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Not until she’s where she belongs.
* * *
My piccola’s parents have arrived in Italy.
I saw them strolling into the clubhouse, surrounded by security.
It’s been five days since my talk with Thalia and she’s back to avoiding me.
I’m pissed.
Fucking pissed.
I’ve been reasonable with her, given her space and time. But if she doesn’t give me something I’ll have to move on to plan B. I already have something in mind, but I’m giving her a few more days to come to me. I’m showing her the ball is in her court.
It’s not.
Never was.
If she doesn’t give me an answer soon, she’ll see the extremes I’m willing to go to just to make her mine. I don’t care what I need to do. I’ll do it. I will do anything to make her mine again. Even if it makes me look crazy.
I blow out a breath and focus on the other reason I’m here. The tour has started, and the competition is in full swing. I’m entered in the five-star speed class with Beau and the young horse class with Sully today. I’m looking forward to getting back to it and showing my peers I’m still the showjumper I’ve always been.
My thoughts move to the woman who occupies my mind. I wonder if she’s told her parents that I’m here. They’ll soon know if she hasn’t, what with the perfect view of the main arena they have. The arena I’ll be competing in shortly. I chuckle to myself. I bet Christian Maxwell thought he saw the last of me when Thalia left Wellington.
Although his reaction to my confession about the nature of my relationship with Thalia was better than expected, I can’t imagine he will be all that happy that I’m going to be back in my piccola’s life. But I don’t care.
Ding dong, Christian Maxwell, I’m back and I’m coming for your daughter.
Making my way down to the stalls, where I know Tessa is getting my horses ready, I pause when my cell rings in my pocket. Fishing it out, I hope to see Thalia’s name on the screen but instead find my father calling me. Though we have been back in each other’s lives for over a year now, I still sometimes find it odd to see that word on my screen. I swipe to answer the call.
“Son,” he says in his no nonsense voice.
“Dad. Everything okay?” I only spoke to my mama a week ago and it’s not like them to call me so much.
“Yes, yes. Everything is fine. Your mother said she spoke with you and informed you of our plans?” he asks it as a question, but he knows full well she did.
I start for the stables again. “Yeah. It will be good to have you both here.”
“It will be good to be there.” He clears his throat. “Umm, I was calling because...” he trails off making my heartbeat faster in my chest. “Well, I saw an article and I don’t know how true it is.”
“Just spit it out,” I hiss. If this is about my piccola, I’m going to lose my shit. I will tear the whole fucking show ground down if she is engaged to that French prince or some stupid shit like that.
“Calm down, son. It’s not Thalia.”
I pause again, my brows furrowing. He knows the only person I keep tabs on is her, so why is he calling if it’s not to do with my piccola?
“Melody Whitworth.” My stomach turns just hearing her name. I don’t give a shit about her, and I don’t care what the bitch is up to, but my father carries on. “An article was published in a trashy British gossip magazine. She’s dating an old acquaintance and fellow showjumper of yours, Dean Carruthers. They’re on their way to Italy for the second part of the tour.” I briefly wonder why someone like Mel would release something like that to the press. Yes, her father is rich and well-known in Britain, but she’s just a socialite. Why do the tabloids care? And why is my father following news on her? As if reading my thoughts, he speaks. “Now, you may wonder why I know this. Well, it’s because after everything she did to you, I keep an eye on her. I like to make sure she doesn’t stir up trouble for you. I saw what you went through, and I won’t stand by and let it happen again if that’s what she intends to do.”
My body relaxes at his words. “I understand. But dad, I don’t think she will. We both moved on. I never really liked Dean; they deserve each other. As long as she stays away from Thalia and me, then there won’t be a problem.”
“Let’s hope she has moved on, son,” he sighs. “Anyway, I must go. Talk to you soon.” I say my own bye and end the call before continuing my journey to the horses. I think about Mel and whether she has grown up enough, moved on enough to just leave me alone. I don’t like the woman. In fact, I hate her after she broke my piccola and me with her lies.
I just hope she doesn’t start with her shit again.
And if she does, I’ll be ready for her. She’ll feel my wrath if she dares try to fuck with us again.
