Page 58 of Arturo's Temptation

“No.”

“You’re fucking pathetic, you know that?” She snapped. “I knew I should have listened to my head when it came to you.” She reached the door in record time and although I wanted tostop her, kiss her, and fuck her into oblivion, I couldn’t. “Last night, my heart won, and you know what?”

“What?”

“I wish it fucking hadn’t.” I heard her voice break and I felt everything she was feeling.

“Isabella—”

“Save it for someone who gives a shit.” Just as she was about to leave she whirled back around, tears swimming in her eyes. “Tell me, what was it? Was it me giving in too early or now that you’ve had a taste you’re bored?”

“That’s not it and you know it!” I jumped up from the bed, coming toe to toe with her.

“Do I? Because I think I finally understand what kind of man you are.” To emphasise her point, she shoved me back, her small hands balling into fists. “You can stay the fuck away from me. Oh and training is cancelled.”

“There will be no trainin’ when I say there’s none.”

“Fuck you, Arturo.” She paused the moment her hand toyed with the key in the lock. “I knew you only saw me as a plaything, and nothing else,” she quivered, and that was worse than a bullet to the heart.

Without another word, she was gone, the door hissing shut behind her.

“Fuck!” I seethed.

A plaything? How could she possibly think that?

Because we pushed her away.

I reached for my phone and although I knew I shouldn’t, I texted the number once more.

Whatever shit you’ve got with me, is with me. Leave Isabella out of this.

Aren’t you a good little boy, listening to someone who could just be fucking with you.

I don’t give a fuck who you are. Isabella has nothing to do with it.

Fine, she’s safe for now.

But if you go near her in ways you shouldn’t, she won’t be. And trust me, I’ll know.

Be careful.

Oh, and Arturo, I’d think twice before breathing a word of this to her. Wouldn’t want something bad happening to her after all.

“Good morning, Arturo,”Lorenzo spoke from the other side of the island as I entered the kitchen.

“Mornin’,” I replied curtly.

“Isabella is heading over to see Artem today. I’d like you to drive her.” That wasn’t a request, it was an order.

“No worries,” I stabbed the button on the coffee machine, making it the whir to life.

“Everything all right?” He asked.

“Peachy.” There was no fucking way I was going to tell Isabella’s father about the threats made against her. Not that they were going to come to anything anyway. So long as I kept my distance from her romantically, sexually and every other forbidden way, Isabella would be safe. There was no way they’d know everything but I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t risk her life.

The only thing harmed would be me, and I wasn’t a virgin to pain.

“Arturo, did you hear me?” Lorenzo snapped.

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