Page 58 of Scarred Hearts

“It’s okay,” Ian replied, a sly smile still painted on his lips. “Can we speak privately later?”

“Sure,” she beamed. “Am I okay to dump my things in here before I go to the rooms?”

Ian nodded and she stepped in.

“The rooms? Um, we had an agreem?—”

“Yes. Tyler, the rooms.” Her pleasantries faded as she dropped her belongings on a black accent table against the wall, then turned toward the door.

“Gia.” I scowled.

She whirled around. “Oh, did you have a problem with that too? Am I not allowed to show my tits and cunt to paying customers anymore either?”

“On that note,” Ian glanced back and forth between us, “I’m going to leave you guys to work out whatever this shit is, and we’ll catch up in a bit.”

Both of us ignored him while we glared at one another. I didn’t understand what her problem was. Maybe she was upset with me after the warehouse because I didn’t text her or pick her up for work.

Ian let himself out quietly, shutting the door. Giovanna nibbled the inside of her bottom lip. Pushing back from the desk, I rounded it, coming to a stop in front of her. Fists clenched at my sides, I stared deep into her eyes. We had an agreement. She knew the rules we’d set in place. Why didn’t she care? I thought she’d be the first to speak, to explain her little fucking attitude, but she didn’t bother.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I finally asked.

“The better question is,” she countered, “when the fuck did you think you claimed ownership over me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“At the warehouse?”

Confused, I tilted my head, and my brow creased.

“God,” she huffed, “you weren’t allowing me to fight the Russian dude.”

My eyes widened at the realization. “You’re mad about me wanting to protect you?”

“No!” she snapped. “I’m upset that you spoke up for me. I don’t need anyone to protect me. I spent my entire life having my father and his men try to control everything before Kat did.”

“I—”

“I’m not done!” she spat. “When Luca was sixteen, my dad paid him a thousand dollars to beat the shit out of a fourteen-year-old boy who yanked my hair in the hallway at school. I made the mistake of telling my fam about it. That boy never came back to school.”

I sighed.

“When I was in high school, my dad had two bodyguards come with me to school. Two! Do you know how embarrassing it is to have men in black suits following you around everywhere like you’re the president’s daughter? I felt like I couldn’t breathe.” Her eyes appeared to be watering, but I knew her well enough to know she wasn’t about to cry. “I know my dad loved me, and that was his way of showing it. But I can handle myself. I don’t need you to protect me, and I definitely can’t be suffocated by you too.”

“Gia,” it was all I could utter. I didn’t mean to act like her father. I cared. Fuck. She was searching my eyes for an apology, but I couldn’t. “I won’t apologize for caring about your well-being. I’ll always protect you and you have to be okay with it even if we’re not a couple, but I’ve been thinking about things, and I want to give?—”

She let out a breathless laugh, but she was anything but happy. “Well, until you learn to respect my need to live my own life, I don’t want any part of whatever we had. I can’t do this any longer. You might be amazing in every damn way, but no man’s dick will ever have a hold on me again.”

“Again?! Whose dick had a hold on you?” Though it wasn’t the time, I felt a pang of jealousy that another man’s cock had a grasp on her and mine didn’t. As if she could read my mind, she sneered.

“Fuck off, Tyler.” She grabbed her belongings and stormed toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

She whirled around. “I’m still a professional, and Luke is still my boss. I’ll be in Euphoria tonight. I want nothing to do with Luxe tonight. I’m sure Victoria will be thrilled your dick is back on the market.”

Stepping out, she shut the door behind her, leaving me standing there stunned. I had no idea I’d strike a nerve that hard. It was the last thing I wanted. Damnit. I took a step to go after her.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

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