30. Ara
That psychopath. An interview had gone live, and it was Romi who sent me a link. My emails are overflowing today with the success and early launch of one of our apps, and yet I find myself clicking on the stupid little gossip link. I feel like a teenager in my own office prying into the feature.
The article is mostly around Luca’s success and I can’t help but sneer at the public’s ignorance. If only they knew most of his success was from all his underhanded dealings. At around mid-section it goes into speculation about our relationship.
The non-existent one.
The one that, in the way of romance, I’m sent body parts.
I shudder at the memory. One of his men was over in five minutes to remove the present, and just like that it was gone. The ever-burning memory of those body parts were not. I couldn’t sleep. Even though I sat under the hot shower for an hour I couldn’t scrub clean the filthy sense it left me with.
In the article, although Luca doesn’t outright label a relationship in the interview, he insinuates it, and that’s bad enough—especially if my father gets a hold of it. Because Luca Armani is definitely not the man he’d approve of. Not that I give a shit about what my father thinks of my future spouse, considering I probably won’t be around long enough for a wedding.
However, it applied another unnecessary pressure when I’d already come to a standstill in my revenge.
What am I supposed to do with this monster?
I try to harden my resolve by getting closer to him for my advantage, and then he sends me body parts, reminding me we’re from entirely different worlds. For all of my faults of being sneaky, manipulative, and sly, I’m not a killer. I don’t find joy in gruesome things.
This was a part of Luca. I wonder if that’s why he torments me so much. Because of the stalking and photos, he thinks I’ve seen the real him and he’s curious about that?
It’s the only thing I can think of when I try to get into his head.
Right now, he’s an obstacle, and I need to figure out how to work him from the inside out.
Luca had also mentioned I’d left loose ends by keeping them alive. I never intended for them to end up dead, and I have no idea how he found out about them or the hits.
I land on a photo of Luca in the article.
Confident. Beautiful. Powerful.
He was all of these things, and it’s so opposite to the real innerworkings of his disturbed mind.
Maybe not so different… maybe the monster deep down is looking for understanding and companionship as well.
Not just sex.
I can’t help but roll my eyes. Yeah right, as if Luca Armani wants any of that.
I’d have to act soon. Luca will find me again, under his terms and control.
I need to take control back. Every time I come up blank.
I’ve never met someone who is always two steps ahead of me.
Suddenly, I’ve become the prey.