One Night Stand (The Complete Story) (5 page)

I picked up the pen and stared down at the paper, but my mind was blank. Lorenzo hadn’t said anything out that might be useful to an investigation, and I wasn’t about to write out all the dirty talk he used on me. I had barely even noticed his apartment until this morning and Lorenzo had kicked me out so quickly I hadn’t really had time to notice the details.

“I really can’t remember anything worthwhile. I was very drunk last night, detective. I’m sorry I can’t be more useful, but I’ve had a really long, ridiculous day and I just want to go home and do my school work.”

The image of Bruno standing outside my apartment flashed through my head and I briefly considered telling the detective, but something stopped me. It wasn’t like I had learned anything useful from Bruno, and I didn’t want him after me for trying to rat him out to the cops.

“Alright, Emma. I just want you to be aware, in case Lorenzo contacts you again, that he is dangerous. He has a history of using women and throwing them away when they are no longer fun or useful to him. He is a bad guy. His family is involved in some really terrible crime and he is not above manipulating you. Don’t let his pretty face fool you.”

“I don’t think it will be a problem, but thanks,” I replied, grabbing my bag and standing up quickly. I wanted to get out of there and get home so I could study for my exam later that week. It seemed like the universe was conspiring to keep me from passing that damn exam.

“Well, here’s my card,” the detective added, handing me a glossy business card which I shoved into my bag. “Please call me if you remember anything or find out anything new.”

I nodded and said goodbye quickly.  As I hurried out of the building, I let out a small sigh of relief.  The past twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind of ups and downs and I was ready for it to be over. All I wanted was to go home to my apartment, change into my comfortable sweatpants and sip a cup of tea while I studied for my test. That wasn’t too much to ask, was it?

As I walked back through the crowded city blocks, I thought about how every stranger I passed might have a crazy story going on behind the scenes that they were hiding from the world. Anyone passing me by would think I was just a normal college student, but they would have no idea that I had accidentally slept with the heir to a mafia empire last night. The thought made me giggle and I was in a much better mood by the time I reached my apartment building.

I turned the corner and what I saw stopped me dead in my tracks. The smile vanished from my face as Bruno turned to face me. His face somehow looked even more smug than it had earlier, and there was now a dangerous, menacing quality to his slight smile.

“Please, get in the car Miss Waterhouse,” he commanded as I approached slowly, weighing my options. My mind raced so fast I almost felt dizzy.

“What? No way.” I panicked, wondering if I should run and try to call Detective Russo to come save me.

“Look, girl, no one is going to hurt you but I’ve been asked to take you to Lorenzo’s apartment so I am going to take you there. I can assure you that trying to disobey Giovanni Romano’s direct command will not end well for you. So, please, just get in the car and come have a talk with my employer.”

I nodded helplessly and walked towards the car. I knew that running was pointless and hiding was impossible. I might as well figure out what was going on so I could put an end to it.

Bruno held the door to the backseat open and I climbed in, pulling my backpack in beside me. Bruno got in the front seat and turned the radio to an oldies station. “Music alright?” he asked, suddenly much livelier and friendlier.

“Fine,” I replied shakily, clutching the top handle of my backpack.

He drove faster, swerving through the city streets so we arrived at Lorenzo’s apartment in just minutes. I waited until Bruno opened the door and climbed out onto the sidewalk. The sun was just setting behind the tall, beautiful building and the whole scene looked sad and picturesque. My sense of doom from earlier left me and I just felt tired and resigned as I followed Bruno through the lobby and up the elevator to Lorenzo’s apartment.

I don’t know what I expected to find inside the apartment. Maybe the whole damn mob and an array of hit men waiting for me. Instead, I followed Bruno into the spacious entryway and saw Lorenzo standing there, as handsome as he had been when I left him. Next to him, stood an older man with greying hair and a thin, weathered face. He looked familiar.
Of course.
Giovanni Romano looked older than the pictures I had seen of him in articles about the crime family, but he still had that almost regal poise.

“Thank you, Bruno,” he said in a deep, gravelly voice that betrayed his years of cigar smoking. “Emma, please come in. Have a seat.”

I wasn’t sure if it was meant to be an order or a polite invitation, but I obeyed him anyway. I stepped forward into the modern living room I had only just glanced at earlier that morning.  Several large paintings hung on the walls, ranging in styles from modern and abstract to paintings that looked like they might be genuine renaissance masterpieces. The furnishings were clean, bright, and modern. I walked over to the closest chair, the one furthest from Lorenzo and his father, and took a seat, laying my bag on the floor next to me.

I looked up and locked eyes with Lorenzo. I had been carefully avoiding his gaze, but now I couldn’t look away. Damn, each time I looked at that boy he got hotter and hotter.

His sharp, angular features somehow looked even better set off by the crisp black suit he was now wearing. His eyes looked even brighter, set off by the pale blue shirt collar and sleeves that looked crisply ironed. I noticed he wore heavy silver cufflinks shaped in the symbol of his family crest.

The Romanos were descended, way back, from early Italian princes and they wanted to make sure the world didn’t forget their claim. I looked away, breaking the spell of our silent war. I wasn’t sure what he was trying to tell me with his eyes, but I didn’t care. He had dragged me into his mess and like the spoiled prince he was, he would walk away unaffected while my world crumbled. It didn’t matter that he was hot as fuck or that he had a freaking magical cock. He was an asshole and probably just as much of a megalomaniac as his father.

