Sold To The Gangleader

Chapter 56

Layla's POV

"Luca?" I glance up at him as he places a brown envelope onto my drawer. My head is pounding and I could feel an unpleasant itch on my throat.

"Hmm?" He turns to me, sitting onto my bed.

"Do you think I should cut my hair?" I run my hands through the strands with a frown.

"No.. why?" He raises a brow.

"But-but, then I'd look older right, if I cut it like Heidi's?"

"You are beautiful just the way you are, tesoro." He gives me a smile. "I think long suits you better."

"Oh." I give him a small smile, as I look back to my hair.

"Want to play stop the bus?" He asks after a moment of silence. I look back up at him, and chew my lip.

"Uh, I-I don't know. I think I'm too old for that now. M-Maybe we could do something else?"

His smile drops and he nods slowly, his eyes searching my face and I look away.

"What do you want to do?" He then asks.

I think hard for a moment my frown deepening. "What do people do?" I scratch my chin.

"Uh, tesoro. What's this?" I snap my head to him, to see him leaned down on my bed, to the bin.

"It's just t-trash." I shrug as he sits up, a crumpled sticker sheet in his hand. He uncrumples it and when his eyes land on it, they narrow and he glances back at me.

"I don't need it, it'-it's uh.." I trail off my cheeks reddening, and look back down, shrugging.

He lets out a sigh as he leans back down, picking out the rolled up coloured pad from the bin.

"Tesoro, you shouldn't force yourself to grow up."

I snap my head to him. "What?"

"I heard Killians-excuse my language- Bullshit, last night." He purses his lips.

Knowing he heard makes my cheek redden even further and I shake my head. "No, he was right. I..I need to act my age, I-I'm turning seventeen in a couple of months." My voice turns into a squeak, and I clear my throat.

"Growing up takes time, tesoro, some mature earlier some later in life,  You've had a tough childhood, it's alright to–"

"No." I cut him off, as tears brim my eyes. "It's not, I've been thinking and I know I need–"

The door suddenly opens, and Killian pops his head in, his eyes set on Luca as he speaks. "Ready for work?" He asks, bluntly.

"Give me one minute." Luca responds and Killian's give me one blank glance before leaving.

"It's because I went to Matt's house." My eyes water again.

"Oh?"

I nod, placing my face in my hands. "Killian got mad at me, It's true." My lips tremble. "I'm stupid."

I feel Lucas arms wrap around me, in a comforting hug. "You're not."

"I am." A lump forms in my throat. "I don't know what-what–"

Luca pulls away and his eyes widen when they catch a glimpse of my eyes. "Tesoro, have you not had any sleep?"

"I just don't-don't feel okay." I swallow the sob, and scoot away from him, placing my face onto the pillow as the tears rush out.