Red

CHAPTER 24.

"Do exactly as I said. I want no surprises before I get there. Clear?" Lorenzo said into the phone as he cooked dinner, I didn't know what he had planned for tonight's meal but I was more than happy to find out....

And it wasn't because of his muscular structure.

Oh my god, focus, Red. This isn't the time to stare at his back like a lovesick idiot. Mission first. But... damn. His shoulders. His arms. Why does cooking make him look like that? Keep it together. He's not supposed to do this to me. And stop imagining... no, no, no...

Once again I sighed at the innermost voice that was always present and continue watching his large back that expanded and contract with his every movement, skin tightening as his shoulders widens even more which ignites the appealing aura that he has.

He hang up the phone and then pocketed it, I thought about his words earlier about going to the club, his plans rather, which I had to go in order to find out the straighten out details.

Three weeks was enough time to recover and enough time to slide back into my mission. In those weeks, Lorenzo's guard had dipped, only slightly, after our drunken conversation and that heated spar. I wouldn't call it trust well not yet but it was something. And if I kept pushing the right buttons, one day he would trust me. And when he did, slipping a knife between his ribs figuratively or legally would be so much easier.

"Boss." Rafael voiced up behind me and I gave him a smile at his appearance.

He nodded at me in acknowledgement, his spiral shaped brown hair loosed around his neck and with tan skin, the black shirt he had on tightens around his frame.

"Aurora." He tasted the words in mockery and I sent him a scoffed as he grinned.

Lorenzo glanced over his shoulder on the man as he turn the stove off. "I'm guessing you're here because you found the current location, no."

I pretended to scrolled through my phone as he talked and I wondered if the location he was talking about was the one about this Pesci guy.

"Yes boss but...I need to speak to you in private."

I lift my head and watch as Lorenzo licked his lips and nodded, he didn't move at first. He just stood there, slung the kitchen towel over his shoulder, his eyes locked on me too sharp, too knowing.

He stepped closer, the heat from the stove still clinging to his skin, and he braced one hand beside me on the counter. He wasn't touching, just cornering me. Testing me.

"Why are you suddenly quiet, Red?" His voice dipped low, soft, dangerous. "You only go quiet when you're either grieving your fuckboy or testing my dominance."

Fuck. He did not just disrespect the man I'm avenging. Who the hell did he think he is? My pulse fluttered like it wanted to escape my throat.

I curled my fingers into a fist to ground myself. "I'm not testing anything. And I'm not 'grieving my fuckboy.' Do you always have to automatically disrespect the dead? Or do you just like hearing yourself talk?"

His gaze dragged down my face. His pupils widened, swallowing the brown until only a thin ring remained, like his eyes wanted to devour the entire shape of me.

He leaned in and close enough for his breath to kiss my cheek.

"Good," he murmured, eyes flickering to my breast. "Because if you lie to me again..." His fingers brushed the edge of my jaw. "...I'll make sure you don't get the chance to walk away."

My breath hitched annoyed at my own reaction, annoyed at him for knowing he caused it.

"Move," I said, my chin lifted and voice steady even though his disrespect toward River was still clawing deep. Fine, he wanted a challenge let's challenge each other. And I refuse to bow to his dominance.

His lips curled up into an amused smirk. He loved that I pushed back. Loved that I wasn't scared. Loved that he couldn't predict me.

"You'll wish I didn't," he said, stepping back only because he chose to, not because I made him.

Then he nodded once to Rafael. "Let me hear what you have to say."

The spar ended but the air burned hot. His disrespect for River still bunted hot in my stomach. And I hated it.

Before Rafael left he turn to me and whispered. "Do you need a ride at the club? I think it's much safer because I won't let you replay the shit you did the last time. Lorenzo isn't fond of liars if you haven't picked that fact up as yet."

I nibble on the inner skin of my bottom lip, I know he didn't but I came here with the intention to put the man behind bars not care about his opinion nor what he thinks about others.

I didn't give a flying shit because at the end of the day, I am the one that is left with bearing the burden of my loss.

Revenge is just within my reach and I would be a complete fool to let it slipped pass my fingers.

Flashes of our drunken night conversation came to mind and I pushed away the weary troubled thoughts that wasn't there before which was taking its sweet little time simmering into my consciousness.

"I don't care about the risk, I'll do whatever it takes to bring him down." I gritted through my teeth and Rafael stared long and hard at me until he told me what time he was leaving and then left the kitchen.

_____

"Just to let you know. Lorenzo is still looking out for you as we speak, the club staff was notified about your description and..." Rafael glances at me as he sped down the wet road, the rain beating down on the windshield.

"Based on his anger, he won't stop until he has you. Are you sure you don't want to lay off for a few months until this breeze down which will automatically allow him to sorts things out with Pesci?"

From deep within, I release a sigh and spoke. "I am not here to rest Rafael, this isn't some form of vacation that I took to ease my mind off things. I don't care about his need to find me."

I smirked. "He's stressing the wrong thing. He should be terrified that I'm getting closer to the information that will lock his ass up."

We left the estate five minutes ago, Lorenzo left an hour formerly to some meeting with his board of directors which made it much easier for me to leave with Rafael.

Glancing at the outside through the window which had droplets sliding down the surface, a fog came unto it because of my breathing and as such I wiped it off.

There was a slight night storm out and I knew I had my work cut out for me as we pull up to the club, Rafael then took the car to the private parking lot.

My watch beeped in alertness and I almost swallowed in panic when I saw the small notification coming from Xam's room.

Thinking the worst, I instantly click the screen and release a quick sigh when the camera footage showed the toddler sleeping in an awkward out of this world position.

Xam slept really bad and it was comical having to walked into her room and seeing her sleeping in those positions.

Rafael switched the car off and pulled open his door, he glance at me and said. "Good luck and be careful."

I smiled at his concern and reassure him with a nod. When he left, I turn the rear view mirror over to me and scan my eyes over my face.

"You cannot lose this time. We have come too far to loose grip on faith." I spoke to myself and then bring the ski mask down and around my neck.

I pulled out the gun from my thighs, checked the magazine and with enough ammo stationed there, I snap it back and position back the gun into the slot of the holster.

The white flashes of the lightning, reflected against the windshield and with enough determination, I opened the door and welcomed the rain as it fell harshly over my body.

It soaked me and I walked ahead into the darkness, light footsteps amongst wet asphalt.