Lucca wasn’t capable of such feelings. She had just been fooled by his kindness from last night, but that was just an act.
Ten
Sold Her Soul to the Boogieman
“You are wanted downstairs.”
Chloe had locked herself away in her room again after Lucca had left her in the living room this morning. This was the time Drago usually told her dinner was ready, but today he was demanding something different. As much as she didn’t want to go, his presence left her with no choice.
Following him downstairs, the wonderful smell of food entered her nose, making her empty stomach growl. When they reached the dining room, she was met with the same vision as yesterday, except for some slight changes, like there was only one plate at the dinner table and Lucca was already eating his steak and mashed potatoes.
“Sit with me,” he ordered as Drago disappeared, leaving them alone.
Chloe cautiously sat down next to him, squeezing her hands in her lap, as Lucca cut deeply into his steak, carving off a small piece before eating it.
Once the piece was chewed, he finally addressed her. “I want to make a deal with you, darlin’.”
Chills went up her spine. She wasn’t sure anyone would come out alive from a deal with the boogieman.
“What kind of d-deal?”
An evil smile appeared on his lips. “You will stay here with me, and if you still want, I promise to let you walk out that front door at the end of your first semester.”
“T-That’s it?” He won’t let it be that easy.
“I have rules.”
Chloe swallowed the lump in her throat, too scared to even ask what they were. I knew he wouldn’t.
“The first one’s easy, as I will also do the same for you.” He began cutting another piece of his steak. “When I ask you a question, you must not lie.”
Her brow furrowed. “So, I can ask you anything and you will tell me?”
“Yes, but only ask me if you want the truth.”
She had been ready to ask him a question before his warning changed her mind. She would have to think harder about if she really wanted to know certain things about him.
“W-What else?”
“I want to spend the evenings with you. You will eat dinner with me every night, and after, I want to help you overcome”—Lucca’s blue-green eyes rose, holding her gaze—“your fear of touch.”
Chloe’s blood ran cold, not wanting to take part in those plans. “N-N—”
“Then you will stay here for as long as I like,” he said nonchalantly, going back to eating his food.
Her nails dug into her palms. He was giving her an ultimatum. She feared if she was ever going to walk out of that door, she would have to give in.
“Is there anything else?” she whispered.
Lucca looked back up at her. “One last thing. When I ask you to do something, you will do it. But know I will not ask anything of you I don’t think you can handle.”
This was it. She was signing her life away. Lucca was going to take away everything she had clung to, the things she had used to survive.
Chloe solemnly nodded her head. Seeing no other choice, she would be lucky if she walked out the front door alive.
He raised his eyebrow. “Deal?”
This was the moment Chloe would give her life over to Lucca in hopes that one day he would return it back to her. “Deal.”
It didn’t take long for the impending doom to creep in. She could see he saw it as a game. A game he already won.
“Are you hungry?” he asked simply, like the conversation they’d just had didn’t happen.
As much as she wished she could run back up to the room, she no longer could. This was a part of the deal now. You will eat dinner with me every night.
“Yes.”
Using his fork, Lucca picked up a piece of his steak and held it out for her, expecting her to take it with her mouth. His eyes told her this was no offer, but a demand.
“I-I don’t want to take y-your food. I can make a plate.”
He put his hand down. “Maybe I decided not to make you any. You have yet to sit here and have dinner with me.”
Chloe stared at him. Something in her sensed he was hurt that she hadn’t sat with him and eaten one of the meals he had prepared for … me?
“I understand.”
I want to spend the evenings with you. She did understand now. He had made dinner every night, and every night, she hadn’t joined him. Drago had warned her; told her she was playing with fire, which was exactly what she had done.
Lucca raised his hand once more, bringing the juicy steak close to her lips, demanding she take it.
When I ask you to do something, you will do it.
Slowly parting her lips, she wished she could shut her eyes, but his gaze held hers prisoner. She took the steak into her mouth and slid her lips away from the fork. It wasn’t until then that he let her eyes fall to her lap as she began chewing.
He smiled. “I told you, Chloe, that I wouldn’t ask anything of you I didn’t think you could handle.”
She didn’t expect him to set the fork back down then get up, going to the kitchen. When he returned to the table, he set a full plate down in front of her.
Somehow, in some way, he always seemed to surprise her.
“T-Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, darlin’.”
It was easy for Lucca to eat after he sat back down, but for her, it wasn’t. She had just sold her soul to the boogieman.