Page 35

“I think it was eradicated a while ago.”

“I’m not willing to take any chances, Killer.” I wink.

She heads back toward me, forgetting the tapping for now. I breathe a sigh of relief as she pads over to me barefoot. She must be getting chilly now; the concrete floor is cold on my feet.

She checks the time on her smartwatch and says, “Shit, I’d better get to bed. I didn’t realize how late it was.”

She picks up my plate from dinner and starts to head upstairs.

“Sleep well, Olivia.”

“You too, Austin.” Her sweet voice rings out as I adjust my hard-on.

Luca wastes no time before comically poking his head through the window. Like a sketch from an eighties movie where the kid is sneaking into his girlfriend’s bedroom, and he wants to check if the coast is clear. But thank god, I don’t have to worry about Luca trying to get in my pants.

“And now it makes sense,” he whispers.

“Shh. The door isn’t even fucking locked yet,” I hiss.

“You too, Austin,” he mimics her voice with scary accuracy.

“Fuck off, Luca.”

He laughs. “Alright, alright. I’ll take the phone and the pick with me. Or would you rather I hang out for a bit? I’ve been waiting for ages; I thought she’d never shut up.”

“Hey, don’t fucking talk about her like that,” I warn.

He slides into the basement, his small frame easily fitting through the tiny window. It’s always been to his advantage. Some would be a little self-conscious if they were his height, but Luca takes it in his stride. His tiny, tiny stride.

He jumps down to a squat position and hops back up, holding his hands out in surrender.

“Okay, so now I know why you’re here, what’s your plan?”

“Fuck, I don’t know, man. I realize this is a little out of character.”

He shrugs, looking through all the old gym equipment she has stored on the shelves.

“If I were to tell you that I thought it was more strange that you stalked her at a café for two years and didn’t make a move, would you believe me?”

He fucking knows about that? Dammit. I thought I’d been more careful.

I press my lips in a line and breathe slowly through my nose.

“That’s my private time, Ireland.”

“Oooh, you called me by my last name. You are pissed.” He laughs.

“Give me the fucking pick.”

“I thought you would have done it yourself by now. You’re losing your touch.”

I work quickly on the lock, and within thirty seconds, the chain is off me. My shoulders roll back in relief. I’ll be able to sleep without a crick in my back tonight, and then I’ll slip them back on when she comes down in the morning.

“Let’s get out of here then.”

“No, man, I’m not done here. I told you. I’ll be back at the end of the week.”

He rolls his head back, looking to god knows who for assistance. “What’s your endgame?”