Page 31 of Her Cruel Bodyguard

I slip my cell phone back into my pocket and fold my arms across my chest to stare at the starless sky, the rows of similar buildings in sloppy yards stretching out on both ends of the street, the same whiskey-gold light glimmering in some and the same white-painted exteriors.

“Are you done with your call?” Eva’s voice breaks into the stillness of my mind, whisking me back to the surface of the chaos.

“Yes,” I stand straight, clearing my throat a little too loudly.

“Your son is beautiful, just like you, if not more,” she smiles, chewing the inside of her mouth.

“He likes you, just like his father, but I doubt more,” I say, moving my eyes to a house with shadows of a family moving about. My heart reaches out for things I never had and will never have.

“It’s a good thing I like father and son, although I do like the father more,” she closes the distance to plant herself beside me.

“You got me there,” I smile slightly, my attempt to conceal it failing. Then, “You have seen him,” I whisk the smile off. “I can understand if you don’t want to be a part of this life, and I can understand if you want to start your own family instead of jumping into one already in motion…”

“Stop it,” she says.

“Eva, look, I get it if you don’t want to marry me. I expect you to not want to marry me, and I would totally give you my blessing if you want to…” She smacks the last slew of words back into my throat.

My eyes shoot wide as the sting from her hand permeates my cheek. She grinds her teeth and clenches her fists like she is more than ready to tackle me to the ground, regardless of the difference in our sizes.

Fuck, that hurts.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EVA

Ihad to do it.

I needed to wipe him clean of it. And it looks like it worked.

He hasn’t said much since the smack. Even as he drives into my father’s estate and parks in front of the main building.

He was going to say something, but Jake interrupted us and asked us to see his Batman series with him. We went with him, and it didn’t take long before he fell asleep in my arms.

Our goodbye to Mindy was simple and quick but not void of warmth from her to me. Fabio tried to hold a calm expression that didn’t give away our feud, but I could feel the choking air.

I am done with all his stunts.

And it is not that I am forcing myself to fit in or love Jake. The boy is adorable. He evokes the kind of boy Fabio was or could have been—so full of life and energetic. I wonder if Fabio shares any of the artistic traits Jake is showing.

He never seemed to be into art and I have never been to his apartment before. If I had to guess, I would bet the man is soaked in coal. Not a single light. Guns everywhere. Maybe even an arrow facing the door that goes off when an intruder walks in.

Fabio is many things, and even when my mind stirs up the most impossible scenarios, he surpasses them all. So maybe instead of arrows, he will have fireballs.

I open the car door, step out, go to the backseat, and pick up my damaged camera. I have about five other ones, but I will need to replace this one because it’s my favorite.

I clutch it to my chest, the hurt from what Paul did coming back to settle in my stomach. I have been distracted all evening, but I have yet another rejection from Fabio to help worsen all the damnations I have experienced today.

I was doing it for him.

I put myself at risk because of him.

I gulp, trying to keep my tears locked in. I will let them out when I get to my bedroom. I need my bedroom. I would have gone to my father, but he is with Vittoria. He won’t mind. Her pregnancy requires his presence, so while she wouldn't mind either, I don't want to put them under unnecessary stress by making them think they must constantly worry about me.

I should be able to take care of my problems on my own.

I slam the door of the backseat and spin to find Fabio standing in front of me.

“Stay away from me, Fabio,” I spin and saunter into the main building, passively waving at the men prancing about.

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