Page 39 of Arturo's Temptation

“Good. Now, are you coming with me to Andre’s football game tomorrow?”

I sat back up and rubbed my eyes. “Of course, I promised him I would?—.”

“Too right you did,” I gripped my head as Andre came strolling into the lounge. “Everyone’s coming,”

“Andre, do you have to be so freaking loud— Wait, did you just say everyone?”

“Yeah,” he kicked his feet up on the coffee table, rewarding him with a tut of annoyance from our mother. “Sorry, Mama,” he laughed as he was met by an eye roll.

Shit… Everyone really meant everyone.

Which meant a whole afternoon with Arturo watching me. I rubbed my arms as goosebumps broke out and dropped my head back onto my mother’s lap.

The rest of the morning was spent in front of the TV with my brother and Mama, and for a moment I seemed to forget about everything that was going on in my life. But like I said, only for a moment.

Loud voices filled the kitchen and drifted into the lounge as my Papa and the guys entered from the garage. I even heard the throaty laugh of Arturo, which sounded like a genuine one.

“Ah, Isabella, you’re up, how are you feeling kiddo?” Red asked as he peered his head through the door.

“A little better, thanks,” I sat upright from Mama’s lap, and for some reason, I searched for him. Maybe it was out of curiosity, or maybe it was something else, but whatever it was, pissed me off.

“Why aren’t you in bed?” I stiffened as the voice floated across to me. “I gave you the day off to rest in bed, not hang around downstairs.” And there he was, gone was the caring man from last night only to be replaced by Satan’s helper.

“She’s been resting, don’t worry,” my mother smiled, all eyes drifted to my father as he entered the room.

“Isabella, Arturo’s right, you should be in bed,” my father smiled. Did he really just side with him? Was he for real?

“Fine, I’m going,” I pulled myself off of the sofa, wobbling as dizziness took over. How fantastic was that? And right in front of everyone.

“You need a hand, Bells?” Luca asked as I walked by him as steadily as possible.

“I wish you’d all stop fussing around me.” I mock punched his chest before continuing towards the stairs. “And would you all quit watching me? Haven’t you all seen a sick person before?”

As I felt the eyes slowly turn away, my body was weaker than I expected and these stairs took the last ounce of energy I had. Even my mind was weak, I didn’t even have the fight to give Arturo a sarcastic comment when he belittled me in front of my family.

Why did he always do that? Just when I started to trust him he’d go and act like a bastard again.

As I neared the top of the stairs, I stumbled.

“Shit!”

I knew my face meeting the floor was inevitable, but what I didn’t know was someone hadn’t taken their eyes off me. Why did I think he would? He never did. His large hands caught me less than a second after I stumbled.

“I told you to stay in bed,” he murmured in my ear, not giving two fucks that my family were only downstairs.

“I—”

“Bella, are you okay?!” My father’s voice floated up to us from the bottom of the stairs before I could finish what I was going to say to Arturo.

“I’m fine, those stairs just took it out of me, that’s all,” I said shakily.

“Let me help you—” he smiled, but before he could take a single step, Arturo scooped me effortlessly into his arms.

“It’s fine. I’ve got her.” My eyes widened at his zero fucks attitude, but I knew he would find a way to wriggle out of any trouble it caused.

“My office once you’re done,” was all my father said, as Arturo strode towards my room, leaving a path of destruction in his wake.

“I can make my own way from here,” that was clearly a lie, and he knew it.

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