Chapter 14 #2
“You thought, what? That I’d bring another man into your house? Thought I’d fuck someone else under your roof?” I scoffed, my anger levels rising.
“No, but?—”
“But nothing.” I cut him off. “You should know by now that if I wanted to fuck someone, I would do it far from here.” I glared, crossing my arms across my chest.
“Don’t repeat that, Ana.” He stepped towards me, closing the distance between us. “No other man will ever have you, will ever call you his, and I’ll make sure that no other man’s name will ever leave those perfect lips.” He gripped my chin between his thumb and forefinger.
“Or what, Lorenzo. What would you do?” I egged him on.
“I’d torture the bastard slowly and painfully before killing him,” he whispered.
“All before bringing the bastard back to do it all over again.” A sinister smile played on his lips.
“Do you really think I’d ever let a man walk free for looking at what’s mine?
” His tone was as impassive as his face was.
“No, I don’t,” I retorted.
“Good girl.” He pulled me into him, his cock pressing against me. “Do I scare you, Ana?”
“No, you don’t scare me,” I whispered. “You should know I don’t scare easily.”
His lips brushed against mine. My breath hitched in my throat as the warmth from his mouth kissed my skin.
“Boss.” Emmet’s thick English accent came from the doorway, shattering our moment. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need to finalise tonight’s shipment. Are you good to go or do you need a minute?”
“He’s good to go. We’re done here.” I slapped Lorenzo’s hands away from me. He groaned, showing me just how pissed off he was.
“Don’t leave the house,” he ordered, already turning back into his usual self.
“I won’t. Anything to please his highness.” I bantered with an eye roll before retreating back outside.
Night had fallen and there was no sign of Lorenzo or any of the guys yet. I was thankful, to be honest. A quiet night to myself was what I needed. I poured myself a glass of pinot noir and curled up on the sofa to enjoy my guilty pleasure, Mamma Mia . A movie I used to watch with my mother.
I drifted off to sleep after a while, waking up to a loud bang on the front door, a full glass of wine, and the rolling credits. A message flashed on my phone as I rubbed my eyes. Chad’s name appeared when I picked it up to check.
Open the door, Ana. I’m outside.
Why the fuck was he here?!
Glancing at the time, I realised it was just after midnight. Surely, whatever he wanted could have waited until morning. I was unaware of how he even got through the gate. Lorenzo had given strict instructions about Chad to everyone on his team.
I made my way to the front door, wearing nothing other than an old pair of sweats and an oversized T-shirt, one I wasn’t even sure was mine.
I pulled the door open, coming face-to-face with my childhood friend, who looked nothing like he usually did.
His clothes were dishevelled, his dirty blonde locks were a mess, and his bright eyes lacked their usual spark.
“What are you doing here? It’s late,” I snapped, keeping the door ajar.
“Wow, what did I do to deserve that greeting?” He asked.
“It’s just late, that’s all. I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
“I know, and I apologise.” He sighed.
“And what if Lorenzo would have been here?” I asked, looking over his shoulder to check no cars were coming up the drive.
“I just needed to see a friendly face, Ana.”
“What happened?” I questioned, the worry in me taking over as he seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“Can I come in?” he asked. The worry I felt switched to unease.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Chad. No one’s home.” That wasn’t a lie. I was alone, and even though Lorenzo was a complete dick, I knew he wouldn’t appreciate Chad being with me in his home or anyone else for that matter.
“So, what? You can’t have friends over now?” He tutted, rolling his eyes with a hint of sarcasm.
“Of course I can, but you two don’t see eye-to-eye, and I don’t think he’d appreciate?—”
“Since when are you bothered about what he’d appreciate?” He cut me off mid-sentence and slammed his flattened palm against the door.
“Since I have to live with the man.” I defended him—to an extent.
“I’ve had a shit day with your father. I’m sorry.” He apologised, backing up slightly.
“That doesn’t mean you can take whatever happened out on me, so you will stand there and calm down,”
“I’m calm, Ana, but your father has hired another man to work alongside me,” he seethed. “Does he not think I’m capable of doing my job?!” He ran his fingers through his hair before fisting them at his sides.
“Do you honestly think I have a say in anything that man does? Look at what he did to me, Chad!” I sighed. “Look, he’s a heavily targeted man, and if he requires more protection, then that’s his decision.” I rubbed at my temple, getting tired of this conversation.
“I get that, I do, but?—”
“But nothing. He took you in when you had nobody else. He gave you the clothes on your back, he feeds you, and pays you a hefty sum. If you don’t like that, then you know what to do.” I’d had enough. I was irritated, and ready to go to bed.
“Ana, please. The house isn’t the same since you left. I miss you.” His eyes glistened with tears, and I felt a stab of guilt in my gut. He reached for me, but I stepped back slightly. Something I had never done before, but tonight, it felt different.
“Well, sometimes things change and that’s what happened to me.” I said. “Listen, Chad, no disrespect, but I think you need to leave.”
