Chapter 38

**LUKE**

NOW
This was more complicated than I’d thought. I told myself I should not involve myself too much with Scarlet, but all I could think about now was how to make her stop crying. All I wanted was a senseless fuck, but here I was, dealing with some serious matters I couldn’t avoid.
She was a mystery with unfathomable issues. I couldn’t figure her out, which was unnerving. After being away from her mother for six years, her life had changed into some rollercoaster shit she kept to herself. And being the only person to find out about it was such huge accountability.
“I’m sorry for doing this. I don’t know what’s gotten into me,” I said.
She had stopped crying. “You forced me. This is not healthy, Luke.”
“I know.” I sighed. “I should’ve been more understanding. I just thought I could help.” I took her hand and brought it to my lips. “For now, let’s get you something to eat.”
We stopped by a restaurant, but before she could step out, I cupped her face, and without hesitation, I kissed her. She gasped softly in surprise. At first, her kisses were soft and gentle until she kissed back. Her lips danced in rhythm, and I felt her sucking the air. She was the only thing that could make me hard as fuck with a kiss alone.
She clenched the fabric of my suit as I devoured her with my mouth. She blew out a hitched breath when I parted her lips, and my fingers clenched on the back of her neck, and she inclined her head involuntarily, giving me much access. A groan vibrated in her throat and traced down to my already heavy balls.
Damn. She could really make me lose my mind and blow me away.
I continued to nibble on her neck and reached for the hem of her shirt, and slowly I slipped my hand inside and gently squeezed her against my palm. She was so soft; I could almost break her.
“Luke,” she breathed. “Someone will see us.”
I stopped, and her brown eyes stared back at mine. I grasped her generous butt once more.
“And you’re saying that after you just let me kiss you?” I said. “Don’t worry, no one will see us.” I lowered his head again to kiss her, but she pressed me away.
“I’m not doing this here,” she whispered.
I sighed. “Fine. Come.” I moved away from her and stepped out of the car. She followed me, and I ushered her to the restaurant.
We went inside the Friuli Trattoria, a restaurant of Chef Bianchi, one of the best chefs I knew in New York. A soft classic saxophone piece was playing, gold and silver glistened before my eyes, and the tables were draped with pristine table linen and leather chairs.
An attendant greeted us warmly. “Good evening, Mr. Alejandro.”
“Good evening, Martin,” I greeted back. “I’ll have the table now, please.”
“Si, signore,” he answered politely, then escorted us to a table and helped Scarlet perch on the chair, looking around the place.
“I’ll have Chef Bianchi’s signature Fettuccine al burro,” I requested. “And a single malt scotch. Neat, please.”
“And for you, miss?” the waiter asked.
“I’ll have the same.” She smiled a little.
“Give her the same, and perhaps a smoothie.”
“Right away, sir, miss,” the waiter saluted and left.
“Luke, why are there no people here?” she asked.
“I rented the whole place tonight. It’s just you and me. We still have something more to discuss.”
“Why would you rent a whole restaurant? We can just talk at home.”
“I can’t move around my place with Dad and Gene inside.”
The waiter finally came and served our orders.
“What are we going to talk about?” I asked.
“As much as I wanted to give you time, given that I know things about you that our parents don’t, I’d like to know more about you,” I said straightforwardly. I was fed up with this push and pull already. We needed a serious talk.
Her mouth parted. “I need time, Luke. I just told you I don’t like to be forced.”
“I’m not forcing you. I want you to trust me,” I pressed. “But I already know much now, yet how can I help you if you don’t tell me something. Everything is still so vague.”
She didn’t answer right away. “Why are you being like this all of a sudden? It’s not like you’re interested in me in such a manner that we have to share things like this—”
“I am interested in you in every way, Scarlet,” I cut her off and caught her hand. “So please cooperate with me. We’ve already made it this far, and I’m keeping it this way. Now, shall we begin?”

