Chapter 6

(Lorenzo)

I felt a warm hand touch my face and I opened my eyes, it was Marianas'. She had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. They were light brown with some specks of green that were almost not noticeable. She tried to remove her hands but I stopped her and pulled her closer towards me. 

She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. I knew I shouldn't pursue this any further, I knew I had to stop leading her on but I couldn't seem to stop myself. Mariana made me feel some way I could not seem to put a pin on, an emotion that felt really strange to me. But I couldn't get distracted. I had to end this here and now. 

I took in a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression last night,It was just a one-night thing, nothing more". I could see the shock and sadness in her face, I felt a pang of guilt in my chest. I slowly let go of her hand and get up from the bed. I needed to get dressed and leave this room, I couldn't bear to even look at her right now, and not feel my heart crack a bit

. "Wait, what?" What do you mean? So you're trying to tell me last night meant nothing to you at all?" 

I pretended not to notice her and began buttoning my shirt. I had to keep a cool countenance and my emotions in check. 

 "Lorenzo! I'm talking to you." She walked up to me and stared at me, anger clouding her features. I buttoned up my shirt and looked at her, giving her the most intimidating stare I could summon at that moment.

 "Mariana,what happened last night was nothing serious. It was a one night stand,I'm sure you know what that means." I picked up my car keys and phones."You're not the first to end up in my bed and I'm pretty sure you won't be the last so suck it up and stop being such a crybaby about it. Declan would take you back to the hostel once you're fully dressed."

 I stole a quick glance at her and saw her eyes glistening, tears daring to fall, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. The moment I stepped out the door I let out a sigh of regret. I knew I shouldn't have gone that far but why did I feel that way? I had done this to countless other women and I had never felt this way. So, why was Mariana different? I pushed away my thoughts and feelings and headed out the house. I met Declan standing by my car.

"I need you to take her back to the hostel as soon as she's dressed" I ordered.

"Yes boss" he replied. 

"Stand by the door until she's out. You never can tell what she's planning." I knew Mariana's defiance couldn't be snuffed out that easily. I got in my car and drove to my office. 

"Lorenzo!" Giovanni yelled my name. I blinked my eyes in confusion. "What, what were you saying?" I replied, trying to remember all that Giovanni had been saying. 

"I've been talking for close to ten minutes now and you haven't been listening." He says. "Are you good?" 

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm just out of it this morning." I replied. Giovanni didn't look like he was bought my explanation. "Lack of coffee" I added. 

I had been thinking of Mariana all morning. From the night we spent together till this morning. I hurt her, I feel horrible because of that and I didn't know why I felt that way. I shouldn't care about little things like this. My confusion slowly started to turn to frustration. 

The more I thought of it, the angrier I became. Why should I let Marianna under my skin? She's a nobody. Just another number to add to the list of women I've slept with. Nothing more, nothing less. 

 Giovanni's phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Hey, What's up?" I heard him say. He headed outside to continue his phone call. 

Minutes later Giovanni returned and turned to me "The boys found Mikey trying to run away with your stash." 

"What? He tried to steal from me!?" I yelled, my voice filled with anger. "Where is he?" I asked calmly. 

" He's at the warehouse," Giovanni replied. 

"Get the car ready "

"Yes boss" Giovanni left the office. I had one rule in my business, no one and I mean no one steals from me and gets away with it. I had to make an example out of him. 

As I wait for Giovanni to come back, my anger only grows. Partly from my inability to pinpoint what I felt for Mariana and from the fact that one of my men tried to steal from me. I shouldn't be surprised because this happens at least once in a while but I protected Mikey, I gave him a job, fed him, gave him a purpose when he was a crack addict on the streets of New York. 

I even looked after his old mother while he was in prison. I received a text from Giovanni informing me that the car was ready and he was waiting downstairs. I headed towards the parking lot where Giovanni was waiting.

 "Let's go," I ordered, my voice cold and hard.

Giovanni nodded and drove off.

We arrived at the warehouse and Mikey was tied up to a chair. He was blindfolded and his mouth gagged. I moved closer to him and signaled one of my men to take off the blindfold and the gag. 

Mikey squinted his eyes, trying to adjust his eyes to the light. Once his eyes met mine, I noticed the fear in his eyes. I moved my face closer to him, staring deep into his soul. He looked away in fear.

"Please, please boss, I'm so sorry. It won't happen again" he pleaded, tears welling up in his eyes. 

"You tried to steal from me and run away with my goods" I said, grabbing his hair, forcing him to look at me. "In what world did you think that would have worked?" I pushed his head back aggressively.

