Reckless Games (Reckless Mafia #1)

Chapter 5

Angela

My breath hitched as I struggled to contain the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. Despite my efforts, a tear or two managed to escape, tracing a path down my cheeks. Stepping through the yellow warning strips that cordoned off the burned remains of my house, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow at the sight before me. The once pristine white walls were now marred by the blackened scars of fire, and the air was heavy with the scent of charred wood and ash.

Lorenzo followed me as I made my way to what used to be my room, the creak of the door echoing in the silence. Moving to the wall adjacent to my bed, which somehow managed to escape the worst of the damage, I ran my hands over the surface, feeling for the signs of a hidden compartment. As my fingers grazed a small cut in the wallpaper, a sense of relief washed over me.

Tearing away the damaged wallpaper, I revealed the hollow space where I had hidden a small rectangular box that held the most precious thing to me. I couldn’t have cared less about the things that Giovanni retrieved. But when last night I was unable to find this box amongst the things in the suitcase, fear enveloped me as I thought of the worst case scenarios. Retrieving it with trembling hands, I turned to face Lorenzo as he observed my every movement.

"We can leave now," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. Lorenzo nodded in silent understanding, offering me a comforting presence as we made our way out of the place.

The ride back to his mansion was enveloped in a heavy silence, the only sound punctuating the air being the soft hum of the engine. Despite the lack of conversation, there was an odd sense of comfort in the air. However, my mind buzzed with the realization that I needed to begin the daunting task of finding a place to rent. I couldn't impose Lorenzo's hospitality forever, no matter how tempting the thought may be.

As he brought the car to a stop in front of the grand entrance to the mansion, I was so lost in my thoughts that I barely registered him stepping out and opening the door for me. Offering a murmured 'thank you' in response, I followed him inside, feeling a flutter of surprise as his hand settled gently on the back of my waist, guiding me forward.

Once we were seated on the plush couch in the living room, Lorenzo wasted no time in loosening his tie and undoing the first two buttons of his crisp white shirt. The casual gesture only served to accentuate his allure, leaving me momentarily spellbound as I watched him.

Giovanni entered the room, exchanging a meaningful glance with Lorenzo before handing him a rectangular box. He started talking to Lorenzo in Italian, and although the conversation was brief, their expressions hinted that it was important. Once Giovanni departed, Lorenzo approached me, his face unreadable as he took a seat beside me, extending his hand with the box resting on his palm.

As my eyes fell upon it, I realized it was a sleek, brand new phone. A surge of temptation coursed through me. Yet, I knew I couldn't accept such an expensive gift, especially considering the circumstances. “For you,” Lorenzo muttered.

"But I can’t take this," I began, my voice betraying a hint of reluctance. "It's far too generous. You've already done a lot for me, and I wouldn't be able to repay you for something so costly."

Lorenzo's response was swift. "Who said anything about paying?” His voice challenged. “You don't realize I'm not even doing half of what you did for me that night twelve months ago," he asserted, cutting through my protests with an air of determination.

His words caught me off guard, stirring up memories of that night. Oh, so we were discussing that just now? His eyes caught mine. The intensity in his gaze was unnerving, bordering on obsession, and I found myself questioning the wisdom of remaining under his roof.

"So you're just doing me a favor out of a sense of debt?" My tone was a blend of uncertainty and longing. A part of me yearned for him to deny it, to confess that there was something more between us, a connection that ran deeper than mere obligation. But another part of me sought confirmation, craving the clarity of knowing where we stood so I could move on from this unhealthy fixation I had on him. It was bad. It could possibly get me killed.

Lorenzo leaned in, his proximity sending a shiver down my spine as his hands framed my face, pinning me gently against the couch. His warm breath caressed my skin, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within me.

"Trust me, dolcezza, " he murmured in that velvety voice that never failed to send a jolt of electricity through me. "It goes far beyond a mere debt. There are depths to this that you may not be prepared to explore." His words, laden with unspoken truths and hidden desires, left me torn between the longing to delve deeper into the unknown and the fear of what I might uncover.

"Capo," Giovanni interjected, his voice a subtle reminder of the pressing matters at hand. Lorenzo reluctantly tore his gaze away from me, refocusing on him. "We're running behind schedule."

Lorenzo nodded, his attention momentarily diverted from our intense exchange. "Call your friend over to keep you company," he suggested, making me confused. "Emily, was it?"

The mention of Emily snapped me out of my reverie. A pang of guilt coursed through me as I realized how preoccupied I had been with my own troubles, nearly forgetting about her. Shit! "I'll be back later,” Lorenzo announced one last time before leaving with Giovanni.

***

"I seriously can't believe you forgot about me. If not for silver eyes, I'm sure you wouldn't have even bothered to contact me,” Emily huffed in annoyance as she plopped down on the couch. “But I don't blame you. I'm sorry for what happened." Her hand squeezed mine in a gesture of comfort, and her eyes reflected genuine concern. I sighed, acknowledging her understanding, before reaching for the coffee Maria had prepared for us.

"It's alright. It's not your fault. I'm just glad you're okay. For a moment, I thought you died at the club," I confessed, my mind still haunted by the chaos of that night.

"Well, then I'm grateful for silver eyes and a hunk coming to our rescue," she remarked with a dreamy sigh, prompting a curious raise of my brow.

"Hunk? You mean Gio?"

"Yes, Gio! Have you seen him? That man is fine as hell, girl!" Her eyes sparkled with admiration, leaving me to wonder if there was more to her fascination.

"Spill it," I urged, eager for the details.

"Okay, so he was the one who brought me home. I have no idea how he got in, but he stayed with me all night to make sure I was okay. When I asked him why, you know what he said?" Emily's tone shifted, revealing her disappointment.

"What?" I leaned in.

"He claimed he was just following orders from his boss, because you'd be upset if anything happened to me. Can you believe that?" Her disbelief was evident.

"What if he was just testing the waters?" I suggested, considering the possibility.

"I hope so. Because he was so caring and gentle with me. Men don't act like that on orders alone," she reasoned.

"I mean, Gio can be..." I trailed off, recalling the time he walked in on Lorenzo and me. Twice . "..pesky sometimes."

"Tell me about it!" Emily rolled her eyes, then her expression turned curious. "Wait, did he do something?"

"Nothing," I replied hastily.

"I know it's not nothing!" she insisted.

With a resigned sigh, I confessed, "Well, he kinda walked in on Lorenzo and me interrupting our... moment."

"No way! He walked in on you two fucking?" Emily's gasp trailed off as she covered her mouth, her eyes widening in shock.

"No! Of course not," I clarified quickly, exasperated by her assumption. "He didn't walk in on us doing that."

"Then what? Were you kissing?" Emily's suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows elicited a scowl from me. "I can't believe you managed to snag silver eyes in just a few days. And here you were, worrying about whether the universe would give you the chance to catch a glimpse of him again."

"That's not true!" I protested, feeling defensive. Emily had a knack for exaggeration. "And for the record, Lorenzo and I were just... close. The next move could have been a kiss if your hunk hadn't interrupted us," I explained, shooting her a pointed look.

"Ah, I see. My condolences," she quipped, her smirk indicating she found the situation amusing. If only she knew, there would come a time when the table would turn.

***