Chapter 27
SUMMER
A s soon as he enters the room, the atmosphere darkens. I watch Luca head into the basement, closely following Frankie. A shiver passes through me when Frankie’s eyes find mine and I detect the tension surrounding the two guys.
Frankie knows.
The full horror of my situation is about to hit me as Frankie learns what happened with Luca Romano. I almost can’t breathe as he heads my way with a deep glare and grasps my arm, and pulls me through the back door.
“Fuck, Frankie! What’s gotten into you?”
He slams the door behind him and huffs with frustration.
“You went on a date with Luca Romano. I’m sure you realize why I’m pissed, Summer.”
The blood must drain from my face as I stutter, “He told you?”
“As it happens, yes, he did, and learning my sister left campus behind my back is more than I can deal with right now.”
“I’m not yours to control, Frankie.”
I attempt to regain the authority here, but I’m a fool if I imagined I ever possessed any.
He drives his fist against the wall and splits his knuckles, causing me to jump and then he directs a furious glare my way.
“I am in an impossible situation.”
I say nothing because my blood is boiling right now, and he is so fired up, anything I say will antagonize him.
“He wants me to add your name to The Claiming challenge next week.”
“What the fuck?” I gasp and he nods, a bitter smile splitting his lips.
“He wants to claim you as his, to keep the other guys away. What do you say about that?”
My mouth drops open and I stutter, “He - he, what?”
“Do you want to be with Luca Romano, Summer?”
He puts it out there in the open and I have no words to answer him.
“I, I–”
He advances slowly and, as he stops before me, I see the man hiding behind the student as he appears to grow into his birthright.
It’s intimidating as fuck, and I have never been on the receiving end of such power.
It’s choking me, stifling my senses and causing me to tremble inside.
Now I see what the others see. The power behind a mafia don in all its glory.
One word could strike me dead on the spot, such is the power he is directing at me and his voice is cold as he hisses, “Answer me.”
The question is simple, but I have no answer to that. Part of me wants Luca more than anyone I’ve ever met, but the other part of me yearns for a simple life. I woundn’t get that with him. He is far from simple, but Mason is.
My answer is clear because the idea of being with Mason leaves me cold, but Luca—my soul is sizzling at the mere thought of that.
“I don’t know.” I state simply, and Frankie nods.
“Then the decision is yours, Summer. If you want me to add your name to the first challenge, I will. If you choose not to participate, understand that I will not tolerate endless dates with guys whose only purpose is to get inside you. I will never be okay with that—just so you know.”
He says nothing more and turns on his heel and as he slams the door behind him, I catch my breath. Fuck. What just happened? Did Luca really tell my brother he wants me? That guy has some balls.
I lean against the wall and catch my breath, and yet before I can, another ominous presence takes my brother’s place.
Luca is silent as he reaches for my hand and as he grasps my fingers, he laces them with his.
“I had to tell him. He would have found out.”
“Why?”
I am weak after the battle I just had and he shrugs. “It’s inevitable.”
“But The Claiming Luca. Why?”
“Because you are mine Summer and it was obvious the second you called out in the hallway on the first day we met.”
“The hallway?”
I cock my head to one side in confusion and he tugs me close against him and whispers, “When you demanded to be seen.”
His finger strokes my face lightly and he whispers, “I saw you before you demanded I look. I liked what was standing there and immediately realized I would never stop looking.”
“Luca. I–” I’m not sure what to say and he smiles softly. “It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything. Just think about it. We could be good together, Summer, and you would be safe with me.”
“Would I?” I chuckle softly. “Forgive me if I hold that thought.”
His lips brush against mine as he whispers, “Put your name on the list. Let me be the one. Let me in and I will reveal a part of me that nobody has ever seen.”
I surprise myself by reaching up and touching his handsome face, staring at the strong lines of a bone structure most girls would kill for. His heavy lust-filled eyes are dark and sexy and the soft full lips are begging to be crushed against mine.
Luca is the devil dressed in a leather clad attitude.
His fingers adorned with silver rings and dark ink scratched onto his soul.
He is rough, cool and has the deadly qualities I kind of search for in a guy.
I would be safe with him. He would be my army against the world.
I already know that. But agree to be his in every way—do I want that responsibility because I have a feeling that being Luca’s girl will be a wild ride I’m not ready for?
I am insanely attracted to him. Even now my panties are drenched and I can’t breathe. I want him to bend me and reshape me into a woman. I want that more than my freedom right now.
So many thoughts rattle through my mind as I attempt to understand the situation I’m in and as his lips crush against mine, I couldn’t pull away if I tried because kissing Luca Romano is like receiving eternal life—it’s that much of a big deal.