“Lorenzo,” Emilio called out, not taking his eyes off of mine.
I looked away for a split second towards Lorenzo, who was still sitting on the couch upfront.
“Yes, Boss,” he said, laying down the magazine, before looking up and meeting my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he mouthed at me as he headed towards Emilio.
“What do you need?” Lorenzo asked Emilio as he stepped in between Emilio and me, blocking my view of him.
“You can go home now,” Emilio said politely. “I will take her home.”
Lorenzo turned towards me, before turning back around.
“It’s okay, Boss. I don’t mind waiting around for her.”
“No,” Emilio said a little more stern. “I will take her home, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay,” was all Lorenzo said, before turning in my direction. “I’ll see you in the morning, Lily. Have a good evening.”
I gave him a reassuring smile that I was okay with it, and told him I would see him in the morning. He gave me one more ‘I’m sorry’ look before he headed towards the door.
I watched him as he walked out the door before I turned my attention back towards Emilio, who smiled, laid back down, and motioned to Ace to get back to work. The tension between the two of us could be felt by everyone in the shop.
“You ready for me to finish?” Jasper asked, making me tear my eyes away from Emilio.
“Yes,” I said, my voice sounding almost shaken.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I said more convincing.
“Just relax a little more. I’m almost done,” he said, turning on the gun again.
Easier said than done.
As Jasper finished my tattoo, I sat there mentally kicking myself. Why had I looked up? I could have listened to the rest of their conversation and it might not have been so bad—right? Emilio’s words ran through my mind over and over again, but one thing in particular kept coming back to me.
Lucas was the better pick.
He was amazing. Why wouldn’t I want to be with him? I would be crazy not to choose him. He let me do whatever I wanted to do, no questions asked. There was a sense of freedom that I had with him. But I always knew I was safe with him, and I loved him for that.
But then on the other hand, I would be crazy not to choose Emilio either. He didn’t always react the way I would like for him to, but he was a good man, and he loved me just like I loved him.
Growing up, I never understood how anyone could love two people at once. I always thought it was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard of. In my mind, it was impossible—that was until my heart made it possible.
As soon as Ace finished Emilio’s newest teardrop, Emilio sat up and Ace went straight to work on a piece on his bicep. I tried not to look at him, but it was hard. He was beautiful.
The number of teardrops had grown since the last time I had seen him shirtless. Just by a quick glance, I would say there were at least four new ones, including the newest edition that was bright red and staring back at me like a beacon. How many more would he add? How many would be because of something I did and not him?
I also saw the scar from where he took the bullet for Elle. I lost my father that day, and I almost lost Emilio too.
When Jasper finished up, I got to take a look at my new beautiful artwork. It was exactly the way I pictured it. After cleaning and bandaging me up, I went and sat upfront while Ace finished up Emilio.
The receptionist shot daggers at me for the next thirty minutes as I tried to concentrate on anything but what my conversation with Emilio might be like after this.
Emilio’s voice and touch startled me as he reached down to get my attention.
“You ready to go?” he asked, looking down at me.
I nodded my head as I got up and headed towards the door.
“Goodbye, Emilio,” a high floaty voice rang out as we reached the door. “See you next time.”
This was my chance to turn around and shoot daggers at her.
“I really dislike that woman,” he mumbled under his breath.
“What is her deal anyways?” I asked.
“Jealous?” Emilio said with a smile.
“I’m not jealous.”
“Whatever you say there eavesdropper.”
“I was not eavesdropping….” I was trying to defend myself when I realized Emilio was laughing and smiling at me.
“Don’t get all upset. I was just teasing you.”
I realized then that he was trying to lighten the mood some. I shook my head slightly and smiled back up at him.
“Sorry. My nerves are shot. Anyways, back to her.”
“She is Maya.
“I’m pretty sure she hates me,” I said still laughing.
“I'm sure she isn’t too fond of you. She did my lily tattoo on my chest. I had just broken up with you two days earlier and was a complete mess the day I walked in. Ace was out, and I wanted it done, so I had Maya do it. I told her my whole sob story and she listened. Anyways, long story short, she’s got a thing for me, and hasn’t let up since. She can’t take a hint,” he said as we reached his car door, and he opened the passenger side for me. “She just wishes she was you.”
I climbed in and he was about to shut the door before he turned to me. “Of course, she could never be you, Lily. No one could.”
***
“Before I forget,” Emilio said as soon as we walked through the door of my house.
I jumped a bit at the sound of his voice. It was the first words he had spoken since we had left the city. The drive home had been eerily quiet. I was lost in my own thoughts about today’s events. Emilio must have been the same way.
