Page 23

23

Layla

“You’re not very talkative, are you?”

Roman has said nothing since I climbed into his car, having been palmed off by Luca for him to do God knows what to God knows who.

Probably kill someone. Collect some more fingers.

“So, is that warehouse your new setup? Where you move your product around?” I whisper the last part of the sentence.

Again nothing.

His eyes are solely on the road. I may as well not exist. I fidget in my seat as Rome drives me back towards my flat where I’ve been instructed to pack my shit. I’ve texted Katy to let her know I’m alive, and my phone has done nothing but vibrate as she’s fired question after question at me.

It’s going to be the Spanish inquisition as soon as I walk in.

I can’t sit still, adrenaline and nerves making me antsy. “Can’t you just do an app?” I ask to silence. “You know, like Deliveroo, but instead of a pound of chicken it’s an ounce of cocaine. There’s an app for everything nowadays. I’ve got one that tracks my period and hormones. Do you know you can even get a thing that you shove up your vagina that links to your phone and you can train your pelvic floor through games and stuff.”

Roman glances at me and raises an eyebrow.

“Oh my God. You moved. There is a soul in there.” It’s only taken 25 minutes.

“An app?”

“Yeah, I’ve not got it,” I say quickly. “I just saw it advertised…Somewhere…”

“No, go back to what you just said.”

“Which bit?”

“The bit about an ounce of cocaine.”

“Oh. Yeah. Well? Why don’t you have apps? Like Deliveroo but for all your debauchery.” I wave my hand. “You have phone numbers right, so why not an app on the black web or whatever.”

“Can you text that to Luca?”

“What?”

“Am I speaking French? Text Luca and tell him what you just told me.”

“About the pelvic floor app?” I’m poking the bear I know I am.

He just stares at me, “A please wouldn’t go amiss. Are you always this abrupt?”

“Are you always this obnoxious?”

“Do you know what makes me obnoxious? Alpha-holes demanding I do things, being blackmailed, and having my life thrown upside down.”

“You’re very melodramatic. You didn’t have to help us that night.”

“Luca said the same.” I roll my eyes, these bloody men.

“Nor did you have to agree to whatever mad plan Luca has suggested.”

“I didn’t really have a choice,” I snap, anger making my heartbeat rapidly behind my ribcage.

“You always have a choice.”

“Oh, oh…fuck off.”

“Strong comeback.”

“And you call me obnoxious.” I tut. “Here I am being judged by Luca’s lapdog.”

“Careful now.”

“Or what? You’ll kill me? Look around at my life Roman. You’re not the first, and something tells me you’re not going to be the last to tell me to be careful .” I yank at my turtleneck jumper and yank it down. “I’m already bruised.”

He glances across and his eyes fall to the purple angry bruises on my neck, his lips form a firm line, his hands grip the steering wheel. “Luca do that?”

“Did you just growl?” I pull the sweater back in place and cross my arms over my chest and flop back into the chair. He cannot be annoyed that I’ve got bruises on me. That is ridiculous. Although what about this isn’t ridiculous? I’m currently being driven to pack a bag to be moved into Luca’s shag pad and be escorted by some sort of London criminal to a charity sodding dinner.

I laugh.

Roman’s confusion just makes me laugh more. Tears stream down my face, as loud belly laughs erupt out of me, causing me to lean forward and grip my stomach.

My cheeks hurt, my eyes hurt, and fuck, my neck hurts.

The laughter subsides, but tears don’t stop falling, and I try to suppress the sob at the bottom of my throat. All while being watched by the penetrating hazel gaze of Roman as I completely lose my shit.

I turn my body and let the silent tears roll down my cheeks as we drive towards the apartment. Towards whatever turmoil comes next.

“Layla?” I’ve barely opened the front door when I hear Katy’s worried voice from the living room.

I close the door, placing the keys in the bowl and turn to a bloodshot, tired-looking Katy.

“Where have you been? I thought you were dead!” she exclaims, her voice shrill as she rushes forward and grabs me into a tight hug and then holds me at arm’s length, proceeding to rip me a new one.

“You just disappeared, and some hulking great bloke said you’d gone with Luca. Luca, Layla. What the fuck? Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Did you hurt him? I need information, because my brain has cooked up all sorts!”

“I’m fine,” I reply walking past her into my bedroom to grab a bag out of my wardrobe, throwing things in haphazardly. Katy appears and sits on my bed holding a large manila envelope in her hand.

“Where are you going?” She asks, as I throw in another jumper. “Are you going back to his house? Oh my god you hussy. I need details.”

“Katy.”

“Okay, so I’m going to need to know some things about your antics. Size, technique. I want all the juicy details. Oh, and add girth to my—”

“Oh my God. Your obsessed with the word girth!”

“Anal?”

“Gross,” I respond, telling myself that I can do this. “Who the hell does anal their first time with someone?”

“You totally saw it didn’t you? Is it big?”

“Katy,” I say laughing, placing my kindle into the bag, along with a charger. Time’s ticking.

“Please tell me, or unless he’s small. That’s it, isn’t it? Amazingly handsome but a teeny tiny micro dick. Were you disappointed? That is quite disappointing to be fair. How can you look that hot, and then have a tiny cock. What an absolute waste.”

I suggest the length in my hand to which she squeals in delight.

