Chapter 6 - The Door Was Unlocked
Three weeks later, Chloe stood inside Luca Moretti’s apartment with a suitcase beside her.
Tommy Mercer had been arrested after investigators received Chloe’s records, backed by financial documents from attorneys representing both Luca’s and Vincent’s businesses.
Mia was safe.
The investigation was expanding.
And Chloe was leaving.
Luca stood across the kitchen.
“You found an apartment?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
She raised an eyebrow.
He corrected himself.
“Never mind.”
“Good answer.”
Marco carried another box toward the elevator.
“You sure about this?”
Chloe smiled.
“Yes.”
Luca remained quiet.
That bothered her.
She turned toward him.
“Say something.”
“What would you like me to say?”
“I don’t know.”
“Stay?”
Her expression softened.
“Would you mean it?”
“Yes.”
“Then why haven’t you?”
Luca glanced toward the window.
“Because the first night you met me, you were running from a man who believed wanting you gave him the right to keep you.”
He looked at her.
“I’m not going to become a nicer version of the same cage.”
Chloe stared at him for several seconds.
“You know what’s annoying?”
“Several things about me, apparently.”
“I was prepared to give a dramatic speech.”
“Go ahead.”
“You ruined it.”
“Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
“No.”
She laughed.
It felt strange.
Good strange.
The elevator opened.
Marco stepped inside with the boxes.
Chloe picked up her suitcase.
Then she stopped beside Luca.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“The car.”
“You broke into it.”
“The locks.”
“You hated those.”
“I did.”
She looked into his eyes.
“But you unlocked the doors when it mattered.”
Luca didn’t answer.
Chloe entered the elevator.
The doors began closing.
Then she put her hand between them.
They reopened.
“Dinner Friday?”
Luca stared at her.
“Are you asking me out?”
“Don’t make it weird.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re smiling.”
“I’m absolutely not.”
“You are.”
Marco looked between them.
“He is.”
“Marco.”
“I’ll stop talking.”
Chloe smiled.
“Friday. Seven.”
Luca nodded.
“Seven.”
The elevator doors closed.
For the first time in years, Chloe left a powerful man without wondering whether he would punish her for it.
May you like
And Luca let her go.
That was precisely why she came back.
