Chapter 2
Angela
I stood rooted to the spot, my eyes locked on the figure standing before me. Months of anticipation and manifestation had finally led to this moment, yet the reality of it was almost surreal. He was here, right in front of me. Yet I couldn't believe it. Surprise painted my features as my heart quickened its pace, each beat reverberating in my throat like a relentless drum.
I struggled to find the words, my mouth opening and closing in a futile attempt to articulate the myriad of emotions swirling within me. But silence prevailed as my mind blanked, leaving me speechless in his presence.
He was undeniably handsome, surpassing even the lofty expectations I had built in my mind. Every inch of him exuded a magnetic charm that left me spellbound. And, Oh God, his eyes. His stormy silver eyes!
As our eyes met, a flicker of recognition danced across his features. At least I wasn’t a stranger to him. I chastised myself inwardly for feeling this way, knowing full well the complexities of our situation. This was bad. Very bad . I really shouldn't be feeling this way. But logic crumbled in the face of desire, and despite the rational voice in my head, my heart remained steadfast in its longing. What can I say? The heart wants what it wants.
"Capo," the familiar voice of the man who had once barged into the hospital room to take Lorenzo back, shattered the tension. "Everything's under control. We've captured one of them alive."
A silent exchange of acknowledgment passed between them, their gazes locking briefly before shifting to me. I sensed a subtle widening of the newcomer's eyes as they momentarily lingered on me before returning to his boss.
"It's time," the man who had stolen my breath finally said, his eyes never leaving mine. His words seemed directed at the other man, yet I couldn't shake the feeling of being a part of their unspoken conversation. What was it time for?
As he turned his attention towards the newcomer, a shared look of comprehension passed between them, leaving me to wonder what awaited us. Every moment was pregnant with uncertainty as I awaited further explanation. A groan followed by a giggle diverted my attention as my eyes landed on Emily, still slumped against the wall. Oh Shit. I almost forgot about her.
? Just when I moved to assist Emily, a grip on my wrist halted me in my tracks. My gaze snapped to the source of the restraint, finding Lorenzo's hand clasping mine. The hold wasn't painful, but it was firm. I didn't know why, but a surge of electricity seemed to crackle between us at the mere contact, sending a shiver down my spine. Was I losing my mind?
Confusion clouded my expression as I met Lorenzo's intense gaze. Before I could utter a word, he nodded subtly to his man, who had interrupted us earlier. "Take care of her, Giovanni," he ordered, nodding towards Emily. Panic rippled through me at his words. Where were they taking Emily? What was happening?
"W-wait! What do you mean? I need to take her home." Desperation creeped into my voice. But my words fell on deaf ears as Giovanni moved forward, disregarding my protests, and effortlessly scooped Emily into his arms, cradling her like a fragile doll before striding away.
"He'll take her home," Lorenzo stated matter-of-factly, his dark eyes piercing into mine with an intensity that made my heart race.
"B-but... he doesn't know where she lives," I protested weakly. Why was I stuttering so much in front of him?
"Trust me, he does." Lorenzo replied, his voice calm yet commanding. Trust . The word echoed in my mind like a warning. Trust was a dangerous game, one that could lead to death.
A heavy silence settled between us. Lorenzo held my gaze for a few more moments before turning abruptly and striding towards the exit, pulling me along behind him. He walked through the place confidently, even stepping over one of the fallen bodies without hesitation. I followed closely, careful to avoid the fallen figure, not being able to stop the swirling questions and doubts in my mind. Yet, inexplicably, I found myself drawn to the enigmatic man leading me away from the chaos.
I trailed behind Lorenzo like a lost puppy, my eyes widening in awe as we halted before a sleek, black Bugatti. It was the kind of car that made heads turn and wallets cry out in envy. While I prided myself on not being a gold digger, I couldn't deny the allure of such extravagance. It simply screamed expensive.
A faint beep sounded, signaling the car's unlocking, and Lorenzo held the door open for me. "Get in," he instructed, his voice devoid of emotion, as if he were accustomed to giving orders without explanation. I hesitated for a moment, studying his stoic demeanor, before complying with his order. One thing I concluded was that Lorenzo was a man of few words.
