Page 89 of Unruly Obsession
“Then clean up your shit. Once this is dealt with, you’re going to rehab.” When he goes to speak, I put my finger up. “I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks about you or the family name. I’m sick of hiding all these secrets. You owe me this at the very least. This isn’t a negotiation.”
I toss my hair over my shoulder, a mix of being furious and empowered. I take the few steps down the stairs, my heels clicking against the floorboards. Sky watches me and raises a hand, as if to high-five me. I can feel the penetrating glare of Lorenzo, so I purposely make a point to slap his palm with mine.
Fuck this boys' club that decided to put my life on the line.
Fuck all of these secrets and their restraints.
“So, where will it be now, miss?” the hound asks, walking behind me. “Told you the red dress would be a nice touch.”
My lips tilt ever slightly, but I refrain from giving in to the smile. “One more night at the estate, then it’s time to close one more door,” I say, finally feeling like I can take action since I have all the pieces.
I’m uneasy about what will happen next, but at least I feel like I can finally move forward on my terms.
38
LORENZO
Lily rolls over in her sleep. Every night she’s stayed in this house, she’s slept restlessly. Having Sky follow her day in and day out has never been enough for me to feel she’s safe. She’d hate me if she knew I snuck in every night, but it hasn’t kept me away.
Watching her sleep is the only peace I seem to find nowadays. She’s no more than a few feet away from me, and yet, she couldn’t feel more distant.
I’m proud of her for today, for everything she’s broken down around her, and for what she’s become. I always knew she had it in her, and it’s only expected that her scathing tongue be directed toward me.
Looking out the window, I can see the sun has started rising. I don’t know how much longer I’ll permit myself to do this. Once I close the deal on the Taylors' behalf, I’ll have no excuse to do this. But I can’t possibly see how I’ll stay away. I stand, move to the bed, then crouch beside it, studying the features of her delicate face.
I pick up a strand of her hair between my fingers, watching her.
This is my peace.
There’s no denying that she’s become my undoing.
Like every other night, I want her to wake, to see her brilliant blue eyes come to life and look at me with adoration like she had only weeks ago.
I made my choice and would never take it back. Standing, I check my phone. Two missed calls from Luca. I told him I’d return to him after the contract was signed, but I came here first.
I’ve been raised as a person to take, especially on behalf of Luca’s whims and wishes. Yet, the only thing that I’ve ever selfishly wanted, I no longer have the right to touch. And here I am, like a starved man, adoring her, knowing that I can’t bring her the same peace she brings me.
I don’t know when this unruly obsession took over my life, but it’s certainly destroying it.
My routine.
My work.
Me.
I open the window ever so slightly, letting the fresh breeze sweep through the room, then I slip out through the door.
By the time I reach the gates and climb over them, Sky is sitting on his motorcycle, arms folded in front of him, waiting for me expectantly. “Every morning, I catch you like this. You know they call this stalking, right?”
“Shut the fuck up,” I reply. “You’re lucky I don’t beat you into a bloody pulp after the stunt you pulled.”
He ignores my threat.
“What are you going to do when Luca doesn’t want us to protect her anymore?” he calls out as I walk to my car.
It goes without saying that once that happens, she won’t have anything else to be scared of. The problem will be gone. A problem I would’ve disposed of, whether or not her brother signed over the companies.
I drive toward the Armani estate. Even with the knowledge that it’s not the Bratva retaliating for killing one of their members, Luca has kept himself and Ara in the family compound, opposed to their own home, until the situation is completely handled.
