She laughed a little. “I apologize. That wasn’t my intention.”
“My illness will be listed as the cause of death, but we’ll both know it was heartbreak that killed me.” He winked at her.
“It was very nice to meet you,” Kira said, smiling. “I’ll be back later.”
He reached out a hand, but Kira pretended not to notice it as she turned away. Of course, Dr. Torres saw it. Hopefully he’d respect her keeping those professional boundaries from the outset. They didn’t know each other, but she needed to build a rapport quickly with the doctor so that he’d trust her when he couldn’t be with the patient.
Kira eased the door closed, turned, and found herself face-to-face with Luca. “Hey.” Her cheeks warmed.
“Everything go okay in there?”
“He’s an interesting guy.” She kept her voice low so that neither of the men in the room behind her heard their conversation. “That’s for sure.”
“Interesting?” Luca didn’t seem to like the word she’d chosen. “He’s a dangerous man who will try to charm you.”
“He already did, but don’t worry. Apparently, I’m a heartbreaker.”
Luca frowned.
“It’s all good. I’ve got it under control.”
“This is a guy who controls everyone around him, and he does it without mercy. He only plays at emotion or affection. And forget about friendship. Everything is a game to him. People are possessions.”
Oh boy.
Kira touched his arms, just above his elbows. “Luca, it’s fine.”
He led her to the two waiting chairs beside the door. “I have to know that you understand what kind of man this is. You can’t let your guard down, Kira. You have to stay alert at all times. He might seem nice, but this is the kind of man who slices up little children in front of their parents.”
“You think I haven’t met bad guys before?” She touched the scar on her forehead. He’d been there, he knew. But there was even more he didn’t know about her and the things she’d seen or done. “I know what I’m doing.” She was well aware of exactly how careful she needed to be.
“I know you’ve met insurgents.” He took her hand and held it in his gently, as if he was trying to comfort her. “This guy? He’s on a whole other level you can’t even imagine. He’s a mass murderer wrapped in a con artist. A good-looking guy whose job it is to get you to let your guard down so that he can be the one with all the control.”
She dipped her head for a second, realizing she’d have to let him know a little something or he wouldn’t believe she was all right. She should ask him to just trust that she knew what she was doing. In reality, what she needed was to guard her heart from being broken all over again. If she asked for trust, she’d have to take her own advice, or she’d be a hypocrite.
“I know what kind of man he is.” She drew her hand from his and rubbed them over her knees, locking her arms straight. “Because I’ve met a man like him before. I know how easy it is to get sucked into their web, twisted around, then suddenly realize how far gone you are. How you’ve changed everything about yourself and what you want, just to align with their ideals.”
“Ex-boyfriend? Or husband?”
She shook her head. “My father.” Luca didn’t need all the details. All he needed to know was “He wasn’t a nice man. Then he was dead. End of story.”
Her dad hadn’t been charming or attractive like Francisco. But he had been ruthless. The way he’d been able to get everyone around him to do his bidding had been both fascinating and terrifying. People who were willing to lay down their lives for the cause he told them was absolute and the chance for a quick payout. In the end, what did that get him but death at the hands of armed police in London?
She pushed the memories away. “I know what I’m doing.”
Luca tugged on her fingers, interlacing the tips of his with hers. “I’d like to hear more of the story sometime. Not right now, but eventually.”
She stared at their hands, liking the way his fingers looked with hers. The warmth of his touch. The strength in him and the way he remained so gentle at the same time. She let out a breath. “I don’t like talking about it, but it’s part of who I am.”
“I’d like to know all about you. And if you want to know about me, I’m happy to tell you anything.”
She glanced at him and saw the sincerity in his gaze. “Eventually.”
Someone cleared their throat.
Kira felt her cheeks flame all over again. Luca twisted around but didn’t let go of her hand. “Hammer.”
“You’re going to introduce me as Rowan though—hold up.” The big man came over to stand in front of her. “I know you.”