Page 4 of In Ruins
Luca holds his elbow out for me, and I link my arm in his as we walk out of my room and down the stairs, making our way to the ballroom. One of the butlers standing in front of the door opens it, and as soon as we enter, it feels as though all eyes are on us. I try to contain my nerves. It’s always hard to attend these functions without feeling like I’m about to be the lamb on the chopping block.
Luca must feel the tension in my body because he squeezes my hand before whispering to me, “You’ll be fine, sunshine. I’ll make sure to keep you by my side all night.”
I give him a subtle nod as he steers us in the direction of where Father is currently standing, talking to one of his longtime friends, Salvatore Rossi, head of the Rossi family, and some other people I don’t know.
“Children,” Father greets us when we finally make it to his side. I don’t miss the way Salvatore’s eyes roam over my body, and I instantly feel the ick of his stare. Damn, I hate this man. He always gives me the chills.
“Hello, Father,” I say, pasting a bright smile on my face. He doesn’t acknowledge me but goes straight on to talk to Luca.
“Son, you remember Salvatore?” he asks.
The men start talking while I stand there awkwardly. I look up when I feel a heated stare burning into the side of my head, only to find Salvatore’s intense eyes on me once more, instantly making my skin crawl. Seriously? Can this man get any creepier? Did no one teach him any manners?
He’s devouring me with his eyes, and I loathe it. He looks like a predator waiting to go in for the kill. My body tenses, and Luca looks down at me. I smile, trying to let him know I’m fine because I don’t want to cause any trouble.
Don’t make a scene. Don’t make a scene. Don’t make a scene,I keep chanting in my head. But because my brother knows me so well, he can see right through me.
“If you’ll excuse us, gentlemen. We’re going to go mingle a little,” Luca says, and we walk off without waiting for either of them to respond.
We socialize with people, and all I can think about is how fake everyone is. There is the fake concern about where I’ve been, put-downs disguised as jokes, the general cattiness from the females who always want to try and prove they’re better than me, and the leers from the men.
By the time we’ve done the rounds and moved to get something to munch on, two hours have already gone by. I’m already mentally exhausted. But I did manage to have a bit of fun when Luca and I danced for a while.
The night is ruined when gunshots emerge from somewhere in the house. Everyone around us instantly draws their weapons as mayhem erupts in the room. I stand there in shock for a second, but my brother wastes no time leaping into action. He pulls his gun out from the back of his waistband, pointing it in front of us as he grabs my hand in his and drags me to the back of the ballroom.
We slip out the door, rushing to the hidden elevator that’s directly across from the door we just came out of. We dash inside, and it takes us back up to the floor my room is on. When the elevator doors open, Luca steps out first, gun raised, and thankfully, the hallway is empty. He grabs my hand and pulls me along with him to one of the rooms a few doors down from mine. He opens it and pulls me in behind him, heading straight for the hidden panel on the wall that’s at the back. The steel door opens, and he pushes me inside the panic room.
“Stay in here. When everything is sorted out, I’ll come back to let you out, or I’ll send one of the guards,” he tells me.
“No! No! Please, Luca! Don’t go back out there! Stay in here with me, where you’ll be safe,” I beg him, tears streaming down my face.
“I’m the future head of this family, sunshine. I can’t hide. I need to help however I can,” he says, pulling me into his arms for a hug. “I love you.”
He pushes me further into the panic room before shutting the door with him on the other side. I hear the unmistakable beeping, sealing the door. I quickly turn on the television and watch as he races out of the room, his weapon drawn.
“Luca! Don’t leave me!” I scream and cry into the empty room. I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach about whatever the hell is happening down there. I detest this! I despise all of it.
This is just one of the panic rooms we have in the house because Father is somewhat paranoid. Now I’m stuck in here until Luca or one of the guards comes and opens it, because no one ever gave me the stupid code to unlock the door.
I slump against the wall, then slide down a moment later as sobs rack my body. I hate that I’m not out there with him, to help him in any way I can. I cry until my eyes become dry and puffy, waiting for my brother to come back and tell me that everything is okay.
Only he never does.
He’s just gone…
Leaving me with a broken heart and pain beyond anything I’ve felt before.
If I’d have known that tonight would be the last time I ever saw my brother, I would have locked us both in the panic room from the beginning, before ever going to that stupid party.
CHAPTER 1
ARIA
One Month Later
My dark room is suddenly bathed in sunlight, which elicits a groan from me. I grab my blanket and pull it over my head as I snuggle deeper into the warmth of my bed. It’s too early to wake up. I don’t want to get out of this bed.At least not today.
A moment later, the blanket is pulled off my head, and I let out a grumble of displeasure at being so rudely awakened.
