Jealousy
Luca's POV
Aria froze. Her grip on the mug tightened, her breath stilled. Viola’s curiosity sparked instantly, her gaze flicking between the newcomer and me.
Marcus avoided Aria’s eyes, standing stiff as a statue.
I watched their interaction, mostly watching Elena because she was the one who was so surprised about it.
“He’s your new guard,” I said casually, taking another bite of my food with my gaze still fixed on Aria. “He’ll be going with you.”
No one spoke for the next few seconds, each probably using the time to fully understand ny words.
As soon as they did... They got angry.
“What?!” Viola’s voice cracked. Aria’s echoed hers a second later, more frantic, trembling.
I stared at her, watching as complicated emotions swirled in her eyes. Only one was sure... Anger.
Towards me.
When she stood, her chair screeched back violently. “You made him her bodyguard?”
Her voice cracked.
I raised my head, finally meeting her gaze. “Follow me,” I muttered, and left the room.
I made my way to the garden, my lighter clicking open in my hand, the small flame flickering before I closed it again.
It was a habit. One I used to keep my hands busy when my head was too loud... And right now, I felt like a damn speaker.
When I heard her behind me, I didn’t turn immediately.
“What is this?” she demanded.
Her tone shook slightly... part fear, part anger. Now I could hear the fear . “You said you weren’t going to hurt him.”
I exhaled, finally turning to face her.
The morning light touched her hair, softening the fury in her eyes, and damn it... it made her even harder to resist.
I did say I wasn't going to hurt him, and I kept my word. This was the most punishment I could give him that would make a difference.
She didn't want me to kill him or harm him physically... Fine. I was just going to make sure Aria stop seeing him the way she did. It was vexing.
Since she already knew about my feelings for her and the little time left I had, I felt no shame doing this to her.
But then she got angry, accusing me.
I couldn't take it any longer. I stepped closer, towering over over small petite frame. " Why?” I asked. “Why are you so angry? Isn’t this what you wanted? Isn’t he alive?”
Why couldn't she see that I was trying to please her? It I had left it to only what I wanted... Marcus would have been long dead.
Her lips parted, and for a moment I thought she’d scream. Instead, her voice came out softer, cracked. “You made him work for your fiancée!”
There it was. The truth under all her panic.
Jealousy.
She didn’t even realize it, but I did.
That bitter sting I’d been feeling since the night Marcus’s name kept slipping out of her mouth.. she was feeling it now too.
So that was her problem.
“He’s still my employee,” I replied, coldly. “I can do whatever I want with him.” I said forcefully making her remember that part.
Her eyes burned into mine. For a second, I thought she might slap me.
She had done it before so I couldn't put it past her.
She yelled... Reminding me that I had a fiancee... But it only made my blood boil even more.
"And you think that gives you the right to like Marcus?"
Huh?
Was that it?
She hesitated before denying it.
I was right.
She did like that bastard.
I was going to kill him.
She said something about erasing all I had said yesterday... Because I was drunk.
Ha!
She thought she could just erase what I’d said. Pretend my words were empty because they scared her.
I took a step closer, voice low. “I remember everything. I meant every word. The sooner you come to terms with it, the better.”
She brought up Viola again... I could swear at the moment if I saw Thomas, I would kill him.
Again, I accused her of the same thing.
Liking that damn bastard. But her answer was swift and loud.
“I don’t like Marcus!”
Her voice cracked on the last word, betraying everything she was trying to hide.
I wanted to believe her, but I couldn't. I just couldn't.
I had seen the way she looked a him... It felt like a needle pricking my heart. The way she fought for him and protected him... She had never, ever done that for me.
Not because there was no opportunity, but because she just couldn't.
Even when she glared at me, yelled, pushed back... it was always because she wanted to understand me. To possibly ruin me.
And that was worse.
Because it meant she cared. Just not in the way I wanted.
I stood still, staring at her... taking in her morning beauty.
It shouldn't be a crime to fall for a woman like her... Her entire ordeal felt like it was written in the books... She was written for me.
The only crime was making it happen too late. When I had little to no real time to spend with her, to make her fall for me back.
I shouldn’t have done it. Putting Marcus near Viola was cruel. Even for me.
But I couldn’t help it.
Every time Aria looked at him, something inside me burned. Something ugly.
Jealousy wasn’t supposed to feel like this. It was supposed to be controllable... something I could bury under work, whiskey, or anger. But when it came to her, none of those worked.
And maybe that scared me more than I wanted to admit.
She didn’t love me.
Not yet.
Maybe she never would.
But I’d make her.
At least, I'll try.
I was still thinking of that when Viola announced she and Marcus presence.
So he probably heard when Aria denied him.
Good.
But then she wanted to defend her statement... Thankfully for her, Marcus was smarter and he interrupted her, bluntly shoving her words under the rug.
Good... Again.
At least, someone was smart.