Page 41 of Arturo's Temptation

“I have my ways, trust me…” He laughed as he closed the door behind him.

“Bells?”I heard Luca’s whispering voice through the door.

“You don’t need to whisper, I’m not asleep,” I said, sitting up to greet him the moment he stepped in the door.

“I debated knocking to be honest, Arturo warned everyone to leave you alone. He said you needed rest.” He perched on the edge of the bed beside me.

“He did what?” I couldn’t hide the anger that oozed from every fibre of my being.

“Calm down, Bells?—.”

“Calm down? Luca, that dickhead is running every facet of my life,” I huffed, falling back onto the pillows. “Do this, don’t do that, jump this high!” I slammed my fist onto the sheet. To my horror Luca let out a chuckle. “Hey! It’s not funny. He’s a giant pain in the ass. The sooner he’s done what he’s been hired to do, the sooner he can get on his bike and be on his merry way.”

“About that?—”

“No, no, Papa won’t get a say in who stays and who goes, and he is fucking going, mark my words.” I’d had enough. I wasn’t going to lay here and let that fucker dictate my life, more than he was trying to do.

“Bells, where are you going?” He asked, as I forced myself to get out of bed.

“Out.”

“Dinner is ready though, Papa sent me up to help you downstairs,” he muttered, he knew I was close to having a full blown eruption.

“No, thanks. You stay and sort Theo, he needs you,” I ushered him out, slamming the door behind me.

That motherfucker had another thing coming if he thought I’d listen to more of his orders.

After I’d showered, dressed, and taken a slight detour in rapid time, I successfully made it to the kitchen. The continuous laughter from the dining room carried out into the foyer, it almost made me forget the plan I’d hatched up and join them, but then again I said almost.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, naughty, naughty Bella,” I knew that voice all too well, it was one I adored.

“Joining me, Ty?” I didn’t need to ask, since I already knew his answer.

“Too damn right I do.” He clapped his hands together, and it was then that he now became the perfect getaway. “I’ll be back.”

He made his way to the dining room, the conversation between him and his father unreadable, but I knew he was making up an excuse. With a swift nod from my father and Red he was free to go, he returned with a victorious smile on his face.

“All good?”

“Too right. No one batted an eyelid, we’re free to go, my partner in crime,” he draped his arm over my shoulder as we entered the garage. “Now, which car are we taking?”

“You’re taking a car, I’m takingthat,” I pointed towards the bike that sat on the far side of the garage, jingling Arturo’s keys in my hand.

“Bella, where did you get those?” His chin almost grazed the concrete as his mouth dropped open in horror.

“Skills, that’s how. Come on, it's about time I show my bodyguard just how welcome he is here.”

“I like this Bella! Lock the old one away, and never let her out.” He leant on the hood of his father’s Merc. “Why can’t I come on that with you?”

“Because Arturo hates when people sit on his bike.”

“But you’ll be sitting on it,” I waited for him to realise, but he took too long, we’d be here all night.

“Exactly, he’ll hate me enough to pack up his shit and leave.” I made my way to the bike, all shiny and clean, anyone could see it was his pride and joy.

“You’re cunning, do you think it’ll work?”

“I don’t know, only time will tell, won’t it?” I laughed as I threw my leg over the seat, I’d ridden a bike before—not that my father knew that and I never planned to tell him either, what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

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