029
1099 Words
ISLA
~•~
Lorenzo’s office was the last place I wanted to be. I didn’t want to be around him. Being alone with him was even worse.
My bag was waiting for me on his desk. I was tempted to rush to grab it, but Lorenzo was already sitting down, his hand resting on the strap like it belonged to him.
“Close the door.”
I stared at him warily, but he didn’t say anything. Just stared right back at me. My tongue poked the inside of my cheek as I gave up and closed it, knowing we weren’t going to go any further if I didn’t listen to him.
“Sit.”
I did, only because arguing with him would be a waste of time. My eyes never left the bag though. It was valuable to me. It held things that reminded me of my family. “Can I get the bag now?”
“Impatient.” His mouth curved as he slid the bag toward me, leaning back lazily in his seat.
I snatched it the second it was close enough, pulling it onto my lap. I checked inside before I could stop myself. Clothes. Jewelry. Debit card. Music box.
I paused. Something was missing.
The sound of the clinking lighter filled the room just as I looked up at him. I reached out to grab it but he pulled it away. He wasn’t ready to give it back. I gritted my teeth.
“You don’t smoke, do you?”
I didn’t see how it was any of his business but I answered him anyway. “I don’t.”
“So what do you need this for?”
“None of your business,” I bit out. “Give it back. It’s mine.”
“You’re in my house, darling,” he reminded me as he always did. “Everything in this house belongs to me, including you and the things you carry.”
When was he going to stop with this madness?
“Now are you going to answer what you need it for or do you want me to keep it?”
I stared at the lighter, my hands twitching to take it already. Lorenzo swirled it between his fingers like he was toying with my temper, eyes narrowed, studying my every reaction as always.
“It belonged to my brother. He gave it to me.”
“Oh. Casper, was it?”
“You’d know him very well, wouldn’t you?” My words came out with venom as I recalled how he calmly admitted to the m******e of my family. He was audacious enough to ask about him now.
Lorenzo didn’t respond to my sarcastic question. He merely kept rolling it like he had all the time in the world.
“When did he give this to you? How long have you been holding on to it?”
I clenched my jaw, trying my hardest not to get angry but I wasn’t succeeding very much. I wasn’t in the mood to answer questions about my brother from his very killer. It was almost like he loved reminding me of what he did to my family. Throwing it in my face knowing there was nothing I could do to him. “If you aren’t giving it, you can have it. I really hope it burns your house down.”
His eyes glinted as though I had just wished him something nice. “If I die with you, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”
“f**k you,” I spat out as I stood up.
He chuckled, as though my anger was amusing to him. “You have such a short temper.” He threw the lighter at me without any warning but I managed to catch it. “You can keep it. I have enough.”
As I turned to leave, I heard the sound of a drawer opening and closing.
“Your phone,” he said, making me turn around to face him again.
He held out my phone, the one he had gotten for me as a favor. I hadn’t taken it with me when I ran away because he told me to leave as I came. I hesitated to take it. What if he used it against me again?
“Take it,” he prompted, his voice gentle, an obvious deception. “If you’re ever in trouble, you can call me.”
I met his gaze. “Like you let me walk around on my own anyway.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” He tilted his head to the side, his expression unreadable. “I’m sure by now they’ve gotten the memo that you’re under my protection. You don’t need constant guards around you anymore.”
Guards? Guards, my ass. The men he planted around me were to ensure I wouldn’t run. He was making sure I couldn’t run. They were watching my every move and reporting back to him. They weren’t protecting me. “They’re not guards,” I countered. “They’re your eyes.”
His lips twitched. “Same thing, baby.”
I was done with the constant endearments. I was starting to think Lorenzo was delusional. Did he genuinely think we would end up together one day?
I snatched the phone from his hand anyway. Despite not wanting it, there was a possibility I’d need it. With the way Lorenzo went around claiming me, it wouldn’t be just my family’s enemies after me but Lorenzo’s too. “I don't want to call you.” I made sure to emphasize.
“You say that now.”
I ignored him and turned around to leave again. I was already at the door when he called out my name.
“You don’t have to come down for breakfast every day. Your breakfast will be brought to you from now on. Just keep your door open whenever you’re ready for it.”
Was he being kind to me now?
I was tempted to ask him about dinner but I didn’t want him to think I needed his kindness. Lorenzo was anything but kind. Him being kind to me meant he was up to something. I just didn’t know what and I doubted I wanted to find out.
Instead, I turned the handle of the door, stepped out of the door and into the hallway, and walked back to my room.
I knew he was being nice because he wanted something but I quickly shoved the thought away. I didn’t want to admit to myself how much it rattled me.
- Writer
