“You can’t tell anyone, not Luca, and not even Ashton.”
Kensley smirks. “Do you think I see Ashton without you? I promise I won’t say anything, now spill it, girl.”
“Luca is marrying me to protect me,” I whisper. “His family is mafia, and I wandered into something I shouldn’t have.” I leave out the specifics because I don’t want Kensley to know more than she already does.
Telling her puts her life in danger, which is selfish of me, but I need her help.
“His father ordered my death.”
“Holy shit. Are you serious?” Kensley gasps and then covers her mouth with her hand.
“Luca proposed a different solution, that we marry, which makes me part of their family. He saves my life, and in return, I’m his wife.”
“What does he get out of it?” Kensley asks and then looks me over. “Never mind.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I chock.
“Oh, come on, you’re cute. He’s had his eyes on you for how long? You can’t be oblivious to his crush. Now, he gets you.”
“Forever,” I remind her.
“There’s always divorce—unless they kill their ex-wives?”
I don’t recall any mention of divorce or previous marriages among his family members. “Listen, you can’t tell anyone. You promised.”
“You have my word. It’ll go with me to the grave.”
“Good, because I’m going to need your help.”
We finish our private chat before we head the rest of the way to the arena. We’re not as early as we had intended. My fault, but I’m glad that I finally have someone else to confide in.
We grab our seats, and the Narwhals are already on the ice warming up.
I’m buried in the crowd, and while I’m not sure Luca sees me, I did text him that I’d be at his game tonight.
Turns out, I might actually be enjoying hockey. Not that I have the slightest clue what’s happening, but watching Luca play and seeing him win has been a highlight of my week.
He’s been hot on the ice and he doesn’t disappoint, scoring two of the four goals tonight.
He does end up in the penalty box twice, but neither fight he started. Which at least I feel better about, considering what happened between him and Ashton a couple of days ago.
The bruise isn’t nearly as noticeable on his face, and his split lip has already healed.
Unlike last time when we waited by our seats, this time, we wait outside the team’s locker room, at his insistence.
Kensley keeps me company, and since they had a big win, I imagine they’ll want to celebrate and blow off some steam at their afterparty at the house.
The door swings open, and Chase and Liam exit the locker room.
I recognize both of them from the party, and though I know Liam lives with Luca, I hardly ever see him around the house. He’s always out, doing whatever it is that he does.
The couple of times I’ve seen him, he’s dropping in, grabbing something from his room and then jetting out.
“Hey, Liam,” I say, giving a nod.
Next semester, he’s going to be one of our housemates, though if it’s anything like this semester has been, he’ll barely be around.
Luca never mentioned Liam having a girlfriend, but he must if he’s always sleeping elsewhere every night.
