Page 85 of Unruly Obsession
He raises a brow. “Do you want to know where your brother goes most nights? Or more specifically, where he is tonight?”
I don’t like his insinuation that there’s more behind this than I realize. Yet, deep down, I know he’s offering me the answers I need.
“Why are you offering me this? Won’t you get into trouble?” I ask, curiously.
He shrugs. “A part of my annoying charm is also meddling. Don’t get this twisted. I’m doing this for my own sake, in hopes I get discharged from playing babysitter.”
“I never asked that of you.” I’m so sick of being handled like a fragile parcel, yet at heart I am grateful to have him here, so why is it so fucking hard for me to say thank you? When did I turn into this type of person?
“Yeah, but since you’ve forsaken Lorenzo, I’ll get my ass handed to me if I leave my post. Whether you like it or not, he’s still a fucking archangel to you; even more than you realize. I think he’s a love-struck fool.”
I swallow at his last statement and look up to the open gates welcoming me into a home that has been far from warm for as long as I can remember.
Maybe I really have lost it, but I’m tired of leaving my fate in other people's hands. I’ve let it go on for too long.
I face him again. “Where is he?”
His smile widens. “First of all, you’ll need to wear something better than that,” he says before closing the visor on his helmet. “I’m thinking something red and short.”
“I think you want a punch to the face,” I reply blandly, and I’m filled with encouragement as he laughs.
“I can see what Lorenzo saw in you. You might fit in after all,” he says before revving his motorcycle and leading me down the driveway to the home I’m ready to see go up in flames.
36
LORENZO
Iwas meant to only check on her for a moment, but I couldn't make myself leave, not until she came out, and her gaze alone cut me down to size. When I arrived, Sky summarized through text what had happened with her friend Romi. Call me a selfish bastard, but the only one I care about is Lily.
She’s always doing this, running to help everyone else before herself. She's been doing it all week, pretending to be the face of calm. If anything, she’s been more rigid than the way she acted before I met her, only a crack away from falling into a thousand pieces.
I want her to break, to let it all out, if only to help hasten her ability to rebuild herself. I know she'll do it without me, yet I selfishly wish I could remain by her side, even if silently.
All I can do is have her back, to protect her from afar, even when she doesn’t want my help.
It was only a matter of time until her brother showed his true colors, but I never thought he’d be stupid enough to walk into Luca Armani’s Balmere Club. Then again, the idiot clearly hasn’t pieced together that Luca and I are connected.
It benefits me, however, saving me the effort of paying him a personal visit—he’s practically walked straight onto my doorstep.
I’ve been watching his movements for the past week as he jumps from club to club, accumulating more debt. He’s desperate, and I have no doubt that Vince is well aware of the money Henrith owed, but now I know he has a hand in it too.
The bouncer steps to the side as I enter Balmere. Luca isn’t here tonight, which means Vince lacks the good sense or connections to ask for a deal with Luca Armani. No, it means he’s just here to outright gamble.
I ignore the naked dancers in cages, heading straight to the tables, avoiding the group of men who watch the women with interest, ready to make a purchase.
If Vince were a smarter man, he’d wait until tomorrow night, when big bets are made downstairs in the fighting ring. It's taken me a week too long to get to this point, to have all the information I need regarding the details of the private deal Henrith tried to conduct to save his own ass. Luca wants this dealt with; he wants the Taylor business, and I’m about to make it happen. This way will also ensure Lily no longer has a target on her back.
Since the death of Henrith, Nicholas Wayne hasn’t made a move. Still, since their last assassin was returned to them in tiny pieces, I’m sure they’ve realized they’re in over their heads and learning the hard way of whose territory they’ve stepped into and how insignificant their organization is compared to ours.
“Black,” Vince says to the dealer as he shoves half of his chips in. Sweat beads on his forehead as his leg bounces. When the dealer spots me, he stops, and the onlookers knowingly split to the side to let me through as I come to stand behind Vince.
“Why’d you stop?” he asks in anticipation before noticing that everyone else is looking over his shoulder. Slowly, he does the same.
“Oh, Lorenz?—”
I grab the back of his neck and slam his head into the table. A woman screams but is quickly pulled away as everyone but the dealer and one of the regulars remain seated at the table.
“Fuck!” Vince screams as I bring him back up by the scruff of his neck and drag him up to a stand. “I think you broke my nose.”
