8. Rufino
CHAPTER EIGHT
Rufino
M y phone is blowing up on the drive home.
The constant influx of message chimes makes me grin, thinking it must be Verity contacting me, but when I glance at the notifications, I see a string of messages from my brothers.
Fuck.
No.
What the fuck? I am not in the mood for any more of their shit.
Its Saturday night. Or, Sunday morning. There is no fucking way they should be messaging me about work shit now. They’re probably still pissed off about me leaving the meeting. But still - it’s an odd time to be messaging me.
Ignoring the messages until I pull up in my underground parking area I sigh, flicking open the app.
Oh.
Masaccio has tried to call me several times during the night, but I didn’t hear while I was in the club. So he resorted to messaging me - an image that sends a thrill through my body. Both tension and excitement.
The truth is out.
There is a screenshot of a news article staring back at me.
A photograph.
Verity has her hand on my chest, her face tilted upwards, her long wavy hair flowing down her back - and her lips pressed against mine.
It’s a stunning photo. We are incredible together.
But my brothers aren’t in the same mind frame.
While I’m looking at the screenshot my phone rings.
A low groan of annoyances rumbles through me. The last thing I want to do now is talk to Masaccio.
I flick the call away, declining it, knowing it will only cause more shit later on, but I want to at least get upstairs first.
He calls back immediately.
Each time the ringer goes off I can feel his tension from the other side of the call. It is just getting worse the longer I delay this.
With a heavy sigh I answer.
“Rufino?” He snaps.
“Here.”
“What the fuck is going on are you fucking kidding me with this fucking bullshit are you trying to start a fucking war or something? I can hardly make out the words amidst the anger they are spewing. He is screaming into the phone and I have to hold it away from my face.
It’s better not to speak now. Let him vent. Let him get it all out of his system. Just listen.
His opinion doesn’t mean shit to me.
He can dictate the best options for the business - but he needs to stay the fuck out of my personal life.
I sigh and he carries on telling me I’m a complete fuck up and have no regard for the safety of our family.
By the time I get upstairs into my penthouse apartment I’m almost ready to hang up. He’s vented enough.
I’ve allowed him this outlet and now I’m over it.
“Masaccio.”
I try to interrupt him, but he ignores it.
“And what about how this will affect?—”
“Masaccio, can you stop for a second?” I snarl, getting more annoyed.
“You are so inconsiderate.”
I can’t take another second of this.
Hanging up the phone I toss it onto the sofa. Then on second thoughts, I pick it up again and put it on silent. He’s already trying to call me back.
I’m too tired for this. A shower and some sleep is all I really need right now.
I had the most incredible night with Verity and for it to end this way is like a knife in my back.
Although - is this really as bad as it seems to be?
Maybe now that it’s out in the open we don’t have to sneak around anymore.
I should call Verity and warn her, but she might be sleeping. I’ll let her rest and we can talk about it in the morning, rather.
I can’t stop her father from finding out, so there’s no use panicking.
Whatever happens from here on out - I will deal with it.
The only thing that matters is that Verity and I both feel the same way about each other.
Whether it’s love or obsession - or just the thrill of wanting to be with the one girl I can’t have - I don’t care.
I want her.
She belongs to me.
Sleep comes quickly because it’s been a long day and an amazing night. But my dreams are a messy, confusing, broken story of chaos.
In one I am chasing a car, running down the road screaming her name as she turns to look at me through the back window, tears streaming down her cheeks.
In another we are on an island, but the island is filled with snakes and we have to leave.
Some of my family are there, but they all hate me. In others it’s her father, setting fires and trying to keep her from me.
When I wake up in the morning, I’m not rested. I am heavy with emotion and confusion.
The only thing I’m sure of is that I want to see her.
Rolling over in bed I grumble, wishing I could close my eyes and go back to sleep for a few more hours, but once I’m awake, I can never go back to sleep. So, I throw off the blankets and head down stairs to make some coffee. I’m almost at the kitchen when I hear the front door slamming open.
“What the fuck?” I mutter to myself, walking through to see what the hell is going on.
Masaccio and Tuomo are standing just inside the doorway. Celso is standing behind them.
“Oh for fuck sakes.” I grumble, making my opinion on their presence here very clear.
“Why aren’t you answering your phone?” Tuomo demands.
I gesture towards where the phone is lying on the sofa. “It’s on silent, because I knew you assholes wouldn’t let me sleep tonight.”
