Page 3 of Tease

“Okay,” I whispered, not allowing my thoughts to show on my face.

Arlo smiled at me and took a few steps closer until he was a foot away from me. I almost died when he reached out and stilled my hands with his own. I stared up at him, wondering what he wanted. The fact he’d touched me made my stomach churn with butterflies. Did he have any idea of the effect he had on me? His blank expression told me nothing. And I wished, not for the first time, I could know what was going through his mind so I could see what he really thought about me.

“You don’t have to be scared, Rina. I’m here to protect you now, okay?”

Two

Arlo

Rina Villetti. The dark-haired, grey-eyed, tanned skin girl who rarely spoke because of her stammer was staring up at me with such warmth in her eyes that I almost stopped breathing. When she blinked behind her glasses at my words, my mouth dried up. It was ridiculous how much I wanted to take those off her and kiss those pretty little bow lips of hers until she moaned.

Fuck! Don’t think about her like that!

“I-I-I’m not scared. I-I-I…” She swallowed. “I’m g-glad Zayn g-g-gave us p-p-protection, b-but I d-don’t g-g-go out much, s-s-so it’s not n-n-necessary.”

I shouldn’t feel the need to put all of my focus on making sure Rina was safe. I was here to make sure all four of them were protected. This incredibly intelligent girl who struggled with so much had my whole damn attention. The very thought of her being abducted sent me to a dark place where violence ruled. Where I was Zayn’s executioner and the man who would give my life in place of his. I would kill anyone who touched her. Maim them beyond recognition for having the audacity to think she was fair game. No one, and I mean no one, had any right to this woman. Only she got to decide who could be near her. And I was fucking grateful she was letting me be this close right now.

“I know you don’t like to leave the house, but that doesn’t mean you’re any less in danger than your sisters or Martina.”

Zayn didn’t tell me how I had to keep his cousins and aunt protected, just that I did. He trusted me to look after them. I didn’t think he’d object to me staying at the house to watch over Rina while I put men on her sisters and mother. To be honest, he would probably tell me to hurry up and confess my feelings to his cousin. The fact he knew I liked Rina… well, nothing got past that man. He was like a damn hawk, always observing everything going on around him. I hadn’t kept the fact I liked his cousin from him. It was just something we didn’t speak about often.

I didn’t want to scare Rina away by laying it all out on the table. She was skittish and nervous around me. Besides, I didn’t think she liked me that way. Why would she? I was eight years older than her at thirty-one and involved in a world her father had tried to keep her out of.

My father was friends with her parents. It was how I’d met her family and how I’d become friends with Zayn. I went with my parents to Orsino’s birthday party when I was three. Zayn was the aloof one in the corner, even at six years old. I followed him around like a little lost puppy. He took pity on me until it became very clear we were alike. I was his shadow, always watching over him because I had a feeling his life was a lot harder than he ever let on. Guess kindred spirits were always drawn together, no matter the circumstances.

Rina looked down at where my hands were over hers. Her cheeks reddened and her breathing quickened. I let go, afraid of making her uncomfortable. It was the very last thing I ever wanted.

“I k-k-know.”

“We’ll find out who tried to take Sofia. Zayn has a lot going on, but this is a priority for him.”

“H-h-how is Zayn?”

Zayn hadn’t seen his aunt and cousins since his mother’s funeral a couple of weeks ago.

“He’s busy.”

Rina smiled. Fuck… the way her face lit up with it had my heart beating faster. She was so beautiful, it almost hurt to look at her. While I’d known Rina all her life, it was only in the last few years I’d really paid attention to her. I’d become completely enamoured with the shy girl who loved reading even though I shouldn’t want her. At first, I’d been worried about what Zayn would think of me wanting his cousin. When he’d made it clear he wouldn’t have any objections to it, I wasn’t sure how to broach the subject with her or if I even should.

“A-a-always is.”

I stepped away from her and looked out the bay window.

“He’s happy though. Ari is good for him.”

Rina came to stand by my side, her hands fidgeting in front of her again. This time, I didn’t stop them. I wasn’t sure how she felt about physical contact, so I didn’t want to push my luck.

“S-s-s-s…”

Her face scrunched up as she tried to get her words out. She let out a little sigh and shut her mouth. I wished I could help her feel more comfortable when talking to me.

Rina moved towards her desk and picked up a notebook along with a pen. She came back over and sat down in her window seat. I watched her scribbling in it for a few minutes. She let out a huff before grabbing a hold of the page as if to rip it out and scrunch it up.

“Wait… don’t do that.”

She looked up at me, her grey eyes going wide. I took a step closer and put my hand out.

“Can I see?”

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