“Did you fuck him? Did he fuck you? Oh my God. Layla. I need details.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you all the juicy fucking details.” I waggle my eyebrows. “Just not now.”

“Pack lube,” she says.

“I don’t need lube.”

“But what if you suddenly decide that it’s the one thing you’re missing, channel your inner Girl Guide...”

“I don’t need lube.” I feel instantly lighter, a moment of laughter in the chaos. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll call you, okay?”

“Wait what? That’s it?”

“I’ve got to go. What’s that?” I nod to the manila envelope in her hand, my name on the front.

“For you.” She passes it to me, and I hold it up, no stamp.

Hand delivered.

Levi.

I push down my fear and throw the envelope in my bag.

“You’re not going to open it?” she asks. “It could be important.”

“It can wait. Besides, I’ve got a grumpy man in the car who will come in here and throw me over his shoulder if I’m not out in about three minutes and delivered back to Luca’s penthouse.”

“Are you sure you’re, okay? Wait, did you say penthouse?”

“Honestly, he’s…he’s something. But I’m okay, I promise. Last night was…last night was out of this world.” I acknowledge it out loud for the first time. “I’m safer with him, than I am without. As are you.”

I continue darting around my room grabbing a few more bits. Then I grab my makeup bag from the bathroom.

“What do you mean as am I?” she shouts as I take a breath looking at my reflection. “Layla, how long are you going for exactly? What happened last night?” she asks, suddenly realising that I’m not just packing for an overnight.

“His dickhead cousin that’s what happened.” I say zipping up the small makeup bag. “He threatened you; he threatened grandad. I just know that if I’m with Luca, he can protect me, he can protect you. I can’t, I just can’t go into details now.”

“Like fuck you can’t! You can’t just say something like that and stroll out. What the hell is going on?”

I pause as I pick up the bag and look at my friend who's staring at me with wide eyes, a flush deepening her cheeks in anger.

“Fuck.” I whisper and grab her hand pulling her back to the bed where I sit next to her. “I’m not sure where to start.”

“You start at the beginning, and you slow down long enough to tell me what’s going on.”

“I can’t tell you everything, you're better off not knowing. Roman is outside, ready to blow a gasket, just know that I love you. I’m safe, and so are you.”

She winces and pulls a face at me. “I don’t believe you.” She whispers, “and I feel like you're being shitty because I care. You told me he’s dangerous, and now you're what, moving in? Please tell me why I shouldn’t be concerned?”

I take a breath to start explaining, but there’s a bang at the door. Even Roman’s knock is grumpy.

“I’m fine. I promise. I’ll call you and explain as soon as I can.” I try to reassure her, but she’s having none of it. I hug her goodbye, my embrace tighter than usual because honestly, I have no idea whether I’ll see her again. When I pull back tears are in her eyes.

“Katy, I promise you, I’m okay. Please don’t cry.”

She nods, wiping her eyes. “I’ve just got this weird feeling.”

“Wind?” I say trying to lighten the mood. “As soon as I can tell you more I will. I promise you I’m okay. Besides, the sex IS amazing. As is his girth.” She grins then.

Another loud bang.

“And there he is again, the devil’s dog,” I roll my eyes, and grab my bag. “I’ll message you later. Love you.”

“You, too.” She watches me as I leave her sitting in my room looking worried and subdued. The complete opposite to what Katy usually looks like.

“Got everything?”

“Think so,” I mumble, passing Roman my bag. My mobile rings. It’s probably Luca demanding something or other, I bend over and pick it up. Caller ID says The Village.

Grandad.

Fuck.

What if this is Levi’s move?

My chest tightens and legs bounce in restlessness as the worst-case scenarios run through my head at a thousand miles an hour. I trudge behind Roman who is walking to the car with my bag, and I climb in and answer on a deep breath.

“Hello.”

“Layla?” Sylvia’s voice comes over the speaker and I sit up again.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Oh yes, sorry, dear. Look, I just wanted to call you and let you know that I received the payment and that your account is settled. I’m so glad things have been resolved.” I frown at the bag on the floor of the car. Roman watches me intently as I let the words sink in.

Account settled.

I can’t speak, I can’t find words.

Is this Luca? Or Levi?

“Layla?”

I clear my throat and take a breath. “Sorry, I dropped my phone,” I lie.

“Your account is settled until the end of the year. Thank you so much. I hope you haven’t put yourself into debt, Layla. There were other options we could have explored.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ve been doing some work on the will. Turns out there was some left-over money,” I lie quickly. It’s amazing what the right motivation will do.

“Oh! That’s brilliant, Layla. You must feel like the weight of the world has just been lifted from your shoulders.”

More like the weight of the world added to it.

“Thanks for calling, Sylvia. I’ll see you on Tuesday.”

“Yes, take care of yourself.”

I hang up the phone and nausea overwhelms me; I lean forward and groan, breathing deeply.

How can I get out of this?

He can’t exactly retract that money, and the bastard knows it.

This is what Luca was waiting for, his move, what his incentive would be. I can’t say no to this. Not when the debts are paid.

But can I do what Luca needs me to do?

Feed Levi information, pretending to be Luca’s doting new woman? As soon as my usefulness ends, who knows what Luca will do with me.

Whichever way I look at it, I’m trapped.