Diavolo

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SILVIO

This was bad. Comically insane of me to run into her again for the third—or fucking fourth time since we'd met that night. She bared out her feelings when we met last and confessed she didn't like me.

After that confession, I drove home—a car drive that was supposed to take about forty minutes only took fifteen minutes and after I got home, I promised myself I would stay away.

Far away. Get my fucking life back together, take over the title of the Don in place of Fabiano who passed it down to me because he explained he wouldn't do the job justice.

The first thing on my mind after accepting the job was to go through each of the companies we'd invested in, and trace the money. It all led to little slush funds on the sides which I corrected quickly with a few kills here and there, and then there was Grant Corp.

An worldwide mass corporation with a little bit too much information on Octavius. I'd meant to get inside their headquarters under the facade of being an investor to acquire the information on their computers when I ran into her.

God. If only I'd known she worked here. It must have been recent since I knew everything about her and I wasn't ashamed of it.

It wouldn't have stopped me from coming like I said, but I'd be more prepared. I wouldn't have brought Tommaso along with me.

He was a former marine who was out of commission but I'd brought him into our world under Octavius' orders since they were quite a few people after me. Enemies who didn't agree with the sudden change of the title of the Don.

Tommaso was a big and tall man covered in scars and tattoos. His face was permanent etched in a scowling expression. He didn't say much, but I knew the very idea of his presence made Presley nervous.

Every few seconds, she would shift her nervous gaze over to Tommaso who stood by the door and I could see her fingers visibly shake.

I shifted my head slightly to the left to where the marine stood, and jerked my head in the direction of the door. He nodded firmly quickly understanding the message and walked out.

When Tommaso finally left the conference room, I noticed the calm expression on her face, and she allowed her body to relax on the chair.

I watched her with all of my fucking entire focus, not sparing a glance to Desmond Grant. I did my best to slow down my fucking heart, and the rapid increase in tempo every since she stumbled into my arms.

I wasn't expecting to be gifted with the glimpse of her, and further more, I held her. Jesus fucking Christ. It was only for a few seconds but it was the first time I didn't feel the burning itch to run away from a woman.

Usually whenever I was around Finley, it pained me not to walk out and compose myself but with Presley, I didn't even have to try.

She had the ability to keep grounded and even with my distaste for touch, I craved to touch her.

I couldn't stay away from her for more than a fucking day without losing my mind. Somehow I always ended up back to her, and that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was that I didn't even care in the least.