Page 45 of His Property

“Lorenzo knows something isn’t right with you, Victor. He’s asked me about it.”

“So?”

“So if you want to keep yourself out of trouble, you need to tell me what’s going on with you. Otherwise, I’m not going to make any more excuses on your behalf. Seriously, you’re starting to worry me.”

“Emily,” I roll my head to face her. “You’re being dramatic.”

“You have dark circles underneath your eyes, and you look like you haven’t slept in weeks.”

I grind my teeth and just stare at Emily. I’m getting really tired of people telling me I look like shit. I haven’t slept because I haven’t wanted to sleep. I’mfine. Maybe a little obsessive, but I only have one week and three days left to be. I’m not wasting it to get my beauty rest.

“I’ve had insomnia. It’s okay.”

“What were you looking at on your cell phone?” Her normally relaxed and humor-filled eyes are full of legitimate worry, and her posture is rigid. She looks at me imploringly, and I frown.

Do I really seemthatoff?

“I’m okay, Emily.” I frown. “There’s some shit in my personal life I’m trying to work out, but I’m managing. Lorenzo already knows about everything.”

“He thinks you’re lying.”

My spine stiffens, and I try not to let the sudden anxiety show on my face. “What are you talking about?”

“Blade asked meagainlast night about your disposition. He said Lorenzo keeps pressing him to get me to talk because he thinks you might be doing work outside of the familia.”

“What?” My stomach bottoms out. I narrow my eyes and act appalled at the accusation. “Why would he think that?”

Emily bites her lip.

“Why would he think that, Emily?” I repeat, my voice steely.

She lets go of her lip and runs a hand over her face. “I’m not supposed to be telling you this.”

“But you are, so just finish.”

She sighs, her shoulders deflating as she does. “He thinks you’re doing outside work because literally everyone who sees you can tell that something isn’t right with you, but at the same time, you haven’t been as,” she makes air quotes, “‘enthusiastic’ as you normally are.”

“So I haven’t been taking enough time tomurderpeople? Is that it?” I huff, and now the irritation is real.

“Lorenzo thinks it’s because you’re letting off steam somewhere else.” Emily rubs her hands on her pants. She shouldn’t be so worried about Lorenzo finding out what she’s telling me. I’m sure it was his intention.

Is this a threat?

“I get dirty looks and judged by everyone in the familia because of my ‘enthusiasm,’ but I take it down a notch for five seconds, and all of you jump up my ass.”

“Don’t lump me in with everyone else,” Emily says, her face falling like she’s genuinely hurt. “I’m not asking just because I want to make sure you’re staying in their lines. I’m asking because you’re my best friend, and I care about you.”

Bestfriend?

I look away and instead study the steering wheel. Guilt settles inside me and mixes with every other negative emotion. All I fucking wanted was to get home so I could fuck Mae. Instead, I’m squirming underneath a microscope, and to add insult to injury, I’m hurting Emily by not clueing her in on every single detail of my life like she does for me. Is it such a crime to be private?

“I care about you too,” I say, still staring at the wheel. “Which is why I’m going to respectfully ask you to stop with the interrogations.” Finally, I look at her. “I’m fine.”

Her frown deepens. “I don’t believe you.”

“Then don’t believe me.”

She runs her hand over her face again, and when she looks at me, I can see the desperation in her eyes. “I’m going to ask you something, and I need you topleasenot lie to me.”

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