“Let me give you this.” He stood there fumbling around in his pocket for a few more seconds before he pulled out a black velvet box. “The jeweler finished your new locket today.”
“That’s great,” I said as I smiled at him. “My nails need to be done, and Violet’s been busy so I was going to have to drag Lorenzo to the salon with me tomorrow. Now I won’t have to!”
Emilio laughed. “And I’m sure he will appreciate that.”
“I'm sure he will. He told me not too long ago that mani-pedi’s were off limits.”
“I can understand that.” Emilio smiled as he handed me the box. When I opened it, I found my locket was as good as new. I couldn’t even tell where Lucas had damaged it.
“There’s a new tracker in there,” he said. “I have a new device too. Apparently the cell phone GPS on it wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Maybe not now, but you didn’t know they would take your phone. How will you stalk me now?” I laughed.
“It’s a secret,” he whispered.
“Like that isn’t creepy or anything,” I giggled.
“The less people who know, the better,” Emilio said almost serious, but still playful at the same time, like he was trying not to scare me.
We were both quiet for a moment after that. It wasn’t an awkward silence, but I could tell we were both trying to figure out what to say next.
Emilio spoke first. “Are we going to talk about today?”
I shook my head for a moment. I didn’t want to, but I knew we needed to.
“Is that how you feel? That Lucas is better than you? Do I make you feel like that?”
“Yes,” he said non-apologetically. “And I meant every word I said about it to.”
“Why?”
“Because you obviously don’t trust me.”
“Why would you say that?”
“It’s true. You’ve made it clear you don’t trust me with your life—much less your heart. So why would I be the right choice for you when you don’t?” He wasn’t being mean or raising his voice—he was just stating facts.
“That’s not true. I’m sorry for what I did. I should have never gone behind anyone’s back and did what I did. It was a huge risk, but I swear in a million years I never thought I would be putting the guys lives in so much danger. Heinrich is completely insane. I know that now. I get it. I’m so sorry.” And I was, truly and sincerely. He could see that.
“I know you are, Lily, but you’re so impulsive, you never stop to think of the outcome of any situation. You just do it and the consequences be damned. That was… is what I love about you. When we were younger and back in Toronto, when you did impulsive things, those days were some of the best days of my life, but here, right now, it’s a different—you can’t be that way. At least not right now—not until we can get a handle on everything Heinrich related.
“It’s not always going to be the way it is right now. We have the same goal. All of us would do anything to finally make you safe—even if it means bringing Faith and Nikolas in to help us.”
“I thought you didn’t trust them,” I rebutted.
“I don’t, but I trust you and your judgment. So if you say they’re good, then I’m willing to give them a chance.”
With that, he kissed me on top of my forehead and started to walk down the stairs towards his office.
“Where are you going?”
“To pack my things and go home. I’ve been here for a week now, it’s time to head back,” he said with a shrug.
What? Wait. No.
“Stay,” I said before I could stop myself.
Emilio turned and looked at me, his eyes showing a glimmer of hope in them.
“Move back in,” I said almost at a whisper. “Please, I miss you.”
He walked back up the stairs, not taking his eyes off of me, and stood so close to me I could feel the warmth of his body almost pouring over mine.
“One on condition,” he said, putting his hand on my cheek.
“What’s that?” I asked my voice shaky.
“You have to trust me, and you have to trust that your brothers and everyone else will take care of you. Do you?”
“Yes,” I breathed out.
A smile spread across his face, and my heart skipped a beat.
“One more thing,” he said as he ran his thumb across my scar. “Just because you can’t see that there is something going on right in front of you doesn’t mean something isn’t at work in the shadow.” That one statement made me feel like he was talking about much more than just the Heinrich situation.
I couldn’t pull my eyes away from him, even if I had wanted to.
“Do you agree?” he whispered as he leaned in so close I could feel the warmth of his breath on my ear.
“Uh huh,” I managed to say as my heart skipped a beat, and I lost all train of thought.
“Do you forgive me?” he said quietly as he moved so our eyes could meet.
“For what?” I asked, almost not being able to get out.
“Yelling at you, and leaving you crying on the steps. I was mad and upset, and I let it get the best of me, like I always do.”
“Yes,” I said as my voice quivered with the anticipation that was filling the room. “I…forgive you.”
“Good,” he said, his eyes never wavering from mine.
We both stood there and looked at each other for what seemed like forever before I couldn’t take it anymore, and my body took over and my mind lost all sense of sanity.
