Page 77 of Am I the Only One

“I’m in trouble, Luca.” I say in a voice I hardly recognize. Slowly, my eyes lift to meet his.

“What kind of trouble?”

“It’s bad ... and the last thing I want to do is involve you, but ... but I need help.”

He tightens his hand around mine, but it doesn’t alleviate the rampant fear coursing through me. I pull back, needing a little space between us, and he watches me intently when I pick up the bottle of beer from the coffee table and take a long drink, nearly draining the entire thing.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

Setting the bottle down, I try to swallow my unease, but it gets hung up in my throat.

“Tell me what’s going on, Emma,” Luca pushes with a tinge of sternness.

“I’ve been hiding something from you,” I say. “I’ve gotten myself into a situation, but I’m in over my head, and I need help. I really thought I could handle this on my own.”

“Handle what?”

I hesitate, and when he reaches to take my hand again, I pull away. “I don’t think you’re going to want to touch me after I tell you.”

“You need to start talking because you’re freaking me out.”

It’s now or never.

“You know how I’ve been seeing Mrs. Montgomery since my parents passed away?”

He nods.

“About a month ago, she came to me for help. We met up, and she explained to me how her marriage was in shambles. That her husband has been cheating on her, but because of a prenup, she wouldn’t be able to leave him without being left with no money. She also feared that his family would retaliate against her.”

“What does this have to do with you?”

“She needed proof that he was cheating, so ...” My words fall short, and I’m too cowardly to reveal my role in the collusion, but I have to. I have to allow Luca to form whatever opinion about me that he wants in order for me to keep my and Matthew’s world from turning to shit. “So, she’s been paying me to have an affair with him.”

Luca’s face falls, and it takes a moment for him to register what I’ve just said, and he’s in utter disbelief when he questions, “You mean William Montgomery? The man running for governor?”

I nod.

“Are you fucking crazy?”

I flinch at his tone and then straighten my shoulders. I knew his reaction would be bad, and I need not to shy away from it. “No, I’m not crazy.”

“You’ve been sleeping with him?”

“You don’t understand. It’s complicated.”

“Then uncomplicate it for me, because if this ever gets out, you’ll be ruined, you know that, right?”

“Of course I know the consequences; I’m not an idiot, but I needed the money.”

His face pinches in disgust. “That’s bullshit.”

“Why else would I involve myself in this if I weren’t absolutely desperate?”

“I’ve offered to help you out with money time and again, and you always have some weak-ass excuse as to why you refuse. You won’t take money from me, but you’ll fuck this woman’s husband for money?”

“I’ve told you that I can’t take that type of money from you.”

“Yes, you can. Whatever you need, you know I’ll help. If I don’t have enough, I know my parents wouldn’t think twice about helping you, but you have to remove yourself from this situation,” he stresses. “That man is on television every week. If this ever leaked, it would be all over the news.”