Chapter 149 When Care Feels Like a Cage
POV Luca:
From a distance, we keep watching over the crazy woman who lives with us. Maya isn’t okay. What the hell was that about her asking if we’re looking for a bride? If we want to have a relationship with her? She has to be crazier than her usual level of crazy.
I don’t even want to remember what I saw when we walked into the bar, and she still tells us it’s just friendship. What kind of friendship develops that fast? Is it really just friendship? Because seeing her sitting on Burt’s lap suggested something very different.
After Maya nearly destroyed the bar by throwing bottles at him, Burt left a check with Celeste and went away. Maya, however, sat back down at the bar and kept taking more tequila shots. We want to leave, but we can’t until we’re sure she’s home and safe.
Which reminds me of the shit I said to her. Why was I an idiot and told her she’s a guest? It’s not untrue, but I didn’t want to say it the way I did.
I rub the back of my neck, bothered by the whirlwind that damned redhead throws at us. I don’t know what she wants with this engagement game, and I won’t leave any opening to find out.
She keeps downing shots like it’s water. Even though she’s drinking alone, she looks excited, with no intention of stopping. I’ve already tried getting closer to her, but the redhead won’t let us approach. The few times we tried, she threatened us with the pool cue she’s hugging like it’s her best friend.
“She’s going to end up getting sick,” Dominic says, worry stamped all over his face. “Do you think she’s acting like this because of what I said?” He isn’t asking anyone in particular.
“What did you say?” I ask, and my brother shakes his head.
“She wanted to know why we’re selling the horses, and I said something I shouldn’t have.”
I move closer. I won’t back down. I need to know what he said. Maybe that explains why she’s acting like this.
“What did you say?” I insist.
Our brothers step closer too, interested in hearing.
“I said she wasn’t important enough to have that privilege. I shouldn’t have said it. I regretted it the moment it left my mouth. I saw on her face how much my words hurt her, but she didn’t want to hear me out. She left saying she was going to the flower shop. I tried to give her a ride, but she refused.”
I nod, understanding everything.
Maya is provocative and reckless, but if there’s one thing I noticed from the very first time I met her, it’s that she makes everyone around her feel important. And my brother saying that to her must have hurt—a lot.
Maya doesn’t draw attention to herself to be flashy, like I thought for a long time, but so she won’t be forgotten.
What did she go through to become like this?
“Oh, no,” Sebastian says, and we immediately look toward the bar, just in time to see Maya take a generous gulp of the devil’s drink.
This night just keeps getting better.
And here we go again.
Maya throws her shirt aside, standing in the middle of the living room wearing nothing but lingerie. If I thought the bar had been the worst part, I was dead wrong. The damned redhead saved the worst for when we got home.
“Sebastian, show me those abs,” my brother’s face turns red as he struggles against the agile hands of the crazy redhead.
“Maya, you’re going to sleep,” I say, and she shoves me, climbing onto me as soon as I fall back onto the couch.
“I’m going to ride you, Luca, write that down,” she says, grinding on my lap. I grab her by the legs, set her down beside me, and stand up.
“No way. Women don’t ride me. Now go upstairs and go to sleep.”
She makes that damned pout and moves to Dominic’s lap, threatening to choke her while she says she’s going to do reverse cowgirl on him.
Mikhail and Adrian come downstairs holding a robe for Maya. As soon as she sees them, she runs toward the two of them. They trick her, telling her they’ll go upstairs with her if she puts on the robe.
She agrees, puts it on, and lies down on the couch with her head in Sebastian’s lap and her legs in Dominic’s.
“Sebastian, let me see, just a little?” she asks, barely able to keep her eyes open. Sebastian gives in, lifting his shirt. She sticks out her tongue and licks his stomach. “Wow, it’s like licking a lollipop. It just keeps getting better. I’m still going to lick your cock, Sebastian Moretti.”
“Close your eyes and go to sleep,” my brother says, and she smiles at us.
“You’re such boring good boys, but you should know I love you, you brutes,” she declares, closing her eyes and nestling into Sebastian’s lap.
My brothers and I stare at each other in shock, trying to process the words that just came out of the mouth of a visibly drunk woman who has no idea what she’s saying.
Because there’s no way it can be true.
It’s impossible that she’s being sincere.
Who loves someone in such a short time?
Let alone five someones?
She doesn’t love us.
Does she?