“What are you going to do with them?” Nicolai asks before drinking the shot of Vodka. He doesn’t look as traumatized anymore and places the glass and bottle on the table. He drags out a chair and sits down.
“Let them go home, wherever home is for them.” I glance at the house again.
“They’ll need passports, new IDs, and money,” Nicolai speaks, and I turn to him.
“Then that’s what I’ll do. But, it will take time.”
Nicolai pours himself another shot. “How long do you need the guest house?”
“A few weeks?”
He nods and drinks the vodka down. “What about Evie?” The laughter is there in his eyes. He already knows.
“She’s staying with me.”
His laughter rings out. “Lucca, I never thought I’d see the day.”
Neither did I. I turn back to the house, wishing I could see through the walls. I wanted to see Evie interact with the women, but I also knew she needed that time with them.
And I would give it to her.
“She wants to stay with you?”
I grin at Nicolai’s question as I continue to stare out the window. “That, I’m not sure of.” I glance at him now over my shoulder.
His laugh is short. “I need to shower and get the smell of gasoline off me.”
He stands and reaches for the bottle of vodka. He doesn’t pick it up but tilts it towards me. “I’ll leave it here for you.”
I wave him off. “You take it.”
Both his brows rise as he swipes the bottle off the table. “Who is this new Lucca?” His voice carries a teasing note as he leaves the room with the vodka.
I wasn’t sure about a new Lucca, but he wasn’t half wrong either. Evie had awakened something in me that I didn’t think existed anymore.
I wanted to protect her.
I wanted to keep her safe.
I wanted her to be mine.
EPILOGUE
EVIE
TWO MONTHS LATER
It’s been two months since Lucca rescued all the girls. Having them all around me in such a different environment had been amazing. I saw each of them in a different light. We were all free, and it didn’t take us long to dream big. We could do anything with our lives; well, they could. Lucca had arranged for each of them to return to their home countries. Each of them would have a fresh start, and they could do whatever they wanted.
Me, not so much. Lucca had said I would stay with him. I could settle for a life with him once I keep that small bubble of hope of seeing my home again hidden.
I couldn’t let it go completely, yet I knew I should. I’m alone again. Leah was the last to leave, and having the time with her made me miss her even more. We all said we would stay in touch. Each girl, before leaving, hugged Lucca, who was so uncomfortable, it added some humor to a sad situation.
Once everyone had left, we had returned to Lucca’s penthouse. Being here under different circumstances made me see his home differently. Everything in me was changing, but I still didn’t feel completely at peace. Maybe I never would.
I turn away from the sheets of glass that allow me to look down on the city.
“You’re up early.”
Lucca enters the living space, and my stomach tightens. My hold tightens on my mug. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to looking at him. He’s all in black, his favorite color. He’s freshly showered, and when he leans in, the smell of his cologne consumes me. He places a kiss on my lips, but a kiss from Lucca is never enough. It never satisfies the want I always have for him. He moves away and goes into the kitchen space.
“I thought I should pack for our trip.” I sip the coffee again while I watch him move around the kitchen, pouring himself a coffee.
“All you have to do is get dressed. Your bags are already packed.”
I raise a brow, and my stomach squirms when Lucca grins at me. His perfect lips rise slightly, and I try to hide how much it affects me. When his grin turns into a smile, my efforts of hiding anything from him are destroyed.
“Are you going to tell me where we are going?” I sound like a parrot and know he won’t answer.
“Go get dressed.” His smile slips, and his silver gaze holds wisdom that I can’t understand.
“What kind of clothes did you pack?” Maybe that would tell me where we were going.
Lucca drinks his coffee without answering.
“Fine.” I hate surprises. For me, they were never a good thing, but I was trying to rebuild a life, one that I had to accept that surprises weren’t always a bad thing.
I have no idea where we are going, so I dress in denim jeans and a pair of sneakers. I match it with a white t-shirt and a navy blazer. It’s comfortable but smart.
“No suitcases?” I ask, staring at Lucca’s empty hands.
“They are already in the car.”
Lucca is quiet the whole time we are in the elevator. I know there is no point asking where we are going because he won’t answer, but his silence isn’t reassuring.
We step out into the lobby. All eyes are drawn to Lucca. Several of his security team are fanned out around the lobby, but they don’t follow as we make our way to the car. Pavel is waiting and holds the door open for me. I’m watching him for any signs of fear or excitement, but he refuses to meet my eye. I climb in, and
