Turn Towards the Sun (38 page)

“Why would someone follow us?” Gabby looks around.

“I don’t know. But I swear I saw someone the last couple of blocks.”

“There are a lot of people out Grayson, maybe the person was just going
in
our direction.” I offer.

“Look! There they are!” He points across the street to a person dressed in black scurrying behind a building. He takes off running.

“Grayson, wait!”

“You stay here.” He yells back at us.

“
Ava,
what the hell is going on?”

“I don’t know. This is weird.”

We stand on the sidewalk
and wait
for Grayson to come back. He returns a few minutes later, winded from running.

“I lost them.”

“Why do you think we were being followed?” I ask.

“I didn’t want to tell you
Ava,
but I saw that same person all day today. Everywhere we
went,
I would catch a glimpse. I think from the person’s build it was a
woman,
but I’m not sure. I need to tell Mr. Milano. Let’s go.”

We arrive back at the
hotel,
and
Grayson walks
first
Gabby,
then
me,
to our rooms.

“Mr. Milano, I have some information for you.”

I stand quietly behind Grayson.

“What’s going on Grayson?” Enzo is already
pissed,
and he doesn’t even know what happened yet.

I sit on the couch and listen to Grayson brief Enzo on what he thinks he saw today.

Enzo paces the room and runs his fingers through his hair while he listens. “Who the fuck could it be?”

“I don’t know
sir. I
chased the person
but
lost them.”

“I’m going to increase security. You’ll get some support Grayson. If someone really is following you
around,
then you’ll have help to keep everyone safe.”

Grayson nods.

“Is it possible it was just a coincidence Enzo?” I chime in.

“Maybe. Maybe not. I would rather err on the side of caution. You never know.”

Suddenly,
I remember the incident at the Uffizi that day. I never told him. Should I tell him now or would that just make things worse? I’m already dangerously close to being
sequestered
again.

“Um, Enzo I never told you
this,
but I think that day I hit my head, it might have been done on purpose.”

Grayson and Enzo both look at me.

“What do you mean Ava?” Enzo’s voice deepens.

“Well at first I didn’t really remember what
happened,
but then I thought I felt someone sort of shove me and pin me against the building.”

“Explain to me why you didn’t tell me this sooner?”

Oh shit, he’s beyond pissed off now.

“I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

“You didn’t think it was a big deal? Jesus Christ Ava. There could be someone out there trying to hurt
you,
and you just keep things like that to yourself? Fuck!” He slams his hand down on a marble table.

Grayson walks in
between
us.
“Sir, maybe we should just focus on security detail going forward.”

I’m thankful
Grayson
stepped
in. Enzo is so angry he can’t even look at me.

“You’re right Grayson. I’ll call the company I’ve worked with before and get two men to join you tomorrow
. Thank you for being honest.” He glares at me. I’m in big trouble.

“I’ll be here first thing
in
the morning boss.” Grayson offers me a soft smile before leaving.

I sit silently on the sofa, awaiting the ass chewing I know I’m about to get. Enzo continues pacing across the living room.

“Ava, I’m so ang
ry right now i
t frightens me
.
”

“It frightens me too.” I whisper. “Enzo, I’m sorry I just—”

“Stop it Ava. I don’t want to hear it. I’ve tried to explain to you a thousand times how important it is for you to be honest with me. I am a very rich man. Don’t you think there is a chance someone might be interested in something I have? Have you ever considered that someone is trying to hurt you? For all I know, someone could be attempting to kidnap you. And you don’t fucking think you need to tell me what happened?” He is full on yelling at me now. I have never seen this side of him before. I try to keep it
together,
but I simply fall apart and cry.

“You want to be so independent. Well that was fine before you met
me,
but it doesn’t work anymore. Do you hear me?”

I bury my face in my hands. I don’
t know what to say. Any
attempt
to explain
won’t make things better. I just want him to stop yelling at me. I don’t want to look at him. I don’t want to see his angry eyes aimed at me again.

“
Look at me Ava.”

I shake my head. I can’t bear it.

“I said look at me. Dammit you need to start listening to me.”

What little self-preservation I have in me at the moment bubbles up inside. “I am not a fucking child Enzo. You’re scaring the hell out of me right
now,
and I don’t like it.”

“Oh you’re not a child? Well maybe you should stop acting like
one.
”

“How
exactly am I acting like one
? I barely remembered what happened that day, and for all I know I could’ve been wrong. You are acting like a complete jackass right now!”

“Jackass? Because I want to protect what is mine?”

I stand up. “I’m not a hotel property Enzo. I’m a woman. There is an extent to which you can control me.”

He walks close to
me
and I try not to flinch. I cross my arms in defiance and meet his stare. We look at each other for a moment without speaking.

Suddenly,
he rushes towards me and backs me up against the wall.
He reaches his hand behind my neck and plants his mouth on mine. His kiss is rough and demanding. I try to push away. I don’t want this right now. I don’t want him. Tears continue to roll down my face.

