Page 57 of Reckless Games

The scent ofher.

I whispered in disbelief, “Angela?” I froze in my position as my mind turned hazy, the scent completely clouding it.

The red-haired woman started to walk away after buying the dreamcatcher, and my eyes whipped up to her. Something in her posture, something so familiar, made my heart race. She remained oblivious to it.

“Angela!” I yelled.

The woman stilled for a moment, just a fraction of a second, before she started running. Without looking back, she ran. And I ran after her. “Angela, stop!” I called out, my heart pounding in my chest.

She darted through the crowded market, weaving between people and stalls. I pushed through, ignoring the startled looks and angry shouts. My mind was focused only on catching up to her.

Please, God! Let it be her.

“Angela, stop!” I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice.

She didn’t stop. She ran faster, her red hair streaming behind her like a flame. I pushed myself harder, my breath coming in ragged gasps. She took a sharp turn down a narrow alley, and I followed, the distance between us closing.

Just as I thought I was almost there, she took a sharp left. We were now in a quieter maze of alleys. But that wouldn’t be a problem for me. This was my city, and these walls were something I was well accustomed to.

How long will you run, little mouse?

I knew the streets like the back of my hand. As she continued straight, I took an alternate turn, a shortcut that would give me the advantage. My mind raced as I calculated the steps, the turns, the pace. The chase was on.

***

Chapter 33

Angela

My legs burned, but the thought of him catching up to me pushed me forward. I didn’t know my little trip to the market would literally make me end up in hell. I knew my doomsday was near. But I thought I could postpone it just a bit longer until I heard Lorenzo call out my name.

My first mistake was freezing after hearing his voice. The second was running. Fuck, how could I be so stupid?

I thought some fresh air on a weekend would be a good dose of refreshment. But who knew it would end up becoming the worst decision of my life. I cut through another alley as I heard the footsteps behind me beginning to fade. I only knew one thing; if he caught me, I’d be as good as dead.

I cut through another alley, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The adrenaline surged through my veins, making my heart race even faster. The quick, desperate rhythm of my escape pounded in my ears, louder than the city’s distant hum.

Just as I rounded a corner, a blade whizzed past me, missing by inches and embedding itself in the wall adjacent to me. I paused, my eyes widened as I heaved, turning to look at where the blade had buried itself in the wall. My pulse skyrocketed as fear gripped my chest. Turning to go the other way, another blade flew by, forcing me to stop in my tracks.

I heard the footsteps again, closer now, echoing through the narrow alley. My breath hitched as I turned to face him. Oureyes locked, and for a moment and the world around us seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of us in that narrow alley. My heart hammered in my chest as I witnessed him standing in his ever-so-enchanting aura.

“You really thought changing your hair and eye color would be enough?” His voice was calm, almost taunting, as he walked towards me like a predator stalking its prey. I stepped back, soon finding myself pressed against the cold, unyielding wall.

He wasted no time in lunging at me and trapped me between his arms. My heart skipped a beat, as excitement and fear churned in my stomach. His intoxicating scent washed over me, making me forget my surroundings.

“You really did underestimate me, didn't you?” His breath was hot against my ear as he inhaled sharply, seeming to savour the scent of my perfume. “You forgot to change your scent,Dolcezza,” he said in a dark, obsessed voice.

My eyes widened, the reality of my situation crashing down on me. Lorenzo’s eyes bore into mine, filled with a dangerous intensity. I could feel his breath on my skin; his proximity overwhelmed me.

I decided not to let my confidence slip. But it went down the drain when I saw the anger and pain in his eyes. It was so sharp, I felt it could slice me in half. His hands shot up, slowly pulling my wig off, and then he yanked out my hairpin, letting my dark tendrils tumble down my shoulders. I stayed silent, my shortness of breath still evident in my heaving chest.

"Why?" he asked darkly, his voice dripping with a mixture of rage and sorrow. Of course, the first thing he would want to know was why I betrayed him. His eyes bore into mine, searching for answers, for some sign that it wasn’t true, that there was some explanation that could make sense of themadness. "Why, Angela?" Lorenzo's voice thundered through the narrow alley as he punched the wall right next to my head.

I wanted to look away, to escape the intensity of his stare, but I couldn’t. I was pinned against the wall, both physically and emotionally. His grip on my arm tightened, not enough to hurt, but enough to make it clear that he wasn’t letting me go until he got his answer.

“I…” I started, my voice trembling. How could I possibly explain?

“Speak!” he barked, shaking me slightly, his patience wearing thin. “Tell me why you did it, Angela!” Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I swallowed hard, trying to find the words, but they caught in my throat, choked by the guilt and shame that had been festering inside me for so long.

---