Page 180 of Arturo's Temptation

Arturo accompanied me to our seats, as we thoroughly enjoyed the evening my father had arranged for us. It made my heart swell with happiness that we now had unconditional support from everyone.

This was what being happy felt like…

And don’t let anyone ruin it for you.

Love you Ty.

Love you too, Bells.

58

Gettingup at the crack of dawn wasn’t unusual for me. I preferred mornings. They were quiet. Comfortable.

Lorenzo shifted in the passenger seat of the SUV. I glanced over as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

I was joining him and the guys this morning to watch a shipment come in. Since Bella had tortured and killed the fucker who was messing with the Riccis product, things appeared to have normalised.

For now…

“Nice of you to leave Bella out of it today,” I said, drumming my finger against the wheel as I guided the car down the quiet road. Nicotine withdrawal was riding me hard.

“Yeah, she’s been working so hard recently. She deserves a break,” Lorenzo glanced in my direction. “She needs it with little one keeping her awake.”

“She told ya then?”

“I hear the pair of you pacing the kitchen at night,” he smiled. “Just because my daughter can’t sleep, doesn’t mean you should be tired too.”

“I make her a cup of tea, now and then. Probably don’t help much, but there’s no fuckin’ way I’m sleepin’ if she can’t. We do shit together.”

“Arturo, I know I gave you a lot of shit when this started?—”

“You don’t say,” I chuckled.

“Give a guy a break, will you? I was worried about my daughter being with?—”

“A psycho?” I filled in for him.

“If you’re a psycho, what does that make me, huh?” My lip twitched up. “It’s just… the things I’d heard you had done, they scared the shit out of me.” He sighed.

“Oh, yeah, why’d you hire me then?” I arched an eyebrow. This was news to me. The infamous Lorenzo Ricci scared of me? I almost laughed.

“Because I needed people to fear her…” he muttered.

“Right,” I said, tonguing my lip ring. “Look, I know I’m dangerous and all that shit, but I can’t change who I am, who I was. I was trained by the Hamiltons, weren’t I?” I breathed. “Truth is, the shit I did back then keeps me awake at night. You’ve no idea how much regret I live with. But Bella knows this. She’s the only person who has ever looked past it all and seen me for me. Not the shithead everyone else thinks I am.”

“I don’t think you’re a shithead, Arturo. I was… angry. Besides, none of the sons of my alliances would treat her the way you do. You put my daughter first… always. No father could ask for more.”Well, shit…

“Fuck me. Was that a compliment, old man?” I laughed.

“Don’t get used to it.” He muttered as my phone rang over the sound system.

Ben… About fuckin’ time.

“You good if I get this?” I asked Lorenzo.

“Mhmm.”

I pressed the answer button on the steering wheel, Ben’s voice surrounding the car.

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