” I say, walking to it like a zombie.

“You know he doesn’t want anyone going into his office, right?” she says, making me stop in my tracks.

I nod. “Yeah, I just … you know. I’m curious about this place. Now that I’m out of my room, I thought I could explore.”

I go straight into the bathroom, where I lock myself in and sit down on the closed seat with the light turned on, so no one will think I’m up to no good.

Even though I am.

Because he’s hiding something.

I just know it.

And I’m almost certain I’ll find something, anything, in that locked office of his.

Something I may be able to use against him.

A devious smile spreads on my lips.

All I gotta do now is … wait.