"I'm so sorry. It won't happen again boss" he began to plead. 

"Of course Mikey" I muttered eerily, picking up the hot rod in the fire beside him. "It won't happen again because you won't be alive to try it again." I placed the rod on his left eyelid watching him scream in pain. 

"Please! Mr Lorenzo Sir, it won't happen again. Please have mercy" he splutters. The more he begged, the more satisfied I felt. I felt a dark aura engulfing me, taking control.

"Mercy you say" I picked up a crowbar from the floor. "Mercy is for the weak. Consequences are to be accepted and taken head on." 

 I hit him with the crow bar, he kept on crying so I hit him again and again and again, ignoring his groans, until someone touched my shoulder bringing me back to my senses. It was Giovanni. I looked back at Mikey and saw he was unconscious, blood dripping down his head, his face disfigured. I dropped the crowbar and head out of the warehouse. 

Outside the warehouse, I brought out a cigarette and began to smoke. Breathing in the smoke from my mouth and letting it out through my nose, creating a hazy look around me. My thoughts drifted back to Mariana. I a span of how many hours she had managed to trigger countless emotions. I let her get into my head and now she refuses to leave, I took in another puff letting it out slowly. Giovanni came out some minutes later and opened the car for me since he was with the car keys. 

He started the engine and looks at me through the rearview mirror.

"Where to?" He asked. 

I looked outside thoughtfully. "Take me to the club, I need a drink." 

Since the club was really busy, I decided to head upstairs where there were not a lot of sweaty people dancing to weird music. I ordered a bottle of brandy and began drinking my anger away.

 Part of me was here for Marianna even if I didn't want to admit it. I wasn't here to talk to her or make out with her, I just wanted to be sure she was okay. I sighed in frustration as I gulped another cup of brandy down my throat.

 Why was I worried about Mariana? This wasn't the first time I've slept with a beautiful woman. So why was she different? I poured in more brandy into the glass and chug it down. 

"Must be a pretty bad night huh" I heard a female voice. I looked up and see a beautiful brunette smiling at me. 

"What do you think." I replied, pouring myself another drink. She giggled and sat beside me. I wasn't in any mood to indulge anybody right now but maybe this was what I needed, another woman to flush Mariana out of my system. I looked up at a couple sitting not too far from me and coincidentally I saw Mariana heading towards them. It felt like everything just stopped once I saw her, I could see nothing but her. She looked tired, probably from working. 

She served the couple their drinks and just as she was about to leave, her gaze caught mine. Her expression went from tiredness to surprise and maybe, a little hurt. The woman beside me said something but I couldn't care any less. But I needed to end whatever was going on between me and Mariana. I broke eye contact first and turned towards the woman with a smile.

"I must say, you have quite a beautiful smile" I said with a grin. 

"Oh,thank you," she giggled. She snuggled closer to me, giving me a seductive smile.

I glanced back at the spot where Mariana was and she was already gone. I focused my attention back at the beautiful brunette staring right at me. I traced my fingers down her hand until I reach her wrist where I noticed a little butterfly tattoo. 

"Do you like it?" She asked, bringing her face closer to mine because of the loud music.

"I could show you another one if you'd like to see." She smiled at me, biting her lips in a subtle way. I smiled back at her and nodded my head slowly. She got up, grabbed my hand and led me towards the bathroom. 

Once we reached the bathroom, she locked the door and threw herself at me. She hungrily kissed down to my ear, rubbing her hands around my chest. I groaned, closing my eyes and an image of Mariana popped up. I opened my eyes quickly, stopping myself. 

I grabbed her neck and placed my other hand on her waist lifting her onto the basin. I lifted her gown above her waist and slide my fingers into her causing her to moan. She held my hand guiding me into her and when I couldn't take it anymore. I unbuckled my belt, adjusted my jeans and thrust into her. She placed her hand on my shoulders trying to balance herself. I thrusted in deeper and harder. Images of Marina just kept flooding my mind, the way her face looked when she climaxed with me a night before. 

The brunette's grip on me starts to tighten, signaling she had almost reached her climax. I began to thrust in harder and faster, she gasped, her grip on me tightening, "Fuck", I grunted. I dropped my head to the crook of her neck. Even though I tried to get Mariana's face out of my mind, it was of no use.  

"Fuck I'm coming!"She screamed as she spasmed in my hands while I pulled out emptying my seeds in the basin beside her with a groan, solely thinking about Marianna.