Il Suo Zaffario (His Sapphire)

Chapter 6

I've been here for a couple of weeks now, almost a month, and though I'm starting to get used to the routine, I still find myself on edge. It's hard not to be, given the circumstances. Logan has proved to me many times that he can be trusted. He's always tried to be gentle and caring, even when I could tell it didn't come naturally to him. But I've also seen the other side of him, the side that flares up with anger if I do something that pisses him off.

I've learned to avoid pushing his buttons, but it's not always easy. Sometimes, I don't even realize I've done something wrong until I see that flash of irritation in his eyes, the way his jaw tightens.

Logan's world is dark, dangerous, but he's made sure I'm safe within it. He doesn't let anyone near me that he doesn't trust, and despite the circumstances, that does give me a sense of comfort.

The only real upside to being here is the freedom I have. I can do pretty much anything I want, within reason, of course. There's a pool out back that I can lounge by whenever I want, and the kitchen is always stocked with whatever I could possibly crave. Logan's house is huge, more like a mansion, with rooms I haven't even explored yet. It's easy to lose myself in the luxury of it all, to forget—if only for a little while—that I'm here because I don't really have a choice.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. "Come in," I said, and the door creaked open to reveal Logan.

"Sapphire," he said in that deep, accented voice that made my heart skip a beat. No matter how many times he said my name, the way his Italian came out always caught me off guard. "I'm going to my parents' house, so get dressed," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Can I stay here?" I asked, hoping he would agree. He shook his head, his expression firm.

"No, you're coming with me," he said sternly. I sighed, knowing there was no point in resisting. I was about to get up when I remembered I was only in a tank top and booty shorts.

"Do you mind?" I asked, indicating for him to leave the room. He smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Just so you know, I've seen you naked before. Not intentionally, but it was an accident," he said, and my jaw dropped. Was he serious? "It happened when you first came. Sara was getting you dressed, and I came to check up on you, didn't kn—" He started to explain, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "I'll just go," he muttered, retreating out of the room and closing the door behind him.

I shook my head, still trying to process what he'd just said. After a quick shower and brushing my teeth, I dressed in a casual dress and threw my hair up into a messy bun. Feeling somewhat prepared, I headed downstairs, where Logan was waiting on the couch. He looked up as soon as I appeared, his eyes locking onto mine as if he'd been timing my every move.

"Ready?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Aren't we going to eat something before we leave?" I asked, but he shook his head and took my hand.

"No, we'll eat breakfast at my parents' house," he replied, leading me toward the door. We were almost outside when Logan suddenly stopped and started patting his pockets.

"I think I left my phone upstairs," he said, then turned back toward the stairs. As he disappeared, I stepped outside to wait for him.

"Good morning, pretty lady," a voice said, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see one of the guards. He was tall with broad shoulders, thick black curly hair, and striking blue eyes that stood out against his darker features. He was undeniably handsome.

"Good morning. I'm just waiting for Logan," I said, giving him a polite smile. He leaned against the wall, his eyes never leaving mine.

"My name's Adonis," he said, extending his hand toward me. I bit my lip, hesitating for a moment before placing my hand in his. Instead of shaking it, he brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it lightly.

"Sapphire," I introduced myself, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.

"Hmm... a beautiful name for a beautiful girl," he said, releasing my hand. I could feel the heat in my face intensify.

"Wait, how come it's the first time I'm seeing you here? Are you Logan's girlfriend?" he asked, taking a step back.

"No," I answered quickly, watching as relief washed over his face.

"Gr—" he started to say, but Logan's voice cut through the air like a knife.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be working!" Logan barked, his tone hard and cold. Adonis rolled his eyes, unfazed.

"I was just talking to the pretty girl," Adonis said, giving me a smile that made my heart skip. Logan didn't hesitate; he grabbed my hand and yanked me toward the car.

"Logan, you're hurting me," I whined, trying to pull my hand free from his tight grip.

"Hey, don't pull her like that, you're hurting her!" Adonis shouted from behind as Logan practically shoved me into the car. I stared out the window, feeling a mix of emotions. Adonis waved at me, and I waved back, offering a small smile.

"I'm sorry I hurt you," Logan said through gritted teeth once we were inside the car, his jaw clenched tightly. "But Adonis is not a good guy. I don't want you speaking to him or any other guy," he added, his voice low and controlled. My eyes widened at his words—was he jealous?

"You can't tell me who I can or can't speak to. You don't own me," I snapped, anger flaring up inside me.

"I do own you, and I say you shouldn't talk to any other man but me. You're under my roof, so you do as I say," he shot back, his eyes flashing with an intensity that made my blood boil.

"I didn't ask to be here," I said, folding my arms across my chest. I turned to the window, waiting for him to say something, but he remained silent.

The horrible, suffocating silence stretched out between us, making the drive feel even longer. I hated how he thought he could control me, how he thought he owned me. It was infuriating, and the worst part was the small part of me that wondered if his jealousy meant he cared more than he let on.

After what seemed like a long drive, the car finally came to a stop. As much as I wanted to open the door myself, I couldn't risk making Logan any angrier than he already was. He got out of the car, then came around to my side. The door clicked open, and I stepped out, my shoe crunching on the gravel beneath me. I followed closely behind him as we walked up to the front door, too frustrated to take in the surroundings of what I knew had to be a grand estate.

Once inside, I made sure to stay close to Logan, but not too close. I wasn't familiar with the place, and the last thing I wanted was to get lost in this unfamiliar environment. The sounds of laughter and chatter filled the air, making me feel even more out of place.

"Logan, you're here!" a woman's voice called out, and I looked up to see a beautiful woman approaching. I assumed this was his mother.

"Mamma," Logan said softly, hugging her with a tenderness I hadn't expected to see. There was a warmth between them that made my heart ache a little.

"Who is this, Logan? Won't you introduce me to your girlfriend?" she asked, her gaze shifting to me. My eyes widened, and I opened my mouth to correct her.

"No—" I started, but Logan cut me off.

"Yes, this is Sapphire," he said, his arm sliding around my waist in a possessive gesture. His mother stepped forward, enveloping me in a hug. I was a little surprised but relaxed into the embrace, hugging her back. Over her shoulder, I caught Logan's gaze, and I glared at him. What game was he playing?

When his mother finally released me, she gave me a warm smile. "It's a little noisy and hectic in the mornings since everyone is here," she said, before hurrying off to tend to something. I was about to ask Logan what we were supposed to do next, but he was already moving, leaving the room. I hesitated, then followed him into the living room.

There were children everywhere, playing and laughing, their energy filling the space with a chaotic kind of joy. The family was bigger than I'd imagined, and it made me feel even more like an outsider.

"By the way, I have a twin brother," Logan mentioned offhandedly as he looked around. "Don't mistake him for me." He gave me a brief, unreadable look before disappearing again, leaving me alone with the crowd of kids. How could he just leave me here alone?