Page 104 of Unruly Obsession
“So, you’re the soon-to-be sister-in-law. It’s lovely to put a face to the name,” he replies, opening his arms. A guttural sound escapes Lorenzo, who still stands behind me, and he pulls me into his chest before any kind of hugging can be conducted.
I try not to roll my eyes, all too used to his overbearing ways and still continuing to ignore them.
Dante looks around the place with appreciation. “It’s a nice place here. Maybe I should manage it for you while you’re gone.”
“You’re not staying here,” Lorenzo growls.
Tension crackles through the air, and I grab Ara’s attention from across the room, pleading for her to save us from whatever the fuck is going down right now. I don’t know what the issue is between these brothers, but maybe if Luca stands on the edges of their invisible arena, they might not be so tempted to beat the shit out of one another.
“Maybe he could stay with Romi,” Sienna suggests, breaking the silence. Lorenzo and I turn in unison to face her. “I mean, having someone in the apartment with her might be a good thing since she hardly leaves it. I mean, it can’t hurt to try, right? I’m worried about her,” she confesses quietly.
“That’s not a good idea,” Lorenzo says flatly.
Dante strokes his chin thoughtfully. “Is this Romi chick hot?”
“No,” Lorenzo says, and Sienna takes a sharp inhale. His eyebrows dip before he quickly says. “No, not as in she’s not attractive, as in, he’s not staying there.”
“So, you find her attractive?” I can’t help but poke.
“What? No. You’re the only woman—” I start laughing, unable to keep a straight face. He grabs the bridge of his nose. “You need to stop teasing me like that.” He leans in and whispers into my ear, “I will make you black and blue tonight for that.”
A slow trickle of warmth floods my core, and suddenly the room feels hot.
“Damn, woman, watch where you’re going,” Dante curses as Romi barges past him with a bottle of vodka in her hands.
“Watch it, asshole.” She brings the bottle to her lips. Her short black hair looks messy. Her usual vibrant red was cut and dyed since she had matted it with black paint. She ignores us, walking by as if we don’t even exist, and my heart crumbles.
Sienna is quick to say, “Sorry about her. She’s recently had a loss. I’m going to go check on her.” Sienna looks to her fiancé, who nods agreeably and takes a step back.
“I’ll go after her,” Dante says. “Maybe a conversation with a stranger might help. By the looks of it, whoever that is, you’re helicoptering her like crazy, and she wants nothing to do with you, unless you’re waiting at the bottom of that bottle of vodka.”
“Ouch,” Sienna replies, as if she’s been burned.
“Am I wrong? Did she want to be here?” he asks, then follows after Romi through the back door toward the dock.
That all-too-familiar guilt floods me. Although I’ve become better at prioritizing my own needs, Romi is one of few I can give to endlessly because I know she’d do the same for me.
“Are you sure it’s okay that I leave?” I ask Sienna. My timing to move overseas couldn’t be any worse.
“Of course it is,” Sienna assures me, and loops her elbow around Michael's, whose smile seems forced.
They’re definitely not okay.
“You have to live your life, Lily. I’m glad you’re doing this for you, but you have to look after her.” She points at Lorenzo.
“With my life,” he swears.
She laughs. “You’re always so serious.”
If only she knew. I notice her glass is empty, and I offer to take it.
“Let me grab you another one. I’m out as well,” I say, grabbing it and taking way too much satisfaction in Lorenzo’s helpless expression when I leave him. I walk into the kitchen, pull the bottle of bubbly from the fridge, and refill the two glasses.
I take the time to admire the water glinting in the moonlight and scan the area for Romi. I'm worried about leaving her here while she’s?—
I immediately divert my gaze the moment I see flesh on flesh near the shore.
Oh fuck. What the fuck?
