Chapter 28
LILY
Sky’s leg dangles over the sofa while he whistles an irritating tune. I was fortunate enough to find my favorite iced tea in the fridge, until I realized Lorenzo must’ve been stocking it in the off chance I’d be here. As I forage through the pantry and fridge, I notice all of my favorite foods.
I look at the spectacular state of Lorenzo’s house, still in disbelief that such a brute calls this his home, when I contemplated once he might’ve lived in a cave. I’m smiling into my tea as I think about the ongoing joke.
Hot flashes rush over my skin as I think back to only hours ago; his lips on mine, the way he devoured me and left me sore and bruised. I’ll have marks for days, and yet… I welcome it to happen again.
My life is a chaotic mix of events—the shooting, Lorenzo and me, how my father will respond—yet, I choose to focus on the excited flutters in my stomach opposed to the harsh reality of tomorrow.
I don’t enjoy violence or intimidation; ordinarily, I’m scared of it. But I know Lorenzo will never hurt me, which makes it that much more peculiar to discover I like pain from a man who's ten years my senior, no less.
The moment Lorenzo and Sky switched places, I decided to explore his home.
I want to know more about the man who is slowly opening up to me, and I feel guilty for not doing the same for lying about the scar between my shoulders.
But that opens up a whole lot of baggage I don’t want to drag anyone else into. Especially Lorenzo.
I peek into his office. It matches the rest of the home.
Dark woods, deep greens, and browns. I lean back into the hallway, looking over my shoulder, but when I see Sky is distracted, messing around on his phone, I slip inside.
I’m certain Lorenzo would kick his ass if he knew Sky's attention wasn't one hundred percent on me, but I’m grateful for the tiny bit of freedom.
My hand grazes over the emerald couch situated next to a side table.
Everything about this home screams bachelor pad.
And evil spy. Even his wardrobe consists of identical suits.
I find myself nibbling at my bottom lip, almost amazed that I get to see this domestic side of him.
I wonder how often he actually stays here.
He certainly hasn’t since he’s been with me, but the place is still in an immaculate state.
The light from the living room and kitchen stretches in a stripe across the room, almost like a spotlight on his wooden desk. I peruse some of the titles in his floor-to-ceiling bookshelves spanning one wall, surprised to find a lot of classics. Some in other languages, mostly Italian.
I look back over my shoulder at the door, half expecting Sky to be standing there, but when he’s not, I round the desk.
I’m so curious about Lorenzo and his world. What does a man like him do in his spare time? His desk doesn’t have much on it—a laptop, a pen, and a piece of paper with a few numbers scribbled on it. Stealing one more glimpse at the door, I open the top drawer, then look down.
Inside the desk is a gun and knife. My breath hitches the moment I spot the weapons, but they don't affect me in the same way they might’ve months ago. Somehow, I’ve become almost used to the dangers of his world.
However, it’s not the weapons that catch my curiosity but the corner of a partially burned photo.
When I pull it out, my eyes widen, connecting the dots as to who’s in the picture.
I can tell by his eyes. The tall, lanky one who looks like he’s only just hit puberty has the same dark-brown eyes as Lorenzo.
But it’s his scowling expression that gives him away.
I’m smiling because it doesn’t surprise me that Lorenzo's expression seemed just as sour even then. He stands behind a slightly shorter boy, that I assume is his younger brother. He has slightly longer hair than Lorenzo, but they have the same eyes, and he's missing one tooth at the front.
My heart stops when I see the little girl, her long, brown hair pulled back into two pigtails. Milia.
“You’re not very stealthy,” Sky says, leaning against the doorframe. I jump, cursing as my heart pounds in my chest.
“I was just…”
“Snooping?” he teases, flashing a beautiful smile that runs a shiver down my spine.
“No.” I grab the pen and piece of paper. “Just looking for something to write on.”
As I walk past him, he raises an eyebrow and follows me into the kitchen. He then retakes his position on the couch and proceeds to pull out his phone.
I casually lean over the counter, holding the cup of iced tea, irritated that I was caught red-handed. “Shouldn’t you be standing guard by a door or something?”
“I should be asking the same thing.” The voice comes from the door leading to the garage. I startle, but Sky doesn't even flinch as he casually looks over his shoulder, his hair falling over his forehead and giving him a boyish look.
