Protecting The Princiepessa (Complete)

~ Chapter 20 ~

“Excuse me?” Ignazia pulled back from the man that she was practically climbing on in the middle of a dance floor and peeked over his shoulder at the voice that had interrupted them. What was she thinking? She had never gone after men who were taken, not even given the shitty circumstances. And as she saw Mike standing behind Adriano, she wanted to die. Of all the men who could possibly be there, it’s him, right?

“What?” Adriano grunted out, not even tossing a glance in Mike’s direction. He kept his arms around Ignazia, trying to keep her from view, but she knew that wasn’t happening.

“A couple of the men upstairs want to talk to you; since you left.”

“You can pass along the message they can f**k off. I was tired of their bitching, and I don’t want to hear anymore.” She heard Mike chuckle, but she didn’t dare risk a glance to look at him or Adriano.

“That’s not the case. Victor got a phone call; said he might have some information that you and the boss are waiting on.” Izzy felt Adriano stiffen against her and she couldn’t help but wonder if that was information for her.

“Tell him I’ll be right up.”

“I can watch her for you.” With that, she could feel the daggers that Adriano was sending at him, causing Mike to chuckle again. “It’s obvious, now, that she’s off limits, although, we all know that shouldn’t be the case. It’s important, Adriano. Izzy will be fine with me.” She finally glanced up at Adriano as he glanced down at her, a confused expression clear in his eyes. And she had no doubt that it probably mirrored what was in hers.

“I’ll be right back, and we can leave.” She nodded, but she wasn’t sure that a car ride home with him was such a great idea right now. What the hell was she doing? She licked her lips and fought hard not to watch him walk away and instead, turned to look at Mike who had such a s**t-eating grin on his face.

“You know, kissing him, wanting him, that’s only going to lead to trouble, right?”

“Yeah, I got that part, Mike; I don’t need the reminder.” Mike stepped closer to her and lightly grabbed her arm before leading her off the dance floor.

“Good, because his fiancé might stand for a lot of s**t, but I don’t think his cheating is one she will take laying down.” Deep down, Izzy was going to have to disagree with him. She firmly believed that they both cheated; however, she couldn’t understand why not if they were engaged. Or what the hell was behind the engagement if that was the case?

“I thank you for your interest and your concern, Mike, but I promise, what I do is really no business of yours. Se scelgo di scopare con qualcuno per cui si parla, è una mia scelta (If I choose to f**k around with someone who is spoken for, it’s my choice.).” Mike’s eyes narrowed at that, and she lifted a brow.

“He’s not who you think he is; he’s not some God damn hero or a good man.” It took more willpower than she thought she knew not to laugh at that. Oh, she knew Adriano well enough, she didn’t think he was some saint, hadn’t pictured it. But she knew Mike would know well enough too, that she wasn’t blind to this world like he might think she was.

“I never pegged him as that, so don’t worry, Mike.” She tapped his cheek and threw him a wink. “I promise, I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself.” She wanted to say more, or she wanted to walk away, but the look he was giving her was stopping her from doing both. “What?”

“Come on, you came here for a reason, and I don’t think it’s fair you didn’t get much of a night out.” She wrinkled her brows in confusion and shook her head.

“I’m fine, Mike. You don’t have to entertain me or anything, really.”

“I’m not, Izzy, I’m just offering a dance,” he told her, turning to steer them back through the crowd they had just come from.

“No, we’re leaving.” Ignazia glanced over her shoulder and saw Adriano there, his jaw clenched. Whatever news he got only seemed to piss him off even more.

“Let her have some time, Adriano, since you did cut into her time.” She watched as Adriano’s gaze cut to Mike who quickly backed off with the look he saw. And the cold glint in Adriano’s eyes and the hard set of his jaw even made her want to back up. No, he wasn’t pissed, he was furious. And she was f*****g glad that it wasn’t on her head.

