Chapter 3

Sienna

I managed to make my way through the school day without thinking of Cole at all. Ok, that's a lie, but I managed to make it through school on only a few hours of sleep. I sat with my friends at lunch and tried to concentrate on what they said, but I couldn't. All I could think of was Cole and the kiss he gave me before I left. Get a grip,Sienna. You won't see him again. I sighed and tried harder to pay attention to my friends the only one that was even looking at me was Bella, and I smiled to let her know I was ok. The rest of the day passed quickly, and before I knew it, I was driving Bella home, telling her I would phone her later before I headed home.

I pulled up to the iron gates outside my house, punched in the code, and waited for the gates to swing open. I drove up and parked in the garage. I walked in through the kitchen and could hear my brother's voices along with some of their colleagues. My brothers were in the mafia, as was my father before he died. I grew up not knowing until someone at school was badmouthing my family and told me everything, including my parent's car accident, not being an accident in the first place. I remember crying my eyes out to Bella, who took me to her house, where her mother answered my questions and told me I could always go to her with anything. I never told my brothers what happened at school and pretended I had no clue until they told me everything last year when someone made threats against me. I'm still not sure of the exact details as I didn't want to know, but Luca has been more overprotective since then. Luca was the oldest at twenty-five who took responsibility for all of us as soon as he turned eighteen. I never understood how Luca could get custody of us, but I'm guessing it wasn't legal, knowing what I know now. Matteo, or Matt as he's better known, is next in line at twenty-two. He's a lot more laid back than Luca but still as protective, and he's the one I go to if I need to talk as he listens and doesn't jump to anger as quick as Luca. My sister Bianca is twenty-one, with her and Matteo being Irish twins as there are only eleven months between them. Bianca and I used to be close when we were kids, but as we grew up, we drifted apart, made worse when her sleazeball boyfriend made a pass at me and when I told her she believed him when he said that I misunderstood him and she accused me of being jealous of her. My sister is beautiful, although a bit of an airhead. She is still with her boyfriend, sleazy Steve, as I call him, but I happen to know for a fact that when he's not here, she usually has one of my brother's friends in her bed and always a different one.

"Where have you been."

"School," I deadpanned, turning to face a fuming Luca.

"Where did you stay last night. I'm sure Bella was lying this morning."

"I stayed at Bella's but was up most of the night studying and nearly slept in for school." I reached up and kissed his cheek, walking past him, trying not to look at Matt because, unlike Luca, he can read me like a book.

"Heads up, sleazy Steve is here with Bianca," Matteo whispered as I walked past him up to my room.

I finished my homework and called Bella, who was bored at home as her parents were at work, so she said she would come to stay at mine and would be over in time for dinner. I waited until I heard the doorbell before I ventured down the stairs, and matt and Bella were chatting in the living room when I got there.

"Chinese," I asked, looking at the bags in her hands.

"Yeah, I got plenty, Matt, if you're hungry."

"No, you two go ahead."

We quickly grasped plates, then went into the media room and lounged about watching the new series of Brooklyn 99 before we went to bed. We slept in for school, which isn't unusual for us. Luckily I remembered to pack my gym bag for my boxing lesson after school.

School dragged on, and I was so happy when I finished school. I drove Bella home before I went to the gym.

I changed into my workout clothes in the changing room before entering the boxing gym, and I started stretching while I waited on Dean. Although a bit full of himself, Dean was a good teacher, you know, the type that thinks he's God's gift to women. I've honestly never seen the man wear a top, but he's harmless enough.

Someone cleared their throat behind me, and when I turned, my mouth fell open. I was expecting Dean, but instead, Cole was standing in front of me looking like a fucking model.

We stared at each other for what seemed like forever before I managed to find my voice. "Cole, what are you doing here?"

"I own the gym," he told me with a slight blush as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I um may have found out when you were coming in and told Dean to take the afternoon off."

I nodded as I bit the inside of my mouth so hard I could taste blood to stop smiling like a damn fool. I was determined to play it cool, even though I felt anything but relaxed.

"I'm fully trained." He continued. "Should we start" he walked to the ring and jumped in before holding the rope up for me to climb in.

We sparred for the entire hour, both of us sweating when we finished.

"You're pretty good," he said as we climbed out of the ring.

"Would have been better if you weren't going easy on me," I told him with a pointed look as he smirked at me.

"I wasn't sure how much training you had."

"I've been training since I was eight, and Dean is a great trainer."

"He's a bit cocky."

"True, but he doesn't hold back, so you work harder." I turned to walk to the changing room.

"Steak," Cole blurted out, then shook his head and took a breath as I turned to look at him. "I mean, do you like steak."

"I do"

"Do you remember how to get to the cabin?" He asked.

"I do"

"Would you like to come for dinner if you don't have anything else on?"

"I would like that, Cole."

"Ok, I'll meet you at the cabin." He walked out while I went into the changing room. I decided to shower there, then I got dressed and immediately wished I had packed something nicer. I had put on black ripped jeans with flat ballet slippers and a black fitted shirt. I look like I'm going to a funeral. I thought as I gazed at myself, but it was either this or my school uniform. Once I was in the car, I texted Bella.

Me: Cover for me. I will explain tomorrow.

She replied almost immediately.

Bella: I expect full details tomorrow.

I rolled my eyes as I put my phone away as I started towards the cabin. I was nervous and excited. Cole must feel the same as me, after all. He went out of his way to find me and to spar with me instead of Dean, then he asked me for dinner. I had butterflies in my belly the size of elephants as I drove to the cabin. Luckily the almost two-hour car ride gave me plenty of time to calm down. I was surprised how easily I found the place again, but I pulled up in no time at all. Cole must have been here as there was a light on. I knocked on the door, and it was opened straight away as if he was standing about waiting on me.

"Come in" he smiled brightly as he ushered me in, helping me take my jacket off.

I walked into the kitchen and was surprised to see he had a lot of pans on the go.

"How do you like your steak cooked."

"Well done," I told him, laughter escaping me as he shook his head and mumbled something about it being a waste.

I sat and watched him cook, and I shouldn't have been surprised, considering I barely knew the man, but I was. "Who taught you to cook?"

He smiled over at me. "My mother, she spent ages teaching my brother and me. She loves to cook and used to get so happy when we would help her." He laughed at the memory. "Can you cook?"

"Not really. I am a dab hand with a takeout menu, though. Bella's mum has started teaching us things lately because she's under the impression we may starve once we go to college."

"What about your brothers or sister? Don't they cook?"

"No, if I hear the smoke alarm, I know dinner is ready." I smile. "We have a meal service that brings food, and all we need to do is heat it.

He gave me a can of coke from the fridge and himself a beer. We made idle chit-chat as I watched him cook before sitting at the table and eating our dinner. He was so easy to talk to and funny, and I spent most of the time laughing.

After dinner, I cleared the table and did the dishes against his objections after explaining that the cook doesn't clean up. So instead, he drank a beer and leaned against the counter, watching me. I could feel his eyes on me the whole time as I fought to keep my gaze away from him as the butterflies were now back full force under his lustful gaze. After the kitchen was back to spotless, I could no longer keep my gaze away from Cole, who was still watching me, although his ice blue eyes had darkened considerably.

"So, what do we do now?" I asked, biting my lip as now the palpable tension in the room was set to overwhelm me.

He slowly put his beer down and was in front of me in seconds. "I have a few ideas."