Chapter 207: Glass Doors
- LUCIANO -
Rory walks ahead of me, her black tank sticking to her like a second skin as we make our way back to the cabinas. Her dark hair clings to her shoulders in thick sections that have clumped together from the rain, and I rake a hand through my own, diverting my eyes from the temptation of her body—trying to forget how she feels in my arms. Because she feels like home.
I’m also trying to swallow past the lump in my throat that formed when I had to tell her that it wasn’t an order to not call the tour guide. This stubborn woman is going to do whatever the hell she wants, and letting her is essential. Dex is right. If I push too hard or act like a possessive, overprotective dick, then I risk pushing her away before I even have her. But that doesn’t mean I like it. In fact, it makes me physically sick imagining all the ways she could get herself into trouble.
Rory has been through some serious shit in life, but the sad truth is she doesn’t know half of what could happen—especially if she’s associated with me. I’m determined to make sure she doesn’t find out either, but that’s going to be hard when I can’t give orders.
Orders are what keep things running smoothly. Orders are what keep my men and my father’s men safe. Orders are necessary. But since I can’t give this stubborn woman any, I have to sit back and just... watch. And wait. And fucking pray that she doesn’t encounter any dangers that I don’t see coming first.
Finally, our cabinas come into view and I blink away the nightmarish possibilities of all that could be waiting for the most precious creature I’ve encountered and try to remain positive. The guys will be here very soon, and I’ll have extra eyes on her.
Dex and Raya pause at the steps leading up to their place. Dex is carrying the garment bag now like the perfect gentleman he is, and Raya takes her sister’s hand with an apologetic look.
"I think Dex and I are going to rest for awhile. We might have dinner brought here," Raya says.
"Good idea," Rory agrees, squeezing her sister’s hand before letting go.
"Will you be okay?" Raya asks.
"Yes!" Rory chuckles. It sounds forced, and Raya can hear it too, because her lips thin with uncertainty. "Don’t worry about me, remember?" Rory insists. "I’m fine."
"Call me if you need anything?" Raya says, eyebrows tenting while she waits for her sister to agree.
"You got it."
"Promise?"
"Yes," Rory forces another laugh and then continues walking the ground path toward her own cabina instead of going up and opting for the bridge.
I follow a few steps behind her, but she doesn’t acknowledge me until she arrives at the next set of steps leading up.
"See you later," she smiles faintly.
"Mind if I check it out?" I ask, gesturing up the steps.
"You want to... check the cabina? Why?"
"Habit," I shrug.
"You didn’t check Dex and Raya’s," she says, one corner of her lips tipping into a wry smile. "I’m fine, Luciano. Thank you."
She starts to head up the steps when a frustrated growl leaves my chest before I can stifle it. That makes her turn, eyebrows lifted in surprise.
"What was that?" She chuckles.
I blow out a breath, staring down at the path that I’m meant to continue on without her. Am I really supposed to leave, not even being sure that her cabin is safe?
"I release you from the responsibility of keeping me safe, Luci," she says. "Please don’t worry."
"That’s impossible," I grumble.
"What?" She says with that same faint smile playing on her beautiful lips. "Why?"
Instead of answering, I walk past her up the steps and try the door to her cabina. It opens. Rory didn’t even bother locking it.
"Seriously?" I glare back at her.
After I go through the rooms, ensuring that no one is in the bathroom or closet or hidden under cabinets, I return to the door where she stands waiting for me with her arms crossed. The bag she brought from town sits on the floor by her feet.
"Are you satisfied now?" She asks with a smirk—like this is funny. Like her well-being is a joke.
I step into her, crowding her personal space, ready to unleash angry words that I have no right and somehow every right to feel. I want to tell her that she’s fucking precious and she should act like it. I want to tell her that I’ll never be satisfied and how dare she question me when it comes to her safety.
But once I’m close enough that I can feel her warmth again—once I see the surprise alight in her eyes and her amusement give over to a kindling of old fear—I sigh and step back. I hate that this fear lives inside of her, and yet you would think that it would make her more careful.
You’re safe with me. I’d never hurt you. Trust me.
So many things run through my mind to say, but I don’t give voice to any of them.
"Lock your door," I say instead, the words coming out colder than I intend. When I realize that, I sigh again—eyes dropping from hers to the space between us. "I’ll be around if you want to go out later. For dinner. Or... a hike."
She doesn’t answer, so I do the only thing I can. I leave. When I’m halfway across the bridge between our cabins, I stop and turn back to see her locking the door.
"Glass fucking walls and doors," I grumble to myself. "Unbelievable."
——————
- RORY -
My hand trembles securing the lock once Luci has gone. I was as surprised to see the door swing open as he was. I swear I locked it when we left, but I couldn’t admit that. If I did, he would never leave.
I’m not careless. It was almost painful acting so unconcerned about the door when internally my memory was scrambling back, wondering if I had made a mistake.
I’m grateful Luciano was here to check the rooms so I wouldn’t have to do it alone. Part of me wants to cling to that protection he is so eager to give, but then I know I’ll eventually disappear—no longer requiring my own strength and courage. And while I’ve sometimes fantasized about disappearing, it has never been in the shadow of a man. I won’t lose myself in someone else’s identity. I won’t give over to that kind of control.
My back sags against the wall while I stare at the empty rooms and fidget with the ring to the knife Luci gave me. I pull it out of my pocket, testing to make sure I can still deploy it the way he showed me this morning. It comes out of my pocket with the blade ready. A glint of light catches on the blade from the rays of sun still filtering in from outside.
"Maybe I’m just too distracted," I mumble to myself. "And I forgot to lock it." That must be it.
I drag myself to the bedroom, dropping the bag with my new hiking boots next to the bed and changing into dry clothes before collapsing onto the mattress. It’s only the early evening hours, but I’ve done more today than I’ve done any day in the last several weeks. And the day was a success.
Raya found a dress. I found hiking boots. We made it back to the resort in a rainstorm.
The colors and sounds and tastes from today wash over me as my eyes close. One image that keeps returning amongst all the others is Luciano. His dark, mysterious eyes. The Italian phrases he spoke, including the last one that I didn’t get the meaning of.
I don’t need to know the meaning. The way he said it told me enough.
I pull the second pillow into my arms with a sigh and snuggle it close, wondering why I can’t just allow myself to give over to the feelings he draws out of me. There is a faint scent of him that remains from this morning.
"Ugh, I like him," I groan into the safety of Luciano-smelling pillow. "Why? Why do I have to like him?"
No answer comes. But I mean... do I need one?
Luciano saved me from a psychotic predator. He made me feel safe. He brought me delicious food and a rare flower. He looks at me like he loves me. And on top of all of that, he’s sexy as hell. A better question would be: why wouldn’t I like him?
And I’ve also just learned that he growls when he’s frustrated. The memory of that sound rumbles under my skin.
"God, who cares if he’s in the mob?" I chuckle to myself, feeling a warmth bloom deep within at the admission. But that admission is staying right here with me.