As I settled into the plush leather seat, I couldn't help but notice Lorenzo's hand instinctively reaching up to the car's door frame, as if to protect me from accidentally bumping my head. It was a small, yet surprisingly thoughtful gesture that caught me off guard. Did he actually care about me?
With a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, I fastened my seatbelt and stole a glance at Lorenzo, who was already looking at me with a composed and unreadable expression. Turning back, Lorenzo took his seat, and the engine roared to life with a powerful hum. As the car pulled away, I couldn't shake the feeling that this night was far from over.
We raced down the road in tense silence. Each passing moment felt heavy with unspoken tension, thickening the atmosphere inside the sleek car. Suddenly, the tranquil stillness was shattered by the jarring ringtone of Lorenzo's phone. Which reminded me, where was my phone? I panicked as I realized I didn't have my little purse, which contained my phone and some cash, on me anymore. Shit. Did I drop it somewhere? Probably.
Lorenzo's expression remained unchanged as he answered. His voice was gravelly with an unmistakable Italian accent. "Si?" he growled into the phone. His tone was dripping with an intensity that made my insides churn with unease. I scolded myself silently, urging my racing heart to calm down. I couldn't afford to act like a lovesick teenager with my emotions running rampant.
" Cazzo !" Lorenzo's sudden outburst made me flinch. His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white. I swallowed hard, sensing the gravity of the situation. "tratar con él ," his words were laced with anger and frustration. Though I couldn't comprehend the language, the tone alone was enough to evoke a sense of pity for whoever was on the other end of the line. It was evident that the conversation was anything but pleasant.
He ended the call abruptly, tucking his phone away before executing a sharp turn, veering off in a direction opposite my home. Panic gripped me as I glanced back and forth between him and the unfamiliar road, my heart racing with uncertainty.
"That's not the way to my house," I blurted out, my voice tinged with apprehension as I observed his jaw clenching tightly. Had I somehow angered him? I cursed myself inwardly, realizing I shouldn't have spoken out of turn. I needed to tread carefully on the unknown territory.
"I know. There's an emergency. We need to go back to my place first." His tone left no room for argument. I nodded silently. There was no way I was going to take the risk of provoking him. Who knew what he was capable of? He carried a gun with him after all. I witnessed him killing people mercilessly. Twice . Yet somewhere, my heart screamed he wouldn't hurt me. Crazy, I know!
The drive stretched on for another fifteen minutes. Eventually, we came to a halt in front of a towering iron gate that loomed ominously before us. With a silent command, the gate swung open, granting us entry into a secluded territory hidden from prying eyes.
Lorenzo maneuvered the car through the sprawling grounds, the dense foliage parting to reveal a meticulously maintained clearing. Two more minutes of winding paths led us to a majestic mansion, its illuminated facade casting an ethereal glow in the darkness of the night. My eyes widened in astonishment at the grandeur of the estate. Was this where he lived? How many people lived with him for him to have a place this huge?
A man who could afford the luxurious car you currently sit in could undoubtedly own a mansion like such. My subconscious scoffed at my stupidity. It was clear Lorenzo was no stranger to wealth.
As Lorenzo stepped out of the car without so much as a glance in my direction, I hesitated, uncertain of my next move. Should I wait in the car while he tends to his emergency? It seemed like the right course of action. With a resigned sigh, I sank deeper into the plush leather seat, preparing to bide my time.
However, my thoughts were short-lived as I noticed Lorenzo approaching my side of the car. He opened the door, breaking the silence with a commanding tone. "Let's go." Oh , so I was accompanying him?
Lorenzo's hand settled at the small of my back, heightening my senses to his proximity. Oh, Angela, steady now. It's just a touch—a powerful, hypnotizing touch that sends electric current down to your— stop Angela! Resist the temptation to imagine all the things that hand could do—those electrifying, forbidden fantasies. Don't go there! Don't!
"Are you alright?" His velvety voice sliced through the haze of my thoughts.
"Yeah," I replied, the words tumbling out a tad too eagerly. Why did I always turn into a bundle of nerves around him? He must find me utterly ridiculous with all this overthinking. Gosh, get a grip, Angela. I need to put an end to my infatuation. It's really spiraling out of control. After all, he can never be mine. We were from two different worlds. The realization stabbed at my heart, urging me to banish any lingering traces of hope. It wasn't going to happen. It couldn't. Not now, not ever.
Great!
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