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“Listen—”

“No, Lorenzo, the time for listening was the other night, and you blew it. You fucked it up and let your own mother pick up the pieces.” I spun around to face him, slapping his chest as hard as I could. “Did you think I would run home to my father? Or stay here while you belittled me? I had nowhere, but deep down, you knew that, and you let me walk out.”

“Ana—”

“You know, I thought that maybe, just maybe, whatever this was could work, but now? Now I want nothing to do with you.” I turned away from him as he exhaled a sharp breath.

“Ana, I believe you.” He sighed. “I believe nothing happened.”

Wow… that must have hurt him to admit.

“The time for believing me is long gone.”

“Just stop for one minute.” He rounded me instantly, his hands cupping either side of my neck. “Give me one more chance.”

“You never had a chance to begin with.” I didn’t know how true that was, but I said it regardless.

“I messed up. I hold my hands up to that.” He pulled me closer, not letting go of me. “Be ready tonight. I have a surprise.”

“Lorenzo—”

“Be ready at eight.”

He disappeared, leaving me no choice but to do as he asked. I had no idea what he had planned, but knowing him, it wouldn’t be something romantic or even remotely nice. I’d do exactly what I was taught. I’d keep my guard up and never let someone in who could weaken me.

Lorenzo Ricci would never become my weakness.

He would never become someone I relied on.

And he’d certainly never become the person I’d love.

As I reached the car,I noticed it was just Lorenzo. No driver, no bodyguards, and none of the usual crowd. Every instinct told me to turn around and let him go wherever he wanted to alone but I didn’t. I forced a smile, one I hoped looked natural. His charm was as polished as the damn car but it didn’t fool me. It never would. I had no intention of letting my guard down tonight, not even for a second.

“You look beautiful.” His voice was as smooth as velvet, and his eyes swept over me, lingering just a moment too long.

“Compliments will get you nowhere, Lorenzo, so just start the damn car and take me to whatever it is you have planned.” I slid into the passenger seat, not giving him the satisfaction of looking at him.

We started the drive in silence but that was short-lived because he decided to speak a minute later. “I thought we’d go somewhere private,” he said with a smirk. “Somewhere we can talk without interruptions.”

Private…

The word didn’t sit right with me. Something about it was off. I knew he wasn’t the type for a quiet dinner and a moonlit stroll. No. He was fucked up. His kind of private was no doubt the complete opposite of mine. He always had an agenda, always seemed to be playing some sort of game, and I was determined to not be his pawn.

The car slowed to a stop as I glanced out of the window. He’d driven us to an industrial area far from town.

Somewhere remote and secluded.

He opened the door, his hand brushing mine, but I refused to take it. “I can get out of the car myself,” I snapped. “Just tell me why you’ve brought me to a shit hole like this.”

“Alright, you caught me. I need your help with something.”

“Of course you do. Just as I thought, you have a hidden agenda.” I scoffed, shutting the car door behind me.

"This way," he insisted, his voice a hushed murmur as he gestured with a slight nod of his head, guiding me through the narrow alley towards the looming silhouette of a large, dimly lit warehouse. Shadows clung to the building's corrugated walls, and the faint hum of machinery buzzed in the distance, adding an eerie undercurrent to the silence that enveloped us.

As we entered the building, I glanced around, and it was clear many people had died here. Blood stained the floors and walls, the stench enough to knock even the strongest stomach sick. I wasn’t scared. But with each step I took, I felt uneasy, something screaming at me from the inside that told me to go back to the house. But right then, fear was the last thing I wanted Lorenzo to see.

“Here we are.” He smiled, but it was so fucking sly and cocky.