Caught In The Crossfires - Spinoff

15

CHAPTER 15

Cristiano

Cursing, my jaw clenched, and my hand fisted the steering wheel, hearing  Lola's cries being muffled by that asshole. "Fuck!" I yelled, pressing down on the gas. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I was going to kill that motherfucker. The drive to the coffee shop was the longest twenty minutes of my life. Most people would have called the police in situations like this one. But I couldn't end the call. I wouldn't. She needed me, and I needed to make sure I didn't sever the only connection we had. Of all the people in her contacts, it was me who she phoned. My chest tightened, realizing the trust she had for me—trust I didn't deserve.

It had been a long silent ride that had me on edge, wondering what the hell he was doing to her. Then I heard a pained groan. "You kneed me in the balls, you stupid whore," Brody yelled before what sounded like his body hitting the floor. That's my girl. I smiled, thinking about the night at the club when her knee put me on my ass. "Lola, get your ass bac—"

"Lola," I screamed. The line went dead. Fear mixed with roaring anger filled me, and I pressed down on the gas in an attempt to get to her faster. I was only five minutes away. But I knew better than anyone that in moments of distress, five minutes was a lifetime. I didn't even put the car in park before I jumped out and ran towards her shop.

The door was locked, but I could hear a commotion inside. "Fuck," I cursed. Turning to my side, I slammed my elbow into the glass window near the doorknob. The glass shattered, allowing me access to the deadbolt.

"Lola, open this fucking door right now, or I swear to God!" Brody was banging his balled fist on her office door as I made my way into the shop.

Good. She was safe. Now to take out the trash once again.

Brody was too busy threatening Lola to notice I'd entered, giving me time to reach into my pocket and grab my phone. I hit number one on my speed dial, let it ring twice before hanging up and pinging my location. I needed to work quickly because they'd be here soon to collect the garbage.

Tucking my phone away, I stealthily inched up behind Brody, trying not to let my anger get the best of me when I saw Lola smashed cell phone on the floor next to his feet and the baseball-sized holes in her office door.

Without a second thought, I wrapped a single hand around his mouth as my forearm snaked around his neck. I pressed down on his windpipe. He immediately struggled in my hold, but I applied tension to his pressure points, lifting him up off his feet, and his body soon went limp in my arms. My phone vibrated in my pocket as I lugged him outside.

As soon as I made it to the curve, a black van with tinted windows parked in front of us, and when the side door flew open, I deposited Brody's body to the masked man in the back of the carriage. I nodded to the man, and he mimicked my action before slamming the door and peeling off. Turning on my heels, I walked back into the coffee shop, and broken glass crunched under my Giorgio Armani dress shoes. I'd take care of Brody later. My main priority was on the other side of the wall.

"Lola," I said just above a whisper, tapping my knuckles on the tattered wood. I didn't want to frighten her. When I heard no movement coming from the room, I knocked again. This time harder than the last. "Lola, it's me, Cristi—" before I could finish my sentence, the door swung open, and Lola flew into me. Her arms wrapped around my neck, and her legs latched to my hips. I grunted from the impact of her tiny body slamming into mine. She was still shaking, which only pissed me off more. I wasn't used to seeing her in this light, but I was just glad she was okay for the most part anyway. Lola was tucked into my chest, and she let out a muffled sob. I held her tight, letting her know I wasn't going anywhere. "It's okay, baby. I've got you now."

We stood like that for a while—her crying and me comforting her. Once Lola finally calmed down, she pulled back and peered up at me with red puffy eyes. She searched my face for a moment before a look of relief filled her saddened features. "I-I knew you'd come," she sniffled. Her left cheek was starting to swell, and it looked as though she'd definitely have a pretty decent shiner in the morning. I'd kill the son of a bitch. "Thank you," she leaned into my touch when I brushed away loose hair from her face.

"Of course. You don't have to thank me, Lola. I'll always come for you." I was sure what had come over me. But in that moment, I meant what I told her. Yes, she was the sister of my rivals, and yet I didn't care. I also didn't care about all the reasons why I should stay away from her. or why being with her was a bad idea. I just wanted her—to protect—maybe more.

"Where's Brody?" Lola asked, looking over my shoulder.

"I don't know. He ran off before I got here." I lied.

I wasn't about to tell her that I had my guys pick his unconscious body up or that they took him to a warehouse where he'd be waiting to be taught a lesson about hitting women—specifically this woman. If she didn't need me so badly, I'd be there now, making him nice and bloody.

"I probably look a mess," she sent me a sad smile. I shook my head, cupping her face, and gently swept my thumbs over the apple of her cheeks. She was stunning. I studied her for a moment, taking in everything about the gorgeous, frustrating woman in my arms: her cornflower-blue eyes that continued to completely captivate me or the dust of tiny freckles that danced across her button nose and thin cheekbones. I licked my lips as my eyes fell to her full pouty mouth that lately I had craved to taste more than I needed oxygen in my lungs. The woman did something to me. Something I couldn't explain, and frankly, I was tired of fighting it.

"You're beautiful, brat," I smiled down at her using the nickname that she'd come to wear so well. "You're always beautiful to me."

"Cristiano," Lola whispered as her eyes bore into mine. She then leaned forward, skimming her lips against mine. I groaned before fusing my mouth to hers. Our kiss started slowly but quickly picked up heat as our tongues tangled together in a sensual dance filled with lust. She moaned into my mouth as I backed us into the room, sitting her on the edge of her desk. Her legs tightened around me, pulling me closer like she couldn't get enough, and if I were an honest man, neither could I.

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