“Don’t. Question. What. I. Say.” She shivered from the hardness of the tone and quickly followed him as he grabbed her arm and lead her the back way out of the club. Though the anger was coming off of him in waves, his touch was still gentle with her. She wanted to ask what was going on, what set him off, but she knew better. If the news was about her or had anything to do with her, he wouldn’t tell her. However, she wasn’t sure she could sit in the car for another 20 minutes with him and his slow and fuming anger.

She folded her arms over her chest once she was in and waited for him to climb in, surprised when it takes a few moments. Out the side window, she saw him behind the car and on the phone and she figured he was talking to her dad. She clocked his movements, his pacing, his hand raking through his hair, and she did swear that no man looked f*****g sexier to her, which brought to mind their kiss. Why the hell did he do that? She knew it wasn’t because he liked her or because he was attracted in any way. And though she so badly wanted to ask, she also figured he wouldn’t be open and honest about it, at least not now.

Izzy glanced his way as he opened the driver’s side and climbed in, but he didn’t even glance at her, and she willed him too constantly. After the first five minutes of silence, she let out a loud sigh and he glanced at her. “What?” he asked.

“Are you going to share what the news was because you’re being a major prick.” The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, and she rolled her eyes.

“You mean compared to the times I’m not a prick?”

“Yeah, you do have decent moments when you’re not, you know.” He exited the interstate, taking the turn a little too fast, and she almost screamed. Okay, so he was pissed, she got the memo, he didn’t have to put her life in danger anymore though. “Really? Did you need to take it that f*****g fast?”

“It’s easy for me to lose myself in my driving and in the speed, however, you will not be with anyone who is a better driver, than me, remember that. No matter how fast I’m going, I have control of the car.” She swallowed, not sure why he would say that, but she could do nothing but nod. “And what happened back at the club is nothing.” She wanted to push him, wanted to ask if he was referring to the news or the kiss, but she knew she’d get nothing more about either subject. Hell, maybe he was a little pissed over both of those things.

“Yes, sir,” she mumbled and this time, she ignored the smirk that graced his lips. He was being an ass, toying with her, and she f*****g hated it. She was a grown-ass woman, not some young kid who didn’t know what the f**k was going on. So, the moment they got into the driveway, she yanked her door open and took satisfaction in slamming the door, not caring what he thought over it. She was frustrated by everything that had happened in the last hour and with just cause, so she didn’t care if that action only fueled his anger even more.

Izzy stormed into her room, shutting the door loudly behind her. She groaned as she yanked her clothes off and tossed them aside before slipping into her pajamas and collapsing on the bed. She knew she should get up and take a shower, but she had no energy. She flopped on her back and stared at the ceiling, praying for sleep to take her.

But all she could recall was the feel of his lips on hers and the way she felt so safe in his arms. She was also certain that she felt how hard he was, but she couldn’t understand why. In truth, she couldn’t make heads or tails of his actions; none of them made sense, they didn’t jive with the man she first met that seemed to hate her. That actually still seemed to have issues with her, honestly. She grabbed the pillow and covered her face while she screamed into it.

After another moment or two, she laid the pillow down next to her again and sighed. Maybe she ought to take a shower, wouldn’t that help relax her enough to help her sleep? But, really, was there anything that would stop her racing thoughts? She doubted that. And besides that, it wasn’t just her thoughts that were keeping her up, but her stupid body too. She knew she was in need, had been for a while, and that kiss, that kiss shot to parts of her body that had made her say ‘f**k it’ and back him into a wall and f**k him senseless.

“God damn it, Izzy, stop,” she murmured to herself as she wiped her hands over her face. She needed to get a handle on this and badly. Or she was going to have to find somewhere else to stay and she didn’t think that would go over too well with her dad. She was about to turn over and close her eyes when her door opened and there stood the man of her current fantasy in nothing but a pair of shorts that were riding low on his hips and Izzy fought the moan that wanted to escape.