Degeneracy♡

CHAPTER 29: CLOSED DEAL

"Baby?" Luca whispers in my ear. I don't recall falling asleep. Then it all comes flooding back to me. I don't know how to feel about what we did last night. Something like this was about to happen at some point but Luca's not exactly the reliable type. He's so hot and cold. We didn't go all the way, but, sex to me is... important. I want to have sex with a man I feel safe, comfortable and cared for with. I feel safe from other people with Luca. But not safe from him.

"What is it?" I ask, a little groggy. 

"We have to leave. My work in this country is done. I've booked us a flight back to the UK. It leaves in 2 hours." 

I don't know whether to feel relieved that I'm leaving this ordeal behind or disappointed that Luca and I couldn't share more nights like the one we just had. This is all a jumbled mess in my mind. 

"Okay." I finally answer and get out of bed. It's about 3AM here and who knows how long it'll take to get to the airport. I start gathering my things and lazily flinging them into my suitcase. I notice Luca looking fidgety. Why isn't he packing?

"Don't you have to pack too?" I ask hastily. 

"I already have. I've got a flight booked for Cuba a few hours after we land." 

I give him a confused look. Please tell me we're not going to Cuba. My parents will never let me hear the end of this if we are.

"What do you mean?" I ask casually, still packing up my things. 

"I mean I'm going to Cuba, Izzy. I'll make sure you get home safely and then I've got to go." 

My heart feels like it's being squeezed with a vice. What would be a sensible thing to ask in this situation? What about us? I don't think so. We've not even established a firm relationship yet. Now's not the time to get all clingy. 

"Alright well... have fun." I breathe. That came out much more sarcastically than I intended.

"I'm not going to have fun. I'm going for work." He snaps. 

"It's fine, I don't care." I swallow as nonchalantly as I can. I might be projecting a little bit. 

"I'll see you when I get back." He grumbles, taking our cases out the room. 

"Whatever you say." I mumble. 

---

The journey to the airport is eerily quiet. Luca hasn't spoken to me the whole car ride. His other gang pals are following closely behind us. He looks on edge as he grips the steering wheel and keeps checking the rear-view mirror. 

"What will you be doing whilst I'm gone?" He finally sparks up some conversation. 

"Probably getting some peace." I blurt out before covering my mouth. What is wrong with me. 

He slams on the brakes so hard the other car nearly crashes into the back of us.

"You need to drop your attitude!" He yells, his face searing with anger, before his phone rings. 

"Make your own fucking way there. Are you not capable of following satnav directions?" He spits before hanging up. The car overtakes us hastily before disappearing into the distance. 

"Maybe if you weren't so hot and cold all the time, there wouldn't be an attitude for me to drop." I spit back, testing boundaries. 

"You make me like this." He practically screams in my face. "You always start shit. Picking fucking fights over nothing." 

"Oh please, I am not going to be spoken to like that!" And with that I get out of the car, surprising myself. 

I march ahead of the car, no clue where I'm going or what I'm thinking but finally sticking up for myself. Luca slowly approaches me. 

"Get in the car, Isobel." 

I ignore him. 

"Where are you walking to? You're in the middle of nowhere in fucking Russia."He spits. 

"I'll work it out on my own." 

"Just get in the fucking CAR." I've never heard him raise his voice so much, it makes me jump out of my skin and stops me in my tracks. 

I take a breath before getting back into his car, fighting back tears. 

"Well done on putting yourself in danger. You're a fucking liability." He snaps back to a quieter volume, but the rage radiating off him is still palpable. 

"Why am I here if I'm such a liability?" I ask, my voice breaking with each word. 

There is a long pause as Luca restarts the engine and gets back on track. I don't think even he can answer that question, but I see him calming down. We go back to a strained silence before pulling up to the airport. We only have about 30 minutes now to board our flight. Soon I'll be safe. Soon I'll be back with my family who love me and don't talk to me like I'm disposable. 

"Because I have fucking feelings for you." Luca interrupts my thoughts. "You're not just some easy entertainment to me you know. You are the most interesting, intelligent, intense girl I've ever spoken to." I look up at him, shocked by what he is saying. "I can't help how I feel about you. So that's why you're here. But you're still a liability." He faces me, gently caressing my face. 

I search for words to say back to Luca. Words that express how I really feel. But I think of the consequences. I place my forehead against his taking a deep breath.

"We need to hurry, or we'll miss our flight." I let out. Slowly coming away from his contact, I reach for seatbelt. He grabs me by the face again, startling me into thinking he's going to force me to admit my feelings for him. But instead his plump lips come crashing onto mine and electricity ignites between us. He kisses me desperately and with warmth and passion. 

"I'll do better, baby. I promise." He winks before stepping out the car.