Chapter 35

His head cocked to the side as his eyes raked over me from head to toe and back again. When he was finished, I couldn't fight the urge to actually looked down to make sure my clothes weren't singed from my body by the heat in his gaze. "Whatever I want," he practically growled. "Nicole."

My breath caught in my chest. But I couldn't tell you if it was from fear or...something else.

"However," he continued. "I already told you I wouldn't hurt you while you are a guest in my home. As long as you behave. You have my word on that.”

I swallowed hard. "So, you're just going to keep me a prisoner here until you've achieved whatever the hell it is you're trying to achieve."

"That's correct."

I nodded, my eyes straying to the wall of windows on my right. I didn't know what to say. Or think. Honestly, I was still feeling a bit hazy from the wine and whatever they'd drugged me with.

"I think you'll find your stay here quite pleasant,” he went on. “The house is large, so you can have some space during the day while I work if you'd like.

The views are stunning, especially the sunsets. I have a pool and a hot tub, a media room, and a home gym."

Of course, he did. I'd felt how much he worked out when I was thrown over his hard shoulder. "Where will I be sleeping?"

He was quiet for so long I thought he wasn't going to answer. "You'll be staying in here. With me."

Oh, hell no. That wasn't going to work for me. Until I could convince him otherwise, I was stuck here in this house, but that didn't mean I owed him any favors. "Don't you have a spare room?"

"I have five. But you won't be using any of them."

"Why not?"

"Because your actions up until now have proven to me that I can't trust you."

"That arrangement isn't going to work for me."

"I don't recall giving you a choice."

I disagreed. I always had a choice. However, I didn't see the value of pointing that out to him at this point in time. "And what will be expected of me while I'm here?"

"Only to be ready to go out with me when I need you to."

"Go out where?"

"Wherever I need you to go." At my look, he elaborated. "Dinners. Parties. Things like that."

"But I don't have anything to wear."

His lips twitched, and my breath caught. But the smile I’d expected never formed. "I'll bring someone in to fit you for some clothes."

"If you point me to the nearest computer, I can just order some stuff online."

I held his steady gaze even as my heart began to pound at the thought of getting a message to someone, but I should've known it wouldn't be that easy.

"That's not going to happen."

He watched me for a long time as I processed everything he'd just said. I tried not to lose hope, but I had to admit, it was kinda hard.

"Are you hungry?" he finally asked.

I shook my head, refusing to look at him.

He sighed. "What is it, Nicole?"

"I told you. I am not Nicole," I gritted through my teeth.

He clenched his jaw, but then he inhaled loudly through his nose and sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. I tried not to squirm in my seat as the full weight of those blue eyes focused on me. "If your name is not Nicole, then what is it?"

"Veda."

"Vita?"

"No. Veda. With a 'd'."

"Veda what?"

"Veda Calbert." Duh.

"Do you have a middle name?"

"Lynn. And before you ask, I'm twenty-two, and I live in an apartment on 8th street on the east side of the city. Nicole is my older sister. But only by a minute. We're twins." Probably way too much information, more than he really needed to know, but if it would get me out of whatever mess my sister had gotten herself into...

He leaned back in his chair, and I could practically feel him digging around in my head to see if I was telling the truth. I jumped when he suddenly called out, "Enzo!"

The guy who'd put the hood over my head and brought me inside appeared in the bedroom doorway a few seconds later. "What do you need?"

Without taking his eyes from me, he told him, "Go into my office and look up Veda Lynn Calbert. Age twenty-two. Lives in an apartment on 8th street on the east side of Austin. And works...?" He trailed off, one eyebrow lifted in question.

"I've been working as an assistant. For my sister. Nicole."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't worry about employment. Give him your exact address," he ordered.

I rattled it off to the guy in the bedroom doorway.

"What is this about?" Enzo asked.

"Just do it," he told him. "I'll explain later."

Enzo paused for just a moment before he turned and left the room.

In the minutes that followed, he continued to stare at me. I tried not to squirm. I wasn't a criminal, for god's sake. "What's your name?" I asked him to break the silence.

"Luca," he said quietly.

"Luca what?"

"Just Luca for now."

Uncrossing my legs, I leaned forward and mimicked his pose. "I can't say that it's good to meet you, Luca...all things considered."

He did smile then. A true smile. And as some of the ice in his blue eyes melted away, my heart began to race for a completely different reason.