Chapter 43
LORENZO
It’s painstakingly obvious how in over their heads Nicholas Wayne and his group are as they pull up in their cars.
They’re stupid enough to bring almost the entirety of their numbers.
Nicholas himself is here, which makes the head easy to remove.
They even agreed on our location.
“Fucking idiots,” I mumble under my breath as I stand at the side of my car, waiting for them to step out of their parked vehicles.
I’m surrounded by the hounds, identities concealed by their helmets as they wait patiently on their motorcycles as instructed.
We know better than to underestimate any type of enemy, but I know a group of idiots when I see one.
I look over my shoulder, and although I can’t see her, I know Lily is sitting inside the car, watching. I don’t like having her here. It puts me on edge. But if agreeing to this offered me an opportunity to be with her, then I was done with denying myself.
I’m already a miserable asshole, but even I was getting sick of my own mopey ass. I can’t stay away. Even if I was convincing myself it was just because of a job. Leaving her side… The thought still feels unimaginable.
“Well, well, no one is more shocked about how we got in this situation than me,” Nicholas says as he steps out of the car.
I know it’s Nicholas because we’ve already created a profile for him.
He’s new to the game. Arrogant and naive.
“I assumed Luca Armani would be here to handle his affairs himself.”
I make a point to hold up the bag of money. “My boss doesn’t do delivery jobs.”
The man chuckles, clearly amused. “I’d be offended, but we outnumber you.”
I arch an eyebrow. Wow, this guy really is an idiot.
“I don’t take kindly to threats. Do you want your money or not?
With this, you cease any communication or business with the Taylor family, including attempting to kill the heiress, Lily Taylor.
And let me make this very clear. You are not to step on Armani territory again. There will be immediate retaliation.”
The man sucks in a breath and sarcastically wiggles his fingers, as if spooked. “Considering you killed three of my men already, I think it’s fair to say we don’t play nice.”
An understatement.
I walk forward, dependent on the hounds covering my back. If Wayne decides this is going to be a shoot-out, then I’m the first target. If that’s to happen, I’ve notified the driver to immediately drive off with Lily. My only comfort is knowing that the car is bulletproof.
His second, a bulky guy who clearly enjoys the weights, matches my steps. When we come face-to-face, he holds out his hand expectantly, and I drop the bag between us. Fucker. He smirks as he bends over and picks it up, unzipping and checking the contents.
“Are we good?” I ask rhetorically, because we are anything but.
“This looks about right.” He nods his head. I wonder if the fucker has ever seen this much cash in his life. He certainly seems surprised by its weight as he walks back toward his boss.
I retrace my steps, coming to stand beside the car again, arms folded over my chest.
Nicholas peers into the bag, a smile stretching his face. “Tell your boss it’s a pleasure doing business with him. It’s a nice story to have in the back pocket, you know?”
“What story is that?” I’m not someone who cares much for elaboration, because I don’t give a flying fuck what he thinks. But I do use it as an excuse to fill in time as I count in my head.
“That the Armanis are so accommodating to hand over cash.”
“If you want facts in your story, then know not one dime of that is from the Armanis; it's mine. Let’s just say I have a personal gripe against those involved with trying to hurt my woman.”
Nicholas's eyebrows furrow. “Well—”
BOOM!
An explosion of beautiful orange erupts, and I fight my natural instinct to look away from the scorching heat as fierce flames devour the five cars.
Men scream, and shrapnel scatters into the wind.
Beads of sweat break out immediately on my forehead as I watch with satisfaction as the cockroaches are exterminated.
The flames flicker off the hounds' visors as we watch in spectacular delight as one problem comes to an end.
No man gets away with threatening Luca Armani or the things he cares about.
And certainly no man is going to live to tell the tale of ever attempting to harm my woman.
The back door of the car opens, and I step back, not giving enough space for Lily to open it enough to get out. I said she could come, but I’m not a fucking saint.
“What the fuck, Lorenzo?” she says, shocked.
A wicked smile stretches my lips. “You’ve become quite adept at cursing lately.”
“Was that real cash?”
I shrug. “Money is only a tool. It’s irrelevant when compared to keeping you safe, my love.” I look down at her, those beautiful blue eyes streaking with colors from the flames. “Are you scared of me? Because this, I very much enjoy doing.”
“Handing out punishments?” She rolls her eyes. “Not so much of a surprise.”
My smile widens, and I can tell she’s trying not to smile herself as she still pretends to be mad. “I just hope you didn’t miscount.”
