Tempted

Chapter 37

Raven's POV

Luca had put together a small gathering after the funeral. He thought it would be a good idea for Janine to be around people. He told me that she kept herself locked in her room ever since Jonathan died, crying.

As of right not Janine is making small talk with some snotty woman. It's quite obvious that Janine doesn't want to talk to her, but she's too polite to just leave the conversation.

Looking around I make sure I don't see Luca and swoop in to her Janine leave the snotty woman.

"Um excuse me, but I really need to speak to Janine." Janine gives me a look of thanks as she stands up.

"Can't you talk to her later. We were having a very important conversation." The snotty lady says.

"No I can't talk to her later. now if you'll excuse us." I loop my arms through Janine's and pull us towards the kitchen, away from all of the chaos.

"Thank you so much." I shrug my shoulders and lean against a counter.

"What's wrong?" I blink a few times and look at Janine.

I shake my head while murmuring nothing.

She sighs and pulls a chair out from the bar.

"Obviously something is bothering you. You've been acting a bit weird." When she says that I feel the envelope inside of my jacket rub against my arm.

"I'm fine." I sigh.

"Where's Luca?" Janine shrugs her shoulders and gets up from her chair.

"I better get back in there before they start thinking that I'm crying in a corner or something." Janine gives me a small smile before walking out of the kitchen.

I wait a good minute after she leaves to walk out of the kitchen and down the hall. Slowly and quietly I walk up the stairs towards Jonathan's room.

When I'm standing outside his door I hear some kind of shuffling sound. I slowly turn the knob and push the door open.

Looking around the room I find Luca sitting on the bed sliently crying into his hands.

"Luca, are you okay?" Instead of answering me he just shakes his head as he continues to cry.

Closing the door behind me, I walk towards the bed and take a seat.

"Why are you in here by yourself?" I whisper.

"I didn't want everyone to see me like this." He sniffs. "They'll think I'm weak."

"No they won't."

"Come on Raven. You know my family. You show one sign of weakness and they won't let you forget it." I bite my lip before looking at my hands.

"It's not weakness that you're showing. You're grieving Luca, just like everyone else is. No one can blame you for feeling how you feel." Luca shakes his head and looks at me.

"Just leave me alone." I shake my head and look at him.

"I found you for a reason Luca. I really need to talk to you." I reach inside my jacket pocket and pull out the envelope.

I turn the envelope over in my hands a few times before looking at Luca. Luca is staring at me with wide eyes.

"I found this earlier."

"Where?"

"The flower arrangement on his casket. It was hidden under the flowers like someone didn't want it to be found, but I was confused because of what it said on the front." I turn the envelope over once again to show him the message on the front.