Page 12 of Reckless Games

Lorenzo's response was swift. "Who said anything about paying?” His voice challenged. “You don't realize I'm not even doing half of what you did for me that night twelve months ago," he asserted, cutting through my protests with an air of determination.

His words caught me off guard, stirring up memories of that night. Oh, so we were discussing that just now? His eyes caught mine. The intensity in his gaze was unnerving, bordering on obsession, and I found myself questioning the wisdom of remaining under his roof.

"So you're just doing me a favor out of a sense of debt?" My tone was a blend of uncertainty and longing. A part of me yearned for him to deny it, to confess that there was something more between us, a connection that ran deeper than mere obligation. But another part of me sought confirmation, craving the clarity of knowing where we stood so I could move on from this unhealthy fixation I had on him. It was bad. It could possibly get me killed.

Lorenzo leaned in, his proximity sending a shiver down my spine as his hands framed my face, pinning me gently against the couch. His warm breath caressed my skin, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within me.

"Trust me,dolcezza," he murmured in that velvety voice that never failed to send a jolt of electricity through me. "It goes far beyond a mere debt. There are depths to this that you may not be prepared to explore." His words, laden with unspoken truths and hidden desires, left me torn between the longing to delve deeper into the unknown and the fear of what I might uncover.

"Capo," Giovanni interjected, his voice a subtle reminder of the pressing matters at hand. Lorenzo reluctantly tore his gaze away from me, refocusing on him. "We're running behind schedule."

Lorenzo nodded, his attention momentarily diverted from our intense exchange. "Call your friend over to keep you company," he suggested, making me confused. "Emily, was it?"

The mention of Emily snapped me out of my reverie. A pang of guilt coursed through me as I realized how preoccupied I had been with my own troubles, nearly forgetting about her. Shit! "I'll be back later,” Lorenzo announced one last time before leaving with Giovanni.

***

"I seriously can't believe you forgot about me. If not for silver eyes, I'm sure you wouldn't have even bothered to contact me,” Emily huffed in annoyance as she plopped down on the couch. “But I don't blame you. I'm sorry for what happened." Her hand squeezed mine in a gesture of comfort, and her eyes reflected genuine concern. I sighed, acknowledging her understanding, before reaching for the coffee Maria had prepared for us.

"It's alright. It's not your fault. I'm just glad you're okay. For a moment, I thought you died at the club," I confessed, my mind still haunted by the chaos of that night.

"Well, then I'm grateful for silver eyes and a hunk coming to our rescue," she remarked with a dreamy sigh, prompting a curious raise of my brow.

"Hunk? You mean Gio?"

"Yes, Gio! Have you seen him? That man is fine as hell, girl!" Her eyes sparkled with admiration, leaving me to wonder if there was more to her fascination.

"Spill it," I urged, eager for the details.

"Okay, so he was the one who brought me home. I have no idea how he got in, but he stayed with me all night to make sure I was okay. When I asked him why, you know what he said?" Emily's tone shifted, revealing her disappointment.

"What?" I leaned in.

"He claimed he was just following orders from his boss, because you'd be upset if anything happened to me. Can you believe that?" Her disbelief was evident.

"What if he was just testing the waters?" I suggested, considering the possibility.

"I hope so. Because he was so caring and gentle with me. Men don't act like that on orders alone," she reasoned.

"I mean, Gio can be..." I trailed off, recalling the time he walked in on Lorenzo and me.Twice. "..pesky sometimes."

"Tell me about it!" Emily rolled her eyes, then her expression turned curious. "Wait, did he do something?"

"Nothing," I replied hastily.

"I know it's not nothing!" she insisted.

With a resigned sigh, I confessed, "Well, he kinda walked in on Lorenzo and me interrupting our... moment."

"No way! He walked in on you two fucking?" Emily's gasp trailed off as she covered her mouth, her eyes widening in shock.

"No! Of course not," I clarified quickly, exasperated by her assumption. "He didn't walk in on us doing that."

"Then what? Were you kissing?" Emily's suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows elicited a scowl from me. "I can't believe you managed to snag silver eyes in just a few days. And here you were, worrying about whether the universe would give you the chance to catch a glimpse of him again."

"That's not true!" I protested, feeling defensive. Emily had a knack for exaggeration. "And for the record, Lorenzo andI were just... close. The next move could have been a kiss if yourhunkhadn't interrupted us," I explained, shooting her a pointed look.

"Ah, I see. My condolences," she quipped, her smirk indicating she found the situation amusing. If only she knew, there would come a time when the table would turn.

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