“Relax, I already knew you were here. Don’t get your panties in a twist,” Sky says, unconcerned.
“Where’s your mask?” the newcomer growls. Ara stands behind the man, who if memory serves correctly is named Tony.
“Lorenzo told me to remove it so the little lady didn’t get scared,” he replies, and I can tell Tony isn’t impressed.
“Are you okay?” Ara demands as she walks past him, and Sky straightens the moment he spots her, as if standing to attention for their queen.
She looks me over, and I’m genuinely stunned when she brings me in for a hug.
“I’m okay, but Lorenzo got shot in the arm,” I tell her.
“You look… surprisingly calm about the situation,” Ara notes as she pulls away.
“I mean, I don’t know if calm is the right word for it, but maybe desensitized?”
She raises an eyebrow and looks at the tea I’m holding.
“Oh, let me pour you one,” I offer, grabbing another glass, acutely aware of Ara watching my every move.
Tony and Sky begin whispering amongst themselves, and Ara looks over her shoulder, as if to check they’re not within hearing range.
“Did you two have sex?” she whispers.
The glass slips out of my hand, and I barely catch it in time before it crashes to the counter. When I look up at her, she’s smirking.
I look at the others, but they’re too preoccupied. I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks as I turn toward the fridge. “Just a little bit of flirting,” I lie.
“The type of flirting that gets you pregnant?” she asks with her hand on her stomach.
I bite my bottom lip, trying not to laugh. Okay, maybe I really am too calm about this situation. “Maybe a little. Are you upset with me?” I hand her the glass.
“Not upset. I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Just a little bit of fun.” I take a sip of my iced tea. Fun that leaves me battered and bruised… in the best way. For months, they’ve been telling me I need to find some fun. I certainly didn’t expect to find it in a killer, but here we are. “I’m okay, Ara. I promise.”
She slowly takes a sip of her tea, her eyebrows furrowing. “You got shot at tonight.”
The truth floats in the air, and yet, all I can find myself saying is, “Yep.”
She goes to speak and then closes her mouth again, as if surprised at my response. “Who is this new Lily?”
I shrug with a laugh. “I just… I don’t know what to think anymore.
The first time at the villa terrified me, and I know I should probably feel a certain way about it right now, but I’m just being reminded that I only have one life.
I’m sure not many people have that wake-up call because of something like this, but it’s just shifted something within me. ”
“Or some six-foot-two brute has rattled a screw loose,” she jokes. Heat scorches my cheeks, and I can’t help but laugh as well. “Just as long as you don’t expect anything serious with Lorenzo. He’s… very dedicated to his job.”
“You’re telling me. I’m surprised he lets me go to the bathroom without him.”
She rolls her eyes. “I can understand his overprotective tendencies. He wouldn’t leave my side after Luca gave him the order.”
A slight pang of sadness hits me, reminding me that this is, after all, a job to Lorenzo. He’s protecting me just like he’d been assigned to do for Ara.
“Well, I’m sure this will all be dealt with soon. Any update from Luca?” I ask, pushing that unsettling feeling away.
I feel like I’m in some weird calm before the storm. I thought I’d be more reactive in this situation, but I must be so exhausted from all the bullshit that went down tonight that I can’t even muster up the energy to be scared.
“Luca says he’ll return to New York soon. Apparently, they have the name of a suspect. Now that they have a lead, it won’t take them too long to get this sorted,” she says confidently.
“That’s good. Good.” Meaning that my time with Lorenzo soon will be coming to an end. I should be glad to hear that I’m no longer in the line of fire because of my association with the Armanis, and yet, it feels bittersweet now that Lorenzo and I are finally on good terms.
“Did I hear you went on a date?” Ara asks curiously as my phone buzzes in my pocket.
I roll my eyes. “Courtesy of my father. I’m just hoping the guy doesn’t mention how Lorenzo plunged a fork into his hand after storming the restaurant.”
Ara’s jaw tightens. “He did what? Are you okay?”
I wave it off as I unlock my phone to read the message. “No, Lorenzo’s a psycho.” Yet a small flood of warmth and comfort runs through me, knowing that he came for me when no one else had.
That comfort quickly freezes over at the simple text I receive from my father.
You’re expected to return home tomorrow night.
Fuck.
The storm has finally shown itself, and now it’s up to me to make sure I’m ready for its impact.