Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy #2) by Rina Kent

I feel up his sides, mechanically searching for a wound. That was so close, what if he…what if he…

Adrian grabs my face, his voice harsh as doom. “Are you hurt?”

I shake my head.

“Use your voice, Lia.”

“No. Are you?” Both of my hands are digging in the sides of his jacket, but I still want to make sure he’s okay.

“I’m fine.” He releases a sharp breath. “How did you know?”

“I…I saw a shadow, then a glinting of metal in the corner.”

“Fuck, Lia. You should’ve gotten down first.” His eyes clash against mine, and unlike the past four years, there’s fire in there, passion, and the utter care I thought I would never see again after that night.

I almost cry with relief, but the sensation is short-lived when he shakes his head, his expression hardening again. “You have your gun on you?”

“Uh…yeah.” It’s in my bag that’s still in my hand.

“Stay here.”

Damien and Kirill jump to their feet, running to where the shooter disappeared to.

Adrian pushes off me in one graceful movement, then pulls the table down to hide me underneath it. “Yan will get to you.”

He turns to leave, but I clutch his sleeve, my tongue feeling heavy in my throat as I murmur, “Don’t…die.”

And I mean it, I don’t want anything bad to happen to him.

He gives a curt nod before he follows the others.

I don’t stay there, though.

As soon as they’re gone, I push up from behind the table and flatten myself against the wall as I avoid the chaos in the crowd.

Adrian and the others are headed to where they thought the shooter disappeared, but if my gut is right and Luca is behind this, he won’t be so obvious.

I once told him that one of the cameras near the staff’s entrance has a delay in recording. I only found out because Rai mentioned it, saying they don’t use it that much, anyway, since most staff are live-in.

Luca must’ve used that information to get in. I don’t think the shooter is him, but I have no doubt that he’s somewhere near.

The first time I met Luca was in elementary school. He was adopted and hated it, and since his parents were of Italian heritage and I missed Italy, I wanted to be friends with him. I told him I’d lost my parents and he said he’d also lost his mom and dad, and that’s how we bonded. However, Luca always played in the background, even then.

He was secretive when we were young, but whenever he pulled a prank or took revenge on the kids who bullied him, he made sure to be present to watch.

That’s why I’m positive he’s here somewhere, and I need to stop him before he really takes care of Adrian.

I remain on the threshold between the back of Sergei’s house and the staff entrance, and find that the camera is not blinking at all.

My hand reaches to my gun and I snap the silencer on. Yan gave it to me in case I’m in a situation where the place is full of people and I don’t want anyone to hear. No idea why this feels like such a situation.

With careful steps, I walk into the small backyard that’s overlooking a wire fence.

I stop when I find Luca whisper-yelling at another man who’s bulkier than him with a long scar running down his right cheek. “You fucking fool. You had one mission.”

“Luca…” I breathe.

He and the man snap their attention toward me at the same time. Both are dressed in army fatigues and Luca has a mask and a baseball cap on.

“She stopped me.” The scarred man points at me with a sneer. “Fucking bitch.”

“Duchess.” Luca’s nostrils flare. “Are you protecting Adrian?”

I widen my stance, staring behind me to make sure no one is there. “I never told you I wanted him killed.”

“Well, I do. So don’t fucking get in my way again.”

I don’t know what comes over me as I raise the gun and point it at him. “I will not let you hurt him, Luca.”

“My, my, Duchess. You’ll kill me for him?”

“I don’t want to. Don’t make me.”

“What if I tell you he’s been using you all along? That he’s on the side of your parents’ murderer.”

My hand falters on the gun as his words sink to the bottom of my stomach. “W-what?”

“Here’s your truth, Lia. Adrian is only with you because he’s an ally to your father. The same father who ordered a hit on your parents in Italy.”

“You’re…just saying that because I refuse to help you anymore.”

“I’m saying that so you’ll wake the fuck up. Adrian is not on your side—never was, never will be. He’s merely serving his and the Bratva’s agenda, and keeping you as a trump card for being Lazlo Luciano’s illegitimate daughter.”

My head spins and the hand holding the gun trembles.

No. Luca is being spiteful. None of this is true. It can’t be.

“I’m out of here.” The scarred man’s voice is like nails scratching against my brain. “I’ll kill Volkov next time.”

“You fucking better,” Luca mutters.

My mind is trapped in a maze and a blow of undecipherable emotions bursts through me. Only one remains, though, as I aim the gun at the scarred man’s nape and shoot.