Pretty Little Lies by Morgan James

Author:Morgan James [James, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mafia romance, roommate romance, mafia romance virgin, dark romance, dark romance books, dark romance duet, dark romance thriller, mafia romance books, mafia romance novels
Publisher: Morgan James
Published: 2020-07-19T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Giuliana

The clock ticked loudly on the wall behind me, the only sound in the empty room. After a night of no sleep, I dragged myself out to the couch and curled up in the corner. Eric had folded the blanket and laid it over the back of the couch before he’d left for work, but his scent lingered, and I drew in a lungful of the musky, masculine smell. Dressed in sweats and a thick sweatshirt I’d pilfered from Eric’s closet, I felt like I couldn’t get warm. Closing my eyes, I imagined I could feel the heat from his body seeping into mine, warming me from the inside.

What he’d told me last night chilled me to my bones. He’d apparently questioned Sam, who denied everything. Not only that—he had an alibi, and several witnesses saw him at the hardware store throughout the day. If it wasn’t Sam, who could it be? Idle threats weren’t my uncle’s style; he would have shown up—probably with lots of firepower if necessary—and dragged me back to Chicago.

A loud knock came from the front door, making me jump. On stealthy feet, I approached. Before I even neared the peephole, a familiar voice called out, “Jules? It’s me, Mia.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief as I slid the chain on the deadbolt and peeled open the door. Forcing a smile to my face, I stepped back to let her enter. “Hey.”

She watched me warily as I closed up the door and relocked it behind her. “You doing okay?”

I exhaled, long and slow, knowing I wouldn’t be able to keep it from her. Besides, she’d clearly already heard that something had happened; I might as well tell her everything.

“I’m fine. It was really no big deal.”

She lifted a brow. “Really?”

I shrugged. I wasn’t sure what she wanted me to say. Silently, I moved toward the couch and sank down in one corner. Mia followed suit and slid onto the cushion at the opposite end, just watching me, waiting for me to speak. “It was... scary, I guess.”

I was still scared; I didn’t know who to trust or what I was going to do. If I’d had my car, I probably would’ve been packed and on the road by now. Unconsciously, I picked at my nails, lost in thought.

Suddenly, Mia spoke. “Have you eaten yet?”

My eyes widened. “No, why?”

“Come on.” She pushed to her feet. “Let’s go grab lunch.”

“I don’t know...” My gaze skated over Eric’s huge sweatshirt where it hung from my body.

“Can I offer some advice?”

My head tipped to one side as I contemplated her.

Mia drew a deep breath. “Never let them see your fear.”

Not for the first time I wondered about her past and the fading bruises and cuts that marred her pretty face. It made sense. It was the mantra my father had lived by—though look how that’d ended for him. Shaking the thought away, I considered the subject at hand. Maybe it really was Sam or someone close to him who’d done the dirty work for him.

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