Reputation's Play (Book 1)

Ch. 21 Sea Shores

Chapter 21 Sea Shores

Gia could feel Carla and Luca looking at her as she sat on the edge of the hospital bed and slowly pulled on her socks and then her sneakers. Her bags were packed, the IV was taken off, and the nurses responsible for collaborating with Daniel were asked to leave the hospital. Gia felt hot sticky guilt rise up inside of herself as she rose from the bed and pulled down her shirt. She was about to walk to the door when her phone began to ring.

Luca picked up the phone and stared at the screen. He arched his brow and turned it towards Gia.

"Is this him?" He asked.

Gia looked at the unsaved number and nodded.

"Lucky you," Luca shoved the phone into his pocket. "You're getting another new phone."

Gia pulled on her sleeves as Carla touched her lower back and ushered her towards the door. They followed Luca out and into the elevator where they rode down to the lobby in absolute silence.

The early morning air was cool after the rainstorm. The first few lights of dawn had turned the black sky to a dark navy blue as Gia stepped out onto the wet pavement. She shivered from the breeze that blew her hair around her face and into her eyes. When she finally caught the strands and tucked it behind her ears, her eyes landed on Daniel standing beside his car across the street.

Daniel looked up from the ground and took his hands out of his pocket. His dark hair was messy as if it had been fighting with the wind. His gaze landed on Gia under the horrid yellow street lamp and he took a step forward.

"Keep walking," Carla gently nudged Gia towards their car.

Gia couldn't move. Her throat closed up and her eyes burned. The pressure behind her lids was too much to bear as she stood staring at Daniel.

"Gia," Luca's voice was sharp and impatient. He stood holding the back door open.

Daniel's jaw tensed as he watched the tears in Gia's eyes. He gazed at her with a desperate longing in his eyes as Carla guided Gia into the car and the door was shut. Gia bit down on her lip to keep herself from making any sounds as Luca got into the front passenger seat and one of his guys took the driver's side.

"Straight home," Luca said.

Gia shut her eyes and fell back against the seat as the car started. She gripped her seatbelt as tight as she could and let out a slow breath through her mouth. Beside her, Carla rubbed her leg to sooth her but Gia did not want to be touched.

The roads were empty in the early hours of the day. The work force hadn't left their homes yet and the birds were only beginning to wake up. The sun timidly mad began to show itself as the car navigated through the streets.

"He's still following us," the driver said, his eyes checking his rear view mirror.

Gia's eyes shifted to her brother. She watched him rub his jaw like he often did when he was irritated. Her heart shook knowing Daniel was following behind them. She could feel Carla shift uncomfortably beside her.

"Just keep driving," Luca said calmly. He pulled out his phone and dialed someone. Gia wanted to hear what he was saying but all Luca said was they were arriving. Curiously, Gia peeked outside the window.

"Want me to park out front?" the driver asked as they turned the corner of their street.

"Yes," Luca said.

Gia unbuckled her seatbelt and inched closer to the door. As soon as the car stopped, Luca got out and opened her door. Their eyes connected and Gia knew he was warning her to not doing something stupid. She couldn't move or think as Daniel's car came to a stop a few feet behind them and he jumped out of the driver's seat.