Page 22 of A New Days Don

“Miss Lewis, are we using formalities even outside of your place of work?” He quirks one of his dark brows at me, and I look away from him quickly to Karmin, whose jaw has literally dropped.

She meets my gaze, putting her hand up to her mouth as if that were to stop Massimo from hearing her and whispers, “Who is he?”

Karmin points into her hand as she looks between Massimo and I. I all, but cringe at the action knowing full well that Massimo can see my friend’s more than obvious behaviour. Massimo chuckles. There is a sharp, noxious twinge deep in my chest at that sound. When his voice rumbles with amusement for Karmin, I feel for the first time in a long time, the darkness of depression wanting to creep in, “I see why you couldn’t control yourself yesterday.”

I look back at him, fixing a glare on my face and raise a brow, “What are you doing here?”

Coffees in both hands, Massimo raises them, “Picking up some coffee for myself and a friend.”

I scan the small café only to see a burly man with an even colder glare than Massimo watching Karmin and I. A knot slowly forms in my throat at the realization that I hadn’t been paying attention or keeping tabs on my surroundings. I let myself get lost in Karmin’s story.

A hand touches mine, and I pull it back quickly, “Don’t touch me.”

I sound breathless, but I can’t bring myself to care as I look for the other Italian man.

“Miles, it’s me.” Karmin’s voice.

I’m safe. I think.

I reach for my gun or taser, but I am not wearing my belt. It’s Saturday. I don’t have to go to work today. My chest constricts.

“Miles,” Karmin sounds worried now, but before I can look to her, a warm calloused hand grips my chin, forcing me to look up.

I am about to scream when dark eyes meet mine. With parted lips, a whimper escapes, and I clench my teeth to hold back anything else that wants to claw its way out of me.

“Angelo mio, what’s going on?” Massimo’s voice is clear, calm, and calculated as it always is, but it seems to be tinged with something harsher than I am used to.

I try to pull out of his grip, but he holds me firmly in his grasp. The pinch of his calloused hands somehow tethers me to reality. It’s only then that I see the hint of rage burning behind his irises. I don’t know if it’s always there, a permanent mark in his personality, but I am not afraid of it.

I can faintly hear Karmin speaking, telling him to let me go, but Massimo only lets out a warning growl, refusing to break whatever bubble surrounds us. It is only then that breathing starts to become easier, and the realization that I almost lost it in front of someone I interviewed and am supposed to deal with in a professional sense dawns on me.

Shame burns against my chest and up my neck.

“Nothing is going on.” I pull my chin out of his grip. Massimo’s gaze washes over my body, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Something about the look he gives me tells me that he isn’t done interrogating me over this.

Massimo’s firm jaw tightens as he speaks so softly that only Karmin and I can hear, “I beg to differ.”

“Keep begging then.” I glare back at him, trying to cover up the humiliation I’m feeling.

Massimo’s face smooths as he picks up the two cups of coffee, his gaze cutting to a man standing out front of the building. A man who is equally as daunting to Massimo.

When he looks back at me, the butterflies in my stomach attempt to flutter, and I squeeze my lower core to settle them.

Massimo’s lips drop to my ear, his scruff gently tickling the side of my face as he whispers, “Mmmmm… As tempting as that is, I think we both know you would look better begging for me.”

His words skate over my skin, making me gasp against his warm skin. When he pulls away he winks at me, silencing whatever words I was going to stammer out.

“Ladies,” he addresses both of us, but his eyes never leave me. Even though I can’t meet his gaze, I can see him watching carefully out of the corner of my eye. “Enjoy your brunch.”

Massimo turns from us with his confident stride, heading straight for the man outside. There is a knowing smirk on his face as he nods at me. Massimo looks over his shoulder, his warm eyes hardening as he turns for his friend. I can’t hear what he has said, but whatever came out of his tense mouth seems to have made the other guy laugh.

Karmin clears her throat, pulling my attention to her. She has a wicked smile on her face, one that tells me she’s up to no good when she says, “I like him.”

“I barely know him,” I mutter, and she raises a brow, her smile faltering.

“What do you mean?” Karmin keeps her voice low as if we are sharing some big secret.

I shrug a shoulder, “There’s not much to tell. We have bumped into each other a few times.”