Chapter 6
1213 Words
Valentino’s POV
I can’t believe that just happened…I mean, I knew
she might not be happy when I finally revealed
myself to her, but I didn’t expect that reaction.
I think as I rub my chest where she kept poking me,
then I smile…that’s my girl; being strong enough to
make just a finger poke cause a semblance of pain.
The sound of my door opening breaks me out of my
thoughts: “What’s up, V? I came as fast as I could,”
states Owen.
“It’s okay, O…so…I did it.”
“Did what?” He responds in a confused tone while
sitting on the loveseat.
“I revealed myself to Sophia…but.”
“But what?”
“But she freaked out on me, O.”“Well, that was bound to happen…but what made
you do it now? I thought you were going to wait.”
“I let my worry control my actions…When I saw that
man running towards her, I was about to reveal
myself at that moment, but I was able to restrain
myself. Then, when I got back, I debriefed with
Carmen, and she said that Soph was suspicious
and was questioning her, so she let her go to her
apartment in the elevator alone…I just wanted to
make sure Sophia was okay, so I ran up the stairs
and pressed the elevator button on a random floor.
When I entered the elevator, she was hunched over
and wasn’t alert or paying attention to her
surroundings, so I kind of…”
Owen scoots to the edge of his seat: “You kind of
what, Valentino?”
Letting out a sigh, I respond: “I kind of scolded her
about her needing to be aware of her surroundings
and alert, especially when she’s alone. After asking
her by her name if she was okay… she looked up at
me, upset, and I could tell she was going to tell me
off, but she was able to tell who I am. Once the
elevator got to her floor, she rushed to her
apartment, but thankfully stopped when I called herby her nickname for the second time since she
moved in.”
“Okay, her stopping was a good thing, right?”
“Yes…I mean, no man…she poked me in the chest
while scolding me, and that s**t hurt,” I state while
rubbing my chest.
“What hurt more? Her poking you or scolding you?”
asks Owen with amusement in his voice.
“Both hurt equally, but I can see how she feels I
deserve it….she doesn’t know why I disappeared
from her life.”
“Are you going to tell her, Valentino?”
“She already knows I’m alive and own this building,
but she doesn’t know anything else, and I’m not
sure if I should or shouldn’t tell her….ugh, this is a
fucked-up situation….if that note didn’t exist, she
would have still been safe and be oblivious to our
world….I don’t know how this will play out, but I do
know that I’ll still watch over her even if she hates
me and moves out.”“ I know you will, and we will all help you keep her
safe as we have for these past 10 years.”
“Thanks, Owen….I think I’m going to give her the
rest of the day, then check on her tomorrow
morning.”
“That’s a good idea…If you need Carmen to check
on her instead, let us know…we’re always ready to
help….even on our days off.”
While laughing, I stand up from the couch: “There’s
no such thing as a day off for us, but Sundays are
our calmest days of the week.”
Owen responds by laughing and shaking his head in
agreement while walking towards the door: “Let me
know how it goes….hi, sexy, I’m on my way home,
do you need to talk to Valentino?”
“No, I’m here looking for you,” Carmen replies to
Owen before putting her hand around his arm and
waving bye before I lock the door.
I fight the urge to reach out to Sophia and take a
shower. While the warm water cascades over my
tense muscles, I allow today’s craziness to replay inmy head. Turns out the jogger was just a regular guy
jogging, which was a relief to hear, but I didn’t help
the situation. Someone is out to get Sophia, and I
refuse to let that happen.
***Sunday***
My alarm jolts me awake. Usually, I press the
snooze button a few times, but not today…I got shit
to do today that only I can do and want to do.
Within a matter of minutes, I’m ready and walking
out the door of my place.
As I walk through the lobby, my men greet me and
ask if their services are needed. I inform them that
I’m good and they can go about their day. Right
before I open the door to walk out of the building,
Owen and Carmen greet me from the opposite side:
“Good morning, boss, we’re ready.”
“Hello, Owen, Carmen…you’re ready for what?”
“To go to Starbucks with you.”
“How did you know?”“Did you forget we did the gathering of information
on her likes for you…besides, we’re not leaving you
without backup,” replies Owen while he taps my
shoulder playfully.
“I also want breakfast, so there’s no getting rid of
us,” adds Carmen as she walks with her arm
wrapped around Owen’s.
“Fine, let’s go,” I respond while walking.
Once we arrive at Starbucks, which is just a couple
of blocks away, I order a double chocolate chip
frappe and a warmed banana nut bread. Owen and
Carmen order egg white bites, a caramel macchiato,
a caramel frappe, a double chocolate chip frappe,
and a bacon egg and Gouda sandwich. Once our
orders were done, Owen handed me the double
chocolate chip frappe and the bacon egg and
gouda cheese sandwich: “You have to eat as well,
boss.”
“I don’t think I can eat right now,” I respond as we
walk back to the building.
“Think of it as an impromptu breakfast date, just
one person can’t have a meal, both people have toenjoy the experience of eating and drinking
together,” states Carmen.
“What if she doesn’t accept this and doesn’t want
to even speak to me?”
“Well, I happen to know that she was planning to
get herself a Starbucks for breakfast, so I bet she
will accept your gift,” Carmen replies with a wink.
I don’t know where or who I would be if these two
never come into my life. They are the only family I
have.
Once we get to Sophia’s floor, they wish me luck as
I exit the elevator.
I could face my enemies and run an empire without
breaking a sweat, but walking to Sophia’s door has
my heart racing, palms sweaty, and my anxiety
going crazy. How can one woman cause in me what
the meanest piece of s**t person can’t?
Here goes nothing, I whisper as I raise my finger to
the doorbell.
- Writer