“Do you understand you are making dangerous choices just chasing down some temporary thrill? You are risking everything for a little excitement.”
“It’s not temporary.”
“Are you fucking serious? This has to end. Right now.”
“Not happening.” I wave my hand in dismissal.
Masaccio takes a very aggressive step towards me and Tuomo steps in front of him blocking him off. “That will not help. We have to deal with the situation at hand - he safety of the family.”
“I want to kill him.” Mas snarls.
“Get in line.” I taunt him, walking back towards the kitchen because if I have to deal with this I need coffee. A double shot of expresso.
I should never have given them spare keys to my place. That was for emergencies. Not breaking and entering.
I want the coffee to taste amazing, but I’m too annoyed to enjoy it.
Sitting in the living room I’m listening to my brothers switch between telling me what a selfish asshole I am - and trying to make a pre-emptive plan against whatever Verity’s father is going to do when he finds out if he hasn’t already - which I’m sure he has.
I feel like I’m sitting in the middle of some twisted intervention.
They are each judging my life and my choices as though none of them have ever done a single wrong thing in the course of their existence.
While they talk back and forth between themselves I message Verity. Hoping they’ll just leave.
Me: Hi gorgeous, we’re famous. Is your dad furious? Are you ok?
Verity: He’s furious. He told me if I didn’t end it with you he was going to send me to Europe.
Me: I won’t let that happen. I want to see you. Can you get out this afternoon?
Verity: Sure, but it’s going to be harder to lose the guards.
W e decide that the best place to meet is the broad walk along the waterfront. It’s a busy place and we can blend in to the crowds or slip away if we can manage it.
After talking to Verity for a while I open some news sites, just to get an idea of what we are dealing with. Our photo is everywhere. Not just the first one I saw, but others too. Us in a club, walking down the street, at the yacht club. There is zero chance of being able to call it a once off mistake.
Not that I wanted to.
I’m still enjoying the fact that the truth is out.
I haven’t figure out how yet, but I am going to be with her.
W arm wind stirs against my shirt. Glancing over at the water I clench my jaw, trying to figure out the best way that her and I can be together.
I sense her and turn in her direction.
Verity walks nervously towards me, glancing over her shoulder to check if anyone is following, then looking back my way and grinning.
“I can’t believe I lost them.” She laughs, jumping into my arms.
“Are you alright?” I ask, hugging her against me and burying my nose against her hair to soak smell her.
“Ugh, yes, my dad lectured me last night and then it started all over again his morning. He went on for hours. I thought my ears were going to fall off. Honestly, it’s a little over the top to threaten to send me away. I don’t think he will. He would miss me too much.” She giggles.
“Don’t worry - I got the same bullshit lectures from my brothers. Fuck them. It’s you and me against the world. I meant what I said last night, Verity.”
Her big green eyes pierce into me. Her lashes lowered and her gaze intense.
“That I love you.” I smirk.
“You do? Are you serious?” She says, feigning surprise.
“Watch yourself.” I laugh, holding her even tighter. She giggles and snuggles against me, her body curved into mine.
When she looks at me this time, her eyes are softer. “I love you too, Red. I don’t care what my father says. I won’t give this up.”
“We just need to be a little more careful until we can figure out a way around this.” As I say it I see the reporter taking a photograph of us. His long camera lens looks heavy.
“Hey.” I shout, making a move towards him, but the guy takes off running full speed away from us.
“Was that a reporter?” She asks, not sounding as concerned as I thought she would.
“Yes. So much for being more careful. I don’t think it matters where we go at this point. It’s not your security guards we have to avoid, it’s everyone .”
“Ugh. I can already sense another lecture coming from my father.” She rolls her eyes. “Well, we may as well just enjoy the afternoon then. Do you want to get something to eat?”
I can’t help the smile that steals its way onto my face. She really doesn’t give a fuck about anything. Her attitude is fucking sexy.
“Come on, little vixen, I could do with a beer and a steak right now.” Taking her hand we walk together towards one of the popular restaurants this side of town. Neither of us is looking around at who might be watching. We’re too lost in each other.
For a moment I wonder if Masaccio was right.
Am I just in this for the thrill of it? I am addicted to the danger of being with Verity?
No.
It’s more than that. Our connection is something unique that I’ve never felt before. I’ve never met anyone like her.
There is no chance in hell I am letting her go.