“So, Miss Emma,” Giovanni began, his tone deep and calm.  It almost sounded like the beginning of a friendly conversation between friends. Almost. “One of my men told me you were spotted leaving the precinct this afternoon. This wouldn’t have anything to do with my boy Lorenzo, would it?” His tone took on the slightest edge at the end.

I looked over at Lorenzo, but his face was now impassive as he stared off to the side. He didn’t meet my eyes, so I looked back at his father. The truth might be the only thing that would save me now.

“The detective did ask me to come in and he asked me if I knew anything about Lorenzo but I told him I didn’t know anything. Which I don’t.  I can promise you that I never meant to be involved in any of this and I didn’t tell anyone anything because I honestly don’t know anything. I just want to forget about the last twenty-four hours, go home, and study for my college classes.”

Giovanni looked amused. “You are telling me you want to forget my boy, Lorenzo? Most girls don’t say that.”

Lorenzo shot his father a sharp look but I nodded. “I guess I’m not most girls. I never meant to go home with him and I’m sorry I did.”

“You might be sorry, but you are still a liability,” Giovanni mused. “The cops have already started talking with you, so they have some reason to believe you know something. My Lorenzo is a good boy, but he has been known to have some really terrible judgment. How can I be sure he didn’t spill his guts to you last night once he was good and drunk? Many a foolish man has been brought down by indiscrete pillow talk with a faithless woman.”

I stood up quickly, ready to protest his ridiculous and old-fashioned accusations, but Lorenzo cut me off before I could start in on my rant.

“She isn’t anyone worth bothering with, Pa. I told you…I wasn’t that drunk. I just wanted to bring home a sweet piece of ass for the night and I kicked her out as soon as we woke up. “

My mouth dropped open and I turned to Lorenzo, staring at him dumbly. Was he serious?
Of course he is serious
, I told myself. I had never expected this to be anything more than a one-night stand anyway, so why did his words sting me so painfully?

“I needed to make sure you weren’t hiding anything from me. You need to be more careful about the women you invite into your home. It is time to grow up, Lorenzo. You have responsibilities.”

“Yeah, I know, Pa. Responsibilities.” Lorenzo’s voice sounded tired.  “But I’m not hiding a goddamn thing. I didn’t even know the girl’s last name until you told me. I sure as hell wasn’t spilling family secrets to her last night. We were otherwise occupied.”

Blood rushed to my cheeks and I felt a surge of anger and embarrassment. That was it. That was all Lorenzo thought of me.

“Hey, can I leave now?” I finally asked, now that I had regained enough composure to form words. “As lovely as it is to be insulted and pretty much called a slut by the two of you, I really honestly do have other things to do with my life. Lorenzo obviously doesn’t want to see me again and he certainly didn’t tell me anything worth telling the cops. I just want to go home and forget today happened and you guys can have your family chat without me. So can I do that now?”

Both men turned to me and were finally silent for a moment. Then Giovanni spoke up, while Lorenzo carefully avoided my gaze.

“Yes, you can leave now, Miss Waterhouse. I am sorry you got mixed up with my son and you need not worry about my family again so long as you remain uninvolved in our affairs. If you like, Bruno can drive you home.”

“Thanks anyway, but I’ll walk,” I replied, hoping my voice conveyed my pride and disdain. In reality, I probably sounded scared and childish but it didn’t matter. I could finally go home, talk to my roommates, study, and get a good night’s sleep. Maybe tomorrow, I could work on entirely forgetting that I had ever met Lorenzo.

I turned and walked back through the apartment and out the door. The elevator seemed to take forever as I stood there on the gleaming marble tiles. Last night had been a dream, and today had been a nightmare. I was ready to finally wake up.

The elevator dinged loudly and I rushed in as soon as the doors opened.  I held my breath, half expecting some mob hit man to slide in beside me at the last moment. But the doors closed noiselessly and the elevator began its descent to the cold, ornate lobby.

The doors clicked open and I heaved my backpack onto my shoulder, letting the other strap dangle. I was beginning to regret turning down the offer of a ride home now that I contemplated yet another walk through these city blocks after my long, tiring day. I sighed and pulled my long brown hair into a ponytail with the hair elastic that I kept on my wrist.
I guess the exercise is good for me
, I reasoned as I strode through the lobby to the large glass doors leading out into our bustling city.

At least I would have a fantastic story to tell when I got home to my roommates. I could just imagine Ava’s face rapt with attention and excitement as I recounted my meeting with an infamous mob boss. Riley would probably hug me and sympathize with the ordeal I had survived today and then we would all change into our pajamas and watch a movie together in our shitty old apartment that we loved so much. It would be heaven after the emotional rollercoaster I had been riding all day.

A strong hand clamped down on my shoulder. I gasped and whirled around, coming face to face with Lorenzo. A tornado of emotions crashed through me as I looked up into his perfect face. Anger, at how he had treated me and what he had put me through today. Sadness, at my unrequited feelings for him. Fear, at what he might do to me. Desire, for him to take me right then and there against the building in the middle of the damn sidewalk.
Fuck.
My pussy was out of control. I stepped backwards, shaking my head at him.

“Emma, wait...” Lorenzo implored, his voice pained.

He strode forward and grabbed me around the waist, pulling me to him. Our lips crashed together and I felt sparks firing from our mouths. Hot, searing, burning need pulled me towards him and my body didn’t resist.  I felt my small curves melt into his hard, ridged body. His muscles moved fluidly, tensing and flexing as he pulled me closer, and closer still.