I crashed my lips to Emilio’s and wrapped my arms around him before I could even get the idea out of my head. His strong arms grabbed me and pulled me up into him—my legs instantly wrapping around his waist. My back crashed hard into the nearest wall, but I felt nothing from it. All I felt in that moment was the electricity, good or bad, that seemed to follow Emilio and me around everywhere.
“Damn!” Dante’s voice rang out, bringing us quickly back to reality.
Emilio dropped me to my feet so fast that I lost my balance. He had to grab my arm to steady me. Dante was looking at us with a devious smile spread across his face.
“I’m so excited we booked the hotel ballroom. It’ll make things so much easier this year!” Violet said as she was walking into the kitchen from the garage. “Don’t you think the Masquerade party…?” She stopped speaking as she rounded the corner and took in Emilio and me. “Oh my God,” she mouthed.
“I think Lily is going to love the idea,” Lucas’s voice said right before he rounded the corner and our eyes met.
I want to die, like right now.
Lucas turned around quickly and walked straight back out the kitchen door. If I hadn’t watched his every move as he left, then I would have missed his exit.
Within milliseconds, I felt the guilt wash over me. The look on Lucas’s face was haunting. It killed me to have done that to him, and my heart sank at the thought of hurting him. I instantly regretted what just happened.
“I’ll go check on him,” Lorenzo said as he took off through the kitchen and out to the garage.
The entire house was quiet, and I turned around to see Violet, Dante, and Emilio looking in my direction. Telepathically, I could tell Violet was asking if I was alright. The answer was no, I wasn’t alright. I had not only hurt the man that I loved, but I also felt guilty for kissing the other one I loved just as much.
Emilio excused himself and headed down to the basement with Dante following quickly behind. Violet took a few steps toward me and asked if I was okay.
How could I be okay? This entire situation reeked of humiliation. If I could have crawled into a whole and stayed there, then I would have.
“I have to go check on him,” I responded.
“Go ahead, I’ll cover for you,” Violet said as she turned on her heel and raced down the steps to join Emilio and Dante.
I took a deep breath and grab my coat as I headed into the kitchen and towards the door. There was a slight chill that hit my skin, and I noticed that the door was open. I couldn’t see anything as I peered out the door into the walkway that lead to the garage door, but I could hear voices.
Tiptoeing as quietly as I could, I made my way over to the door that lead into the garage. Luckily, the door was cracked and I could hear what they were saying. Was eavesdropping on them a bad idea? Probably. Did I feel bad for doing it? No. I had already done it once today. Twice wasn’t going to kill me.
“Are you sure you’re okay man?” Lorenzo asked Lucas.
“Yeah,” Lucas responded. “I shouldn’t get this upset over it. I did break up with her. It’s just that I love her so much, and when I see her with him, it hurts.”
“Why do you think that is?” Lorenzo asked.
Lucas paused for a moment as he thought about his answer. At this point, my heart was pounding as fast as lightning and my gut hurt with betrayal as I awaited his answer.
“It’s actually something I’ve thought of recently,” Lucas said. “Like an epiphany finally struck me. I’ve never loved anyone this much in my life. I haven’t had anyone to love since I was twelve. My parents died before I ever felt the true sensation of it. So when I fell for Lily, I fell hard. It’s been a completely different experience than I have ever had. I’ve been around the Heinrichs most of my life, and you know they lack any sense of emotion.
“But with Lily, it was just—easy to love her. She has made me into such a better person that I would go to the ends of the earth to thank her and make it up to her. She has made me into the man I am right now.”
“I’d say so,” Lorenzo said. “No offense man, but before you met Lily and started this whole triangle, you were kind of an ass.”
“Can you blame me? Look at Viktor.”
“No hard feelings here man. Just pointing out the obvious,” Lorenzo responded. “You have come a long way.”
“This is still new to me. I just wish I could show her everything I’m feeling.”
“So why don’t you show her exactly how you feel?” Lorenzo asked.
“I have a feeling I’m already too late,” Lucas responded.
No, you’re not. Please don’t think that.
“It’s hard to break the bond that those two share,” Lucas continued.
“Do you think you’ll ever be able to change that?”
“It’s possible. But one thing I know for sure is, a part of her loves Emilio, but part of her loves me too, which is why I’m not giving up. I know I’m important to her—just like she is to me. I’m going to fight for us—even if it’s a losing battle. I’ll fight around this earth, until I fall off.”
“Dude,” Lorenzo laughed. “The world is round.”
“My point exactly!”
“Well, get ready man, it’ll be the battle of your lifetime,” Lorenzo said.
I could see a grin slowly creep up Lucas’s face as he thought about how to respond to Lorenzo’s statement.
“She’s worth it,” Lucas said seconds later.