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The center of my chest heaved like I was going to have the motherfucking end all of heartburns, or quite possibly, I was on the brink of a coronary. The Taurus screeched out of the parking space, narrowly missing another car that had the unfortunate timing of backing into my lane on this narrow street.

I rode my horn and skidded around it.

“I hope no one recognized me as one of your passengers,” Bianca muttered. “I don’t want to be an outcast.”

Welcome to my world, baby.

“Are you going to say something?” she demanded.

I continued to stew. But I was also trying to avoid making sense of how she looked so fuckable. I wanted to be the one with my hand up her skirt. Was she wearing panties? Fuck.

“Sandro, watch out!”

The light had turned red at the intersection.

I hit the brakes. Goddammit! My arm shot out as the momentum threw us forward. A silver Ferrari narrowly missed the front of the Taurus.

“Are you trying to fucking kill us?” Bianca shouted.

“Sorry,” I muttered. I put the car in reverse and patiently waited at the stoplight. I glanced at her. “You okay?”

Her lips trembled. She crossed her arms, hugging her biceps.

“Fuck, I’m sorry, Sunlight.”

“Just drive,” she whispered.

When the light turned green, I focused on getting us back to her apartment without wrecking the Taurus. That was unacceptable with Bianca in the car with me. I could be reckless with my life, never with hers.Absolutelynever with hers.

Twenty minutes later, we arrived in an upscale apartment building with top-notch security. I knew this because I’d checked it out before she moved in. I shouldn’t have worried because I was sure Cesar wouldn’t have slacked in Bianca’s living arrangements, but I couldn’t help following up with my inspection.

“I’ll walk you to the door,” I said.

I unbuckled my seat belt, and she did the same with hers. But when I opened my door, she hadn’t budged.

“Bianca?”

“Are we not talking about this?”

“We’re not ready. You’re tipsy.”

“Oh, believe me, all tipsiness disappeared when I saw my life flash in front of me,” she retorted. “What the hell, Sandro?”

She had to remind me again of that scene in the frat house. And I was pissed at myself all over again at my reaction. Her proximity wasn’t helping either. Neither was the darkness in the vehicle.

“You can’t just pull me away from my friends.”

“Friends?” I sneered, getting worked up. “Do you remember his name?”

She hesitated two seconds too long. “Joey.”

I made a derisive sound.

“You have no say in who I kiss, much less who I have sex with. I get you think I’m still a child. You’ll always see me as a child, but I’m a grown woman.”

“You have no idea,” I growled under my breath.

“No idea of what?”