Chapter 45
LILY
Music echoes throughout Lorenzo’s house, and I’m not sure if it was a bright idea putting Sky in charge of it. In fact, I don’t recall him being invited, let alone being given that task. The way Lorenzo’s left eye is twitching, I’m assuming not.
“Are you ready for the big move?” Sienna asks with a bright smile. Her fiancé, Michael, stands beside her. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since the engagement party, as he’s been so busy pursuing gigs in his acting career.
I can’t help but notice the tension between them. The way Sienna is acting, though, it would appear all is fine and well, but his body language is saying he would rather be anywhere but here.
“I’m so proud of you,” she says, grabbing my arm and squeezing it. “I’ll have to visit once you’re all settled in.”
“I’d love that.” I smile and look back up at Lorenzo, who hasn’t taken his eyes off me, except when any male comes into my vicinity.
I have a feeling this overbearingness isn’t going to stop, even when he’s no longer tasked as my bodyguard.
In truth, not much has changed in that at all.
If anything, he’s even more demanding now.
Then we argue. Then we make up. I really enjoy the making-up part.
Surprisingly, none of it is exhausting. If anything, the brattier I become, the greater the punishment.
A warmth floods my core with tiny flutters as I question how easy it would be to sneak out of our own going-away party. The only reason he agreed to it was because I batted my eyelashes a little longer than usual.
“To think I wasn’t invited to my own brother's going-away party,” a man announces from behind us. We turn in his direction, and I can immediately see the resemblance. I look up at Lorenzo and know it’s the truth because an obvious loathing stirs within his gaze.
That’s not good.
“I don’t recall sending you an invitation,” Lorenzo grits.
“Since when were you so cold toward me, brother?” he says with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. Immediately, I know that these two are very different. Where Lorenzo is cold and indifferent, his brother holds a natural charisma and warmth. But there’s something off about it.
My hand goes straight to the ring that hangs on the necklace by my throat, and his brother's gaze dips to it. His expression doesn’t change, but an immediate chill runs over me.
Maybe months ago, I might’ve hidden behind Lorenzo, but I realize as much as I’m dependent on his strength, he can learn to depend on mine as well.
“It’s lovely to meet you. I’m Lily Taylor,” I say, stepping forward and welcoming him with open arms.
“So, you’re the soon-to-be sister-in-law. It’s lovely to put a face to the name,” he replies, opening his arms. A guttural sound escapes Lorenzo, who still stands behind me, and he pulls me into his chest before any kind of hugging can be conducted.
I try not to roll my eyes, all too used to his overbearing ways and still continuing to ignore them.
Dante looks around the place with appreciation. “It’s a nice place here. Maybe I should manage it for you while you’re gone.”
“You’re not staying here,” Lorenzo growls.
Tension crackles through the air, and I grab Ara’s attention from across the room, pleading for her to save us from whatever the fuck is going down right now.
I don’t know what the issue is between these brothers, but maybe if Luca stands on the edges of their invisible arena, they might not be so tempted to beat the shit out of one another.
“Maybe he could stay with Romi,” Sienna suggests, breaking the silence. Lorenzo and I turn in unison to face her. “I mean, having someone in the apartment with her might be a good thing since she hardly leaves it. I mean, it can’t hurt to try, right? I’m worried about her,” she confesses quietly.
“That’s not a good idea,” Lorenzo says flatly.
Dante strokes his chin thoughtfully. “Is this Romi chick hot?”
“No,” Lorenzo says, and Sienna takes a sharp inhale. His eyebrows dip before he quickly says. “No, not as in she’s not attractive, as in, he’s not staying there.”
“So, you find her attractive?” I can’t help but poke.
“What? No. You’re the only woman—” I start laughing, unable to keep a straight face. He grabs the bridge of his nose. “You need to stop teasing me like that.” He leans in and whispers into my ear, “I will make you black and blue tonight for that.”
A slow trickle of warmth floods my core, and suddenly the room feels hot.
“Damn, woman, watch where you’re going,” Dante curses as Romi barges past him with a bottle of vodka in her hands.
