A Minor Technicality [Completed] *Slowly Editing*

Chapter 29 - Trust Me

Blythe POV

My feet were beginning to ache as I followed Luca through the city. He didn't want to leave Chicago until we got the call from the Fitzgeralds telling us where to meet them. Luca said it would be stupid to leave town only to find we were going in the wrong direction. Instead, he decided we needed to travel on foot, never sitting still long enough to be found. Just like the night before, he seemed to have a destination in mind, so I just followed him blindly. I'm sure one day it would bite me in the ass that I was so trusting of him.

"Luca, I'm getting blisters," I complained, extremely aware of my black stilettos. I still couldn't believe they hadn't broken the night before. Currently, the straps were digging into my tired, dirty feet. I yearned for a comfortable pair of tennis shoes.

"Blythe, we're almost there," he said in a patronizing tone, not even stopping to look at me when he answered. I growled and continued to follow him. He finally led me into a tiny bookstore, and I almost squealed when I noticed the little reading nooks all over the shop. Luca grabbed my hand and tugged me behind him like a wayward child. When we reached an empty corner in the back, he gestured to the vacant plush chair.

"We can wait here. There's not a lot of traffic, and I'm certain we weren't seen."

His body remained erect and alert as he scanned the shop, ascertaining exits and determining whether his words were really true. At least, in my mind, that's what I imagined a detective like him would do when looking around a bookstore. For all I knew, he was looking for the section on crime novels or the one with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. I rolled my eyes and leaned forward, massaging my aching feet.

"Luca, what are we doing here?" I whispered, trying not to draw attention to us.

He turned to face me, his expression confused. "You said you were getting blisters," he answered, and he once again began perusing the area.

He looked so elegant, even in jeans and a fitted t-shirt. His jacket was dark, which helped to hide the bloodstains from the previous night, as well as his gun, and the bump caused by my hack job of a gauze knot. My mind flitted to memories of the night before, and I wondered if I would ever again have the chance to make love to him. Knowing my time on earth was limited, I wanted to make the best of it, and I promised myself that at least once more, I would have Luca Morelli in my bed. A naughty smirk, I'm sure, was evident on my lips. My thoughts were turning wicked, and I began to imagine all the dirty things I would do to Luca that I hadn't had the chance to do yet.

The ringing of Luca's cell phone drew my attention back to reality, and he quickly grabbed me by the wrist and jerked me from the chair. He led me through a door marked "Employees Only", and we walked into what appeared to be a small break room. Luca quickly shut and locked the door behind us, while I sat at the corner table. Luca followed suit and set the phone between us. Clicking the answer button, he immediately switched the mode to speaker.

"Morelli," he barked.

"H-h-hello?" the young voice stuttered, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Farrah?!" I cried. "Are you okay?"

"Blythe," she whimpered, her words broken by her sudden sobs.

"Farrah, baby, what have they done to you?" I prayed she was still untouched and unharmed. If Jimmy or any of his goons had touched a hair on her head, there would be hell to pay. "Are you okay? Has anyone hurt..."

"Farrah, this is Detective Morelli," Luca cut off my questioning, and I glared at him. "Jimmy told us to expect a call. Did he tell you what he wanted you to say to us?"

I stared at him in horror. Did he not care if she was okay? All he wanted to know was what Jimmy said. Why was this infuriating man so single minded? I raised my hand to strike him, fury blazing through me, but Luca caught my hand before I could even move it in his direction. He squeezed it, trying to convey a message that was lost to me. He intertwined our fingers and set our joined hands on the tabletop.