I flinch as the small cigarette butt, that I forgot was still in my mouth, nearly burns my lips, adding to my aggravation. As I lower my weapon back into my waistband holster, I grab the nearest ash tray I have in the study to get rid of the ash-covered butt.
Nada hops off the loveseat as he excitedly wags his tail to greet me. I kneel to pet his smooth, white fur, before addressing Lizzie.
“What are you doing here?” I ask her plainly.
She doesn’t pick up on my disinterest and walks over to where I kneel petting Nada. “Well, I figured, since tomorrow is a big day, you would need a little stress relief, that’s all,” she says as she brings her arm to my shoulder with a flirtatious expression.
Brushing off her advance, I continue to pet Nada. “I’m fine, Lizzie.”
“You sure, Car?” She goes to bring her lips to mine. I inch back. I must end this thing I have had with Lizzie. It’s going to get too complicated with Sienna here. I don’t need Lizzie, I needher.
She looks surprised that I don’t give in to her advances. Ignoring her reaction, I head to fix myself a drink, as Nada follows me to the bar cart. Before making myself a drink, I grab the jar of treats I keep next to my decanted whiskey. I twist the lid open, grabbing a pumpkin-flavored biscuit for him.
“Here you go, boy,” I say, tossing the treat at Nada, which he retrieves with a wagging tail, bringing it with him to his plush dog bed by the fireplace.
Lizzie walks over to me and wraps her arms around my neck.
“You’re tense, Car, let me fix that for you.” She begins to run her hands down the sides of my jacket, searching for the center button in the front.
I try to pull away, but she strengthens her dainty grip on me with unexpected force.
“I said, I’m fine,” I reassure her, finally pulling away from her grip and return to pouring myself a whiskey.
She lets out a frustrated sigh. “Bull-fucking-shit, Carmine, you are not fine. You haven’t been fine or okay or fucking normal since you found her,” her voice cracks, and I’m not sure if it’s out of anger or sadness. Probably a bit of both.
I keep my back to her, as I take my time sipping my whiskey. “Found who, Lizzie?” I ask, still facing away from her.
Her heels click closer to me, once again bringing her hands to my sides. “Cut the shit, you know exactly who I am talking about.”
Of course, I do, how could I not? I have waited what feels like two lifetimes to get this close to Sienna Ricci. A forbidden last name in the Moretti family, which will make having her trapped in my grip that much sweeter.
I turn toward her, forcing her hold on me to loosen. “Lizzie, please, as your boss, I’m telling you I am fine. I’ll have my driver come pick you up to take you home.” I go to grab my phone to call Rufus to come back to the brownstone when she places her hand over the screen to stop me.
“I’m not here as your secretary, and I’m not here pretending to be the girlfriend you don’t want me to be. I’m here to fill the void you have buried deep in that cold heart of yours,” she says with gloom filling her irises.
“Lizzie, please stop.”
“I’m here, willingly. It’s okay,” she says as she brings her lips to my neck. In between kisses, she continues to talk. “Use me,” she whispers. “Like all those times before.”
I shake my head, feeling sorry for her that I have led her on in this way. “Why do you let me do this to you?”
She raises her hand and brings it to my chest, just above my heart. “Because I can’t have this,” she says as she traces where my heart lay underneath my flesh with her fingers. Continuing to slowly trace above my heart, she says, “I’m not a fucking idiot, Car. I know every time you fucked me, you thought of her. I know every time I was with you, you wished it was her and not me that you were inside of.”
She is about to continue, but I cut her off. I remove her hand from my chest, draping it back by her side. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” I lie, coming off as cold as ever.
She shakes her head. “You may have a lot of people fooled, but you don’t have me fooled one fucking bit. I just hope that once you get her, she is worth the trail of blood that will be left behind.”
We stand there as if we are two pieces on a chessboard, strategizing and waiting on the other’s next move. The sadness in Lizzie’s eyes has notably dissipated, and instead, I am standing in front of a woman who has vengeance on her mind.
I flick my wrist up to illuminate my watch, seeing the time. It’s getting late, and since this little meeting seems to be mine and Lizzie’s unofficial fuck buddy breakup, I’d rather part ways for the evening and call it a night.
“I think we are done here. I will have Rufus drive you home if you’d like,” I offer, but she rolls her eyes, looking completely uninterested in that option.
She heads to the door, dangling the set of keys she used to let herself in. “No, thanks, I’d rather walk!” she shouts, with her back turned, as she drops the keys on the small table by the door.
I wait until I hear the front door slam to ensure she is gone before I walk over to lock it. When I make my way back to the study, I grab the spare set of keys and put them in my pocket, relieved that I won’t have any more surprise visits from Lizzie.
I pour myself another whiskey before I head to the bookcase that holds my black box of secrets. It has remained dormant on the shelf for far too long, and tonight of all nights, I need it to provide me with the motivation for the task that lies ahead, beginning tomorrow.
