DAMIEN: Book 2 of The De Luca Brothers Series [COMPLETED]

10:

"Hi Chloe," chirps Rita, beaming down at my seat as if I was chocolate. After a weekend of working, sleeping and studying- don't forget the crying- I was more than prepared to be surrounded by a few people, whether that means talk to them or outright ignore them. To say I'm surprised about Rita's presence is an understatement; after our little fallout I'd have guessed she would have carried on her bitchiness rather than act as if nothing happened.

"Um, hi?" It comes out as more as a question which I cringe at.

She takes that as her cue to sit next to me, plopping down in the seat with pure enthusiasm, "So I had an amazing weekend. I went to this party, met up with this cute guy and we hit it off. I also did some baking. I brought you some, muffin?" She whips out a box of muffins, and offers me one, which I decline, remembering my last altercation with muffins. She frowns before nodding as if in understanding.

Guilt instantly sweeps through my veins. Here I am being a level A bitch when a girl who's head I ripped off is trying to make up for her persistent annoyance. "You know what? I'll have a muffin."

She smiles sweetly, tilting the box towards me and a wave of nausea hits me. With a shaky hand, I take the muffin and place it on the table, trying not to breathe in the distinct smell that'll send baby crazy.

"Try it, it's my mom's recipe," she declares proudly and I give her an awkward look.

"Um, I already ate."

"Oh," She says and her brows furrow. "Are you trying to get on a diet? I noticed you're getting a bit fat."

I tut and send her a nasty glare, "You really know how to make a girl blush."

Her eyes widen, "I didn't mean it like that! Gosh, I keep on messing up, don't I? I meant it as a friendly way, perhaps go on the treadmill once in a while to just burn it off?"

"Why are you so focused on my weight?" I question in accusation. She knows, she has to know. "Even after that mishap you commented on my stomach. Are you trying to suggest something?"

Her expression remains confused, "Friends have mishaps all the time, they say things they shouldn't. I'm really sorry for hurting your feelings then... it's just what you said really hit a nerve."

"Oh, Why?" I ask curiously.

"Just being the youngest really fucking sucks," she grumbles. "My family don't particularly like me, you just said something similar to what my older sister would have said."

I frown, "I'm sorry I didn't realise. I just got so aggravated because I was-uh- having a rough day."

"How come?"

"Bad night sleep," I wave off. "But that's not an excuse to mistreat you. Sure, you talk a lot but you mean well." I shrug and pick up the muffin for good measure, "To friendship."

"To friendship!" She exclaims, watching me take a bite. I swallow it without tasting it, my stomach swirling in dissatisfaction due to the texture. I offer her a queasy smile, only for my stomach to go 'nope'. "Sorry," I jump up bag in tow and rush out of the lecture, sprinting and skidding down the hallway until I reach the restrooms. Pummelling into a stall, I crouch over and retch up the muffin and the rest of the contents of my stomach, heaving until I'm left dazed on the floor, my nose wrinkling in disgust. I got to reach for the flush, but a wave of dizziness courses through me and I fall backwards into the wall, my head hitting it with a loud bang.

The light headed feeling causes me to lose sense of gravity as I dopily look around for help as the sick feeling churns my stomach; limbs heavy and my eyelids like sandbags, I fall down onto my side as a cold sweat contrasts to the internal burning. I croak, "Help."

"Why should I?" Comes Rita, her voice cold and venomous. "You're just a whore fucking a powerful man. A pregnant whore. A stripper too, must be embarrassing to say you fuck men without wrapping it."

"W-Why?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Her feet enter my blurred vision, the boots coming in and out of focus. "You're involved with The Thorns sweetheart, the very gang we want to overthrow."

I low moan escapes my lips as I move a lazy hand on her shoe, "Please... no..."

"But yes! You're a little weakness, so vulnerable, so helpless. It's going to be so satisfying to watch you squirm; watch the De Luca brothers beg for your release."

My vision begins to darken around the edges, the inky black intertwining with my visuals. "Fuck you..."

"You wish," she teases, but her voice becomes distorted and distant, before the abyss takes me and I can't see, feel or think.