Page 69 of Steal My Heart

“This is my new pet.” Alessandra tries to pick Nola up, who’s not having it. She bares her teeth with a hiss, and Alessandra wisely holds up her hands in defeat. “Okay, cool. Hang here then. Let’s go,” she tells me, but I’m already down the hallway. “Bye, Laurie.” Alessandra chases after me.

She ushers me into her room, closing the door and leaning her ear against it—trying to listen in on Angelo and Laurie’s conversation

“Alessandra, really, I don’t care,” I lie, falling back on her bed and looking at the ceiling. My eyes blink rapidly as I fight back the tears.

“Well, I do.” She quietly opens the door and motions for me.

“Ugh, fine,” I whisper.

Tiptoeing out of the room and down the hallway, I stop beside Alessandra at the entranceway to the living room.

“You returning my card could have been accomplished this evening,” Angelo says in a cool tone.

“But then I couldn’t give you a sneak peek at what I’ll be wearing tonight, underneath my dress.”

Ah, Laurie wearing a trench coat makes more sense now; only a woman seducing her “not boyfriend” wears a trench coat on a sunny day.

Al makes a face, grabbing my hand, and we tiptoe back to her room. “I’m so sorry,” she begins.

Denial isn’t sounding so great now, not when it feels like my heart’s being clawed out of my chest with Nola-sharp claws.

“In Angelo’s defense?—”

I hold up my hand. “Don’t. Your brother doesn’t owe me one.”

No more denial.

Angelo Calvani was never going to be mine, but that fresh start will be.

Angelo

“Can you put that thing outside?” Laurie eyes Nola, who’s hopped up on the couch for a better view of this train wreck.

“No.” My hands jerks Laurie’s coat closed, cinching the waist tight. “My sister is in the other room.”

“Then let’s take this to your bedroom,” she purrs, running her hands up and down my chest.

“Laurie, I don’t understand what’s going on; two surprise visits in a row.” I grab her hands by the wrists. “You know how busy I am?—”

She pouts. “You don’t look busy to me.”

My phone rings. It’s Maks, reminding me that I need to give my right hand man a raise. “This is Mr. Calvani,” I answer.

“Mr. Calvani, you’re needed atThe Boardroom,” he announces loudly.

“I’ll be right there.”

Ending the call, I usher Laurie to the door. “I need to go handle some business at the restaurant. I’ll send a car for you this evening.”

She huffs. “I should’ve held onto your card longer.”

“Laurie, I do not have time for drama right now.” In fact, I have more than enough drama in my life.

“Then maybe I don’t have time for you tonight,” she says, chin lifted.

“I’m not one for games, and I’m unsure why you’ve decided to play one with me now.” A lie, as I’m all for games when it comes to Remi Landry. “No more nonsense; I’ll see you this evening.”

Closing and locking the door behind her, my head thunks it in frustration.