“Am I really that bad, Lo?” I whisper.
“What?”
“Am I really that bad? Is it really so wrong for us to want to be together?” I demand.
“God, no. You’re gorgeous. Perfection. I want you so fucking bad my cock is straining against my pants right now. Watching you tonight? It was torture. If it was as simple as wanting you, I would take you right now.”
I take in his words, and my heart sinks. He only wants sex. That’s what it is. It is what Scarlett can offer him. He thinks I want a relationship. Well, I do, but I want whatever he can offer at this point.
I sound like a pathetic female, the kind I always make fun of. Giving everything to a man who doesn’t give an ounce of it back. I can’t seem to help myself though.
I sink to my knees in front of him and reach for his belt.
“What are you doing?” He attempts to push me away.
I slap his hand and get his belt undone, moving to the button. He grabs my hands and pulls me to my feet. “Mia, What the hell?”
Tears prickle my eyes. He doesn’t even want me for sex. He lied.
“What the fuck do you want from me then, Lo? You kiss me then tell me it was a mistake. I go on a date to try and forget you, and you show up ruining it. We have some weird kind of sex that fucking ruined me, and you disappear. I try and move on, and each step I take, you pull me back. Finally, I give in and try and give you what I think will get me out of your system, no-strings-attached sex, and you stop me. What the fuck do you want from me?”
The tears are now fully streaming down my cheeks. He takes a step forward, reaching for my face, but I turn away. He drops his hand to his side.
“Damn it, Mia. I’m trying to save you! You deserve better than me. You’re perfect. An angel.Mio piccolo angelo. You shouldn’t be tainted by my evil. I’m not a good man, Mia. I have done things you should never have to hear about. If I take you like I so desperately want, I would ruin you. I can’t risk it.”
My tears dry up at his admission. “I thought you were different, but you’re just like everyone else.” I switch to a mocking tone. “Poor little Mia. She’s too innocent for her own good. We have to protect her and treat her like she’s a child.” I take a deep breath. “Fuck them and fuck you. You think I haven’t seen stuff? Hell, you think I haven’t done evil things too? I have. I thought you could see past the façade I put up, but you’re just like them. All you see is the innocent virgin who needs to be protected. Well, I have news for you. I can protect my fucking self and have been for a majority of my life. If I wanted, I could destroy everything without anyone noticing!
“You know what, we’re done here, Lorenzo. Don’t talk to me, don’t look my way, don’t even think my name. I don’t exist to you anymore. Do you understand me?” I gesture between us. “This is over. I don’t ever want you to come within a hundred yards of me again. Not even if it’s to protect me. I’m so beyond over you that you’re dead to me. I will let Bash know this new development.”
I don’t wait for his response. I turn on my heel and storm out of his house. He brought me here, but I can’t turn back and ask for a ride now. Seems I’m stuck walking. I make it to the garage before his car starts up. I take off at a run. It isn’t until I’m several buildings down that I turn and hide behind a dumpster. I hear the engine as he slowly scans the streets. I know it’s immature of me, but I can’t deal with him right now. I watch the lights as he turns into the alley I’m in. For a moment, I think I’m caught, but then he backs out and heads back toward his building.
My heart hurts as I realize he has probably already given up looking for me. I head back to the street and look each way. I don’t see his car anymore. I make a left and continue back in the general direction of my house. Several minutes later, I tense as I hear a car pull up. I turn expecting it to be Lorenzo. I’m not quite ready to face him yet.
Instead, I find a young gentleman peering out at me.
“Hey, do you need a ride or something?” He fidgets like he’s uncomfortable asking.
“Actually, can I borrow your phone? I lost mine.”
More like I’m an idiot and left my purse at Lorenzo’s place.
The man sighs in relief.
“Sure.” When he goes to hand it out to me, I see a tattoo peeking out of his shirt.
“Is that a Catalini Tattoo?” It isn’t like Lorenzo’s. His looks much more intricate, but it looks like a faint outline of the crest, similar to the guys who came to get me from the clinic.
“Yes.” The man looks surprised.
I round the car and jump in the passenger seat. “My name is Mia. I’m friends with Sofia, Don Catalini’s woman. Can you give me a ride there?”
His eyes widen at my admission. He probably doesn’t know what to do with the information.
“Of course. It would be my pleasure.”
He takes off as I hold his phone in my lap. He starts chatting, and I make noncommittal noises. It seems he’s nervous. I don’t blame him. Bash still scares me sometimes. If it wasn’t for the fact that he’s head over heels in love with my best friend, I would be scared to even speak to him. Lorenzo protecting me has helped too.
I lean my head against the window and close my eyes as I think about Lorenzo. I was an idiot to let myself fall in love with him. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stop it. He wormed his way into my heart by befriending me first.
