Luciano | Book I ✓

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Liam didn't respond. Instead, his arms dropped to his side and he turned away from me; ending the conversation without a word. With his back to me, I watched him slowly walk down the remainder of the hallway. I stood still, my hands clenched in a fist just as his own pressed against his bedroom door, preparing to open it. But for the last time that night, I called out to him.

"You're a liar," That got his immediate attention. His gaze drifted up from the floor and landed on me. The heat that flushed to my face intensified as his glare only got worse. If he stared at me a few seconds longer, I would've done a complete representation of a snowman in the summer heat. I swallowed hard and finished, "You're a fucking coward and a liar. Why?" I let out a sick laugh of my own, "Because you promised. You promised you would come back."

For just a second, I wished everything wasn't playing out the way it was. I wished we were laughing, watching television, and attempting to play Mario Kart with Rosalie. I wished with everything that I had that I could watch Dominic rotate the wedding ring around his hand and smile, inwardly laughing at a Rico joke. For just a moment, I wished I could see the glint in Federico's eyes that was - as of tonight - no longer there. I would've rathered Liam's lips on mine in a caring way then spewing out words that he said out of anger. My dreams, however, were nowhere close to reality.

"-guest bedroom tonight, Ms. Crawford."

I was torn out of my blissful thoughts at the sound of a door slamming; fading Liam's parting words with it. I caught the ending of his dismissal and that only caused me to get angrier. I let out a huff and in response to his words, I knocked on his bedroom door a tad harder than needed. He opened on the fourth knock, still looking as irritated as I did. Liam must've stripped himself of his shirt quickly, because he was shirtless as he stood before me. My eyes did a quick sweep and I had to remind myself multiple times that I was still very, very angry at him.

"Guest bedroom?" I repeat as I brush by him, our eyes only locking for a split second. I knew he had angled his body towards me, watching as I stalked towards the bed and yanked my pillow off of it. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, its charger, and eventually, my pajamas. Then I whirled around, only to find Liam still staring at me where I left him; a hand on the door, eyeing me. "I think that's a good idea," sarcasm floated into my tone as I finally stood beside him, tilting my head up towards him.

"Sleeping in separate rooms I mean," I let out a laugh, "I might say something rude to you, like...oh, I don't know, that you're pathetic." The word came out with more force then I intended and I swore I saw Liam flinch. My eyes fell from his contorted facial expression, landing on the necklace that caught my attention. I remembered it now as it glistened, almost teasing me.

"Lealtà," I read the necklace out loud, then I laughed. "Loyal my ass." And just like his glass shattering punch to the glass just a few minutes before, I made this move without truly thinking about it. My fingers wrapped around the necklace, my knuckles brushing against his smooth skin as I yanked it clean off his neck. It tore from his neck easily and was skidding across the room before I had even turned my back on him.

I wasn't sure what scared me the most. The fact that Liam's gaze didn't follow the broken necklace that had finally come to a stop somewhere in his room, or the fact that Luciano didn't look away from me, in fact, he hardly blinked. The door slammed from behind me, just barely nipping my shirt on the way out.

I had to assume that the slamming of the door is what jarred the tears loose for me. They started falling out the corner of my eyes at a rate I couldn't control. My breathing became labored and rushed at the feeling that I couldn't get a breath in. The hallway grew hot and I felt a bead of sweat stick to my forehead as my hands flew to my face, attempting to wipe and forcing to stop the tears that kept coming. As much as my subconscious wanted Liam to come out his room and hug me, kiss me, and apologize, another part of me didn't want that. I was angry at him, hurt by the words he had said, and in no shape to hear an apology from him just yet.