Page 32 of Light in Your Eyes (Romero Brothers #1)

Layla

I lean over the balcony, staring at the view down below. It’s still early in the morning, so no one is out. Most of the people here like to party until late night, and at this hour, they haven’t woken up.

The view from Kellan’s balcony is quite beautiful. I can see the backyard, the fountain, and the jogging track. I sigh, watching as the sun rises. It’s another new day.

I hear movement from inside the room, and I walk back into it. Kellan steps out of the bathroom, but he doesn’t look so good. His face is pale, and he’s sweating.

I hurriedly approach him. “Are you okay?” I hold his arm to help him walk.

When my skin touches his, I feel the temperature of his body.

“Are you feeling not well?” I ask with concern.

Kellan squeezes his eyes shut and sniffs. A few coughs leave his mouth.

“I think you’re having a flu.” I touch his head, checking his temperature again. It’s high. “Let me help you get into bed again.”

I guide him to the bed and arrange his pillow. He sighs as he lies down.

“Wait for me,” I say gently. “I will make something for you to eat.”

I know that Kellan likes mushroom soup, so I’m going to cook that for him. When Kellan starts to doze off, I walk toward the door. I exit the room and head to the kitchen.

Once I arrive in the kitchen, I start preparing the mushroom soup, hoping that Kellan will like it. A smile touches my lips as I think about what I can do to him. I want to be useful to him, to help him like this.

While I’m still cooking, I feel movement behind me. When I turn around, my eyes widen in shock.

Luca is here, staring at me.

I swallow, watching as he squints at me. He still looks sleepy, probably just woken up and now looking for water.

“You’re here.” He sneers, and as soon as he opens his mouth, I know for a fact that he’s drunk.

I ignore him, focusing my attention back to the food I’m cooking. I can hear Luca stepping closer behind me.

“Why the fuck are you silent?” he whispers closer to my ear, sending chills through my body. I can smell alcohol on his breath. “Don’t you miss me?”

I instantly stop what I’m doing. I snap my body around and glare at him. “No. Will you move away? I’m trying to cook, and you’re bothering me.”

Luca scoffs. “Now that you have the tattoo, you’re being so arrogant.”

I tilt my chin up, but to my horror, he pushes forward. I turn off the stove and edge away from him .

“What do you want from me?” I snap.

He stares at me in disgust. “This kitten is now a wildcat. Just because Kellan upgraded your tattoo.”

“Leave me alone.”

Luca ignores my words and takes one more step toward me. “Why? Are you scared of me?”

I take a step backward, and he suddenly grips my wrist, startling me.

“Let go of me,” I speak through gritted teeth.

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll scream.”

Luca laughs, throwing his head back. He then focuses his gaze on me again, putting on a serious look. “Not good enough.”

I ball my fist. “I will tell Kellan to punish you.”

Those words seem to work, because the next thing Luca does is step backward. He watches me with irritation before finally walking away from the kitchen.

I touch my chest, feeling the beat of my heart. It’s fast, caused by Luca’s sudden advance.

I walk back toward the stove and pour the mushroom soup into a bowl. After placing it on a tray, I head back to Kellan’s room.

When I come inside, I see him already sitting on his bed, waiting for me.

“Did you cook for me?” he asks.

“Yes.” I smile. “Your favorite mushroom soup.”

I walk toward the bed and sit on it. Kellan leans closer to me. He looks really hungry.

Since he can’t wait to try the food, I feed him, but then he almost spits it out because it’s still too hot .

“Sorry,” I quickly apologize. “I forgot that it’s still too hot.”

We wait for a while until the food is a bit cooled. When I feel like it’s done, I try the soup first.

“Now, it should be okay.” Then I feed him again.

Kellan swallows the food and sighs in contentment. My eyes soften as I watch him eat eagerly. I keep feeding him until he finishes the soup.

My heart soars with satisfaction. It seems that Kellan likes my cooking better than the mansion chef’s. I put the bowl on the nightstand and help him take his drink. He lies down again and closes his eyes.

I watch him for a few moments. After he sleeps again, I stand up and take the tray.

But then, when I’m about to walk off, his voice makes me halt.

“Where are you going?”

I turn around to face him again, surprised that he’s apparently still not asleep. “I’m just going to put the tray back in the kitchen.”

Kellan shakes his head in disagreement. “Stay here a little longer.”

I sigh and put the tray back onto the nightstand. I smile gently at him. “Okay. I’ll be here until you sleep.”

I don’t know whether it’s just my eyes or not, but I think I see him almost smiling. The corner of his lips twitches as he closes his eyes again.