complicated feelings

CHAPTER 2: THE COLD CEO

Damian was still holding her.

Isla could smell his cologne. Warm. Familiar. Safe.

The exact opposite of the man across the room.

Lorenzo hadn’t moved. But the newspaper in his hand was now completely destroyed in his fist.

"Damian," Lorenzo said. His voice was quiet. Too quiet. "Let go of her."

Damian pulled back but kept his arm around Isla’s shoulders. "No."

He looked at Isla like she was the answer to a question he’d been asking for 3 years.

"You came. I can’t believe you came."

"Brother," Lorenzo cut in. "A word. Now."

The tension in the dining room was so thick Isla could taste it.

Damian squeezed her shoulder once. "Stay here. Don’t go anywhere."

Then he followed Lorenzo out of the room.

The moment they left, Rosa the housekeeper hurried over. "Miss, you should eat."

Isla shook her head. "I’m not hungry."

Because upstairs, she could hear voices. Raised. Angry.

"Have you lost your mind?" Lorenzo.

"She came all this way for me," Damian.

"She came for our name. For money. They’re all the same."

"Don’t talk about her like that."

Isla closed her eyes. Complication #1 and #2 were fighting over her.

When Damian came back 10 minutes later, his jaw was tight.

"Come with me," he said to Isla. "We need to talk. Alone."

He led her to the garden. Rome at night was beautiful. Lights everywhere.

But Isla couldn’t enjoy it.

"Is it true?" Damian asked suddenly. "What Selena said?"

"What did she say?"

"That you’re here to ruin my family. That you’re just like the rest of them."

Isla stopped walking. "Do you believe her?"

Damian looked at her. Really looked at her. "No. I don’t."

Then he took her hand. "Stay with me, Isla. Let me protect you. From her. From everything."

For a second, Isla wanted to say yes.

But then she heard footsteps behind them.

Lorenzo.

He was standing by the fountain, hands in his pockets, watching them.

His eyes met Isla’s. And for one second, the ice cracked.

It looked almost like... pain.

Then it was gone.

"Damian," Lorenzo said. "Father called. You need to be in Milan by morning."

Damian cursed under his breath. "Fine."

He turned to Isla. "I have to go. But I’ll be back in 2 days. Wait for me, okay?"

Isla nodded.

As Damian walked away, Lorenzo stayed.

He didn’t look at her.

"Don’t get attached," he said finally. "He leaves. He always leaves."

"Are you warning me?" Isla asked.

"I’m telling you the truth," Lorenzo replied. "Something you’ll need to get used to around here."

He walked past her. But before he went inside, he stopped.

"You left your jacket inside. It’s cold tonight."

Then he was gone.

Isla stood there alone in the garden.

One brother offering safety.

One brother offering warnings.

And somewhere in this house, Selena was smiling.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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