Chapter 38
LORENZO
Lily rolls over in her sleep. Every night she’s stayed in this house, she’s slept restlessly. Having Sky follow her day in and day out has never been enough for me to feel she’s safe. She’d hate me if she knew I snuck in every night, but it hasn’t kept me away.
Watching her sleep is the only peace I seem to find nowadays. She’s no more than a few feet away from me, and yet, she couldn’t feel more distant.
I’m proud of her for today, for everything she’s broken down around her, and for what she’s become. I always knew she had it in her, and it’s only expected that her scathing tongue be directed toward me.
Looking out the window, I can see the sun has started rising.
I don’t know how much longer I’ll permit myself to do this.
Once I close the deal on the Taylors' behalf, I’ll have no excuse to do this.
But I can’t possibly see how I’ll stay away.
I stand, move to the bed, then crouch beside it, studying the features of her delicate face.
I pick up a strand of her hair between my fingers, watching her.
This is my peace.
There’s no denying that she’s become my undoing.
Like every other night, I want her to wake, to see her brilliant blue eyes come to life and look at me with adoration like she had only weeks ago.
I made my choice and would never take it back. Standing, I check my phone. Two missed calls from Luca. I told him I’d return to him after the contract was signed, but I came here first.
I’ve been raised as a person to take, especially on behalf of Luca’s whims and wishes. Yet, the only thing that I’ve ever selfishly wanted, I no longer have the right to touch. And here I am, like a starved man, adoring her, knowing that I can’t bring her the same peace she brings me.
I don’t know when this unruly obsession took over my life, but it’s certainly destroying it.
My routine.
My work.
Me.
I open the window ever so slightly, letting the fresh breeze sweep through the room, then I slip out through the door.
By the time I reach the gates and climb over them, Sky is sitting on his motorcycle, arms folded in front of him, waiting for me expectantly. “Every morning, I catch you like this. You know they call this stalking, right?”
“Shut the fuck up,” I reply. “You’re lucky I don’t beat you into a bloody pulp after the stunt you pulled.”
He ignores my threat.
“What are you going to do when Luca doesn’t want us to protect her anymore?” he calls out as I walk to my car.
It goes without saying that once that happens, she won’t have anything else to be scared of. The problem will be gone. A problem I would’ve disposed of, whether or not her brother signed over the companies.
I drive toward the Armani estate. Even with the knowledge that it’s not the Bratva retaliating for killing one of their members, Luca has kept himself and Ara in the family compound, opposed to their own home, until the situation is completely handled.
It feels almost nostalgic driving through the gates and walking down halls that have felt like home to me. Even when I had my own place to return to, I often didn’t.
I’ve always lived to serve, still do.
Yet, it feels different now.
I’m different, and part of me wishes I’d never been exposed to the sunshine that is Lily Taylor, because perhaps I wouldn’t be questioning my loyalty to Luca and the Armani family.
When I walk into Luca’s office, he’s sitting behind his desk.
He doesn’t even look up as he says, “Are you wanting me to put a bullet in your head, Lorenzo?”
When I don’t reply and simply slide the signed contracts in front of him, he continues. “You were supposed to come to me straight away.”
“I have no excuse.”
He arches an eyebrow. “At the very least, will you tell me where you were? Does it have to do with a certain little blonde friend of Ara’s?”
When I don’t reply, he shakes his head and grabs the papers. “I’ve been warned by my wife not to interfere with you and her friend. It was actually more of a threat since she said she won’t have sex with me if I force you to never see Lily again.”
His blue eyes are lethal, and I have no doubt he wants to kill me simply for the fact that he got threatened with no sex. “I apologize for the complications this has brought to your marriage.”
He shakes his head. “Despite your messy interference, we’ve obtained what we wanted, and now you simply have one more task to finish it.
I want this Nicholas Wayne to know exactly what happens when people trespass in my territory.
I want them to pay. You deal with them here, and I'll have the remains of their little nest flushed out in Italy.”
“Yes, sir.”
“This has, however, made me acutely aware of the fact that I need to replace Ivan’s position in Italy. Everything's been working well there, but there’s still plenty to be gained and reinstated. Once this is dealt with, you’ll relocate to Italy, running affairs on my behalf.”
Everything stops.
Relocated?
“Sir?”
He looks up from the papers then. “One might consider this a promotion, Lorenzo. Is it not to your liking?”
I shake my head. “I have always made it clear my post is to be beside you, to protect you. It’s why I’ve always done this.”
He shrugs. “You’ve disobeyed me, Lorenzo, more than once. I trust you, but I can’t help but notice your distraction. I’ll appoint someone else here to manage your position. I mean it when I say this is an honor. I want you to grow our business. Don’t you think a fresh start might be good for you?”
I keep my face expressionless as mixed emotions pass through me, something I’ve never had to deal with before.
“You’re excused,” he says.
My hands ball into fists, but I remove myself before I say or do something I'll regret.
Technically, it is an honor to be the head of the Italian arm of the business, but not being by his side makes me uncomfortable.
Not being here where Lily is also makes me feel a particular way.
I have no right to her, and yet, the thought of leaving, of the true end to whatever was growing between us… makes me hate Luca when the only one I should hate is myself.
I chose this, so why the fuck do I hate every single day without her scathing words, laughter, or gentle touch?
I thought I’d come to terms with my decision, but the reality of being moved to a different post, in a completely different country, rattles me in a way I never thought possible.