Page 28 of Loyalties & Longings

“I’ll be down in a second,” I call out as I race upstairs to exchange his underwear for a pair of my own and maybe some jeans, too—something less accessible than a skirt would be wise. While I’m heading back downstairs to the kitchen, my cell buzzes. I notice the annoying light has gone as I look down to read Blaze’s reply.

I’m relieved, but it’s also weird, considering I haven’t done anything besides message Blaze.

B:Thanks, sexy. Can’t wait to have my hands and mouth on you again.

With a massive shit-eating grin, I walk into the kitchen.

“What has you smiling like that?” Massimo questions. My smile falls instantly as I lock my cell, pocketing it away.

“Nothing,” I reply coolly.

“So, tell us all about the space you and Blaze went to check out,” Dad encourages. Frozen still for a brief pause, my eyes dart to Massimo. I wonder if he knows IchoseBlaze rather than my father telling him to go with me.

“It’s okay. Your dad told me all about the little business you want to start up. I think it’s cute. Do you think you’ll be able to manage it all on your own?” he asks condescendingly with a smarmy grin.

Walking to the opposite side of the room and taking a seat closer to Dad, I shrug his comment off as if I didn’t hear him. He acts like I haven’t worked my ass off to get to where I am now on my own. Completely ignoring the arrogant pig, I reply to Dad.

“Yeah, it’s good. I think it’s the perfect place, so I put in an offer while I was still there. Hopefully, it won’t take them toolong to get back to me.”

I was so excited to come home and tell Dad all about the space. However, I hate that I also have to share everything with Massimo. I don’t love that it gives him the chance to have a leg up on me about something.

Dad nods, looking like he is in thought. “Actually, I think I have a connection at the real estate agency. Let me quickly go and check my office,” he says, standing from the table.

“That’s okay, Dad. I was thinking of going to have a lay down anyway,” I reply, trying to think of how I’m going to escape being in the room alone with Massimo without making it too obvious. Dad is already walking down the hallway to his office.

Trying to rush out of the kitchen, I almost make it, but a rough hand grabs the top of my arm, pulling me back and whipping me around.

Massimo is inches away from me. I didn’t even hear him stand up from the table. Either I’m super distracted or losing touch with my perceptiveness.

Massimo presses his body into mine, holding me stationary with one hand as his fingers dig painfully into my flesh. He lowers his mouth to my ear to whisper, “You’d best be careful, Lakey. A pretty girl like you could get herself into a lot of trouble, or even hurt, with a guy like Blaze.”

I tilt my head away from him. He absolutely reeks of cigarettes and beer. My stomach rolls, and I try not to hurl.

I begin to race back down the stairs after putting on my pajamas and using the upstairs bathroom, but my steps slow when I hear Mom pleading. She sounds scared. Mom is never scared.

I crawl into the small space under the side table next to our sofa, scared for our safety at the tone in her voice.

“Massimo, please let go of me. Lake is in the next room.”Peeking around the corner, I see he has her pinned against the kitchen sink. He’s holding one of her wrists up and out to the side.

“Wrong. She just went upstairs,” he sneers at her.

“But if she comes back… Massimo, stop. Please you’re hurting me.” Clawing at his hand, she tries to pry his fingers off her wrist in an attempt to pull it free.

He grabs her wrist tighter and lowers his voice to a barely audible tone.

“You best be careful, Lani. A pretty girl like you could get herself into a lot of trouble or even hurt if she crosses the wrong person.”

“Did you hear me, girl?” he growls, pulling me out of the flash of a memory.

“Lucky I’m a big girl who can take care of herself.”

At this, he laughs a little too loudly in my ear. He pulls my head closer to his mouth again and says, “I’ve got my eye on you, Lakey. Would hate for Daddy to find out about what you get up to in your free time.”

“Yeah, we’d hate for him to find out how you can’t keep your disgusting hands to yourself, too,” I spit back before ripping my arm from his hand and glaring at him. Feeling the anger simmering just beneath the surface, I storm out of the room and up the stairs at the same moment Dad walks back into the kitchen.

“What about dinner?” he calls after me.

“Not hungry,” I yell back, slamming my bedroom door.

---