Chapter 10
One day later
I didn’t leave my room for the rest of the day. I shut the door, like that could somehow shut everything else out. Time dragged by while I laid there, but I didn’t mind. I was staring at the ceiling and scrolled through my phone for endless hours. I didn’t go out because I didn’t want to see him.
Not because I was scared of what he’d say, but because I didn’t trust what I’d do.
He’s such a strange, twisted man. Always wearing that smug little smirk like he knows something I don’t, like he’s already won a game I didn’t even know I was playing.
And just when I think I’ve figured him out, that smirk shifts.
It turns dark, like a mask slipping. There’s something off about him, something that makes my skin crawl in the quiet moments.
I can’t read him, and I hate that. I hate that I don’t know how to act around him, whether to brace for impact or just smile back and pretend I’m not suffocating.
Yeah, I dragged him into this mess. I thought he’d squirm or snap. But instead, he leaned into it, like he likes the tension. Like he’s been waiting for me to lose control.
And maybe I already did.
Because I sure as hell feel the tension around him.
I feel it crawl up my spine when he touches me like I belong to him.
And somehow, it’s worse when he’s not touching me.
The silence he leaves behind buzzes louder than his presence ever could.
I’ve known him for a single day, and already everything feels off kilter.
Today is a new day, and I have to go out, pretend I’m the good girl and eat breakfast with my parents as always. I can’t avoid it, as they always want me to pretend I’m the princess. The golden heir of this shitty world they raised me in.
I check myself in the mirror and put on my lip gloss to finalize my natural makeup. Today I dressed simple—a simple pair of jeans and a frilly pink top.
Something casual, so I won’t scream, “Hey, I’m the mafia don’s daughter,” to the whole university.
I walk outside my room and—what a surprise—no one talks to me; no one even looks at me.
I grew up my whole life without having anyone by my side.
I didn’t have my mother, because she’s a crazy bitch who doesn’t love anyone but herself.
I didn’t have my father, because he was so focused on his domestic game and how he would acquire more money and new pawns to manipulate.
I didn’t have any friends—because who would want to be friends with a girl who drags three giant bodyguards behind her?
Which boy would want to date a girl who doesn’t have a moment alone?
Besides, if anyone dared to even look at me, my bodyguards—Wes—made sure to make their presence known.
It’s not because they cared for me, but because they were afraid of my father. Of course they were. Everyone is.
Upon entering the kitchen, I see Maria preparing breakfast.
Everything is already settled on the gleaming white marble island in the middle of the room—because, obviously, the king and queen can’t descend from their chambers until the peasants have laid out their morning feast just right.
God forbid someone see them eat a slightly wrinkled croissant.
The breakfast is full and rich, as always.
There’s an entire platter of perfectly sliced avocado and poached eggs. Salmon, because bacon is too pedestrian.
“Good morning, Maria,” I say, taking a seat.
“Good morning, Miss Calvano,” she answers without even looking at me.
Maria has been with us since forever—since I can remember, anyway. Father dragged her from Italy without caring that she left her family behind. I guess she thinks she protects them by sticking with my father.
“Morning,” Mother says, barely glancing our way as her heels scrape across the white marble.
No warmth, no smile. Just enough effort to acknowledge us, but not enough for a full “good morning” as if we don’t even deserve it.
She looks weird, like she’s sobering up from a hangover. That wouldn’t surprise me.
“Good morning, Mrs. Calvano,” Maria chirps with a fake, bright smile.
She collapses into the chair. “Coffee,” she mumbles, supporting her head in her palms.
My eyes roll back involuntarily. Maria instantly pours her freshly brewed coffee. She wouldn’t lose the opportunity to make her boss happy. As always, Mother doesn’t talk to me anymore.
Then, he comes, and I instantly feel my heart jump.
Damn, he’s so illegally irresistible. He’s wearing just a plain black T-shirt that accentuates his broad physique, and a simple black pair of cargo pants.
Now that I see them clearer, the tattoos on his arm are scattered, without any pattern. A butterfly. A target. Some cards, and a—supposedly cute—voodoo doll with a big nail through it.
Great vibe. Really comforting.
His hair is styled to perfection, giving him a wild yet refined look.
“Morning,” he says with a mischievous smile as his eyes land on me.
This, coming from him, sounds different from the way my mother says it. It doesn’t sound diminutive.
“Well, good morning,” Mother says with a knowing glance, raising her head. “Now who’s this intriguing young man?”
Could she be any more embarrassing?
He doesn’t react. He takes a seat in the chair directly across from me, exhales slowly, and intertwines his fingers on the table.
“Adam. Isabella’s new personal bodyguard,” he replies to her, casually, his dark eyes still fixated on me.
Am I blushing?!
“Mmm, sexy and disciplined,” she purrs, wiping the red lipstick from the corner of her lips. Ew.
“Why didn’t I know about this new handsome addition?” she asks, adjusting herself in the chair. “What about Wes?”
Adam lets out a dry chuckle—more scoff than laugh—lowering his gaze as if trying to hold back a venomous quip.
Levi, Mother’s personal bodyguard, joins us right after that. He doesn’t talk to us at all; he merely gives Adam a single nod and takes a seat right next to Mother. The arrogance on his face makes it genuinely hard not to punch him. He’s hands down one of the most unbearable men I’ve come across.
