Ties of Blood (Book One)

Chapter 39 ~ Gianna

Gianna Rostova

Attempting to run away from Matteo was like trying to run away from my own shadow. If she wasn't right beside me he had embedded himself in my brain.

Our little conversation in our- the room was the hardest 5 minutes of my life. It took all my willpower for my eyes not to drop to his lips. But I held my ground.

Matteo better not kill any man I try to date, I could do what ever I wanted. If I want to date someone, I will and if I don't want to I won't. He's just lucky I'm taking a break from dating.

Matteo was right about one thing though, I didn't have anywhere else to go so I told the limo driver to drop me off at a small apartment building.

It was time I gained some independence anyways.

I was tired of peoples opinions affecting me, my father didn't want me to be a nurse yet I was anyways and I was sure I could out run Matteo anyways.

He would probably get bored and realise that I'm not worth fighting for and leave me alone.

"Thank you, sir," I say, handing the cab driver 20 dollars for the drive from the villa and to the apartment building.

I've always known about this place but I haven't actually been here before. He opened the door and I slid out grabbed my suit case from the trunk and made my way into the building.

It wasn't something I was used to, that was for sure. I had been born into old money, meaning my family had been rich for years. So was Matteo-

I had to go and get my things from Matteo house.

I rolled my eyes at my thoughts. Part of me didn't want to go, as bad as it sounds the walls I had build around myself as defence from being hurt my him again, they cracked slightly every time he spoke to me.

If Camilla hadn't pulled me away or I hadn't suddenly needed the bathroom, who knew what kind of heartbreak I'd be in for again.

The lobby wasn't anything special, there wasn't even a doorman so I pushed it open myself. Inside, the walls were a dull shade of yellow, or maybe once white.

The tiles on the floor were slightly cracked and looked little they hadn't been polished ever and the chandelier hung in the centre of the room with its dim lighting barely reaching to corners.

It was the kind of place where people stay for a little while then move out, and that was exactly what I needed.

"Good evening, may I please I have a room?"

The man behind the desk barely glanced up from his newspaper. He looked to be in his fifties, with graying hair and a worn expression that told me he had seen his share of late-night check-ins.

His glasses were perched low on his nose, and the dim light of the chandelier flickered over his face as he folded his paper and shuffled toward the desk.

"A room?" he asked, his voice gravelly. "For how long?"

I hesitated. How long would I stay? Until Matteo lost interest? Until I figured out what my next move was? I had no idea. "I'm... not sure yet. Just for now."

He grunted, nodding as if he'd heard that answer a thousand times before. He pulled out an old-fashioned ledger and slid it toward me with a pen. "Fill this out. Payment's weekly. No refunds."