Page 6 of Reckless Games

Angela's piercing scream tore through the chaos, drawing my attention back to her. Her eyes darted between her unconscious friend and the approaching threat. One of the guys with a gun was closing in on her. I quickly assessed her, relieved to find no signs of injury, only sheer terror etched on her face. Without hesitation, I maneuvered towards her, approaching from a blind spot.

Unable to lift her friend, Angela seized an abandoned gun lying near her on the floor, her hands trembling as she aimed it at the advancing man. "Stay back! Or I'll shoot," my girl declared, attempting to summon courage despite her trembling frame. The man scoffed, taunting her with a sinister smirk.

"If you had the guts, you’d have already pulled the trigger, darling," he spat, both of them locked in a standoff.

Closing in on Angela, I reached her side just as her finger tightened on the trigger, murmuring a prayer under her breath. “Please forgive me, God,” I heard her mumble. If only she knew, an angel like her doesn't need forgiveness. In one fluid motion, I encircled her, pulled her back against my chest, and took control of the gun in her hand. With one pull of the trigger, a thump echoed after the fire went off and the guy dropped, silencing the room.

Angela gasped while her form was tightly pressed against mine, making a surge of temptation course through me, threatening to unleash the primal desires simmering beneath the surface. I swallowed hard, struggling to contain the beast within as her intoxicating scent enveloped me, eliciting a silent groan of longing. Damn it, this position was fucking torture.

Agonizingly slow, she peeled herself away from me, each movement sending a jolt of anticipation through my veins. Finally facing me, her jaw dropped in surprise. I’d have given anything in that moment to know what was running through her tiny head. And then, with a seductive grace, her rosy lips parted, each syllable stirring a hunger within me that I never knew existed.

"Lorenzo?"

Fuck, I was a goner.

***

Chapter 2

Angela

I stood rooted to the spot, my eyes locked on the figure standing before me. Months of anticipation and manifestation had finally led to this moment, yet the reality of it was almost surreal. He was here, right in front of me. Yet I couldn't believe it. Surprise painted my features as my heart quickened its pace, each beat reverberating in my throat like a relentless drum.

I struggled to find the words, my mouth opening and closing in a futile attempt to articulate the myriad of emotions swirling within me. But silence prevailed as my mind blanked, leaving me speechless in his presence.

He was undeniably handsome, surpassing even the lofty expectations I had built in my mind. Every inch of him exuded a magnetic charm that left me spellbound. And,Oh God,his eyes. His stormy silver eyes!

As our eyes met, a flicker of recognition danced across his features. At least I wasn’t a stranger to him. I chastised myself inwardly for feeling this way, knowing full well the complexities of our situation. This was bad.Very bad. I really shouldn't be feeling this way. But logic crumbled in the face of desire, and despite the rational voice in my head, my heart remained steadfast in its longing. What can I say? The heart wants what it wants.

"Capo," the familiar voice of the man who had once barged into the hospital room to take Lorenzo back, shatteredthe tension. "Everything's under control. We've captured one of them alive."

A silent exchange of acknowledgment passed between them, their gazes locking briefly before shifting to me. I sensed a subtle widening of the newcomer's eyes as they momentarily lingered on me before returning to his boss.

"It's time," the man who had stolen my breath finally said, his eyes never leaving mine. His words seemed directed at the other man, yet I couldn't shake the feeling of being a part of their unspoken conversation. What was it time for?

As he turned his attention towards the newcomer, a shared look of comprehension passed between them, leaving me to wonder what awaited us. Every moment was pregnant with uncertainty as I awaited further explanation. A groan followed by a giggle diverted my attention as my eyes landed on Emily, still slumped against the wall.Oh Shit.I almost forgot about her.

?Just when I moved to assist Emily, a grip on my wrist halted me in my tracks. My gaze snapped to the source of the restraint, finding Lorenzo's hand clasping mine. The hold wasn't painful, but it was firm. I didn't know why, but a surge of electricity seemed to crackle between us at the mere contact, sending a shiver down my spine. Was I losing my mind?

Confusion clouded my expression as I met Lorenzo's intense gaze. Before I could utter a word, he nodded subtly to his man, who had interrupted us earlier. "Take care of her, Giovanni," he ordered, nodding towards Emily. Panic rippled through me at his words. Where were they taking Emily? What was happening?

"W-wait! What do you mean? I need to take her home." Desperation creeped into my voice. But my words fell on deaf ears as Giovanni moved forward, disregarding my protests, and effortlessly scooped Emily into his arms, cradling her like a fragile doll before striding away.

"He'll take her home," Lorenzo stated matter-of-factly, his dark eyes piercing into mine with an intensity that made my heart race.

"B-but... he doesn't know where she lives," I protested weakly. Why was I stuttering so much in front of him?

"Trust me, he does." Lorenzo replied, his voice calm yet commanding.Trust. The word echoed in my mind like a warning. Trust was a dangerous game, one that could lead to death.

A heavy silence settled between us. Lorenzo held my gaze for a few more moments before turning abruptly and striding towards the exit, pulling me along behind him. He walked through the place confidently, even stepping over one of the fallen bodies without hesitation. I followed closely, careful to avoid the fallen figure, not being able to stop the swirling questions and doubts in my mind. Yet, inexplicably, I found myself drawn to the enigmatic man leading me away from the chaos.

I trailed behind Lorenzo like a lost puppy, my eyes widening in awe as we halted before a sleek, black Bugatti. It was the kind of car that made heads turn and wallets cry out in envy. While I prided myself on not being a gold digger, I couldn't deny the allure of such extravagance. It simply screamed expensive.

A faint beep sounded, signaling the car's unlocking, and Lorenzo held the door open for me. "Get in," he instructed, his voice devoid of emotion, as if he were accustomed to giving orders without explanation. I hesitated for a moment, studying his stoic demeanor, before complying with his order. One thing I concluded was that Lorenzo was a man of few words.

As I settled into the plush leather seat, I couldn't help but notice Lorenzo's hand instinctively reaching up to the car's door frame, as if to protect me from accidentally bumping my head. Itwas a small, yet surprisingly thoughtful gesture that caught me off guard. Did he actually care about me?

With a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, I fastened my seatbelt and stole a glance at Lorenzo, who was already looking at me with a composed and unreadable expression. Turning back, Lorenzo took his seat, and the engine roared to life with a powerful hum. As the car pulled away, I couldn't shake the feeling that this night was far from over.

---