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“She—”
“Say even one word that hints that she was asking for it, and I will break every bone in your feet, so you’ll never walk again. Get the fuck out.”
“But—”
“I swear by all that’s holy, be glad I want to talk to my girlfriend more than I want to butcher you. Stay here another second, and I will change my mind. Go.”
I threaten him, and I mean every word. But as much as I want to punch the shit out of him, I won’t leave any marks. He won’t be able to claim I attacked him without provocation. He’s the type to assume Michelle would never speak against him. I don’t want to put her in a position where she has to choose.
He hurries out of the door as I spin around. I’m back to Michelle before the douchebag is even out of her office suite. I’m careful as I wrap my arms around her, not sure if she wants a man as big and as strong as me holding her too tightly. She burrows against my chest, trying to get closer. She’s fisting my shirt at my waist as she trembles.
“Please hug me, Enzo.”
I am, but I realize she wants me to hold her closer. I tighten my embrace as I kiss her forehead.
“Shh,piccolina. He’s gone. I’m here.”
“Thank God. I was praying you’d wonder why I hadn’t come down to meet you. I was praying you’d come up to look for me.”
“I was worried. I knew you wouldn’t stand me up. I’m glad I got up here soon enough.”
“Me too.”
I don’t press her to tell me what happened even though everything in me screams I should demand an explanation. I just hold her as she calms. She finally wraps her arms around my waist like she did last night. I rub her back, and she sighs. I guide her over to the desk, and I lean against it. She steps between my legs, and I tilt her chin up. I wipe away a single tear, and it’s enough to make me want to find that guy and destroy every single thing that matters to him.
“Kiss?”
She whispers her request, and I lower my mouth to hers slowly. I’m worried about making any sudden moves. I don’t want to spook her. Last night’s kiss was about lust. About exerting control and relinquishing control. This one is about pure tenderness. It’s slow and light at first. The intensity grows, but it’s not an inferno. It’s different. It’s as though we’re both saying how interested we are in something real without putting it into words.
“Enzo, I was so scared. I thought he was leaving with the other clients, but then he hung back to ask a question while I was packing my bag. I didn’t hear or see him lock the door. He moved so fast. I pushed him as hard as I could and ran to the door. I tried not to let him back me into a corner, but he grabbed hold of my arm and forced me into one. He—”
She leans back and shows me her neck. I hadn’t noticed the bruises forming.
“He strangled you?”
“Tried to. I knocked over that chair as I stumbled backwards. I was trying to get his hand off my throat, but he was stronger than me. He squeezed so hard I started seeing stars as soon as he did. I tried pulling back on his little finger. It did nothing. I tried kicking him in the groin, but he didn’t even flinch when I nailed him. I shoved my thumbs into his eyes, and he tried to bite my arm. Nothing I did made a difference.”
I’m fighting the urge to do more than just destroy his world. I’m fighting the urge to have him rounded up and sent to our garage in Queens. It’s not some little attached two-car garage. It’s an industrial one with enormous metal doors that we string people up from. It’s our controlled environment where we handle people who need to disappear. But as strong as that desire is, being with Michelle while she needs me is way more important.
“Let’s go,cuore. I’ll take you home.”
“What does that mean? And I don’t want to go home.”
“It means sweetheart. Where do you want to go?”
“On our date. I don’t want you to drop me off. I’m upset, but I don’t want this to ruin everything.”
“Chellie, I’m taking you home. We’ll order delivery and watch a movie. I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
“No one calls me Chellie expect for Laura when she teases me.”
“Oh. I—”
“I like it. It’s sweet like you.”
I chuckle. I don’t think anyone but my mother has ever called me that.
“Let’s get your stuff, and my driver will take us to your place.”
