0006: SAVED BY THE SON

JUNE’S POV

That night I lay in bed, my body aching for sleep while my head refused to stop. My pulse wouldn’t settle. Every time I shut my eyes, it wasn’t Franklin I saw. It was Luca. His hands had moved like they’d known me already, his mouth claiming mine like it had every right. I still felt his heat on my skin. Still heard that low, rough sound when I’d given in.

And then, as if to ruin me further, Marlene’s voice cut in, sharp and innocent. “I want him. Help me get him, Mom.”

The thought of her chasing Luca, of her looking at him the way I had—something broke open inside me. It was jealousy, too close to jealousy, and I hated myself for it. What was wrong with me. Why did I even let myself wander there. He was Adrian’s friend for God’s sake. Whatever happened before… it had no right to happen again. He wasn’t mine to want.

The bathroom door creaked. My eyes snapped shut, fake sleep, while Franklin’s humming drifted across the room. The bed dipped under his weight. His hand slid across my waist, gentle, practiced.

“Are you sleeping?” His breath stirred against my neck, his fingers slipping lower under the thin cotton. I wanted to recoil. Push him off. Yell. But I didn’t. I only wanted to cry. Because the worst part wasn’t even Karen. It was that Luca stayed in my head when Franklin touched me.

“June… are you still upset?” His voice faltered when I didn’t answer. His hand stayed at my hip, waiting. “I told you it was a mistake. Karen meant nothing. It was the first time. I swear. I won’t hurt you again.”

The words floated there. They should have softened me, or at least struck something. But they hung flat, lifeless. Maybe he told the truth. Maybe not. Either way, Luca was carved inside me now, in a way Franklin couldn’t reach.

I turned away. “I need some air.” My voice scraped my throat. Before he spoke, I pulled free, tightened my robe, slid into slippers, and left. The room had been pressing in, heavy, and if I stayed one more minute I might have broken apart.

Outside, the air hit cool and sharp against my face. I drew in a breath, head tilted back until the stars blurred overhead. For a moment, I felt almost clean.

But then he was there. Luca. Leaning on the railing, cigarette ember glowing. Smoke curled around him like it belonged. His eyes found mine instantly, like he’d been waiting.

“You know that’ll kill you young,” I said, nodding at the smoke.

“Would you care if I die?” His words startled me. My chest tightened. Would I care? The truth burned too fast.

“Yes,” I said, plain and small.

“Why’s that,” he asked, watching me.

“Because you’ve got a future ahead. You’re throwing it away.”

He nodded, almost like he was entertained. “Fair enough. But why are you out here. Couldn’t sleep?”

“No,” I admitted, hugging my arms around myself. “I needed air.”

Something flickered in his eyes. “Or were you thinking about me?”

My stomach dipped. “Don’t flatter yourself,” I muttered, though my voice betrayed me.

He let the cigarette drop, grinding it into the floor, then pushed off the railing. He was in front of me before I could take a step back. Too close. Too much.

“Funny,” he said low, “because I can’t stop thinking about you. What I want to do to you.” His voice dropped darker. “I see you bent over right here, screaming my name like you did before.”

Heat rushed up, tangled with panic. My hand flew to his mouth. “Are you out of your mind? Someone could hear!”

My mistake. His hands gripped my waist, dragging me against him. His eyes blazed down at me, fierce, unspoken promises flashing there. His words pressed muffled against my palm, but I caught them clear. “I don’t care if the whole world hears me, Mrs. Wallace. I want you and that’s no lie.”

My heart slammed. Our lips hovered, breaths mixed. One more inch—

“Mom? Luca?” Adrian’s voice slashed through the night.

We jumped apart. Guilt scrawled across my face, fire still alive in his.

Adrian’s gaze darted between us. “What are you two doing out here?”

Suspicion edged his eyes, sharp as a knife. My stomach lurched.

“Mom?” His voice was steady but heavy. “Why were you standing so close to Luca just now?”

Luca’s jaw flexed. For a moment I thought he’d ruin me, say the truth. But he slipped into something practiced instead.

“She tripped,” he said, calm, steady. “I was holding her up.”

Adrian’s eyes snapped to me, searching. I forced a shaky laugh, hand over my chest. “He’s right. I tripped on the floor. If he hadn’t caught me, I’d have been flat on the floor. You should’ve seen me. Graceful as ever.”

Adrian’s mouth twitched, caught between a smile and relief. “You scared me. For a second I thought…” He shook his head. “Never mind. I believe you.”

The knot in my chest loosened, though Luca’s eyes stayed on me, heavy and unreadable. That gaze didn’t move, and I hated the way my palms went clammy.

“I’m fine, sweetheart,” I told Adrian, quick, too quick. “Go get some rest. It’s been a long day.”

He gave me one more look, then nodded and left, pulling Luca along with him. The moment he was gone, I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My knees threatened to give.

By the time I got back to our room, Franklin was already asleep. His back rose and fell in that steady way that used to comfort me. I slipped under the covers as quietly as possible, careful not to stir him, though it didn’t matter. Sleep wouldn’t come. The sheets twisted around my legs. My eyes kept tracing the faint cracks in the ceiling, trying not to think but thinking anyway.

Every time I shut my eyes I saw Luca. His smirk, the way his gaze didn’t flinch, the effortless lie he’d told for me. Worse was the small flicker inside me that I hated—like an ember I kept trying to stamp out but it stayed.