Page 98 of Dare To Love Me
BECKA
The car cruised down the road while I sat in the back pinching and pulling at my skin tight dress. What we women do to look good. I shook my head. My mind bumped along with the imperfections in the road, jolting my thoughts up and down like a pogo stick. I stared out the window at the black night sky, unable to show off its beautiful stars as the city lights drowned them out.
It had been a week days since our fight in the kitchen and a certain amount of tension seemed to linger. Though neither of us were willing to approach the subject. Luca had revealed the invisible lines drawn in the sand. Ones I was having a hard time accepting were real.
Years before I can travel alone.That wouldn’t be a life, it would prison. The pill was larger than I could swallow. Living with rules was one thing, but this was similar to being owned. My eyes closed, taking deep breaths.
My affection for Luca increased every time I found myself in his embrace. Luca held me like I was precious, looked at me as if seeing my face was the best part of his day. Everything about him intoxicated me in a way that always made me want to forgive and look past his flaws.
That little four letter word danced in my head, drawing more attention with every passing day, constricting my chest and winging its way towards my heart. Even though our last fight had left me with lingering frustration and a bit of resentment, I still found myself wanting nothing more than to fall into Luca’s arms at the first sight of him. That word in my head now flashed in neon.
My throat bobbed in a hard swallow. If I gave my heart to a gangster with blood on his hands, what would that make me? If I became complacent with who he was and what he did; did that make me just as bad?
“Are you ok?” Steven asked from the drivers seat. He had been my regular driver and guard for a while now.
“Yes. Just tired.” Liar.
Steven nodded to me in the rearview mirror, but I saw the doubt in his eyes. “We are almost there.”
Ecstasy.
Tonight was the big meeting Luca had mentioned in extraordinary little detail. All I knew was Matteo and Luca had been working on this deal for a long time. Something about merging with other syndicates and how it was going to improve things. Everything should be concluded tonight and afterward the club would be used for the celebration party. All the wives were expected to make an appearance. Bright shiny trophies that could be admired and envied by all. Show ponies on parade.
Steven dropped me at the front. A security guard I recognized from when he had guarded me once at the house met me at the curb. There was no line waiting outside tonight, the whole club closed to the public for the private event.
It’d been so long since I had gotten out. Excitement had me going all out on my appearance. I wanted to look irresistible for Luca, a small part of me wanting to make him regret denying my trip. Also, if I was going to be Luca’s trophy, then I wanted to be the shiniest in the room.
When the guard couldn’t help but stop and stare I prided myself on hitting my mark. Tonight I had chosen a bright aquamarine bodycon dress with black stilettos. I styled my hair in big flowing curls and did my makeup dark and smokey. When he failed to snap out of his trance I cleared my throat at him. He coughed and turned away shaking his head, and opening the door.
For being a private event I was amazed to see the club still packed. Music bumped, lights flashed, and people drank free alcohol like the world was ending.
There must have been dozens of members from different syndicates, not to mention what looked to be lawyers and a few politicians— from what I could tell. Except for the bikers who mostly crowded around the open bars, everyone else appeared dressed to the nines. The shiny wives all looked as if they were on a mission to make sure everyone knew how much money their husband had. Even the escorts were hard to pick out. The most obvious way to tell the difference was, the prostitutes had their hands on everyone, while the wives knew better than to touch anyone but their husband.
The guard— just as gruff as the last time we met— led me past the front bar on the right, that just so happened to be overflowing with MC bikers. Jeans, leather cuts and bulky boots dominated the scene. While some were rough and shabby, others could hop into a suit and win a modeling contest. The contrast had me staring.
As I passed, every head turned, some licking their lips, laying me bare with their eyes. Even the guy who had an escort half draped over his lap with her hand down his pants stared longing as I hurried by. Once I got to the end I looked down just to be sure my dress had indeed not melted off my body. Guess that’s what I get for thinking I wanted to be a shiny trophy. There is always a catch twenty-two.
The probing eyes didn’t stop until I was all the way to the VIP booth where Arianna sat talking to what I assumed was another wife. As I approached the other woman said her goodbye and left, returning to her husband who was summoning her.
“Oh my God Becka you look amazing!” Arianna jumped up, pulling me in for a tight hug. “I’m so glad you picked that one out.” Two days ago she had taken me shopping for a dress.
“Thank you. You look amazing as always.” Her black sequin dress sparkled in a thousand different ways under the lights every time she moved. Her golden eyes popped with cat-eye makeup. “What are you drinking?”
Arianna held up the glass in her hand. “It’s called Poison Ivy. It has vodka, and absinthe, maybe lime and I don’t know what else. But it’s freaking amazing. The bartender in the back makes the best ones.” She held out her glass for me to try.
“Hmmm. Oh, that’s so good.” I took another sip before handing it back. “I’m so getting one.”
“Good luck,” she scoffed. “All the waitresses are busy making the guests a priority. I waited twenty minutes before I could catch one.”
“Damn. Well, I’m not waiting that long. I’m going to go to the bar and get one. Do you know if the guys are done yet?” All I had been told was an approximate time of when to show up.
“People were filing out of Luca’s office a few minutes ago. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Lorenzo wants to have a private chat before the guys come down.”
“Ok. I’m going to get a drink. Actually maybe I’ll order two of them, that way I don’t have to wait for the second.”
“Smart.” Arianna tipped her glass to me in salute. “Do you want someone to go with you?”
“No, I’m ok. Be back in a few.”