Page 128 of The Devil's Fire

Arianna and Cara grimaced at us, making it all even more awkward.

“Don’t make it worse.” I mumbled as I looked at Damiano. The final farewell lingered, and he was the one I least wanted to let go.

The others discreetly walked away to give us privacy as I wrapped my arms around his neck, and his arms encircled my waist. With a tender lift, he hugged me close, burying his face into the crook of my neck, creating a moment I wished could stretch into forever.

I had to remind myself that I would see him again, but it was so damn hard to let him go right now.

“I will miss you so much.” I whispered, and he met my gaze. He didn’t want to let me go. It was written all over his face, his eyes expressing the unspoken words he didn’t voice.

“I’m going to cry if you keep looking at me like that.” I chuckled. I could feel my throat tighten as this got too emotional for me. Damiano gave me one of his beautiful smiles before he pulled me into a sweet kiss.

“I will miss you too, baby.” He whispered against my lips. I placed my hands on either side of his face, caressing his cheeks as I drank in his golden-brown eyes, memorizing them.

How am I going to be away from this man for weeks?

It was going to be torture, but for now, I leaned in to kiss him one more time.

Damiano walked out to the car, where Luca and Giovanni were already waiting for me.

“Looks like you two are the lucky ones who get to spend so many amazing hours with me in the car! … Okay, that sounded gross.” I scrunched my nose when I heard it. “What I meant was, I give great concerts and you get to hear my amazing singing!” I beamed once again.

Luca just chuckled while Giovanni did not look like someone who was excited about what was about to unfold.

“I will need a raise.” Giovanni looked at Damiano blankly.

“Hey! I have a great voice. Wait till you hear me sing in Korean!” I gave him a big smile. He blinked a few times before returning his gaze to Damiano.

“It better be six figures.” He simply said and got in the car. I scoffed and called him a crybaby.

“Looks like you’re going to torture my men.” Damiano pulled me into him with a smile.

“Just a little.” I grinned, and he shook his head in amusement. I wrapped my arms around his waist as he caressed my hair, his golden-brown eyes looked affectionately into mine.

“Stay safe, don’t get hurt.” He made me promise.

“You stay safe too. I’ll be back before you know it.” I said, mostly to remind myself that I would be back to see him again. Damiano placed a kiss on my forehead and held me tightly one more time.

We said our last goodbyes before I got in the car. My heart already felt heavy as we drove further and further away from him. Soon, he was out of my view, and I was left alone with Luca and Giovanni, heading home for the first time in two months.

“… When I make the bed shake!” I sang as I gave them my best performance to date of Ariana Grande’s 34+35 song. Well, I thought it was great, Giovanni, not so much.

He threatened to throw me out of the car if I didn’t shut up. He quickly realized he shouldn’t have said that because it only made me sing louder, and I wasn’t trying to make it pretty.

What a grumpy man.

“You should replace the bed with a car.” Luca commented when I was done.

“Why’s that?” I was in the backseat in the middle with my head popped in between their seats.

“That’s what you did with Damiano. You had us thinking something was wrong with the tires.” He laughed.

“Why would you even mention that?!” I exclaimed in horror. “And that’s such an exaggeration!”

“It really isn’t. I thought someone had shot the back tire. Besides, we weren’t even far away from the hotel. You could have waited instead of shaking the car like that.” Luca continued, having me scowl at him for opening his mouth about it.

“I’m for once happy that he’s getting some. He’s less up in our asses now that he’s busy with you.” Giovanni added.

“Oh, look at that! I’m making your life easier, yet you want to throw me out of the car.” I scoffed. I have gotten to know some of Damiano’s men; at least those who were closest to him, and it was often Antonio, Luca, and Giovanni who were around him the most.

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