Page 32 of Ruled By Wizard

Natalia didn’t know whether Marco had told Arden about his broken engagement, but it wouldn’t be fair to ask her about Jesus without explaining why.

“Lucia broke off her engagement to Marco. She says she’s fallen in love with Jesus.” Natalia hastily clarified, “The Last Rider one.”

Arden sank into the chair in front of the desk. “Poor Marco.”

“He started crying when he told me.”

“Poor Marco,” Arden repeated. “He’s crazy about Lucia.”

“I know. He wants me to talk to her. That’s why I asked you about Jesus.”

Arden bit her lip. “I love Marco, but I don’t want to betray Doom’s trust. The club made me a Last Rider because I help out there, and I don’t want to break their trust, either. But there really isn’t much I could disclose about Jesus personally. None of The Last Riders talk about their private lives.”

“How about telling me only what you feel comfortable sharing?”

“Women are very attracted to him. And if he’s in love with Lucia, he certainly doesn’t act like there’s anyone special in his life …” Arden trailed off, rolling her eyes meaningfully. “You get what I’m saying?”

Natalia nodded.

“Let’s just pretend I had hooked up with Wizard and he could pick who he wanted to share me with …” Merely saying the words reignited her smoldering anger. “Would he have picked Jesus?”

Arden’s anger flared again as well. “Probably. I’ve noticed some of The Last Riders disappearing around the same time Wizard takes a woman to his room. Jesus is usually one of them.”

Even the little Arden disclosed made Natalia more thankful that she hadn’t allowed her starved libido to blind her. Wizard was so skilled at getting what he wanted from women that he could win a gold medal in the sexual Olympics.

“Do you think talking to Lucia will do any good?”

“Did it help when you tried to convince me to quit The Last Riders?” Arden asked.

Natalia had to admit she was still unhappy about that failure.

“I told Marco I would try.” She stood, needing to return to work, but asked one more question. “Have you seen Lucia at the club?”

“No. I’m actually curious about how Lucia and Jesus met. I’ve never seen her there on Friday nights, when they allow nonmembers inside.”

“Thanks, Arden. I know this puts you in an awkward position.”

“I feel bad for Marco.” Arden rose from the chair. “But if Lucia and Jesus are in love, maybe it will work out for them the way it did for Doom and me. He changed for me.”

After leaving the office, Arden went back to the front of the restaurant while Natalia began preparing for dinner service.

Noticing she wasn’t talking as much as usual, Gia shot her several curious glances. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing that can’t be fixed.” Yet, Natalia added silently.

She caught sight of Marco’s miserable expression as he entered the kitchen to pick up a basket of garlic rolls.

Lucia had always been Marco’s, and Jesus was stealing her away only to make her one of many. Natalia hadn’t been able to stop Arden before it was too late, but Lucia would come to her senses once they spoke.

When she learned that The Last Riders viewed sex as a hobby rather than a commitment, she would run straight back to Marco. By the time she had three bambinos, she would thank the real Jesus for her lucky escape.

CHAPTER 13

A FLICKER OF HOPE

Natalia tried to hide her shock as she spoke with Lucia. The shy young woman she had expected was nowhere to be found. From the moment Lucia had sat down across from her in one of the restaurant’s private dining rooms, she launched the first volley.

“I know why you invited me to dinner. My engagement to Marco is over,” Lucia said with finality. “He needs to move on instead of using you to convince me I made a mistake. The only mistake I made was becoming engaged to Marco in the first place.”