Ava's text
1405 Words
I shrugged my shoulders as I spouted profusely. I had completely forgotten that my friends, Tara and Ava, had accompanied me to the Gram’s last night to help clear my head and not overthink.
Lorenzo and his business, along with the shootout and his Palazzo mansion, everything had completely made me forget I had another life other than this.
I had forgotten I had a job. I had forgotten my ex broke up with me, I had no place to call home, and I had also forgotten I had Tara and Ava in my life.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips as to the turn of events. This man had made me forget I had so many worries. All I thought about was him.
With the text Ava sent, I no longer wanted to stay here. I had to go catch up with them and find out how they were faring. I felt unease and anxious as well.
“Easy, Princess. Anything the matter?” Lorenzo asked, so much worry filling his eyes. The way I had hurried off the bed must have given him a panic attack and now I was drifting in thoughts too.
I scoffed.
“My friends. The ones I came to the club with. There’s an emergency, and I need to go catch up with them.”
He jolted.
“What happened?” He held me, forcing me to sit down.
I shrugged my shoulders weakly.
“Uhm… not sure, Lorenzo. Till I get there,” I said, covering it up.
“You can at least tell me.”
I bit my lower lip softly as I stared at him.
"It's a bit nasty."
"I don't mind, I'm listening, Princess."
I hesitated.
“Ava said Tara is in the hospital. Apparently, her dumbass boyfriend cracked her head open last night.”
He sighed.
“Men hit women?” he asked with so much confusion.
“Guess Tom does.”
“Let me drive you to the hospital. Can I see the address?”
I pointed at my phone on the table, signaling him to check the chat himself while I hurried into the pajamas I had worn previously.
I wished this moment never ended. I had gotten a taste of him and was just about to sleep on his chest. Now I had to leave immediately to see my friends.
“If you’re going to wear that, then you’ll need a jacket. I don’t want any other eyes on you, Princess.”
“Jealous?” I asked, laughing.
“What’s mine is mine. I protect, and I don’t share.”
I blushed. Something about Lorenzo just felt so right.
We were almost out of the building when we walked into Victor, who was laughing thunderously at the dry jokes the guards were telling at the gate. This man looked so problem-free, always laughing or telling a joke himself.
I clicked my tongue.
Somehow, even from the far distance, Victor managed to spot Lorenzo and me as we headed toward the garage, and he joined us.
Uninvited, without asking a single question, he served himself a seat at the back of the car without even knowing where we were driving.
I shook my head, suppressing a laugh. I was in no mood for that.
We simply stared at him through the mirror without saying a word while he buckled his seat belt. We drove off in silence.
Victor leaned back comfortably, completely ignoring the fact that no one had invited him.
“So…” he stretched the word with a grin. “Are we robbing a bank or…?”
Lorenzo shot him a flat look. “We’re going to the hospital.”
Victor’s smile faded almost instantly. “Oh.” He cleared his throat. “That got serious fast.”
The car fell silent again.
I stared out the window as buildings blurred past us, my knee bouncing anxiously.
Please be okay, Tara.
Ava’s text replayed over and over in my head.
Tom cracked Tara’s head open. She’s at St. Mary’s Hospital. Come fast.
The message made my stomach churn. Tara had already sent me a bunch of messages all through the night which I ignored, while busy making out with Lorenzo.
It wasn't time to scroll through texts now, I thought.
Tara had always complained about Tom being physically abusive. I remembered telling her to let him go. Guess she loved him so much and was ready to die defending him.
I sighed, almost too loudly.
Lorenzo noticed my trembling hands. Without saying a word, he reached across the center console and gently squeezed one of them.
“She’ll be okay.”
“I hope so,” I whispered.
Victor glanced at me through the rearview mirror, looking like a musketeer with his black-toned car.
“So… this Tom. Boyfriend?”
Lorenzo looked at me while trying to focus on the road ahead.
I nodded.
“Ex-boyfriend,” Lorenzo corrected coldly.
Victor blinked.
“We haven’t even met him yet.”
“He’ll become an ex once I’m done with him.”
I turned sharply toward Lorenzo.
“Lorenzo.”
“What?” His eyes never left the road. “A man who raises his hand against a woman doesn’t deserve the title.”
Victor slowly leaned back into his seat.
“I almost feel bad for Tom.”
“You should,” Lorenzo muttered.
Despite everything weighing on my chest, a tiny smile escaped me.
For the first time since reading Ava’s message, I felt like maybe everything would be okay.
Until my phone rang.
Ava.
The moment I answered, all I heard was her frantic sobbing.
“Amelia… he’s here.”
Her voice sent shivers down my spine. I sat upright.
“Who’s there?”
“Tom.”
My blood ran cold. My jaw dropped.
The call ended.
I gasped.
Lorenzo grabbed my hand, squeezing it harder this time.
“Breathe, Princess. What’s going on?”
“H-he somehow got to the hospital,” I said in a shaky voice.
Victor scoffed. “I support you, Lorenzo.”
Lorenzo’s face darkened as he drove recklessly, increasing his speed. No one complained or asked him to slow down. We all just wanted to get there and see things for ourselves. Sitting tight, the car kept speeding.
“That was quick, Lorenzo. We practically flew down here,” Victor teased.
Ignoring him completely, we all stepped out and rushed into the hospital.
Ava was standing by the entrance, her face filled with worry. But the moment Lorenzo and Victor caught up with me, her expression changed. She looked even more frightened.
“Ava!” I called out. “Take me to her.”
She nodded, and we sprinted toward the ward.
Tom was already causing trouble with two other goons who had come with him. Drunk, he yelled at the hospital staff.
"Get out of my way you fools."
"Don't let him in." The doctor commanded the nurses standing at the corner.
“I need to see my woman. She’s my girlfriend, dumbass!” he cursed, shoving a nurse to the ground.
Everyone gasped.
The two goons beside him glanced at each other and smiled.
“Call security,” the doctor signaled to a nearby nurse.
As she turned to leave, one of the goons moved to stop her, he had a stick in his hands. Judging from how reckless he looked, he might hit her with it.
“Alright. I think I’ve had enough of this drama.” Lorenzo stepped forward and punched one of the goons, sending him flying to the ground.
“Touch one woman again, and I’ll make sure they have your name in the dental records,” Lorenzo warned calmly but with so much fierceness.
Tom spat heavily on the floor, along with the two goons; they charged at Lorenzo, who wasted no time taking them out completely in seconds.
He held Tom's arm and squeezed till it fractured. Teeth fell off, not knowing who owned them.
"Bravo!" Victor applauded him.
“W-Who are you?” Tom asked, backing away slowly. They were all bleeding and groaning.
“The last time someone dared him, he had him signing paperwork,” Victor said behind Lorenzo with a malicious smirk.
“You don’t know him, Tom?” one of the goons whined in frustration.
“No.”
“That’s Lorenzo Pazello.”
Everyone stared in shock.
- Writer