***
At that moment, I knew for sure this man was mine. But when I thought I was finally giving in to his words, I was interrupted by an intruder.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I’m very late!” It was Rebecca, in a bright red dress. “Did I miss something?” Rebecca asked.
What the heck was going on?
“Nothing. You’re just in time.” Luke answered. In time? Did Luke invite her here? We were just talking about opening up. Why was she here?
“I’m sorry, I surprised you, Miss Carter,” she apologized. Her voice sounded sincere, but then she looked around and frowned. “Why are there no people here? Anyway, I’m here to show you this.”
I didn’t get it. Was this why he asked me to come here? Just to meet with this woman? I thought this was our quality time. He deceived me.
“It’s okay. Just call me Scarlet, please.” I wiped my mouth with a napkin.
“Okay, Scarlet. I’m so sorry again.”
“Any progress? Did you bring the documents?” he asked her.
“Oh yes, of course.” She took out a few folders from her briefcase.
I needed an explanation. What was she doing here when she was supposed to be in New York? Why do we have to talk about these documents now? I was confused.
“Wait, wait. Can someone tell me what’s going on?” I interrupted.
“I asked her to meet us here because I’ve been working on the files I promised you.” Luke leaned in my ears and whispered. “We’ll continue our conversation later.”
“Alright, are we ready? I also need to ask you a few questions, Scarlet,” Rebecca announced.
I smirked. “Didn’t you get all the information about me?” I didn’t want to sound like a bitch, but my tone did turn like one.
“This file isn’t about you,” she still managed to reply calmly. “This information is about your ex-husband.”
I gasped. Did she run research about Raoul? Also, I don’t want to be referred to as an ex-wife of a rapist. “Please, don’t call him my ex-husband.”
Luke’s jaw rippled in visible rage, and he crossed his arms over his chest.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “Do you know where he is now, Scarlet?” she went on.
God, I don’t like this kind of conversation. Not in front of Luke.
Raoul left me. The devil just ruined me and left. I wouldn’t want to know his whereabouts. I wanted to erase him from my life.
“If you have information about him, why are you asking me?”
“This information is outdated. He left the country three years ago,” she answered.
“I don’t know where he is. I don’t even want to know where he was,” I said firmly.
“Perhaps you have his phone number or anything that could help us trace him?”
“I said I don’t know!” I exclaimed. “Why would I save his number? Why do you have to look for him anyway?” I let it all out. Her questions were making me mad. Whose sane person would save a rapist’s phone number in her cell?
“If we have to erase his records completely, we have to know where he is,” she said. “He has to sign a few settlement papers.”
“Settlement for what?” I questioned. “What are you trying to do? Make it appear like we just played some game? Is this some kind of joke? The marriage was already invalid. What else do we have to do?”
“You don’t understand, Miss Carter,” Rebecca pressed. “We can erase the records without leaving a single trace. We can do that, of course. We are looking for him just to find out how we should deal with him.”
I laughed at her reason. “Do you really think he would deal with you?” I laughed scornfully. “You don’t know what kind of a man he is. He’s dangerous.”
“So am I, Scarlet,” Luke interjected. “If he was this man, why did you marry him?” His question caught me off guard. He should never know what happened to me.
“I don’t want to answer that, Luke.”
“Why not?”
“I said I don’t want to!”
“Answer me right now.” He caught my arm. “Scarlet, why did you marry him?” he repeated.
“Calm down, Luke,” Rebecca said softly, then she looked back at me. “Listen, you have to cooperate with us so we can help you,” she said.
I hated that she knew about this.
“I’m not going to do this.”
“It’s better if you would tell me now because if you don’t, there will be other ways to find out,” Luke said. “And if I find him, I’ll ask him everything I want to know. Do you want it that way?”
“I don’t want you to find him. I don’t want to make another connection with him. You said you could wipe out the information like it did not happen. You already dug into my life and made it this far, but I can’t do this. I don’t want you to look for him. End of the story.”
Luke seethed under his breath, though I never saw him so angry like this.
“You don’t want us to meet him, or maybe you’re really not over him? And what exactly did he do to you?” Luke asked in a low, dangerous voice.
My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe it.
Did he just ask me that in front of Rebecca? Did he really think that I married the guy because I loved him?
God! I was done with this.