Страница 36 из 76
Chapter 7 (Ricardo)
Scarlet purses her lips. “What's her problem?”
I knew it would piss Lou-Lou off when she found out I hired another ring girl.
It was supposed to.
It was my way of sticking it to both her and my father.
I don't know what kind of game they're ru
Plus, Scarlet jumped at the offer to be a ring girl. I made it clear that it was just business and she said she understood.
Tyrone throws his hands in the air. “Well, this date is going down in the record books as one of the worst.”
Scarlet studies her nails. “Who cares, she seemed like a bitch anyway.”
“You don't even know her,” I growl.
Three pairs of eyes stare at me but I ignore them because I'm ru
It occurs to me that I don't even know her...and even though she's a bitch...she may just have her reasons for being that way.
For all I know, she could be trapped in DeLuca's fucked up playground just like I am.
And if that's the case...maybe we can work together to keep him at bay.
But first, she's going to need to tell me everything and open up to me.
Since she had a head start she's almost to the apartment already.
I call out her name but she doesn't answer and that only pisses me off more.
Fuck this.
I chase after her, pick her up, and throw her over my shoulder. “What are you doing?” she screams.
I run up the stairs. “What does it look like?”
I open the door to my apartment and put her down.
“Where's Scarlet?” she taunts.
“Not here.”
She cocks an eyebrow. “Why?”
I deflect her question with a few of my own because I don't know how to answer that. “Why does my father want you to seduce Tyrone and Jackson? What is he pla
She narrows her eyes. “My lips are sealed, asshole.”
I don't even realize I'm grabbing her shoulders until she's staring at me wide-eyed. “Stop being such a bitch to me when I'm only trying to help you!” I shout.
“Well don't!” she screams back at me. “I never once asked for your help.”
Her nostrils flare. “And please, Ricardo. It's not like you're mister fucking sunshine.”
Her statement throws me for a loop. “What are you talking about? I've been nothing but nice to you.”
“You threatened to rat me out to him!” she shouts.
Shit...she has me there. But she was beyond aggravated with me before that happened.
We stay silent for what feels like hours before she speaks again. “Why did you hire another ring girl?”
I give her a smirk. “Because variety is the spice of life.”
She props a hand on her hip and glares at me. “You know what? I don't care, it doesn't matter anyway. Sorry I even asked.”
She turns to leave but I reach for her arm in a last ditch effort. “I'm sorry, Lou-Lou. With the exception of threatening to rat you out...I don't know what I did to upset you so much but I'm not the asshole you think I am. Now with that said—yes—I hired her to get back at you...and my father.”
I exhale sharply. “I don't know what his deal is but he's obviously up to something.”
She looks like she wants to say something but stops herself.
“Look, I don't ask much from anyone...ever,” I say. “But I'm asking you to be honest with me. I know you don't want to go back to him for whatever reason, so maybe there's a way we can work together...but that's going to require effort and trust on both our parts.”
She shakes her head. “Sorry, but I work alone. Always have, always will.”
“What can I do to change your mind? What can I do to get you to trust me?”
“Trust you?” she scoffs. “Why in the world would I ever trust someone who's lying to the two people closest to him? I hate to point out the obvious but your track record sucks.”
“I'm lying in order to help them...I know it seems like a shitty excuse but you have no idea what it's like to be in DeLuca's fight club. If they find out that I'm his son now...they'll never trust me again. And if that happens they'll never make it out alive. I need them to make it out alive, Lou-Lou. I care about them and they need me in their corner in order to do that. Things have been relatively easy for them over the past three years but DeLuca can throw a wrench in this whole operation and go back on his word to me at any time. You have no idea what he's really capable of.”
She draws in a shaky breath and looks at me. “I know exactly what he's capable of, Ricardo. Trust me.”
I take a step closer to her but she turns away. “Tell me what he has on you. I know you don't want to be with him. You can deny it all you want but I feel it.”
Her entire body starts trembling and I feel bad I'm pushing her but I need to know. “You're wrong, I love him,” she whispers and I feel my chest tighten. “He saved me.”
“From what?”
She shakes her head. “I'm not going to tell you. So just drop it.”
“No.”
“Go fuck yourself,” she screams.
I let the anger roll off my back because I think I've finally figured out that for whatever reason—being a bitch is her go-to.
It's the way she protects herself.
And for reasons beyond me, she thinks DeLuca saved her...but I know better than anyone that DeLuca's version of saving someone isn't actually saving someone at all.
It's detaining and condemning them. I have to get her to see that but there's only one way for that to happen.
“Please,” I whisper. “Lock the rest of the world out—never let them in...I don't care.” I tilt her chin up to look at me. “But don't do it to me. Let me be the one person you let in.”
I gesture around the apartment. “Let this be your safe place.”
“I can't. I'm sorry.”
“Why?”
Her eyes penetrate me and I have to suck in a breath because whatever her secrets are....something tells me they're the worst kind. “Because if I do...I'm afraid I'll break.”
I cup her face in my hands. “You won't if I hold you together.”
She looks down. “You're not that strong.”
I give her a small smile. “Wa
When she stays silent I continue, “We'll start slow so I can earn your trust. I want to prove to you that you can trust me. Will you let me do that?”
“How?”
“Tell me one thing about yourself. One truth that you've never told anyone else and I'll do the same.”
She rolls her eyes. “Seriously?”
“Just try it,” I insist. “It can be anything. I won't judge. Just give me one truth.”
She closes her eyes. “I like bathtubs.”
“I hate bathtubs.”
Her eyes pop open. “You just said you wouldn't judge.”
I brush my thumb over her cheek. “Not judging, babe—that's my truth. I really don't like bathtubs.”
She gives me an odd look. “Why?”
“Why do you like them?”
“I—you said I only had to tell you one.”
“You're right,” I tell her. “In exchange for one of mine. I'll tell you why but only in exchange for another one of your truth's.”
She curls her arms around herself. “I—I don't want to tell you any more truth's right now.”
“Look at me, Lou-Lou.” When she does I say, “I won't push you for any more tonight.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart and hope to die.”