Page 84 of Love Arranged

If I didn’t have a mayoral race to win, I would’ve punched him hard enough in the face to cause permanent damage. It’s the least he deserves after bringing up my parents.

I thought Trevor kept his dirty little DUI a secret between him and his father, but the Ludlows are a tight-knit family, so I’m not surprised that Richard knows all aboutwhat his brother did the night he decided to get behind the wheel and kill my parents in the process.

Hell, they probably used it as a learning lesson for Richard, reminding him why he shouldn’t drink and drive.

At least Richard didn’t comment on Lily, and for that I’m grateful because I’m not sure I would’ve taken that well. She had every right to get with whomever she wanted after what I did to her, but I don’t want to think about it ever again.

I don’t notice I’m fiddling with my father’s dice until one of them slips from my hand and falls in the narrow gap between my driver’s seat and the center console.

“Shit!”

Lily jumps in her seat and looks out the windshield. “What’s wrong?”

With one hand on the steering wheel, I reach into the gap but struggle to fit my fingers past the first knuckle.

“Do you need help?”

“No.” I grunt as I pull over to the side of the road. With my phone’s flashlight, I locate the die, but I can’t reach it with the size of my hands. I even get out of the car to try from a different angle, but the narrow space and lack of room behind the seat makes the task of retrieving the die impossible.

“Let me try.” Lily unbuckles her seat belt and walks around the car.

“I’ve got it.” I don’t want Lily to ask me questions about the dice or why I was fidgeting with them.

After another minute of watching me struggle, she places her hand on my shoulder. “Lorenzo?”

My jaw clenches as I pull myself out of the car.

“What am I looking for?” she asks before softly pushing me out of the way.

I help her with the flashlight. “See that die?”

“Oh yeah. Hold on.” She shimmies her body and lets out a grunt before she makes an excited noise.

“Did you get it?”

“Almost, but I dropped it.” Her voice is strained, but with one last push, she squeals. “Yes! Got it!”

She pulls her arm out from underneath the seat and stares at the die like she discovered an artifact. “Moirai? What does it mean?”

“None of your business.”

“Not the translation I was expecting for such a pretty word,” she replies dryly.

If you want her to trust you enough to open up about her reason for loathing the Ludlows, you’re off to a strong start.

I pluck the die from her palm and reunite it with the matching one in my pocket. I check to make sure they’re both there three times before I can exhale without feeling a weight pressing against my chest.

“Thank you,” I say before ushering her back to the passenger side.

“Are those from one of your family’s casinos?” she asks once I return to my spot behind the wheel.

My lack of a response pushes her to take matters into her own hands, and she pulls out her phone. There is no way to stop her from being curious, so I drive quietly while Lily searches the internet for the answer.

After a minute, my stomach drops when she asks, “Your father helped run the Moirai?”

I keep my eyes glued to the road. “Yes.”

Better.