Chapter 37 - Malia (1)

"Gio…" My mouth hangs open, but nothing else comes out. I begin walking over, wanting to throw myself to him, thankful that he's safe—that he's here in front of me in one piece. Alive. Unharmed. Breathing. But I stop. This tiny morsel of relief is replaced by a different, foreign feeling as I realize what's happening. 

Giovanni knows. And he's terrifyingly calm.

"Don't call me that, Ms. Rose. You lost the privilege to call me by my first name. It's Mr. De Luca to you." The metal lighter clicks off, killing the flame and freezing me in place. My eyes have adjusted to the darkness already so I can see him from where I'm standing. The way his glare pierces through me makes me immobile. I can't move. I can hardly breathe. His cold, detached voice sends a chill down my spine. "Ah. Maybe that's not your last name either, is it?"