Chapter 45
Forty-Five
LULU
“Hey, babe,” Scarlett says as she opens the door of the apartment she now shares with Luke.
The day after the incident in the playroom, Luke had all of her things packed up and moved in here, and she’s been here ever since.
It was actually really romantic, and I know that it made Scarlett feel good.
“Come on in. I just have to put my hair up.”
She turns to walk to the island in the kitchen and grabs a hair tie off the counter.
“How are you feeling today? Especially after that workout.”
She glances at me and shrugs a shoulder. “Itchy. I’m healing, and the skin is a little itchy. But I’m not sore anymore. I’m mostly pissed off that that asshole had the goddamn nerve to hurt me like that. Luke told me that he and Rome took care of him, and I never thought I’d say this, but good.”
“I agree with you,” I reply and pull her in for a hug. “Oh, crap, I forgot my phone up at the penthouse. I’ll just run up and grab it real quick. Do you want to meet in the lobby?”
“Sure. I have to use the bathroom again anyway. See you in ten?”
“Perf. Sorry about that.”
“Don’t even worry about it.”
I hurry out the door, smile at my guards, and head to the elevator. Two follow me, and two stay behind for Scarlett.
“Forgot my phone,” I tell them, and they just nod.
These two aren’t particularly chatty, but that’s okay. I don’t have much to tell them.
I unlock the penthouse door with my palm and push inside. It sounds like Mateo, Julian, Carson, and Rome are in his office, but I don’t want to interrupt.
Where did I leave my phone?
I know I had it when I said goodbye to Rome, but where did I go then? Bedroom?
As I head upstairs, I consider the tracker.
I’m not sure what I feel about having a tracker inside me, but I can trust Rome on that one.
Like I trust him with everything in my life, it seems. The fact that he was instantly happy to have one put in his neck, though?
That level of … trust and loyalty still surprises me.
It’s no wonder I love that man.
Is it too early to tell him I love him? Not that I’ve ever been in love before, but surely a few weeks is far too soon, right? Maybe soon, if it feels like the right time.
Finding it on the end of the bed where I left it, I turn to leave again, and consider waving at Rome, letting him know I popped in.
But as I veer toward his office, I hear someone say a name that sends shivers down my spine.
“I’ve heard rumors that Rizzo is working with Adam Damien.”
I stop cold in the doorway. My feet won’t move.
Christ.
I shake my head as Rome’s gaze flicks up to mine, and he narrows his blue eyes.
“I won’t go back.”
“Come here, Eloise.”
“No.” I shake my head and take a step back in retreat. “I’ll leave … and you’ll never find me.”