“Watch it, asshole.” She brings the bottle to her lips. Her short black hair looks messy. Her usual vibrant red was cut and dyed since she had matted it with black paint. She ignores us, walking by as if we don’t even exist, and my heart crumbles.
Sienna is quick to say, “Sorry about her. She’s recently had a loss. I’m going to go check on her.” Sienna looks to her fiancé, who nods agreeably and takes a step back.
“I’ll go after her,” Dante says. “Maybe a conversation with a stranger might help. By the looks of it, whoever that is, you’re helicoptering her like crazy, and she wants nothing to do with you, unless you’re waiting at the bottom of that bottle of vodka.”
“Ouch,” Sienna replies, as if she’s been burned.
“Am I wrong? Did she want to be here?” he asks, then follows after Romi through the back door toward the dock.
That all-too-familiar guilt floods me. Although I’ve become better at prioritizing my own needs, Romi is one of few I can give to endlessly because I know she’d do the same for me.
“Are you sure it’s okay that I leave?” I ask Sienna. My timing to move overseas couldn’t be any worse.
“Of course it is,” Sienna assures me, and loops her elbow around Michael's, whose smile seems forced.
They’re definitely not okay.
“You have to live your life, Lily. I’m glad you’re doing this for you, but you have to look after her.” She points at Lorenzo.
“With my life,” he swears.
She laughs. “You’re always so serious.”
If only she knew. I notice her glass is empty, and I offer to take it.
“Let me grab you another one. I’m out as well,” I say, grabbing it and taking way too much satisfaction in Lorenzo’s helpless expression when I leave him. I walk into the kitchen, pull the bottle of bubbly from the fridge, and refill the two glasses.
I take the time to admire the water glinting in the moonlight and scan the area for Romi. I'm worried about leaving her here while she’s—
I immediately divert my gaze the moment I see flesh on flesh near the shore.
Oh fuck. What the fuck?
That didn’t take long at all. I bite my bottom lip. That’s not good. If Lorenzo finds out his brother is hooking up with one of my friends, I’m certain he’ll blow a gasket. Romi has always been the free-loving type. But, damn, did they sit down and decide just to start making out or what?
“Is everything okay?” Lorenzo asks over my shoulder.
“Everything’s fine,” I squeak with a tight smile, turning so fast I almost spill the two glasses.
I try my hardest to block his view because I know if he sees what's going on outside, it will only make whatever the situation is between him and his brother worse. And I don’t want that for Lorenzo.
From what I’ve gathered, his brother is his only family left, and I hope, over time, I can help him fix that relationship.
Then again, I now know better than anyone that some families can’t be fixed.
But I want to at least try for him, and will patiently wait for him to open up to me, starting with why his brother is even here in Manhattan when he last told me he was studying in London.
Besides all of that, I want this going-away party to go off without a hitch; a final hoorah with the people I love as they send us off for a new start, one we both deserve.
“Can you take this to Sienna?” I ask sweetly.
“Where will you be going?” He frowns, and I give him a slow smile as I stretch onto my tiptoes.
“I thought you promised me a certain punishment. Maybe we can meet in the bedroom, in say, two minutes,” I say, nipping at his ear.
A guttural noise escapes him as he’s quick to reply, “Make it one minute.” He grabs the drinks out of my hand, and I can’t help but laugh as I watch him leave the kitchen.
I take a moment to admire those who have come to wish us good luck, and another piece of me feels relieved, ready to say goodbye to this city.
Ready to start my new life and a new chapter.
That niggling sense of guilt is still there, though. For leaving my mother to sell the house and find a new one. For my brother starting his rehabilitation to recover from gambling. For Romi in her mourning. And maybe for Sienna and her relationship.
With all of that, I choose to prioritize myself and Lorenzo.
I’m trying to hide the smile as he scans the room, his gaze landing back on me with an impatient jerk of his head toward the bedroom.
I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of having this man jump when I tell him to, and to have him come running and asking, "How high?" To be in his arms every night and protected—no matter what comes our way.
Danger.
Pleasure.
Marriage.