Adonis followed the direction of Cara’s gaze to see Luca looking like a dear that had been caught in sheer light. He glared at him.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell us, Luca?”
Luca smiled sheepishly, looking between them.
“Sorry. It’s just weird seeing a strange person here. Especially when the outsider’s a lady invited by Adonis himself.”
Cara scoffed.
“Well, it’s reassuring to know that he doesn’t naturally surround himself with women. It’ll make this more believable. I’m guessing you know our arrangement, Mr.?
“Luca. Just Luca.”
“Okay, Luca. I’m Cara. I already said that before, right?”
“Yeah. I’m Luca Romano. This dufus best and only friend.” He replied with a face-splitting grin, extending his hand towards Adonis, who was still sitting silently with his arm crossed over his chest.
“He has a friend? What a wonder!”
“I know. I’m just a lovable person.” Luca replied, earning a small smile from Cara.
At first, she thought he’d be arrogant and annoying, just like Adonis, but she found that she felt more comfortable around him. He had this playful nature that could get anyone to ease up in seconds.
“If you’re both done with the introduction, we’ll need to discuss some rules.”
Adonis’s deep baritone voice interrupted, and the smile instantly fell from Cara’s face.
“What?”
“This arrangement mustn’t be discussed with anyone. No one, I mean no one, must know about the contract.”
“Why? Luca knows,” Cara protested.
“That was a mistake on my part.”
Luca almost gave himself a whiplash.
“Excuse me?”
“Shut it, Luca. As I said, that was a mistake on my part. No one else should know.”
Cara considered it for a moment.
“What if my friend comes to visit? She’d be suspicious if I don’t tell her about the wedding, then invite her over only to see you.”
Adonis rubbed at his nape in deep thought. After a while, he nodded.
“Okay. You can tell her, but not about what we do. The less she knows, the safer she’ll be. You’d have to give me her name, though. My men have to run a background check on her and go through some protocols before she’s allowed on the estate. Do you have any family? Anyone you’d like to invite to the wedding?
Cara shook her head. “Not that I know of.”
Adonis hummed.
“Okay. I’d set a meeting with my grandfather for the day after tomorrow. That will give us enough time to get our story straight and get into the act. If all goes well, we’ll be married in a week. You’ll get a tour of the house tomorrow since it’s late, and if you need anything else, let the maids know. They come in at 6 am every day. ”
“What about my home? If I stay here with you, who would look after it?”
“That would not be an issue. I’ll have the maids manage it twice every week. Hold on.”
He stood and walked over to the big screen installed on the wall. Cara couldn’t see what exactly he was doing as his frame obstructed her view. All she heard were a few clicks and then an automated voice.
‘Open.’
She looked over to Luca, curiosity written all over her face, but he shrugged in reply. Three minutes later, she heard the same clicks, and Adonis turned back to walk towards them.
This time, he had a small black bag, which he dropped on the table before taking a seat.
“That’s for you. Sixty grand. Pay off your debts.”
He announced.
Cara’s eyes widened; she gaped at Adonis, then at Luca, who again shrugged. Did he just bring out the money from plain sight?
Who the hell has sixty grand lying around?
She gulped, pinning the bag down with a pointed stare.
“I can wire it if you want,” Adonis offered.
“No. This is fine… but the five extra grand?”
“Keep it!” He rose to his feet. “I have some work to do, so I’ll be retiring for now. The guest room is up the stairs. First one to your right.”
And with a subtle glance at Luca, he exited the room.
Luca waited a while until Adonis was out of earshot.
“So…” he drew out, “I know Adonis might be a little closed off, but he’s not as difficult as you think. He’s just had to deal with a lot of sh*t, and that has made him weary about people.”
Cara rolled her eyes in reply. Everyone had been through one thing or the other. It wasn’t an avenue to go around being condescending and arrogant. She waved him off.
“He should’ve been honest from the start. Look, I know you guys were brought up and are used to living dangerously-no offence-but not me. I’ve been through a lot too. I’ve been living a shitty life for the past four years, and the one thing that was supposed to be my ticket to salvation becomes the reason it crumbles entirely. I lost my father!”
She berated, her voice becoming angrier with each sentence. She had tried so hard to suppress her emotions. Anger, hurt, pain, regret, anger-she couldn’t point out exactly how she felt but her anger was the main fuel. And now he was here trying to give reasons for his friend’s betrayal.
“I know you lost your father, and I’m sorry about that.”
“You shouldn’t be. It wasn’t your fault. The things you’re saying to me should be said by Mr. Bernardi, not you. All I see is you trying to defend his actions, and to me, no excuse is acceptable. My father is dead, and nothing is going to bring him back.” She blatantly stated.
“Look, Cara, I am not trying to defend him. I just want you to know that there’s more to him. I know this is just a contract for you both, but you’ll be the first person Adonis would ever commit to. I want you guys to work out for real, but the truth remains that we live in a dangerous world-as you said. To live in our world, you’ll need to trust him and trust that he’ll do anything to keep you safe.”
“That’s kind of hard to believe in my situation, don’t you think? Honestly, Luca, I don’t care. I don’t care about your mafia or your world or anything. I’m just here for the money, and that’s all. Sorry, but to me, Mr. Bernardi shouldn’t be wished on even the worst person alive.”
Luca sighed in resignation. He sincerely wished for Cara and Adonis to make this real. Unlike Adonis, he had no issues with love and had always bugged him to give it a chance. He looked over to Cara, who was sitting with a resolved frown on her face. There was nothing he could say to convince her. He’d just have to let them work things out by themselves. Rising to his feet, he spoke one last time.
“All I’m asking is that you get to know him. Adonis would go to hell for anything he holds dear. I’m going to go now. See you tomorrow.”
Cara watched Luca climb up the same steps Adonis did, her eyes following each receding step until she could see him no more.
She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling all alone in the lofty, elegant room. It would’ve been the least comforting if that was only literally true, but practically, it was also correct.
A choked sob escaped her lips.
Her shoulder slumped as though it’d reached its limit and couldn’t carry anymore of the baggage she’d be dragging around all day. They all crumbled and her shoulders began to quiver, her lips wobbling as tears began to flow from her eyes.
Cara wept-
For her father, for her heartbroken self, that she couldn’t have been born into a better life, that things might have been different if her mother was alive, for the fear she felt.
She repeatedly slammed her fist on her chest hoping it would ease the pain she felt, but it didn’t make her feel better.
That’s what tears were for-letting out the pain to recharge for the inevitable that was to come.
Maybe she saw the silhouette of a particular six-foot-three mafia heir, watching from behind the staircase. Maybe she didn’t. But she cried until she had no tears left and then.
She went up to cry some more.