Page 54 of Cavaliere

“Alright, I’ve gotta go. I’ll text you the time and place. Later, bitch.”

“Byeeee,” I sing out just before she hangs up.

Opening up the book app on my phone, I lie back down as I scroll through my library, which is quickly filling up with more books than I could even possibly read in a lifetime. Do I want to find out what alien smut is, or do I stick to my usual romantic suspense?

“You know the boss isn’t going to let you go alone.” Rob breaks my train of thought.

“Were you eavesdropping on my conversation?” I ask, not looking up as I continue to scroll.

“It was kind of hard not to when you can hear the girl you were talking to from twenty feet away.”

I pause my scrolling to shoot him a glare. “Delaney isn’t loud.”

“Sure.” Rob snorts. “And I’m a likable guy.”

I really tried to fight my smile, but a laugh bursts out of me as I lay back down, ready to get lost in a fantasy world. “You would be more likable if you stopped walking around like someone killed your puppy.”

Much to Rob’s dismay, I spent the rest of my day by the pool. It wasn’t until I saw the sun starting to set that I felt like I should probably get up and actually do something with my life.

After finding the house empty with no Matteo in sight, I head up to the room to shower off the tanning oil I had put on and change into the same pair of leggings and a sweatshirt that I’ve been wearing on repeat since Matteo made me pack some clothes to stay. Throwing my hair up into a messy bun, I give myself a once-over and decide no makeup. I’ve never been one of those girls who put on a full face to run a small errand or relax for the night. I just don’t get the point. Don’t get me wrong, I am jealous of the girls who look constantly put together. They just look like they have their shit together and everything all figured out. Those types of girls probably never have to worry if they’re going to be short for next month’s rent, which is what I’m currently doing because I haven’t worked in weeks.

If my calculations are right, I have enough money in my account to cover about two months of bills, three if I really stretch it. I know Matteo keeps telling me it’s all taken care of, but I don’t want that. I don’t want him paying my bills because he feels like he has to. It makes me feel like a leach, and I hate that. I’m sure as soon as I’m able to go back to my place, this thing we have going on will die down. Not on my end, no. I already know it’s going to fucking destroy me when he finally wakes up from whatever fantasy world he’s living in.

“Hey, Rob?” I call out as I jog down the stairs. I know he’s around here somewhere. Matteo would never relieve him unless he was home.

“What?” Rob’s permanently annoyed voice sounds from the living room. I swear this man only has one emotion.

I find him lounging on the couch with some baseball game on.

“Do you think you could possibly take me to my apartment to grab a few more things?” I ask in the sweetest voice I can muster. Delaney would be laughing her ass off at how fake I sound. “I just want to grab a few things.”

Rob’s eyes quickly dart from the TV to me and back. “Sorry, Wren. I’m under strict orders to not let you leave unless he gives permission.”

My face scrunches up in disgust mixed with annoyance. “Permission?”

Rob lets out a long, annoyed sigh as he sits up from his lounging position. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

“I’m not making anything harder than it needs to be.” I don’t appreciate being talked down to like this. “I didn’t ask for this. And I sure as hell don’t need permission to go get more of my stuff when I’m basically a prisoner here.”

“I don’t want to be stuck here any more than you do. But the Boss gave the orders, and there isn’t shit you can do about it. He’s occupied right now and won’t be back for a while. I suggest you go back upstairs and do whatever the fuck it is you girls do.” Rob relaxes back in his chair as he grabs the remote and turns up the volume, dismissing me.

What a fucking dick.

Fuck him, and fuck Matteo. I’m sick of being locked away in this house. Matteo was clearly just talking out of his ass when he said I was free to come and go as I please as long as I had a man on me.

Both of them can kiss my ass.

Chapter

Thirty-Six

WREN

Permission.

“Sorry, Wren. I’m under strict orders to not let you leave unless he gives permission,” I mimic under my breath.

I can’t decide if Rob just didn’t want to be bothered tonight because a game is on or if Matteo actually decided to be a dick again. The past couple of weeks with Matteo have made me forget that he really is a stubborn bastard. It’s his way or nothing at all, and god forbid you dare cross him. That just isn’t how this relationship is about to be if he’s actually as serious about us as he claims.