“Stop fighting me
Ava.”
He holds me tighter and kisses me again.
I try to
resist,
but I k
now my resolve
is wavering. I feel his
hand
rubbing me between my legs. Oh
God
,
it feels good. I don’t want to feel this right now.

“Enzo, please. I don’t want this.”

He says nothing and continues stroking me. His erection presses against my body. I struggle against him but it only seems to turn us both on even more. Before I know it, I wrap my leg up around his waist. He fumbles for his zipper and releases his cock. His mouth envelopes
mine,
and I feel the tug that slides my panties down.

He looks into my eyes. “Say yes Ava. Tell me you want me.”

I shake my head. “No.”

“Tell me Ava. I know you do. You’re so wet. I want you amore, more than air. Tell me.” He slides a finger in
me
and I gasp.

Then he turns serious. “Do you want me to stop?”

“No.”
I wish I could say yes.

He plunges
into
me
and I cry out. Suddenly, both my feet leave the ground, my weight supported by Enzo and the wall behind me. He pounds into me, staring into my eyes. I want to look
away,
but I can’t. I want to be angry with him for talking to me that way, but dammit, I can’t. I don’t want to physically need him like
this, but
I do.
We fuck in silence, our breath the only sound in the room.
Against my wishes, I completely give myself to him. I couldn’t keep away if I tried. I love him so much I ache inside. His anger towards me wounded me to my core.

I twist my fingers in his hair while he pumps into me, wanting desperately t
o erase our
hurtful words. His motion intensifies and he holds my gaze. I feel a sharp intense pressure shoot through my body, so deep I can only hold my breath. Enzo grabs my hair and pulls my mouth to his as his own orgasm hits. We both slide down to the
floor, breathless.

“Ava, I have so much to say. Where do I start?”

I remain silent. I feel the same way.

He holds my face in his hands. “I’m sorry.
So sorry for getting
angry and saying unkind words to you. I love you so
much,
and
I was honestly just…scared. I’m
scared that someone could be out there trying to hurt you or take you away from me. Can you forgive me?”

“I’m scared too Enzo. But I’m scared that you’re going to lock me away in a gilded cage I can only come out of when I’m with you. I don’t know how to fix this.”

“You don’t need to fix anything. It’s my job to protect you.”

“You think I’m a
child
and you control me too much. That needs to be fixed.”

“You think you can do whatever you
want
and that isn’t true anymore.”

We both stare at each other.

“I don’t think you’re a hotel Ava.”

“I don’t think you’re a jackass.”

“You’re safety is more important to me than my own. And you need to make some adjustments in your life to make things safer for you.”

“I get it.”

“You need to tell me everything, even
if
it’s
little. Can you do that?”

“Yes. You need to
treat me more like a woman and less like a fragile child. Can you do that?”

“I can try. But it’s important to me to take care of you.”

“There are lots of ways to do that.”

“You’re right.
”
He lifts my
hand and holds it to his heart. “
Please forgive me?”

“I already have.”

He leans in and kisses me again. This time his lips are soft.

“I love you. More than anything.”

“I know Enzo. I love you too.”

“Come on, let’s get up and get some dinner. Room service?”

I nod. I feel
better,
but I hope I never have to see Enzo that angry again. Especially aimed at me.
That fight was awful. It’
s clear Prince Charming definitely has a temper. From now on, I will tell him if I get a freaking hangnail.

“You order for us. I’m going to take a shower.” I say.

The hot water of the shower feels good against my skin. Is it possible someone really followed us today? Is someone after me? I understand why Enzo feels protective of
me,
but I don’t know how to deal with all of this. Why on earth would someone try to kidnap me or hurt me? All the way in Italy too.

“Bella, our dinner is here.” Enzo calls to me in the shower.

“Be right there.” I dress quickly and join him in the dining area.

I look over at him while he pours the wine. His eyes are rimmed
red,
and his face is still creased with stress. I reach out and rub his arm. “Please don’t be upset with me anymore.”

“I’m not. I’m very upset that I lost my temper like that. I never want to talk to you that way again.”

“It’s my fault Enzo. I’m sorry I wasn’t more forthcoming with you. I’ve learned my lesson.”

“No, my anger is not your fault. Losing my temper is my fault.
And… I forced myself on you.” His voice is soft.

“No you didn’t. We both wanted it. I just wanted to say no because I was hurt. You didn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to.”

“You’re sure?”

“Of course. I love
you. You
know that. It was just what we needed to do at that moment.”

He rubs my hand. “I am still going to have the extra
security,
but I will try very hard not to put you in the cage.”

“Thank you. And I will try very hard not to do stupid and dangerous things.”

He kisses the back of my hand. “Let’s eat.”

“Okay.” I kiss the back of his hand. “I love you Enzo.”

“I’m so glad. And I love you.”

Three large men stand in the living room listening to Enzo’s expectations. Honestly, they look like hit
men,
and the thought crosses my mind that they very well could be. They are intimidating.