“Does tomorrow sound okay instead?”
“Y-Yes.” Looking away from the twirling was hard, but she finally managed to look back up at him. “Thank you, Lucca.”
Another deadly smile made her heart skip a beat. “You’re welcome, darlin’.” They heard Maria start back down the steps, and Lucca started to twirl the strand slower, like he was savoring it. “I’ll be back later tonight.”
When is later tonight? Where is he going?
The thoughts that popped into her head scared her to her bones. Why did it matter? It shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t matter.
The footsteps were now closer, and right before they were too close, the black lock fell from his fingertips with a final twirl.
Maria walked in, now wearing pink shorts and a tank top, carrying movies. “Okay, now we’re ready for a girls’ day!”
Chloe’s cheeks started to feel warm. If Maria had walked in a second earlier, she would have thought something was going on between Chloe and Lucca.
Maria started pushing Lucca out of the way while she sat the movies down. “Okay, bye now, Lucca. You can go.”
His dark voice came out as a threat as he walked away. “Remember what I said, princess.”
Her voice seemed to carry her own threat. “Don’t worry; I’ll play nice, overl—”
“Good-bye, darlin’. Have fun, because I won’t be bringing her ass back.”
“He’s joking.” Maria giggled as he slammed the front door behind him.
It didn’t sound like he was joking.
Maria spread the chick flicks across the counter. “So, what do you want to watc—”
“How’s Elle?” Chloe was unconcerned about the movies.
“She’s good. Now, we have Dirty Dancing, Greas—”
“Just good? What about Amo?”
“Yep, both good. How about Twilight?”
She was crazily staring at her friend now. “Maria, you’re going to tell them where I am, right? You’re going to tell someone?”
Taking a long breath, she whispered, “I can’t.”
“W-Why? Lucca’s forcing me here. I don’t want to be here.”
Maria was supposed to be her friend. She didn’t understand.
“I … I just can’t, Chloe. I’m sorry.” Maria hadn’t looked in her eyes until now. “Listen, is he hurting you?”
Chloe could tell by the look on Maria’s face that she already knew the answer. Still, she solemnly shook her head.
“Are you being mistreated in any way?”
Again, Maria knew the answer before Chloe even shook her head.
Her voice sounded sure when she said, “It won’t be forever. I promise you, Chloe. He will let you go.”
Chloe wasn’t so sure. I fear he won’t ever let me go.
Maria took a seat beside her. “Elle misses you. A lot. They both do.”
She wanted so badly to cry. She missed Elle so much … and Amo.
“Elle says college just isn’t the same without you, but she likes it so much better than high school. She doesn’t get picked on anymore, and even though she wants you there with her, she still enjoys it.”
It was bittersweet to hear. She was so happy Elle was finally able to like school, but she was sad she couldn’t experience it with her.
“Amo misses you, too, but he’s doing good.” She went silent for a second, then continued with a smile on her face, “He works a lot. He really loves his job!”
She laughed, wondering why everyone kept saying that.
“That’s good. I’m glad.” Turning serious again, she looked over at Maria, wanting her to know how much it meant to her that she could hear about how her friends were doing. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Chloe. Now”—she stood, smiling as she picked up a movie—“The Little Mermaid?”
Knowing that was Elle’s favorite Disney movie, she smiled. “Sounds good.”
Nineteen
The Word She Would Soon Regret
Chloe felt like a girl again as she spent the day with Maria. She was happier than she had ever been here and was so grateful that she had been granted the day with her. The only way her day would have been better was if Elle were here, too.
They were stuffing their faces with popcorn and watching too many chick flicks to count. By the time they moved on to Bring It On, it was getting pretty late.
Looking out the window at the pitch black, and then to the clock, she couldn’t believe the time. He’s usually off work by now. What is he doing?
She shook her head from the thought, wondering why she had even wondered it in the first place. You miss him…
Freezing in place, she didn’t know where that thought had come from. It was like her voice, but it wasn’t.
“What color do you like?” Maria asked, setting down her nail kit. When Chloe didn’t answer, Maria gave her a worried glance. “Chloe?”
Trying her best to put her thoughts aside, she looked at the wide range of colors and saw the one she wanted hiding in the middle. “Black.”
Maria gave her a scrutinizing look. “Do you wear any other color besides black?”
Looking down at her black leggings and oversized dark gray sweater, she gave her own scrutinizing look. “This is dark gray.”
Maria rolled her eyes. “That is one shade away from black, and you know it.”
“No, it’s not.” It’s more like a shade and a half.
“What about this?” She held up a different polish. “I always wanted to see purple on you. It’ll make your black hair and gray eyes pop.”
Hell no. “Um, no. I’ll take the black.”
“Ugh, come on, Chloe! Why do you always wear black, anyway?”
“I don’t know.” She had to think deeply a second about it. “I guess I wear black because it doesn’t draw more attention to me. I feel like, if I wear a color, it will make people look at me more.”
“You two are perfect for each other,” Maria mumbled under her breath, too low for Chloe to hear properly.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.” She smiled before grabbing two other small bottles of polish. “Will you at least meet me halfway?”
Chloe stared at the two colors she picked. One was a very dark purple, and the other a dark navy blue. Both were close to black.
“Fine,” she grumbled. “Pick the one you like best.” Not like it matters, anyway. I’m not going anywhere.
“Yay! I like this one.” Unsurprisingly, she handed her the dark purple one.
Opening the polish, Chloe started to regret her decision when it didn’t come out as close to black as she thought. She almost decided to grab the black instead, but she didn’t want to get into an argument with Maria again, knowing Maria would win, like she always did when she wanted something bad enough.
Beginning to paint her nails a pink nude, Maria asked a question Chloe didn’t think she would. “So, do you really hate it here?”
Stunned, Chloe looked at her questioningly. “Are you going to tell Lucca?”
“No.” Her face held a definite possible lie.
Chloe pointed at the ceiling where possible cameras were. “Can Drago hear us?”
“No.” It was another possible lie.
Chloe looked at her, trying to decipher if it was the truth or not before she gave up. “If Lucca weren’t holding me against my will and would let me talk to Elle, then I … might not hate it. But it’s a strong might.”