Page 72 of Arranged

He needed something better.

He needed the normal life he always wanted.

***

ITOOK A DEEP BREATHbefore entering the room. Luca had gone to take a shower, and I’d been postponing talking to him, but I knew I had to do this.

There was just no other way.

“Hey,” he said with a smile as soon as he saw me.

I’d thought he’d be in shock after what had happened, but he wasn’t. But then again, he was used to being someone’s prisoner.

“Hey,” I said softly as I took a seat on the bed next to him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “I thought you’d be happy Santino’s finally dead.”

“I am.” And I was, but I also kind of no longer cared. “But we need to talk.”

Luca’s shoulders tensed.

“I’ve been thinking. I think it’s time for you to go somewhere safe, away from here.”

He gaped at me. “No! What are you talking about?”

“I already set everything up. You’re going to have an apartment and anything you might want. And you’re going to have my protection. But it’s better for you if you’re not a part of this mess that is my life. I don’t want you to be my prisoner. It’s not fair.”

“Are you fucking serious right now?” He glared at me. “You’re trying to pretend that you don’t want me to be your prisoner, but you’re still making decisions for me. What if I don’t want to go, huh?”

“I’m sorry, but your freedom starts once you leave.” I licked my dry lips. “You want something that I can’t give you, and you didn’t even get a chance to live your life. You probably don’t even know what you want at this point. I just want you to focus on figuring it out.”

“You’re getting rid of me.” His voice was full of hurt.

“No, it’s not that.” Tears filled the corners of my eyes.

“Then let me stay with you.”

“I can’t, Luca. I can’t.”

“Why the fuck not?”

“Because you deserve better.”

He kept shaking his head.

“Yes, you do, and nothing you say will change my mind. It will hurt at first, I know. But you’ll get over it, and then you’ll go on with your life.”

“Valentina—” He reached out for me, but I pulled away.

If I touched him, I was going to fall apart.

I was going to allow him to stay, and I couldn’t do that.

As I got to my feet, he caught my arm.

That familiar current of electricity shot through me, but I ripped my arm out of his grasp.

And then I walked away from him so fast that I managed to close the door behind me before tears spilled freely down my face.