Twisted Fixation

『 Chapter 89 』

When the plane finally landed in New York, Yuri only realized that she had not brought anything with her aside from her phone in her pocket.

She did not remember falling asleep, but she was glad that she had been taken care of. When she woke up, a blanket had been draped over her, and seeing that Lorenzo had fallen asleep sitting next to her made her heart swell in gratitude.

"It's been years since the last time I came here. New York is still as vibrant and bustling as I remember it," Lorenzo said once they were already in the car that would take her to her mother's apartment.

"There is this burger joint where I love to go. Do you want to try it out? They have the juiciest burgers in town," Yuri offered and Lorenzo's eyes widened at that.

"A burger joint that Signorina likes? I must say that I am intrigued, so let's go there!"

Yuri only laughed, and once they had arrived at the burger joint, which was almost closing time already, she told Lorenzo some of the best menu items to try. She only found out, but Lorenzo was a year younger than her, so that made her feel that he was like a little brother to her.

"My mom doesn't know that I am arriving, and I don't want to put you in a tough position once she has started to ask questions. Until when are you going to stay here? Are you going to the villa?"

Lorenzo shook his head in response. "I am planning to find an apartment close to where you are staying, Signorina. So, I could be nearby in case you need something or if you need any help."

Yuri did not feign her surprise upon hearing that. "Lorenzo, you do not have to bother yourself with that. Just do something that would be useful to your boss," she gently suggested. Lorenzo then looked at her.

"That is exactly what I am doing, Signorina."

She pouted her lips at that. "Why is it that you are more loyal to me than to Giancarlo? Are you supposed to do that in the mafia?" she genuinely asked because she was worried that Lorenzo would get in trouble for staying with her.

"Of course, I am still obliged to follow the orders of the boss. But since he assigned me to take care of you, a woman whom he values, it is my duty to ensure your safety and well-being. Loyalty in the mafia extends beyond just following orders; it also means protecting those who are important to the boss."

They momentarily stopped talking when their orders finally arrived. Lorenzo ordered the double cheeseburger, while she settled for the tuna sandwich.

"I haven't thanked you yet for having my back in the mansion when I confronted the donna. You could've died there, you know," she said.

Lorenzo lamented at that as if he found it amusing: "To die for you would be an honor, Signorina."

***

It had only been a week when Yuri left, but for Giancarlo, who was longing for her touch, it felt like an eternity. Every moment without her seemed to stretch on indefinitely, each passing second amplifying his yearning for her return, even though he knew that the probability of Yuri coming back was uncertain.

The days dragged on, and his heart grew heavier with each passing minute, desperate for the warmth of her touch. It was the first time he felt such heartbreak, and now he understands why people tend to lose themselves when they have lost someone because the absence of Yuri's presence felt like a void that could never be filled.

He wanted to believe that heeding Favio's advice, which is to give Yuri a space to process her emotions, would eventually lead to her return. But it seems like without her around, he would lose his mind. Doubt started to creep into his mind. He couldn't help but question if he had made the right decision by letting her go. The uncertainty of their future together weighed heavily on his shoulders.