“What am I going to do?”
Leni thinks for a moment. “Do you think he knows it’s you?”
“I don’t think so,” I say with a shrug. “I mean, he didn’t act any differently towards me.”
Apart from checking to see if I was okay.But that was only because of what I shared earlier with him in the car… right?
“Do youwanthim to know it’s you?”
My stomach backflips as I consider her question.DoI want him to know it’s me? I freaked out last month when he suggested we meet up outside Euphoria, and that was before I knew it was him. I meant what I said that night. Someone like him wouldn’t be interested in someone like me in the real world. This only proves I’m right. I’ve livedwith the guy for four years, and tonight is the first time we’ve had a real conversation.
Then it hits me like a ton of bricks.
“It doesn’t matter if I want him to know it’s me or not. Luca’s leaving Beckford.”
“Leaving? What do you mean, he’s leaving? There’s still a couple of months before graduation.”
I smile despite the tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. “He’s moving to the UK to play football.” I may not know him very well, but I know how hard he’s worked to achieve his dreams. He’s always working out in the home gym or discussing his meal plans with our housekeeper.
“Wow. That’s… something.” She’s silent for a moment before she says, “You don’t know the phantomisLuca. Not one hundred percent, anyway. I say we go to Euphoria as planned so we can scope him out, do some proper recon. If it turns out you’re right, we can decide what we’re going to do about it.”
I shake my head. “Take me home.”
“Wil—”
“Take me home, Leni. Please.”
Something in my voice halts her protests, and she nods, turning down the next street. The farther we get from Euphoria, the easier it is to breathe. Luca is leaving in a week. Regardless of whether he’s the phantom or not, no one besides me and Leni ever needs to know.Hedoesn’t need to know. He can move to the UK without knowing that the woman he’s submitting to is his stepsister. Let him keep the fantasy of me alive.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Leni asksas she pulls up in front of George’s ridiculously oppressive mansion.
I don’t trust my voice or my ability not to burst into tears, so I simply nod and climb out of the car.
Before I can shut the door, she calls out, “Whether you decide to talk to Luca about this or not, you know I’m always here for you, babe. Ride or die.”
“Ride or die.” I blow her a kiss before turning and entering the dark house.
I’m making the right decision. With Luca leaving, there’s no need to tell him who I am. It’s not as if we have a future. Our arrangement was always going to end one way or another. Best to walk away now before it gets any more complicated than it already is.
If only it didn’t hurt so much.
Chapter 7
Luca
She’s not here.
Diego catches my eye from across the room and shakes his head. I swallow down my disappointment and slip my hands into my pockets as I make my way to the bar. He places my drink in front of me with a sad smile before moving off to serve other patrons.
I should be celebrating. My dream of playing professional football with the best of the best is coming to fruition, and even better, it’s on the other side of the world to my father. I should be out partying with the boys. Instead, I want to be with her. But she isn’t here.
My eyes wander the room as I down my drink, and a flash of fire engine red catches the corner of my eye. Red Devil sits at the other end of the bar, sipping a mojito. I tap the bar as a signal to Diego to pour me another whiskey before moving along to stand beside my angel’s friend.
“Red,” I greet her.
Her eyes widen as they travel up my bare torso beforemeeting my masked eyes. “Lu— I mean, hey.” She coughs and takes a deep pull from the straw floating in her drink. “She’s not here.”
“Did she say anything about me?” I ask, hating the desperation in my voice.
