LORENZO
I stood there, breathing hard through my nose, fighting the urge to punch a wall.
Marco watched me from across the room. "You sure that was the best way to handle it?"
"I'm not here to win awards for kindness," I muttered. But the truth is, this wasn't how I wanted it to go. Not with her. Not like this.
But with people trying to kill me, the blood, and enemies crawling through my life like rats, I didn't have the luxury of playing nice.
I was lost in thought when I caught Marco's face twisting into a smile. It wasn't a full grin, but he was definitely struggling to hold it back.
I arched my brow. "What the hell is so funny?"
Marco coughed into his hand, pretending to fix his cuff. "Nothing. Just… Miss Parker. She's way tougher than I thought."
I gave him a sideways look, unimpressed. "I don't hire weak women."
"She's not weak," he said, finally letting a little of that smile slip out again. "She's got a bite. I mean… you two, boss… you'd make a perfect fit. Fire with fire."
I scoffed, shaking my head. "I'll take that as nonsense spoken out of boredom."
Marco chuckled quietly but didn't argue. Smart man.
But I wasn't thinking about that anymore, I was thinking about those men. The way they stood, restless and searching, like they had come specifically for someone and not just me. That wasn't random, someone sent them. And I was going to find out who.
"What's the next move?" Marco asked, reading my thoughts like he usually did.
"Find out who those bastards were," I said sharply. "Names. Family. Blood types if you have to. I want to know who sent them and why they thought they could breathe the same air as me without permission."
Marco nodded. "Got it."
I started toward the stairs but paused. "And Marco?"
"Yeah?"
"If anyone else shows up on my property without an invitation, I don't want them arrested. I want them buried alive."
The smile disappeared from Marco's face. He just gave a firm nod. "Understood."
I left him there and made my way upstairs.
I don't know why I did what I did next. I told myself it was practical, logical, necessary; but deep down, I knew it wasn't just that.
I walked into my room, heading straight for the drawer where I kept some spare clothes. Not my usual tailored shirts or expensive dress pants. Something comfortable, casual, and easy to sleep in.
I grabbed a loose white T-shirt and a baggy pair of black sport trousers. Why I was thinking about her comfort, I didn't know. No, that's a lie. I did know, I just didn't want to admit it.
It was stupid. She pissed me off. She argued, she fought, she disrespected me to my face, but she wasn't scared of me. And I didn't know if I hated it… or liked it.
With the clothes in my hand, I walked down the hall and stopped at the door of the guest room she was locked in. I gave two short knocks before opening it.
She was sitting on the edge of the bed with her arms crossed. Her jaw set like she was about to go to war with me again.
I held out the clothes. "Figured you might want something more comfortable."
Her eyes dropped to the clothes, then flicked back up to mine. "Not interested."
I gave a dry laugh. "Good for you," I muttered. "When you're done playing tough, you'll put it on."
I dropped the clothes at the edge of the bed, turned, and walked out before she could throw another smart comment my way.
Stubborn little thing.
But I wasn't angry anymore. Just… tired.
The whole house was still tense, men walking around outside, checking every corner. I didn't bother joining them, I trusted Marco to handle it for now.
What I didn't trust… was myself when it came to her.
Later that night, I found myself back at that same door again. I don't even remember deciding to go, my legs just carried me there on their own.
I opened the door quietly. The light was dim, letting the shadows stretch across the room. And there she was, asleep.
She was curled up on the bed, hair falling over her face, breathing slow and steady. And… she was wearing the clothes I brought her.
I smirked.
"Tough girl," I murmured under my breath. "Not so tough after all."
But for some reason… I liked that too.
I stood there for a while longer, just watching her. She didn't belong in my world. And yet, she did. Somehow, without even trying, she fit into this chaos like a piece I didn't know I'd been missing
.
With a quiet sigh, I pulled the door halfway closed, leaving just a crack open.