Special thanks to @jiyoungmochi for the cover!!
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❝𝐀 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲, 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥. ❞
Renata Vartanov had been through hell. Sold to a brothel and thrusted into prostitution at thirteen along with her then toddler...
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❀𝓡𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓪❀
I stood up from my crouch and faced him.
His hard features were painted with a range of emotions from confusion, surprise, and something darker that I couldn't place.
We stared at each other for what felt like forever, the only sounds were that of the river and the dogs.
His eyes trialled a path to my thigh where the now ripped skirt stayed unbalanced lengthwise.
The pressure in my chest from his gaze heightened, causing me to involuntarily suck in a breath.
"Hey." I said awkwardly, breaking the silence.
His eyes went from the rip on my skirt to Zefer's bandaged forearm.
"He scratched himself," I started, as Vincenzo strolled closer to me and his dogs. He knelt down and grazed his fingers over Zefer's forearm. "I know it isn't the best, I was just trying to help so his arm doesn't get infected and—"
The words constricted in my throat as he stood up abruptly, towering over me like the giant he was, and his earthy cologne captivated my senses more than the flowers surrounding me.
"Thank you." He simply said, with a shadow of a smile.
"Oh, um—of course, it's no big deal." I chuckled awkwardly.
His eyes once again found their way to my thigh. I was so glad the skirt was lower than thigh length, so he couldn't see the scars scattered across my upper thighs. No one could see the ugliness underneath, ever again.
"You ruined your skirt to help my dog. Of course it's a big deal." He said matter of factly, though his face was simply cold.
"It's nothing. I'm just glad I could help." I responded, rubbing behind Zefer's ears.
Vincenzo looked at me and Zefer with surprise.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, they just—never let anyone besides me and family touch them, talk less of ear rubs."
"Did you bribe him somehow?" He questioned. I almost laughed because I thought he was joking, but he looked more serious than a snake bite.
"No, I just have a way with fierce animals. I raised Rowan for twelve years to know a thing or two." I said casually.
A low chuckle escaped his throat, that soon turned to laughter, showing off his perfect pearly whites.
𝐺𝑜𝑑, 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑝ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑤𝑠?
"Brutal. I like it." He said with a smirk.
I smiled a bit, thrilled I could get through to his cold facade.
Smiles suited him. They amplified his natural appearance into something warmer; softer.
"Your dogs are very...energetic." I commented as the two others ran around my legs, brushing against me and barking jovially to get my attention.
"Yes, energetic little psychopaths." He teased, smirking down at the dogs.
I laughed and patted all of their heads. "Don't worry, he didn't mean that." I reassured playfully.
"What are their names?" I asked about the two other dogs.
"The one jumping like a rabbit on cocaine is Ace, and the one trying to turn what remains of your skirt to a chew toy is Duke." He informed me with a straight face as I forced back my laughter from the way he addressed them.
"Duke, Ace, get off of her." He tsked at the dogs whom quickly obliged and went back to his side, Zefer limping behind.
I felt a little disappointed, they were fun.
Vincenzo crouched down toward Zefer, brushing his head and inspecting his arm. His face flooded with concern and worry.
"Questo non va bene. Devo portarti dal veterinario, ragazzo. (ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴅᴏ. ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇᴛ, ʙᴏʏ.)" he said softly in beautiful Italian.
Zefer growled at the word, 'vet'.
"He does not like the vet." Vincenzo said with a nervous chuckle, facing me while still being crouched down.
"Clearly." I responded lightheartedly, circling beside him to face Zefer.
I bent forward a bit, running my fingers through Zefer's shiny black coat.
Suddenly, my phone rang out. The timer I'd set for thirty minutes was up. It was a good thing because I needed to change my outfit anyway.
I looked at Vincenzo and the three dogs. For some reason, I didn't feel like leaving.
"I have to go," I forced out, mustering courage. "Zietta is expecting me."
"Hmm." He hummed in acknowledgment.
"Bye Zefer, bye Ace, bye Duke!" I said cheerily, crouching down to hug all three of them.
I stood up and turned to Vincenzo, feeling my cheeks heat from his gaze. "Bye," I breathed.
"Goodbye. And thank you once again. I will repay you." He stated.
I looked at him with widened eyes. "Oh, no. I don't need anything, you don't—"
I was cut off by the timer again as the snooze time was up.
I sighed and turned on my heel to walk away, turning around a final time to glance at Vincenzo...and the dogs too.
