Page 33 of Fight Me Daddy

"Wait, I need to put some clothes on," I said as I glanced down at the workout shorts and t-shirt I wore. "Give me five minutes."

Gabriele groaned. "Fine. I'm gonna smoke."

He let himself out and a minute later I heard him fumbling with his lighter. A long, slow exhale followed and I shook my head. I’m getting way too used to him.

I climbed the stairs so I could change . I wasn't sure where we were going, but I went for something casual, but not too laid-back. A pair of blue jeans and a lavender button-up shirt, and a comfortable pair of sneakers. I stripped out of my clothes and redressed quickly before I pulled my hair up into a bun and jogged down the stairs. When I stepped onto the front porch, Gabriele sat on a chair blowing smoke into the air.

"I'm ready," I said.

He gazed up at me and froze. I waited for him to have some smart-ass thing to say, but instead, he continued to stare. Fire blazed behind his eyes and his lips parted as if he had something to say before he closed them again. I shifted from foot to foot suddenly self-conscious under his gaze.

"What?" I asked.

Gabriele opened his mouth and snapped it shut again. "Nothing."

He stood up and I followed him down the stairs. What's wrong with him tonight? It was like someone had replaced Gabriele with a doppelganger. My stomach twisted and I laid a hand on it.

Was I really worried about what Gabriele Bianchi thought of me?

***

"Another round!" Gabriele yelled over the loud music that thumped away in the club.

The waitress winked at him and he grinned back at her. I watched until she disappeared into the crowd, a frown on my lips. Gabriele slapped a hand onto my thigh and squeezed drawing my attention back to him.

"Isn't this better than your old man routine?" he asked a slight slur to his words.

I raised a brow. "What are you talking about?"

"You know," he said with a dismissive wave of the hand. "When you come home, grab a beer and a sandwich, sit in front of the Tv for a little while and then go to bed. It's your routine. Every night it's the same thing." He paused. "Except for lately. Where have you been going at night?"

I stared at Gabriele in disbelief. "You have been watching me! What? Are you stalking me?"

Gabriele waved his hand again. "No, just keeping an eye on you," he said. "Stop looking at me like that!"

I shook my head. "That’s stalking,” I said. “You get creepier every damn day," I huffed as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Don't be like that," he said as he leaned toward me until his shoulder brushed against mine. "Have a drink! When have you ever been to a place like this?"

I glanced around the club. Gabriele no doubt knew I’d never stepped foot in a place as fancy as Luxin. We were above everyone else in a private area and sat on soft, plush, red couches. The smell of smoke was heavy up here both weed and cigarettes and Gabriele only added to it. He picked up his pack of cigarettes and slipped one between his lips. Before he lit, it the woman from before dressed in the tiniest little skirt wandered back over to us with a smile on her face.

"Your Hanger 1," she said with a grin. "Want me to open it for you, Mr. Bianchi?"

Gabriele winked at her. "Do it, doll."

She giggled and I rolled my eyes. He's not falling for this act, right? People tripping over themselves had to be something he was used to by now. So why the fuck is he flirting with little miss blonde and skanky?

"How about your friend?" she asked as she gazed at me. "Think he wants a drink?"

"Calix is too uptight," Gabriele chuckled. "How about you do some shots with me instead?”

"Gladly," she said as she sat on his knee and poured. "Open wide," she exclaimed, that fake giggle spilling out of her pink lips.

I stood up abruptly as my face heated. "You don't need me to drink and flirt. I'm going home."

"Calix, come here," Gabriele called.

I shook my head. "No thanks. Goodnight," I said tersely before I turned on my heels and headed for the stairs. The sound of a shriek and cursing made me turn back around. Gabriele's waitress sat on the ground, rubbing her ass as she glared at us. But Gabriele wasn’t focused on her as he jogged up to me. “What are you doing?"

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