Page 55 of One Filthy Kiss

“What are you doing here, Lucia?”

One thing at a time. Handle Lucia first and then give Meggie the attention she deserves.

“We have an arrangement, Gio.” Her eyes narrow. “If you’re going to call it off, I think I should be the first to know. Don’t you?”

Meggie hasn’t moved. The confidence she has gained in the short space of time since we met is dissolving before my eyes, and I can see her visibly shrinking. Lucia can be intimidating; she’s the middle child of seven siblings and the only girl, and she learned at a young age to fight or be beaten. The bright clothes are part of the armor.

Meggie isn’t going to fight. She has far bigger battles to win.

“Who told you?” I ask.

“Does it matter?”

It does to me, but I let it drop. I can guess.

“I need to know where I stand, Gio. My family will want to know where they stand when they find out.”

That’s what this is all about. Lucia is here to protect herself. Once the news of our ‘separation’ is leaked, her father willdemand a renegotiation of terms, but he will also want to know where his daughter has been spending her time when she isn’t with me. She’s looking after number one, and I can’t blame her for that.

“I will speak to your father.” I haven’t moved far from the elevator. It’s a conscious strategy; while I’m blocking the way, Meggie can’t run.

Lucia eyes me coolly. She isn’t done yet. “What will you say?”

“That this was my decision. I’ll tell him you had no part in it. Your secret is safe with me.” I maintain eye contact.

Her gaze slides to Meggie and back again. “Mysecret? Shouldn’t you be more concerned with your own secrets, Gio?”

A groan escapes Meggie’s lips, and my stomach plummets.

“I’m not standing around listening to this.” Meggie shakes her head, and I can see the effort it’s taking for her to even look at me. “You obviously have stuff to talk about, so don’t let me get in your way.”

“Meggie, wait.” Her interruption has spurred me to action. I take the three steps down to the living area in one stride, but Lucia stops me with a hand on my arm.

“You heard her, Gio.”

My glare is enough for her to remove her hand.

“Meggie, hear me out. Please.”

She hesitates. It’s more than I deserve, but I’ll take it. “Don’t you havestuffto sort out? How was I stupid enough to think that you cared,Gio?” She mimics Lucia’s accent on my name without even realizing.

“I do care. I?—”

“Don’t even…” Meggie clenches her jaw. “I thought you were different. Guess I was wrong.”

The fight drains from her voice, and part of me wants her to stand up and yell at me. I want her to pound my chest with her fists and accuse me of lying to get what I wanted, because while she’s angry at me, her bastardo fucking stepfather won’t win.

“You were not wrong.” I try to grab her hands, but she snatches them away. “I promised to keep you safe, Meggie, and I will.”

“At what cost?” Lucia interjects.

I don’t even look at her. “I think you should leave, Lucia.”

“No, stay, Lucia.” Meggie peers around me with a fake smile that belies the disappointment in her eyes. “I can’t wait to hear what else you have to say.”

This is it, I think. This is the Meggie I want. The fierce flower that refuses to bend to the cold wind.

“Okay.” Lucia faces her, hands on her hips. “I can handle Gio not wanting me. The feeling is mutual; I don’t want him either. But I cannot watch him renege on our families’ agreement for someone he only just met. Someone with a past that will bring him nothing but trouble.”