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I glanced over and her sparkling eyes were wide with surprise. She didn’t move or speak for a few moments and the silence stretched between us.
“Like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” she mumbled and I furrowed my eyebrows. What is she going on about now? “The man with two personas.” I smiled sadly and nodded my head. I guess she was pretty spot on with that assessment. “It didn’t end well.”
I burst out laughing as she smiled widely at my reaction. Just then, the little green door opened in front of us and that fucking soppy prick stepped out with a bandage on his nose. A girl stood next to him and stared at us both wide-eyed. My jaw flexed as I glared at the man who was trying to steal my girl.My girl.What was I even thinking?
“I better go,” she said quietly, her hand on the door ready to free herself. She paused and looked over at me. “Thank you, Giovanni. For looking after me tonight.”
My cold heart suddenly warmed and fluttered in my chest. “I will always take care of you bambola.”
Her lips parted and it took everything in me not to lean over and kiss her. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” She gave me a small smile before stepping out of the car and walking over to her friends. I watched as Luca draped his arm over her shoulder affectionately as she walked through the door and I slammed my hand on the car horn, causing the loud beep to echo down the street. He jumped a mile, removing his arm immediately, and they all looked back round at me as I gave him my most menacing glare. Then my eyes softened as I took in Olivia’s face. Was that a hint of a smile teasing at the edges of her lips?
“Goodnight Mr Hyde!” She shouted before closing the door of the building behind her. I couldn’t help the enormous smile that was plastered on my face. My mind was made up. I didn’t know how I would make it happen or care about how long it would take, but I had made my choice.
Olivia Bennett was going to be mine.
An Unlucky Man
Olivia
“Oh my god, are you alright Liv? I have been freaking the hell out since Luca came back and told me what had happened!” Gigi shouted as the three of us climbed the steps to the apartment.
“I am fine! Will you all just calm down!”
“What did Giovanni say? Was he mad? Did he fire you?” The questions came thick and fast from my roommate as I stumbled into the living room and flopped down on the sofa.
“No, I don’t think so.” I briefly closed my eyes as I tried to figure out exactly what had happened in the last hour, but all I could think about was his final words.I will always take care of you, bambola.
He seemed so...sincere. Like he really believed them. Like he meant them. But that was just crazy talk. Why the hell would he say something so...sweet? That wasn’t him. Nice things don’t come out of that man’s mouth.
I opened my eyes as Gigi handed me a glass of water and I pulled myself up to a sitting position. A dull pounding was starting to ebb away in my temples like waves crashing onto the shore and I knew I needed to sleep it off.
“But was he mad? Luca said he was furious!”
I glanced up at my date who, to be honest, I had forgotten existed once I was in the company of Giovanni and he gave me a concerned look. I scoffed.
“He was mad at Luca, yes!” I gave Luca a wink to try and lighten the mood but his face remained strained. “But no. Surprisingly, he wasn’t angry with me at all. He was...nice.”
Gigi looked taken aback as she kneeled beside me on the floor. “Well, that is good. I guess,” she gave me a supportive smile but I could tell that she wanted to say more. It was Luca that opened his mouth first.
“That man is dangerous, Liv. You saw what he did to me. You should get out of that place and away from him fast.”
An immediate spark was ignited inside me. A strange feeling of irritation at his words. I instantly wanted to stand up for Giovanni even though the sensible part of me knew Luca was right. But the fire in me won. “He only lost his mind because he thought you had hit me. He is not as bad as everyone thinks he is.”
Gigi and Luca exchanged a look between them that made me even more annoyed. I hated people pitying me. Thinking I couldn’t look after myself or make my own decisions. Standing up abruptly from the sofa, I started to walk towards my bedroom but paused. Remembering that I was technically on a date still, I couldn't be rude.
Luca’s eyes widened slightly as I turned and kissed him on the cheek hastily. “Thank you for tonight, Luca. I know it didn’t end well but I did have a nice time. Although, I think for now, we are better off as friends.”
He looked a little relieved as he gave me a small smile. “I had a good time too, you are lovely. But yes. I do not want a bullet in my head.”
I cocked my head to the side, wondering what the hell he was talking about, until I realised he meant Giovanni. I chuckled and said good night to them both before walking to my room. I get that Giovanni scared the shit out of Luca tonight, but he would never actually shoot someone unless he was protecting his family. Would he?
∞∞∞
The next morning, I chucked back my paracetamol with a glass of iced water and checked my appearance in the mirror. Yep. I looked rough. My eyes had that glassy, red-rimmed tell-tale sign that I had been up late and had had one too many cocktails coupled with my cut lip and slightly bruised cheek. I had smothered the foundation to hide it the best I could from the kids, but the faint outlines were still there. I traced it carefully with my fingertips, remembering the way Giovanni had cleaned and soothed it with a flannel last night. Now the alcohol had left my system and I had a clear vision, I realised just how surprising last night was. I saw a different side to him. Although his angry, demanding and threatening side was still on display, he was also gentle and kind. I expected him to be furious with me about what had happened but he only seemed concerned. And when he ran his muscular hands up my legs and under my dress, I melted at his touch. At that moment, all I wanted was to kiss him. To wrap myself around him and give in to it all. But he stopped. I hated how much it disappointed me and I felt rejected. Why did he stop? I vaguely remember him asking me something but it was hazy amongst the fog of lust that clouded my mind.
Grabbing my hair and pulling it on top of my head in a messy bun, I pulled a few strands out to frame my face. Smiling as I tried to replay as much of the conversation in his car as I could remember. He seemed so flustered and vulnerable, refusing to look at me when he said he wanted me to see him differently. It was kinda cute. That, although he admits he has a dark side, it is not always who he is. I wanted to believe him. In fact, I know I do believe him. But what that means for us...I still don’t know.
All I do know is... he is not Henry. I can see that now. There is light behind his darkness. But is it enough for me to trust him? For me to let my guard down around him? I don’t know. This suddenly felt too confusing. He was still my boss. He was still a cocky man. He was still a terrifying man, even though I believed him when he said he would never hurt me. But what exactly was he suggesting? As much as I wanted to find out what it would be like to give in to my desires, I knew I was playing with fire. How did I expect this to end? If I could resign myself to accepting it for what it would be; hot, mind-blowing monkey sex, then I could do it. But I know myself better than that. These complicated feelings would only grow. And no good could come from falling for a man like Giovanni Buccini.
