BIANA 2

BIANCA’S POV

No need to add him to my enemies list, he was already at the top. But something about the way he was acting didn’t sit right. He didn’t look like his usual self. He looked like shit, even worse than usual.

“What the hell were you doing at a bar like that?” he asked, his tone low and edged with frustration. “Didn’t you see my text warning you not to go in?”

I turned to face him, rolling my eyes. “Calm down, you idiot. I’m fine, as you can see. And no, I didn’t see your text. You’re blocked!” I snapped, walking into my living room and ignoring him.

He followed me. “There was a notorious criminal gang at that bar, Bianca,” he said, his thick Italian accent making every syllable of my name feel like a slow burn.

Suddenly, I felt the weirdest pull. Italian accents? Really? What the hell is wrong with me? I needed to get laid, ASAP.

I gave him a pointed look. “And here I am, safe and sound. Wait… have you been spying on me?” My anger flared up, my heart pounding in my chest.

He raised a hand, almost defensively. “Huh? You wish. Your brother’s very protective of you, and we got intel from one of our men here.”

I let out a short, sharp laugh. “If I wanted protection, trust me, your ass would be the last I’d call,” I shot back, seething with rage.

He raised an eyebrow. “How about you stop getting yourself into trouble, instead?”

I rolled my eyes and stormed upstairs, muttering under my breath. “Don’t follow me, you perv.” I was angry, angry enough to snap, but I needed to get away from him.

I needed a bath. A cold one.

I walked into my bathroom and turned the tap, filling the tub with cool water. Normally, I’d light up my scented candles to soothe my nerves, but I was so pissed off that I couldn’t even be bothered to get the lighter downstairs.

I peeled off my clothes and sank into the cold water, hoping it would numb me.

When I finally came back downstairs, I found him still sitting in my living room. “You’re still here. Why?” I asked, glaring at him as I leaned against the doorframe.

“Because I can do whatever I want,” he retorted, his tone sharp but flat, like he wasn’t even trying to hide his irritation.

I stared at him, feeling a tug in my chest. Part of me wanted to start a fight or kick him out, but there was something off about him. He looked disturbed, like something was bothering him more than he was letting on.

I took a step forward, against my better judgment. “Are you okay?”

He looked up at me, a flash of surprise crossing his face.

I raised an eyebrow. “What?”

He hesitated before asking, “Where are you headed?”

I didn’t want him tagging along. I was planning on heading out for a drink, and I sure as hell didn’t need my babysitter to ruin my mood. But before I could respond, the doorbell rang.

I groaned. Of course.

Rolling my eyes, I walked to the door and opened it.

The last person I expected.

“Eve, what are you doing here?” I asked, shocked.

Her face was streaked with tears, and she looked like she’d been running from something.

“I didn’t know who else to go to,” she said, her voice breaking.

From the living room, Rob shouted, “Who is it?”

Eve froze. Her eyes widened in panic. “I’m sorry! I had no idea you had guests around. I’ll go now…”

I quickly shook my head. “No, come in. He’s not a guest, and he was already on his way out, right?” I glanced back at Rob, who was standing behind me, looking stiff.

“Yeah, sure,” he muttered, heading for the door.

Eve and I stood there in silence, watching him leave. The air was thick with tension. It was awkward, neither of us knowing how to move forward.

“Come in,” I said, stepping aside to let her into the living room.

She looked at me, her eyes heavy. “Actually, B, I came for an entirely different reason.”

Before I could even react, she kissed me. Hard.

My heart skipped a beat, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rob rushing toward us. Then, a shot rang out.

The world seemed to freeze.