Page 33 of The Destruction You Desire

"Yeah," I murmur. "I'm not entirely sure. I mean, he believed me, so that's a start. I guess only time will tell." I think of the darkness that surrounded him as I explained what his dad had been doing and concern races through me.

I've experienced Luca's darkness before, hell, I'm living it right now. But there was something about Leon in those few moments that was absolutely terrifying.

9

Luca

My first thought when I wake is of her, having her pressed against me as I slept. But the second I try to pull her tighter against me, I realize that it was all a dream because what I'm holding to my body isn't her little, curvy hot one, but a pillow.

Goddammit.

Rolling onto my back, I throw my arm over my eyes and focus on my breathing in the hope it'll magically make my hangover abate.

Just thinking about the taste of whisky makes me want to puke.

Once I feel like my body is a little more under control, I push myself up so I'm leaning up against the headboard and look around my room.

My dream of her felt so real, the scent of her that fills my nose is almost enough to convince me that I'm not totally crazy.

Glancing around the room, I search for any kind of sign that she was here, but I find nothing.

The last thing I remember was sitting in the booth at The Locker Room and feeling Bry's disapproving stare burning into my skin. I have no idea how I got back here. Leon, I assume. Did she go with him? But why would she? After the way I've treated her, she should leave me to drown in my own drunken stupidity.

Reaching down, I find my jeans undone and around my hips.

The image of her delicate fingers wrapped around the fabric as she tried to undress me hits me out of nowhere as I push my hand into my pocket searching for my cell.

It's not real. She wasn't here,I try to convince myself.

Not finding my cell, I finally drag my pathetic ass from the bed and start looking. I finally find it under my pillow, all the alarms I had set cancelled.

"Fuck," I hiss, taking in the time. Not only have I missed my chance to hit up the gym, not that I'm sure I could cope with a workout right now, but I've missed my first class of the day.

I still feel like death when I get to campus a little over an hour later, now late for my second class. I really don't want to sit in class and attempt to focus on anything but I figure it might actually be better than sitting in my room and replaying my dream over and over and trying to convince myself that it was real, that she was there, that she does care.

The building is empty as I make my way to the elevator, the doors open the second I hit the button and I slip inside.

Resting back against the wall, I tip my head back and close my eyes, wishing that I hadn't bothered and just stayed in bed.

The doors are almost shut when they jolt and open again.

I just about manage to fight the groan of frustration that wants to rumble up my throat at someone encroaching on my peace, but when I look up and find a familiar face wearing a determined expression as she stares back at me, I know that turning up today was a massive mistake.

"Well, well, well, look who decided to show their face," Letty mutters, stepping inside and letting the doors close behind her.

"I could really do without the lecture, Let."

"Well, that's a real shame, Dunn, because you're about to get one."

I stare at her, unsure if I'm impressed or just downright terrified by her attitude.

"You've spent too much time with Legend," I mutter.

"He's got nothing to do with how I feel about you messing around with Peyton."

"You barely even know her, Let. And you certainly don't know the details of what happened between us."

"I might have only known her a couple of weeks, but that's enough to know which one of you is in the wrong here."