“No one else is coming for you, my love.”
“So, I’m only stuck managing you now, huh? Maybe I drew the short stick.” She finally smiles, and it's as brilliant as it is devastating.
I scowl at the hounds—shitty if any of them saw how beautiful her smile is. “Clean this up. I’ll report to Luca.”
“Yes, sir,” the hounds reply in unison as I slip into the back of the car. The moment I close the door, I scoop Lily into my arms and place her on my lap.
“For someone who isn’t very romantic, you sure do enjoy grand gestures.” Lily pokes at my chest. “Will you always be surprising me like this?”
“I hope so,” I admit, because I believe I'm the furthest thing from surprising; rather, I’ve always been routine-driven. Predictable. However, with Lily, it’s all new, uncomfortable territory.
The moment she offered to give me a second chance, I decided on two things. One, I’d do anything to make her happy. Two, she was and will always be mine.
No room for negotiation or doubt. I’d bruise, brand, and mark her in every way, including a more traditional route.
I fish through my pocket until my fingers brush against the smooth metal.
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles gently. Her expression softens as she watches me, but the moment I begin to slide the ring on her finger, she stiffens, and her hand yanks back.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
I stare at her, bewildered, as the driver starts the car and pulls away. “Isn’t it obvious? You'll be my wife.”
“Wh-what? Wait. What? No, Lorenzo. No, we need more time. You didn’t even propose,” she says, stumbling over her words, and I can’t help but smile, still acutely aware that although my beautiful woman has grown so much, there’s still that shy, flustered part of her deep within.
A side of her I’ll only allow myself to see.
I’ll gouge any fucker's eyes out if they even catch a glimpse.
“I didn’t see it as a question, so why would I propose it?”
Her eyes bulge. “You can’t just shove a ring on it, Lorenzo. This needs careful thought, planning, and agreement. What if we get sick of each other? What if I don’t want marriage?”
My eyebrows drop. The busy questions that explode her mind are overwhelming even to me, when I thought all of this was quite simple.
“I want all of those things. I want you in every way. As a wife. Mother of my children, if children are what you want. Hell, I’ll even deliver the flowers from your shop to your customers.
Do you not want these things?” I thought Lily would, in many ways, be a woman who wanted a traditional lifestyle, and I'm willing to make it happen as best as I can in every way.
She stares at me, dumbfounded.
“It’s rather simple, Lily. The moment you decided to choose me was your agreement. There is no getting out of us unless it ends with me in the ground. And let me assure you, even if you attempt to move on to another man, I’ll haunt that motherfucker from my grave.”
Her mouth is still gaping. “You can’t be this intense all the time,” she says, staring at the ring. “When did you even get that? I was literally with you all night.”
“It’s my mother’s.”
Her hand goes to her heart. “Lorenzo. This is important.”
“You are important.”
She lets out a shaky breath. “I want to say yes, but there’s still so much we need to figure out, and—”
I slowly fold my fingers in with hers. “You have a beautiful, busy mind, my love. But I’m in this. I’m not letting you go. So, whether you decide to wear this ring now or later, it doesn’t change our future in the slightest.”
She still stares at me, disbelieving. “You’re telling me if I refuse to wear this now, you’re okay with that?”
“No.”
“Lorenzo, you’re being unreasonable,” she says, shaking her head, but when she looks at me, the corner of her mouth tics. “Don’t stare at me with those puppy-dog eyes. How about I wear it on a necklace? I’m not saying yes or no right now. I just—we need time.”
I frown. It really is as simple as yes or no. Not that no is an option.
Her hands cup either side of my face. “Lorenzo, we have all the time in the world now. You don’t need to rush this. I'm already yours.”
Something in my chest shifts, and I know I’ve lost this battle for now.
I know without a doubt Lily Taylor will be my wife.
She’ll be my obsession until I die.
But if she wants to play this game until I drag her down the aisle myself, then so be it.
“Do you promise to deliver flowers from my shop in Italy?” she asks.
My eyebrows furrow. “You want to come to Italy with me?”
She casually shrugs. “I think it’s time we both have a fresh start.” Her lips brush against mine, and that soft, gentle kiss of hers spreads a peace and contentment through me that I’ve become entirely addicted to.
I want to pull her back and question her decision, but I’ve learned to stop doing that. Once she’s made her mind up about something, she no longer wavers on it or asks for others' opinions.
Home.
Lily Taylor tastes, smells, and feels like home.