AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cole had had a heart attack, but he was too stubborn to seek medical attention. Instead, he’d thought he could just ignore the pain the pain and passed in his sleep. His daughter had found him the next morning when she and Drake showed up, determined to make him go to the doctor.
I’d been in Milan when my best friend called to tell me about his death, and the first thing I could think about was how distraught Arella must be. She was close to the old rocker, whom she so affectionately called “Pop-Pop,” so I knew she had to be hurting. As soon as I hung up with Mia, I’d tried to call her, but her phone was off.
I’d attempted again and again on the trip home, but her phone remained off the entire time. I hadn’t gotten back until late the night before, and even though I’d wanted to drive straight to her parents’ house to check on her, I knew I would see her today and I forced myself to go to my apartment.
During the church service, Arella had been surrounded by her parents and siblings, so I hadn’t been able to get close to her. I tightened my hands into fists as she shifted beside her older sister and best friend. She lifted her gaze from the casket that was now being lowered into the ground, finally locking her eyes with mine.
Her blue-gray eyes were full of so much pain, I felt something twist in my chest. It was torture to see her with tears in her beautiful eyes, with her face so tense and pale. I ached to pull her into my arms and just hold her. I would have gladly given her every ounce of strength I had to get her through such a tragic time.
Finally, the last prayer was finished, and the graveside service concluded. Around her, everyone slowly started to return to their limos, but Arella just stood there, seeming frozen in place while her eyes stayed glued to me.
Vaguely, I heard Mia murmur that she and Barrick would see me at the Stevensons’, where everyone was going to show their respects and have a meal in Cole’s honor. Her words barely registered as I moved in the opposite direction.
When I reached Arella, I wasted no time and pulled her into my arms. She was stiff at first, her entire body rigid against me until I kissed the top of her head. Then, one by one, her muscles began to relax, and she sank into me, wrapping her arms around my middle and clinging to me.
I felt her begin to tremble, and then a soft sob left her, making me tighten my hold around her. “Baby, it’s okay. I have you.”
“I can’t believe he’s gone,” she cried into my chest. “I miss him so much.”
I pressed my lips to her temple, breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo, and I closed my eyes as I fought my own sting of tears. Her pain was pressing down on me like a weight, making her agony feel as if it were my own.
“Arella,” a deep voice spoke from behind her, and I lifted my eyes to find her father standing only a few feet away. Drake Stevenson’s eyes drilled into me hard, his jaw clenched.
For the past few years, he’d welcomed me into his home and accepted my friendship with his second-oldest daughter without so much as a blink. But I got the sudden vibe that he wanted to bury me right along with his father-in-law. Instinctively, I tightened my arms around Arella, fearing he wanted to take her away from me.
Arella lifted her head and, with another sob, pulled away from me and threw herself into his arms. He tucked her against him and, without a word to me, walked her toward the limo where her mother and siblings were already waiting.
As I stood there, watching her walk away without a backward glance, I felt a void in the center of my chest that left me breathless. Gritting my teeth, I returned to my car and drove to the Stevensons’ house in Santa Monica.
By the time I got there, the driveway was already overflowing, and other vehicles were lined up along the street. For several minutes I just sat there, my fingers so tight around the wheel, they were bloodless.
Honestly, I wasn’t even sure why I’d rushed back when Mia informed me of Cole’s passing. I’d barely known the man. But the thought of Arella hurting had driven me mental. That girl had a hold on me, and I didn’t know how to break it.
Or if I even wanted to.
I’d been fighting myself for years, but back then, her age had been enough for me to keep my hands to myself. Now, she was eighteen. There was nothing to stand in my w
ay if I decided to explore what I felt for her. I knew she felt the same, and if I was honest, that was why I’d agreed to go back to Italy when my father had needed someone to take care of a project that required “special” attention.
Letizia was a spoiled little bitch, but I’d taken care of business and then gotten pulled into her drama on top of it. The gossip rags had been printing bullshit about the two of us ever since. Not all of it was lies, but there was just enough of the truth included in their articles about the two of us to make it believable. The publicity was sufficient to keep my father’s PR people busy, and so far, shareholders were pleased with my handling of the “project,” so I hadn’t made any of those idiotic trash magazines retract anything.
Yet.
My patience was wearing thin where Letizia was concerned, however, and I wanted to be done with this stupid assignment so I could get home—and yes, possibly explore what Arella and I could have, if given a chance.
Eventually, I unlocked my fingers and walked up the driveway to the front door. As I did, I noticed another vehicle parking, and I glanced over. Several guys I didn’t recognize in dress slacks and button-up shirts exited the SUV. I heard one of them say Arella’s name, and I gritted my teeth as jealousy hit me dead center in the gut.
Angrily, I hit the doorbell, and moments later, Braxton Collins opened the door. He gave me a dispassionate once-over before stepping back. “Figured you would have been on a plane by now.”
“My flight isn’t until early tomorrow,” I informed him as I stepped into the huge house. I probably shouldn’t even have taken the time to come home for this funeral, but I’d dropped everything and rushed to get back to my girl.
Gritting my teeth, I reminded myself that she wasn’t “my girl” yet. I needed to take care of work first, and then I could come back and make her mine.
I’d been to the Stevensons’ home plenty of times in the past to hang out with Arella, but after that look Drake Stevenson had given me earlier, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be so openly welcomed any longer. I didn’t know what that was about, but it made my gut clench that maybe I’d fucked up in a major way.
Braxton started to close the door just as the guys from the SUV walked up onto the porch. Hearing their voices, Arella’s brother-in-law jerked the door open once again then sighed in annoyance. “You idiots again,” he muttered but stepped back.
“Hey, man,” the guy I’d heard speak Arella’s name greeted. “How’s my girl holding up?”
