Love Or Lust

Austyn swatted Luca’s hand away. ‘You’re one to talk. What about that woman you’re seeing behind Isabel’s back? Is that relationship based on lust or love? Or both?’ Luca looked away and shuffled his feet. Austyn had touched a sore spot. After a while, Luca forced a smile. ‘No wonder they call you McCarthy the Merciless. You go straight for the jugular, don’t you?’ Afraid of hearing any more hard truths he wasn’t prepared to handle, Luca turned tail and took off. Austyn stayed outside in the hallway. His eyes were trained on Kira in the ward. She was standing by the bedside, watching the nurse’s every move. ‘Please be gentle,’ she pleaded nervously. ‘My friend is hurting.’ When the nurse went to work on Giana’s left hand, Kira held her friend’s right hand as if to offer moral support. Any casual observer would easily deduce the patient was very dear to her. While Kira studied the nurse, Austyn studied her. Even from a distance, the pallor on her face was apparent. She looked just as pa