The Italian

I walk over to Lorenzo. “Can I have a moment?”

“Yes, son.”

My eyes hold his. “I want it to be painful,” I whisper. “I want them to suffer.”

He smiles darkly. “You have my word.”

“Bring their hearts to me in a box.”

He clenches his jaw and nods. “Yes, sir.”

“Start the fucking war.”

7

Olivia

Six days later

I pace back and forth on my balcony, listening to the phone ring.

“Pick up, pick up,” I whisper.

The call is cut off and my heart drops. Rico rejected it. He usually just doesn’t answer but today he actually rejected it—me.

My Italian Stallion is an asshole. He’s the kind that is too gutless to let me down like an adult. Instead, he’s going to pretend nothing happened between us, which makes him the worst kind of fucking asshole.

Weak.

I throw my phone onto the couch and drop down onto the bed.

How could I have been so gullible? There I was, opening my heart and telling him he’s my sun, falling to my knees and sucking his dick as a goodbye present, and he doesn’t even want to talk to me now.

I fell for his act hook, line, and sinker. I really thought we had something.

I feel stupid that my feelings are hurt, and if this is what the world of casual sex is like, count me out. I want nothing to fucking do with it.

I’m not heartbroken because I really didn’t know him, and it was very early days.

But disappointed? Yes. Hell, yes.

My ego has taken a massive hit. I mean, if Rico didn’t call me after the chemistry we shared, what chance do I ever have of hearing from someone who I share mediocre chemistry with?

I gave him my best and did all that I could. I was totally myself and still, it wasn’t enough. Maybe there really is something wrong with me.

I get a vision of Rico and I laughing and riding around on the bike. I see us making love—fucking like rabbits. It felt so real and raw at the time.

I’m getting angry now.

Screw you, Italian Stallion. I’m too good for you, anyway.

I would rather be single than made to feel like a worthless piece of meat.

You know what? I’m just going to see it for what it was: a great weekend.

It didn’t work out. So what?

Maybe something has happened to him…