Chapter 15 #2
Even if she wasn’t accusing me of theft and speaking to me like I’m some sort of child she needs to discipline, the way she’s looking at me is more than enough to put me off. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt so belittled in public by a total stranger before, and I never want to feel this again.
“I don’t think I want to buy anything here anymore.” I move to reach for Apollo’s card and she flinches back, holding it close.
“I can’t just return a stolen card to you. I’m sure you understand,” she says, taking a small step back to further guard my card.
“I don’t understand,” I snap impatiently. “You have absolutely no reason to assume that card doesn’t belong to me.”
She snorts, rolling her eyes. “Honey, look at yourself. You’re no Moretti.”
“I—”
“Not yet, she’s not,” a deep voice rumbles from behind me.
The hair on my arms stands up and my eyes close, a sigh of exhaustion or relief leaving me.
How he’s here exactly when I need him, I have no idea, but I guess I can’t complain.
This shop lady seemed hell bent on humiliating me to the maximum of her capabilities, so if it’s Apollo or the cops, I’m going to take the pain in my ass Italian mobster.
“Is there a reason you’re holding my fiancée’s card hostage?”
Fiancée?
The fuck?
“M-Mr. Moretti,” the woman stammers.
“Save it,” Apollo barks, startling her. “I don’t even want to hear whatever excuse you’re going to muster up for the utter fucking disrespect you’ve demonstrated today. Hand over the card, we won’t be purchasing anything from here. Ever again.”
“I-I—” she breathes out, quickly passing the card over.
“You’re lucky you haven’t touched her, or those would be your last words.” I’m too stunned to pull away when he grabs my hand and spins us around. “Let’s get the fuck out of here, I can’t stand the sight of this place for a second longer.”
“How…how are you even here?” I whisper-hiss, desperate for an explanation.
“I was just down the street,” he replies, not bothering to lower his voice. “Yordan and Elio are still there. I’ll take you to a different shop.”
I open my mouth to protest, but can’t get a word in.
“Thank you for the call, Mrs. Russo,” Apollo grunts, nodding toward Natalie before reaching for the door handle.
She chuckles, waving goodbye to both of us. “I’ve told you to call me Natalie a thousand times, Apollo.”
The shop door jingles behind us as he ushers me out of the building.
“What just happened?” I mumble.
“Where’d you park? Never mind, I see it.”
He gets us to the car in mere seconds. I’m still digesting the scene we just left as he opens the passenger door and guides me inside, shutting the door tightly behind me.
One minute I was shopping, the next I was being accused of theft, and the next, Apollo swooped in out of nowhere to save me from it all.
The car starts and Apollo hits the road, not bothering to consult me before heading in the direction of wherever the heck he plans to go.
“Did you tell her I was your Fiancée?” I finally ask, frowning hard.
Apollo grunts quietly. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Did you see the look on her face? That’s why. She’ll have nightmares about today for years.”
I guess?
“I’m so confused.”
“I can see that.”
“I just wanted some freaking underwear,” I mutter under my breath, looking down at my lap sadly.
“I’m taking you somewhere to fix that,” he says, apparently having super-sonic hearing.
“I’d rather not go panty shopping with you,” I reply sharply. “Despite what you tell people, we are not involved. I’d prefer to keep my private clothing private.”
“Relax.” He sighs. “I’m thirty-three, not thirteen. I have no desire to spy on you while you shop for your delicates.”
One moment he’s my unlikely savior, and the next, he’s back to his grumpy asshole self. “Speaking of spies,” I say, heckles suddenly rising. “Natalie. Did you send her to spy on me?”
Apollo huffs. “Are you going to assume the worst in me forever or will you eventually grow out of that? No, I didn’t send Natalie to watch you.
Her husband is a friend. Adrian called her and she mentioned meeting a woman named Rayna.
He assumed I knew who you were, and he was correct.
When she overheard what was happening to you, she called me. ”
And he appeared in the store like he fucking teleported there. Even if he was in the store down the street with Yordan and Elio, he would have needed to run to get to me. I have no idea how I feel about that.
I bite the inside of my cheek, looking down at my lap in contemplation. “Which means she actually just wanted to meet me. You didn’t set that up and use her to keep an eye on me.”
“I told you, I’m not tracking you,” he replies plainly. “How would I have even known where you planned to go today? Yes, Natalie was acting on her own free will. She’s just naturally friendly. Odd, since Adrian is not.”
God, I’m such a bitch sometimes.
I didn’t even get her phone number, or thank her.
“He’s not friendly but he’s your friend?”
“And?”
“Never mind, that makes sense.” I huff.
I never pictured Apollo having friends, but I can see him getting along with men who are just as grumpy and unpleasant as him.
Only a few more minutes pass before Apollo is leading me into a shiny black storefront. It’s bigger inside than the last store but has almost no customers. The lighting is soft and cozy, but the furnishings are sharp and sleek.
“Signore Moretti,” a slack-jawed, star-struck woman squeaks. She’s petite, tan, and brunette. But she isn’t as young as the last woman. She’s older, like she might be in her forties or fifties. “è meraviglioso vederti! It has been so long. Who is your guest? She is very beautiful.”
My cheeks pink at the open compliment, not expecting the abrupt shift in dynamic.
“Ciao, Michela,” Apollo greets politely. “This is Rayna, my good friend. Help her with whatever she would like, yes?”
“Of course!” the woman, Michela, agrees happily. “I will make sure she’s taken care of. Are you not staying?”
“I’m expected elsewhere,” he says cryptically. “I know Rayna is safe here. Your brother is in the back?”
“Always,” Michela confirms, voice growing more serious. “We will take good care of your friend.”
Apollo nods, silently approving. He gives me back the car key and turns to leave without another word.
“Wait,” I interrupt. “How will you get back to Yordan?”
“I had a car follow us.”
With no further explanation, he disappears outside, leaving me in bra and panty paradise. I can’t believe I thought he might be trying to stay and creep on me shopping. He couldn’t get out of here fast enough.
When I turn back, Michela is beaming a bright smile right at me. “What can I help you find?”
By the time she’s done with me, I end up spending way more than four hundred dollars, and I have six bags filling up the trunk of the car. I’m in possession of more bras than I’ve ever owned before and I can’t even deny how thrilling I find it. I can’t remember the last time I felt this…spoiled.
I try to remind myself not to get used to it. Apollo could take away his money at any time, and I shouldn’t allow myself to enjoy a lifestyle I can’t have without his participation.
Still, part of me finds the luxury of it all exhilarating.
And that’s exactly why I’m going to get a job.