Chapter 45

Finally, she stopped trying to deny it. Backing away a step, then two, she slapped a hand over her mouth to try to stifle the scream that tore from her throat as her legs gave out and she collapsed.

I caught her before she hit the balcony, gathering her up in my arms and carrying her to one of the chairs. Sitting her on my lap, I held her tight, but even I couldn't contain the explosion of grief that burst from her. Her sobs wracked through me, her entire body convulsing violently with each one, a slave to her heartbreak. I rubbed her back and let her cry. She didn't even notice when Lisa opened the patio door, concern etched on her face. I waved her away, certain Veda wouldn't want anyone else to see her like this. She popped back out with a box of tissues, then disappeared inside the house.

Veda cried until the front of my shirt was soaked with her tears and she was too exhausted to continue. Even so, I expected her to jump out of my lap as soon as she realized who was holding her, but she didn't. She stayed where she was, her blonde head tucked under my chin, and accepted the tissue I offered. "How did it happen?" she whispered.

"I don't know. There was very little information available to me. Only that she was found outside of Puerto Vallarta." This was the truth, although I had my own thoughts about it. "I've taken care of her." I left out the part that “taken care of her” meant I’d ordered the cartel to grind her up into tiny fragments and soak her in acid.

Now I just had to keep Veda away from the phones so she didn't try to call anyone. Did they have other close family members? I didn't even know. I hadn't gotten that far yet. My main goal had been to grab Nicole, and when Enzo had called me and told me they had a window of opportunity when they'd seen her go up to the apartment alone, I'd told him to jump on it, that we would take care of the rest later.

Softly this time, Veda began to cry again.

"Is there anyone you need to call?" I asked. Not that I would allow her to contact anyone, but I needed to know.

Veda sniffed. "I..." She had to pause as the tears came again. "Our parents. My best friend.”

"What about other family members? Friends?"

She shook her head. "Nobody who would really care."

That was all I could get out of her before I lost her to her grief again.

We sat there for a long time as I held her, her body wracked with sobs until her voice was hoarse and she passed out, exhausted, with her head against my shoulder. Every once in a while, a shuddering sob would roll through her.

Steadying her against me, I got up from the chair. Lisa saw me coming from where she was dusting the shelves and ran over to open the door.

"Go on home," I told her quietly. "And tell Enzo the same. Tristan can remain at his position by the front door."

"What about dinner, Mr. Morelli? You need to eat something."

I smiled at her as I shifted Veda to a more comfortable position in my arms. "I'll make a sandwich. And I don't know that Veda will want anything tonight."

"Ok." She didn't sound convinced, but she didn’t pry. "Well, there's some soup in the fridge I made earlier to save myself some time tonight. You can heat that up for the both of you."

I was already walking away. “Thank you. Have a good night, Lisa."

"Yes, sir. Call me if you need anything."

I left her to do as I'd asked, confident my orders would be carried out exactly as I'd said. Finding Lisa had been one of the best things I'd ever done. She was a bit odd at times, or maybe quirky was a better word, but I trusted her and her husband implicitly. And not just because they knew I wouldn't pause to put a bullet through them at the first sign of disloyalty. They were too grateful for what I did for them, and Lisa was the type of person who was as loyal as they come, as long as you treated her right.

So, I made sure to treat her and her husband very well. And over the years, she'd gotten to know me and how I liked to run things. Now I barely knew she was around most of the time unless I needed her.

I reached my room and laid Veda down on the bed. Then I grabbed an extra blanket from the closet and spread it out over her.

"Luca?"

Her whisper came through the darkness, so softly I wasn't sure it wasn’t just a figment of my imagination. I paused halfway to the door, cocking my ear toward the bed.

"Would you stay?"

I didn’t respond right away. There were things I needed to do. First and foremost being to figure out how the hell I was going to get Veda to agree to pretend to be her dead sister without fighting me every goddamned step of the way. Walking back to the bed, I looked down at her in the dim light from the hall. She was curled up in a ball with her knees drawn up in a fetal position. Her face was shiny with tears, and the pillow was gripped in her fists so tight her knuckles were white. Something moved in my chest, seeing her in so much pain. Something that was better left cold and hard. "I can call Lisa back to sit with you."

"I don't want Lisa," she said in a small voice. "I don't want to have to tell her..." The words caught on a sob.

"I can tell her for you."

She closed her eyes as the tears came again, but I didn't miss the flash of disbelief and rejection right before she did.

That thing in my chest moved again.

With a great sigh, I told her, "Give me a moment." I went into the bathroom and closed the door, took a piss, and washed my hands. As I passed the mirror, I caught my reflection and gave myself a glare of warning.

I could not fall for this woman. I could not afford to feel anything for her at all. Veda was a means to an end. That was all.

However, if holding her together while she was being ripped apart by her sister's death somehow beheld her to me, then I would do it.

Closing the door to the bedroom, I kicked off my shoes and got onto the bed, still in my dress pants and button down. There was no need to tempt myself more than I already had last night. I don't know what had come over me when I'd insisted she sleep in my room with me. As a matter of fact, I had told Lisa earlier to prepare the spare room down the hall from mine. Enzo and Tristan could take turns guarding the door, and either one of them —or Lisa—could keep an eye on her at all times when she wasn't in her room. Although I hated to put more work on them, it was going to be necessary. For my own sanity.

As soon as she felt the mattress dip, Veda rolled toward me and snuggled up against my side. I let her do it, hoping she would fall asleep and I could sneak out.

Her hand slipped under my shirt, and I hissed in a breath when she touched the bare skin of my stomach. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her from going any farther. "What are you doing?"

"Please, Luca." She sounded so sad. So lost.

Knowing I shouldn't. Knowing what it would cost me if I allowed this to happen, I closed my eyes...

And released her arm.