Chapter 21
Careful, Arturo. We wouldn't want that pretty girl to get hurt, would we?
Who was that motherfucker?! I left her alone. I shut my feelings down to keep her safe. What more did they want from me?
I shut my eyes as rage and adrenaline pumped through my veins.
Someone was watching us and the worst part was, no matter how often I searched the area, I couldn’t see them.
How were they doing this? Heaving a sigh, I turned and leaned against the bookcase, watching Bella through the half open door as she wandered from person to person in the dining room, greeting them and smiling as though they were old friends.
Keeping one eye on her, I gazed around at the old books.
I had always loved libraries, they reminded me of good times, simpler ones.
Times before I got caught up in shit I shouldn’t have.
I shouldn’t be here.
I hated this. The way she looked at me. The hate in her eyes. It was fucking torture. But having her think the worst of me was a pill far easier to swallow than seeing her get hurt. Shit. Once her training was done, I would need to leave.
Nodding to myself, I raised my phone and started typing a reply.
You got what you wanted. I’ve left her alone. Now, stop fucking around.
As much as I would love to, I can’t. Strict orders and all that. You know how it is.
What do you want?
I bet it’s just torture, being so close and not being able to have another taste. Tell me, Arturo, how sweet is that pussy of hers?
Listen to me, you pathetic little cunt, you touch a fucking hair on her head and I swear I will find you and I will end you.
You’ve been unable to find me so far. Remember, we’ll be watching.
My heart hammered in my chest as I shoved my phone in my back pocket. Just the mere thought of someone hurting her was too much to bear. As I watched Bella, I debated again for the millionth time whether to just come clean with her and set the record straight.
But I knew I couldn’t. The risk was too high. What was becoming clear was that those shitheads were watching me day and night. And if they could get that close to me, they could get that close to her.
No. I wouldn’t do it. As much as it was killing me to keep my distance and push her away, it was the only choice. Fact was, her life was far more important than mine.
Four tortuous hours later, after Bella had spent time with pretty much every person in the building, she finally gave the go ahead for us to leave.
But if I’d thought watching her from a distance had been torture, being in the car with her was even worse.
Her perfume made my body tighten and my heart pound.
Everything inside of me urged me to take her and claim her as my own.
The need for her continued to grow each day and the more I squashed it down the more my body ached.
Not even running was scratching that itch any more.
What I hadn’t expected, however, was to realise how little I actually knew about her. It was clear she was in her element at the care home. Taking care of others was something that brought her joy. She was also good at it.
I hated how seeing her that way made my heart swell. I wasn’t supposed to feel things like that.
“Hello? Earth to Art,” her angelic, irritated voice sang.
“What did I say about that nickname?” I glanced over at her as she stared at me intently. I wonder if she knew she had that longing look in her eye, or if she let herself get lost in whatever moment was replaying in her head.
“Got your attention though, didn’t it?” she sighed, turning her attention back to the passing countryside.
“Dios, estoy asombrado de ti.” Without my consent, it all began to tumble out of my mouth. “Lo siento, pero es lo mejor en este momento, solo desearía poder decirte por qué,”
“Arturo, what are you saying?”
I trained my eyes back on the road and slapped my blinkers back on, blocking out Isabella as best as I could, “Nothin’, forget it.”
“What is it?” She was the type never to sound hurt or bothered, but I heard the hurt as clear as day as she spoke.
“What d’ya mean?” I damn well knew what she meant.
“That night at Logan’s you told me this wasn’t a game and that you had wanted me since you first saw me.” Princesa, everything I said was true. “But then the second I allowed myself to get close to you, you made it feel like it was a one-night stand. Why? Is that how you usually treat women?”
“It’s who I am,” I breathed. “Don’t get me wrong, it was fun, but that’s all it was.
Now it’s over you should just forget about it.
Besides, like you said it was never goin’ to work out, and you wouldn’t want to be with a geezer like me.
Trust me.” The lies flowed out of me. I wanted to punch the fuck out of the steering wheel.
Lying to scumbags came easy, but lying to her killed me inside.
I hoped she could forgive me. I wished I could tell her, fuck I wanted to scream it, but I wouldn’t risk her life. I wasn’t worth it.
She didn’t speak. Instead she adjusted herself in the seat, her posture elegant and reserved. That was it. Her last ditch effort to get me to talk. And with everything I had just said, there was no danger she’d try again. And I didn’t blame her. I deserved to be the miserable sod I was.
