Page 77 of Arturo's Temptation

Did I only say yes to Henry to piss off Arturo?

Most probably.

Was that wrong of me?

Of course.

Was it too late to turn back time now and refuse his offer?

Abso-fucking-lutely.

“Yes, I’m ready,” I smiled half heartedly, hoping the journey there would be painless. If I was honest with myself, I keptdaydreaming he would stop the car and forbid me from going before finally admitting his feelings for me.

That wasn’t going to happen.

“Right, let’s go then, don’t want to keep Harry waitin’, do ya?” He scoffed as he strode off towards the garage.

“Arturo—” I started, merely a whisper.

“After you. You don’t want to be late. ” He said while opening the door.

I didn’t want Henry… I wanted you.

The journey to the restaurant was silent.He barely spoke a word, and the ones he did were to one of the team over the speaker regarding a matter I shut myself off to.

“Arturo…”

“Isabella?” he replied, his tone soft and inviting—something it hadn’t been for a while.

“Do you want me to go on this date?” I asked, praying his answer would be the one I wanted to hear.

“Ain’t up to me, darlin’. Lady’s choice.” He kept his eyes trained on the road.

Taking a breath, I took a risk and decided to lay it all out on the table.“Tell me not to go and I won’t…” I closed my eyes as I waited for his reaction. Would he turn the car around, or just stop it and kiss me? After a full sixty Mississippi’s I opened my eyes to see him calmly staring ahead.

Seriously?

The last flame of hope I had finally gone out. Settling into my seat, I allowed the hurt to cool my veins and any feelings I still had for Arturo fucking Ramos died right there and then.

This was why I never let people in.

It was high time I remembered that.

25

WatchingBella dine with this bloke was eating me alive. From the way she giggled at his stupid jokes to how he kept finding ways to put his greasy fucking hands on her. Cracking my neck I ordered another coffee from the woman who kept coming over to my table. I was facing the bar but had an excellent view of Isabella and blondie in the mirror next to the bathrooms. I tried to give her privacy while convincing myself this was for the best.

“Tell me not to go and I won’t…”

I hissed in a breath and forced myself not to relive that moment in the car over and over again. I had wanted to slam on the brakes the second she asked me if I wanted her to go on the date. What kind of question was that? Of course I didn’t want her to go on a date with that prick, or any other fucker for that matter! But perhaps I had played my part too well and she really believed it had been nothing but a game of chase.

A laugh from her table made anger blaze through my gut. The truth was Isabella had awoken parts of me I had thought long dead, forcing me to yet again switch my emotions off like I had over a decade ago. Just as I began to feel numb, she would go,no, shove her way through the ice walls I had built around my heart leaving me shattered and torn. It was getting harder and harder to resist.

She’d been right at the ball. What right did I have to demand she not see other people, when my heart was clearly off the table?

Because she was mine. That was why.

And yet I couldn’t have her. I was a dangerous person with an endless list of ruthless enemies. Any one of them could be the tosser sending me threatening messages. I swallowed the pain down like a bitter pill. Should anything happen to her it would be my fault, and for once I actually gave a fuck.

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