Page 110 of Spark

Aurelio was last, planting a kiss on her lips before wrapping her in his arms. Her face ached from all the smiling. He leaned in close, his lips brushing her ear as he spoke softly to her.

“I’m so proud of you, Beautiful.” He gave her cheek a kiss. “I can’t wait to show you later just how much.” Mia felt his hand on her backside give a little squeeze, her own thighs clenching with promise.

They made their way to the free food, each of them happily piling their plates and finding a small table to sit at. As they settled down to eat, Aurelio’s phone rang. He glanced at it, frowning.

“I’ll be right back,” he said quickly, ducking out of the tent. Mia hesitated, unsure whether to follow. Flory reached over and slapped her arm.

“Go, girl,” Flory urged, and Mia nodded, rising to follow Aurelio.

She found him a few feet away, pacing and yelling into the phone.

“I don’t care! I’m out; it has nothing to do with me!” his voice was deep, threatening. Mia paused, unsure of how to approach him. She felt his anger radiating off his body.

“Use a different lackey. No, nothing you say—” He stopped, his expression dropping, something from the other end of the line giving him pause.

“How—” Aurelio moved away, Mia scrambling to keep up. She pushed into the room further, her hip hitting a table. She watched as a vase toppled over, crashing loudly. Aurelio spun, eyes locking with Mia’s. Mia saw something there she had never seen before; fear.

“I’ll be right there,” he said, eyes staying on hers. She watched as the fear faded from his features, replaced by harsh indifference.

Hanging up, his gaze shifted to the broken vase on the flor. Mia looked, petals and glass scattered between them.

“I’m sorry,” He whispered. Aurelio moved closer to her, his body brushing hers as he went to pass. Mia reached out for him, her hands grasping the suit he wore. He gave a slight pause,his hands fisted at his sides. She could feel him vibrating, his eyes staring ahead.

Mia pulled herself up, kissing him quickly, placing her hands around his middle. She felt him shift, his hands coming around her. He didn’t say a word as he pulled her hands off him, pushing past her.

“I’m sorry.” He said again, his back to her. Mia didn’t have a chance to respond as he disappeared, pushing out the way they had come in. Standing stock still, Mia felt a tear roll down her cheek as the roar of a motorcycle echoed in the distance, followed by an unsettling silence. She felt frozen, her legs as stiff as the Tin Man’s in the rain.

She felt a hand on her back, words drifting in as more tears fell. She registered the sound of Melvin’s voice, another set of hands as her feet began to move, following the path he had taken.

“Mia?!” Melvin asked, concern etching his features as she blinked away the tears.

“He’s gone,” she said, her eyes unfocused. “He’s just gone.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Mia was grateful she didn’t have to explain to any of them why she needed to leave. Mikey led Tony out, whispering quietly to him. Flory called her son, despite Melvin’s assurance that he would bring her home first. She embraced Mia tightly, kissing her cheek softly.

“I love you, Mia,” Flory said, a tear glistening in her eye. “Don’t give up on that boy.” Mia nodded, her heart shattering slowly with each movement.

The drive to the apartment felt agonizingly slow. Mia felt as if she were trapped in a time loop, each minute echoing the last. All she could hear were his words—the heartbreak too raw, the "I'm sorry" sounding final, like a goodbye. Melvin held her hand as he drove, the familiar gesture fracturing her further. She had no more tears left; her body felt empty. Mikey and Matty exchanged worried glances, deep concern etched on their faces. But all Mia could see was Aurelio’s face, the fear in his eyes when they locked gazes, and the way he had kissed her. It was too much. She felt like a zombie as she walked to the loft, shedding her dress for one of his shirts, then curling up in bed.

Hours later, Melvin checked on her. Mia couldn’t articulate why it felt like Aurelio was gone for good.

“Bug,” Melvin said softly, sitting on the edge of her bed and resting a hand on her lower leg. “He comes back, every time.” She wanted to believe him, to agree, but as she opened her mouth to argue, a knock on the door interrupted her. Her heart raced in her throat as she shot out of bed and flung open the sliding door, revealing Oliver standing there.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said, his snarky voice piercing her already wounded heart. “I brought you these.” He thrust a dozen roses toward her. Mia glared at the flowers, her fist balling in anger. She smacked the bouquet from his hands, and Oliver let them fall to the ground.

“Why the fuck,” she yelled, her voice thick with fury, “would I ever take flowers from you?”

“I know you like flowers, especially from criminals.”

“Fuck you, Oliver. Fuck you so much.”

“Would you like to now that your boy toy is out of the picture?” he leaned in, a taunting grin on his face.

“What the fuck did you just say?” Rage-filled calm washed over her.

“Oh, I know all about Aurelio Valen. That fucker stole my Shelby Mustang,” Oliver replied, standing back up, one arm resting casually on the door frame. “But I got it back now.” He held up a set of familiar keys, dangling them before her.

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