loveable one

Chapter 8

Lorenzo's Pov:

Luciano called everyone inside his office. I already know what this must be about. The girl must have run right to him after taking the picture from me.

How could a picture with a boy be so important that she had to cry so terrible? Yeah, I know there was another girl on the picture but the boy triggered me. He resembles a bastard I hate too much and I just snapped when I saw the girl smiling so brightly next to him.

I felt a sting in my heart when she reacted so strongly about me ripping the picture. But what the hell? Really, what kind of person makes such a drama because of a picture? Just print it out again?
Though seeing her tears made me feel incredibly guilty.

When I walk into Luciano's office, I already know I will face harsh punishment. The air is heavy and every set of eyes settles angrily at me. Without thinking I touch my swollen face remembering her small hands treating my wounds.

She was so gentle and her hands felt so warm. For a moment I think I could get hurt again if it meant she would care for me. I shake the thought from my head. I don't even want her to care for me in any way. She must've lived the happiest live while she was away.

Luciano clears his throat and now everyone looks at him instead of me.

„Lorenzo has made a terrible mistake. He hurt our little sister, again. And I will not tolerate such behavior. We just got her back and I don't want her try to run away or anything just because of you, Enzo. No mafia work for the time being and your gym time is restricted to 1 hour a day. Rufus will make sure you follow this command."

„Restricted Gym time? No fucking way. I need my workout time. Think of another punishment. Beat me or something." I spent most of my day in the gym. I can finally stop thinking when I'm training. I need that.

„No. The punishment stands. And it will stand for so long as you don't work out your differences with Victoria. Now you have lots of time to make it up to her, the picture seemed to be really important to her. Which brings me to the other reason I asked everyone here. It seems like Victoria has a boyfriend."

Silence. I hold my breath and it seems everyone else does so too.

Giovanni is the first to react. „What do you mean boyfriend? She's a child, Luc, you must've gotten the wrong idea."

„No, the first thing she did when she got a phone was call him. She was hysterical because of Lorenzo", Valentino said while glaring at me. „He managed to calm her down. He called her love and dear and stuff. It was distugsting. I wanted to take her phone and smash it against the wall."

In that moment Luc's phone rang. He picked it up and talked for a few seconds before hanging up and looking around the room.

„That was Alessio. He talked to Vic about that boy and she called him her best friend, but he has a feeling she wasn't entirely honest when she said there was nothing romantic between them. And you are right, Gio. She is still a kid. We should all try getting closer to her so she doesn't feel the need to have those friends anymore. We have to break them apart." He screamed the last part and when he was finished the others screamed too. Like caveman that caught sight of their prey.

Even if I didn't scream with them. I was still furious. That boy must be cut out from her life. She's now one of us, if I like it or not. She can't walk around and tarnish our family name. I won't let her get away with it.

Victoria's Pov:

After looking around the house for a while I walked back into the living room with a few books I would like to read next. I settled on the couch and that's when I spotted a lake outside the window. I got back up and walked to a door that seemed to lead to a terrace.

It's beautiful. With the sun setting it seems like the place is glowing.

Everything was saturated with shades of yellow and red. That's the kind of place Luca would've shown me.

Luca! I almost forgot about him.

I pull out my new phone and after looking behind me and still no sign of Allesio I dial Luca per FaceTime. He picks up after a few beeps.

„What's up, little V?" he says.

„I'm sorry if I'm bothering you. I just wanted to show you this beautiful place." I turn around the camera and when I turn it back around he's frowning. My heart sinks.

I AM bothering him.

„Uh- I'm sorry, I s-shouldn't have called." I stammer embarrassed.

I thought he would appreciate it. I thought he would miss me.

„Vic listen, I-" he gets interrupted by a voice I know too well. „Babe, can you help me zip up my dress." He looks over the camera and I see his eyes checking someone out.

The Fuck?

I hear a door close behind me and turn around to see Allesio coming up to me.

„I gotta go now. Text me what you wanted to say? Bye." I hang up.
I wasn't in a relationship with Luca. No one even knows we're friends. He was my little secret. The person I met at special places like the one behind me. He was my first kiss. My first real make-out.  I guess he found someone better. I knew it was just a matter of time for him to stop seeing me. He was the football star. He was the most popular person in school and all the girls wanted him.

Maybe I just hoped he would wait more than a day when I'm gone.

I hear the click of a camera and look surprised in the eyes of Allesio.

„To capture the moment." He tells me with a grin. „You look beautiful, Vic." I look at the floor, no one really compliments me this straightforward.

„We should head back now. It's dinnertime soon." He says and holds out his hand for me. I grab it, walk back inside and take the books I prepared. I can't wait to read them.

We drive back in comfortable silence. It seems Allesio managed to calm down.