The rest of the journey back was painfully silent. There were so many things I wanted to say, but couldn’t. I couldn’t even make small talk because she’d probably want to cut my damn tongue out the moment I uttered a word.
“We’re home,” I managed as I parked up in the garage.
“I can see that, thanks, Sherlock.”
She hurried out of the car, slamming the door behind her. I waited and watched as she paused at the door for a split second before heading inside.
It would be so much easier to just leave. Then we could both just pretend like the other had never existed…
“Fuck!” I roared, slamming my hands against the steering wheel until the rage subsided.
How had I let this happen again? What happened to having no masters?
I had fought so hard to break out of the invisible chains the Hamiltons had wrapped around my neck, and yet here I was again, being dragged back into a world I hated, a world that would eventually suck my soul dry.
I was so fucked.
“Arturo, you good, kid?” I heard Red ask as I stepped out of the SUV. I’d been so lost in my own thoughts I hadn’t even heard him enter the garage.
“Terrific,”
“Bells good?” No, she wasn’t, and neither was I.
“She’s fine,” I didn’t smile. “I never knew she volunteered.”
“Ah, you took her to Oakwoods,” he beamed. “Yeah, she’s been helping out there since she was eighteen, the residents love her which isn’t surprising.”
“Right. I better get going, I have shit to do.” That was a lie.
“You’re right, you do. Meet us in the gym in ten minutes,” Red demanded, a mischievous smile toying on his lips.
“Us?”
“You’ll see,” he winked, leaving me standing alone in the cool garage.
After changing into clothes I could move freely in, I jogged down to the Ricci gym. The mood I was in right now didn’t bode well for whoever was waiting for me. It was about time I let off some steam.
“Ready to show us what you got, kid?” Red joked from across the room. Beside him, Emmet, Gino, and last but not least Lorenzo himself all chuckled.
“Enough with the fuckin’ kid,” I snapped, throwing my water bottle down onto the floor. Fucks sake. I was already losing my cool. But everywhere I looked I saw her. I even smelt her sweet, spicy perfume and it was fucking with my damn head.
“Kid seems angry, don’t you think, Boss?” Emmet laughed.
“Alright, wise arse, who wants to fight me first?” I took my place on the mat that sat in the middle of the room, delighted when Red stepped up.
“I do, I do,” he chuckled but the smile soon faded the moment my foot collided with his chin. “Fuck, you little shit!”
“Shouldn’t have let your guard down, should ya, you old bastard?” I laughed as I dodged his attack, he was quick, but I was quicker and he knew it. “Seems like you don’t have what it takes anymore, huh?”
“You’re lucky I like you, shithead.” Red spat. Lorenzo and the other two erupted into whoops laughter. “You three can fuck off as well, it was a lucky shot.”
But that lucky shot turned into another three, and by the time I was finished with him, his eye was quickly bruising as he tapped out. I cracked my neck as he sank down beside Emmet and Gino, who couldn’t contain their laughter.
“What d’ya say, Lorenzo? You ready to take me on?” I winked, slapping my palms together.
“Ready to make you cry like the pussy you are? Indeed I am.”
“Ooo, that’s fightin’ talk old man. Get your arse over here so I can knock that smug smile off your face.” My pulse kicked up as the excitement brewed. I was going to knock the Ricci king on his arse and I couldn’t wait.
“You can try,” he took his stance, as I mirrored his action.
We sparred as you’d expect, dodging one another’s jabs, and heavier punches. It was clear to see Lorenzo had begun to grow irritated especially when I quickly rounded him and goaded him. He loathed the fact that he couldn’t land a single punch.
“Findin’ it hard, old man?” I teased as I danced around him with ease.
“You just wait until I knock you on your ass,” he jabbed, and I dodged.
“Oh, yeah? How’s that goin’ for ya?” I joked as I landed a jab just beneath his eye. “Do you need a time out?” Lorenzo growled and picked up his pace.
For the next five minutes he tried his best to block my movements, but he was fighting a losing battle.
My fist met his lip, splitting it clean open.
It was time to finish him off, and show him the exact reason why he had hired me in the first place.
Breathing out long and steady, I dropped to the floor and, in one swift kick, I swept his legs out from beneath him.
Lorenzo collided with the mat with a thud. His chest heaving violently. It was obvious he hated losing. I also wasn’t a fan.