I don’t say a word; I just sip my coffee, doing my best to stay out of it. My parents are exactly the kind of people I know will infuriate me with their behavior, and the bodyguards are a constant reminder of how ashamed I am to be part of this household.
My family and the closest members of the staff causally eat breakfast together—just breakfast. That means us and our personal bodyguards.
Next, Wes comes, along with Boris. The bruises and ego still linger on the latter’s face; that’s why he doesn’t even look at Adam.
“Look who’s here.” Wes pats Adam’s shoulder firmly. “The apple of my eye.”
“Happy to see me, sunshine?” Adam returns the sarcasm.
Wes sits right next to me, letting out an amused sigh. “Like a headache I knew was coming.”
Adam sips his coffee. “I can be a very good painkiller. Do you want me to try?”
“Wes, why wasn’t I informed of Adam’s arrival?” Mother squeals, almost annoyed.
“I didn’t know it was my business to inform you about the new staff,” Wes replies. He’s a total dick, but damn, I enjoy every second of this.
“You asshole!” she hisses and looks at Levi. “Won’t you say anything?”
“He’s right, you know,” I say, trying to hide my disgust.
“I didn’t talk to you, little brat,” she replies in the most childish way. Does she think she’s still in high school?
Adam bangs his hand on the countertop and gives her a furious glance.
What’s wrong with him?
“See? You pissed off our new man,” she barks at Wes.
Wes doesn’t reply, but annoyance is dripping from his face.
Adam reaches for the apple in my plate. “You want that?” he mouths. I shake my head, so he takes it and bites into it without taking his eyes off me.
Father walks in last, as always, stomping his cane on the ground, trying to make an entrance.
“Boss,” Boris attests, like a soldier.
Father doesn’t answer him. He walks closer and takes a seat at the head of the table. Maria is already pouring coffee into his mug and slides the sugar toward him.
Absolute silence envelops the room as we wait for him to pour some sugar into his coffee and stir it. He takes a sip and puts the mug down.
“Why don’t you give me a damn good reason for why you’re here today?” he asks Wes.
“What do you mean? I’m here every day,” Wes replies.
“When you were my daughter’s bodyguard. Now he is,” Father says in the calmest way possible, intertwining his fingers and leaning forward.
“Uhm … What?” Wes growls, puzzled.
“Get the fuck out of here,” Father commands, lighting up his cigar.
Wes’s chiseled jaw twitches and his amber eyes darken, but he keeps his temper under control. He shoots Adam a furious glance and, slowly, stands up. “Fine.”
“Sit down,” Adam orders sternly, then bites into his apple.
Everyone in the room freezes at Adam’s audacity to go against my dad’s will. Mother’s eyes widen with surprise and admiration.
“What are you doing?” I mouth, feeling my stress levels increasing. He’s completely lost his mind!
“I beg your pardon?” Dad asks Adam.
“You gave me the authority, so I’m using it,” he says, sipping his coffee. “Unless that was just for show to flex your temper.” My head starts pounding with anxiety. “He’s more useful here than in the trunk.”
Father’s surprise molds into a cold smile. Without taking his eyes off Adam, he slowly wipes his mouth with a napkin and sets it down.
“That’s … interesting. My daughter’s taste in men is finally catching up with her poor judgement.”
Che testa di cazzo! What a dickhead!
Ah yes, another proud parenting moment.
Dad looks at Wes and gives a nod for him to stay put. Wes, on the other hand, gives Adam a furious glare, but Adam’s mischievous smirk doesn’t budge.
“Is there a reason you didn’t tell me about our daughter’s new bodyguard?” Mother insists, showing just how desperate she really is.
“Enough with him, Lorena.” Levi bangs his hand on the table, startling her. “We established he’s your spoiled little brat’s latest pet. What more do you want?”
“Hey!” I shout, but in vain. No one actually cares.
“Shut up,” Levi barks at me.
Adam grabs the last bite of his apple and stands up slowly, adjusting his shirt.
He walks around the table and stops right in front of Levi, without talking.
“You want a kiss, pretty boy?” Levi sneers, a disgusting, smug smirk on his face.
Adam grabs Levi by the hair and slams his head into the table with a sickening crack. Blood splatters across the wood as his nose shatters on impact, Levi howling from pain.
Wes and Boris shove their chairs back, draw their guns, and level them at Adam. Father freezes, stunned. Mother and I gasp, paralyzed by fear.
He holds his hair tighter and leans in close to his ear. “Open your mouth about her again, and the next thing I snap will be your fucking neck.”
“Adam, stop it!” I shout.
“Isabella, stand down. Let the new dog off the leash. I want to see if our investment knows how to earn his paycheck.” Dad sneers.
Adam shoves Levi’s bloodied head aside like trash, then straightens up, calm and unfazed, like he just swatted a fly.
“I’m getting paid to keep her safe,” he says, wiping his hand on Levi’s shoulder, as the man is nearly unconscious.
“The bonus is making sure no one even thinks about talking to her the wrong way.” His eyes flick to the head of the table.
“That part is free. Call it ‘a personal touch.’” He glances at me. “It isn’t negotiable.”
A chill runs down my spine. I don’t know if I should feel flattered or terrified that, after all, he’s not a hero, but a savage man willing to go to any length to protect me.
“Now you’re showing me why you were the right choice,” Father praises.
Adam hums modestly, crosses his arms, and throws me a grin. “So … what’s on the schedule today?”