“Really? You want me to leave?” He seemed taken aback, but I no longer had the patience.
“Yes, I do. Listen, you’re my friend and you have been for many years, but you’re only here to talk about what happened with my father.
You know I don’t involve myself in his business.
I was never fucking allowed, and after what he did to me recently, I don’t give a fuck about who he hires and fires. ”
“You’re right, I shouldn’t have come over here to complain.” He smiled half heartedly. “We’ll catch up soon, right?” he asked with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
“Yeah, soon,” I whispered, unsure of how true that was. “Remember, though, tomorrow is a new day and my father sees you as family. No new team members are going to change that.”
“Yeah, I know. Goodnight.” He waved softly before heading to his car. I closed the door behind him.
Finally time for bed.
I made it halfway up the stairs when the door almost swung off its hinges. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Lorenzo. I could hear his expensive shoes clicking across the marble as he stormed towards me.
“What was he doing here?” he asked, his tone demanding as usual.
I kept my back to him, not wanting to turn around. I didn’t need to.
“Good evening, dear husband,” I teased, playing with fire.
“Don’t get smart with me. Why was he here?” His voice rumbled through me.
“How did you know he was here?”
“It doesn’t matter how I knew. Now, answer my question,” he demanded as he took two stairs at a time to get to me.
“He came for some advice from a friend, that’s all.” I let out a slow and steady breath. “Because despite what you want, that’s what I am—his friend.”
“I don’t want him in my house, especially when you’re dressed in my clothes!” He grabbed the hem of the T-shirt between his fingers, yanking it to make his point clear.
“Grow up!” I seethed. “Firstly, I didn’t know this was your T-shirt, and secondly, he didn’t come inside! I didn’t allow him to!” I snapped, not in the mood for his shit anymore.
“Why do you insist on lying to me? His smug face said it all when our cars passed outside.” Even with him fuming, I couldn’t help but breathe him in. His shirt was untucked and unbuttoned. Blood stained the white material of his rolled-up sleeves as it tightened around his arms.
Now is not the time to admire him, Ana.
“Wow, you can tell everything just by his face? Don’t you think that’s what he wanted?
That this,” I used my fingers alternating between us, “is what he wanted?” I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling somewhat defeated.
“I know what happened.” I glanced to the bottom of the stairs as Red, Emmet, and Gino joined us.
They were all wearing worried expressions at what one of us would do.
“Yes, you do.” He backed me against the wall, my hip bumping into the glass table that housed a beautiful antique vase, sending it tumbling to the floor.
He quickly stepped away from me with his hands raised as if in an apology. Guilt flashed across his face as he seemed as though he instantly regretted his decision.
But it was too late for him to regret anything.
“You can believe what you want to believe.” I sighed.
“I can see it in your eyes.” He continued, and I didn’t have a clue how he could see anything right now, his eyes were glassier than the damn window.
“I hope you also see how much I fucking hate you. Because I do hate you. With everything I am, I hate you. You’re unlovable. I’d be out of my mind to ever want someone like you.” I pushed his chest but all he did was stand there.
“You don’t hate me, Ana.”
“Put those hands anywhere near me and I’ll feed you your own dick.” I sidestepped him, the smashed vase crunching beneath my feet as I darted down the stairs.
“Red, can you drive me—” I paused, wanting to say home but I didn’t have one anymore. “Anywhere but here?”
“Ana…” He wore a look of defeat as he spoke, like I punched him in the gut.
The three of them looked at me, unsure of what to say, too torn on whether to stay loyal to Lorenzo or help me.
I knew who they’d pick. I was nothing to any of these men in this house. Especially not the one I was forced to marry.
“Don’t you dare drive her anywhere, Red,” Lorenzo called from the stairs. “She’s not leaving.”
“Ana, I’m—” Red started, but I cut him off.
“It’s fine. He’s your friend and your boss.” I nodded, accepting it. “I don’t need his permission to leave, I don’t need a chaperone either.”
I let out a steady breath as I walked through the kitchen towards the garage.
“You’ve got another thing coming if you think I’m going to let you walk out of here.” Lorenzo was on me in seconds, his large, calloused hands grabbing my waist and turning me to face him. “Did you sleep with him?” His chest heaved as he spoke.
“If I wanted to fuck him, I’d have done it when we lived under the same roof.
” His hands gripped me tighter as I continued.
“But you know what? I was taught to never give myself to anyone other than my husband, and I obeyed that rule. But now, being here with you, makes me wish I hadn’t.
” I shoved him away from me, not wanting him near me.
“Now, I can either walk out of here alone, or Red can take me where I want to go, but I will not stay here with someone who doesn’t believe me. ”
“Red, take my wife where she wants to go, if that’s what she truly wants.” Lorenzo had given up the fight, even if it was just this once.
“Will do.” Red responded, following me out of the door to the garage.
I left that kitchen and never looked back. I would never give him the satisfaction.
I would never allow anyone to break me.
Especially not that bastard.