Page 7 of Reckless Games

We raced down the road in tense silence. Each passing moment felt heavy with unspoken tension, thickening the atmosphere inside the sleek car. Suddenly, the tranquil stillness was shattered by the jarring ringtone of Lorenzo's phone. Which reminded me, where was my phone? I panicked as I realized I didn't have my little purse, which contained my phone and some cash, on me anymore. Shit. Did I drop it somewhere? Probably.

Lorenzo's expression remained unchanged as he answered. His voice was gravelly with an unmistakable Italian accent. "Si?" he growled into the phone. His tone was dripping with an intensity that made my insides churn with unease. I scolded myself silently, urging my racing heart to calm down. I couldn't afford to act like a lovesick teenager with my emotions running rampant.

"Cazzo!" Lorenzo's sudden outburst made me flinch. His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white. I swallowed hard, sensing the gravity of the situation."tratar con él," his words were laced with anger and frustration. Though I couldn't comprehend the language, the tone alone was enough to evoke a sense of pity for whoever was on the other end of the line. It was evident that the conversation was anything but pleasant.

He ended the call abruptly, tucking his phone away before executing a sharp turn, veering off in a direction oppositemy home. Panic gripped me as I glanced back and forth between him and the unfamiliar road, my heart racing with uncertainty.

"That's not the way to my house," I blurted out, my voice tinged with apprehension as I observed his jaw clenching tightly. Had I somehow angered him? I cursed myself inwardly, realizing I shouldn't have spoken out of turn. I needed to tread carefully on the unknown territory.

"I know. There's an emergency. We need to go back to my place first." His tone left no room for argument. I nodded silently. There was no way I was going to take the risk of provoking him. Who knew what he was capable of? He carried a gun with him after all. I witnessed him killing people mercilessly.Twice. Yet somewhere, my heart screamed he wouldn't hurt me. Crazy, I know!

The drive stretched on for another fifteen minutes. Eventually, we came to a halt in front of a towering iron gate that loomed ominously before us. With a silent command, the gate swung open, granting us entry into a secluded territory hidden from prying eyes.

Lorenzo maneuvered the car through the sprawling grounds, the dense foliage parting to reveal a meticulously maintained clearing. Two more minutes of winding paths led us to a majestic mansion, its illuminated façade casting an ethereal glow in the darkness of the night. My eyes widened in astonishment at the grandeur of the estate. Was this where he lived? How many people lived with him for him to have a place this huge?

A man who could afford the luxurious car you currently sit in could undoubtedly own a mansion like such.My subconscious scoffed at my stupidity. It was clear Lorenzo was no stranger to wealth.

As Lorenzo stepped out of the car without so much as a glance in my direction, I hesitated, uncertain of my next move.Should I wait in the car while he tends to his emergency? It seemed like the right course of action. With a resigned sigh, I sank deeper into the plush leather seat, preparing to bide my time.

However, my thoughts were short-lived as I noticed Lorenzo approaching my side of the car. He opened the door, breaking the silence with a commanding tone. "Let's go."Oh, so I was accompanying him?

Lorenzo's hand settled at the small of my back, heightening my senses to his proximity. Oh, Angela, steady now. It's just a touch—a powerful, hypnotizing touch that sends electric current down to your—stop Angela! Resist the temptation to imagine all the things that hand could do—those electrifying, forbidden fantasies.Don't go there! Don't!

"Are you alright?" His velvety voice sliced through the haze of my thoughts.

"Yeah," I replied, the words tumbling out a tad too eagerly. Why did I always turn into a bundle of nerves around him? He must find me utterly ridiculous with all this overthinking. Gosh, get a grip, Angela. I need to put an end to my infatuation. It's really spiraling out of control. After all, he can never be mine. We were from two different worlds. The realization stabbed at my heart, urging me to banish any lingering traces of hope. It wasn't going to happen. It couldn't. Not now, not ever.

Great!

***

Chapter 3

Angela

I stepped through the entrance and was immediately enveloped in an aura of luxury. Every inch of the space exuded money, from the intricately crafted tiles adorning the floor to the exquisite canvases gracing the walls. Each stroke of paint seemed to shimmer with wealth, while the golden staircase soared elegantly.

My eyes danced from one decadent detail to another, taking in the surroundings with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Every corner boasted meticulous decorations, each piece more extravagant than the last, as if a symphony of riches played out before me. It was a scene straight out of the most lavish of fantasies, surpassing even the wildest dreams I could conjure.

Lost in the splendor of Lorenzo's home, I failed to notice his attentive gaze fixed upon me, a subtle smile dancing at the corners of his lips as his hands rested casually in his pockets. A wave of self-consciousness washed over me, fearing I might be unwittingly drooling under his scrutiny. But can I really be blamed? It's not every day a girl like me, raised without parents from a tender age, scraping by to make ends meet, finds herself immersed in such grandeur.

His house could easily accommodate dozens of houses like mine, perhaps even more. But who's counting? A nervous cough escaped me as I finally tore my gaze away from the opulent surroundings to meet Lorenzo's amused expression."Sorry." I felt the need to explain myself for being too caught up with my surroundings. "It's just that... your house is absolutely stunning."

"Good. I'm glad you like it, actually." His words left me puzzled, a furrow forming between my brows as I struggled to decipher his meaning. Before I could inquire further, Giovanni’s arrival shut me up. Lorenzo tensed noticeably at his entrance.

"Maria!" Lorenzo's voice echoed through the room, drawing attention as a woman emerged from the dimly lit hallway.

"Yes, Mr. Martinez?" Her voice was a gentle melody, hands clasped before her as she waited patiently.

"Serve Miss Angela dinner," Lorenzo's gaze flickered momentarily towards me. Was he going somewhere? "I'll be late," he added with a hint of reluctance in his tone.

"Of course." Maria's response was immediate. Lorenzo's gaze lingered on me again for a while—maybe just seconds. But the intensity made me almost believe he didn't want to leave me alone. As if his eyes longed for something. But who was I kidding? I was reading too much into it.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," he explained. "You must eat.” I nodded in response. Without another word, he left.

"Follow me, ma'am." Maria's voice broke through my thoughts. Hungry or not, I trailed after her. This way, I could at least tour his house.

***

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