Chapter 19
19
Victoria
I sneak back into the house like I’m floating. My feet barely touch the ground. It’s like I’m gliding over the surface.
My body aches as I move, but it’s the most amazing ache I have ever felt.
I’ve never been so happy. Which is funny because the night started off as the worst of my life, but now, with my hair a mess and my lips still tingling from his kiss, all I can do is smile, because Lorenzo is amazing.
I should be worried.
Hell, I should be more cautious, but I’m not. I have no desire to play the perfect daughter anymore.
How could I when my whole body is still warm and weightless from everything that happened tonight?
Lorenzo’s scent still clings to my skin, sweet and real and maddeningly sexy. His voice echoes through me, making me feel weak in the best way. I’ll wait for you.
I can’t stop smiling. It’s reckless.
Dangerous. Treasonous.
Which, apparently, is my new personality trait.
I turn the corner, and everything goes cold.
My father waits for me at the top of the stairs, arms folded, jaw tight, posture carved from marble.
My stomach turns.
Fear coils inside me.
The chandelier spills gold light over his shoulders, spotlighting every hard angle of his expression.
He looks like an evil king in exile. One who is about to send me to my death.
“Where the hell have you been p>
My heart stutters, catching like a misfired engine. “I was p>
“Spare me the lie.” He cuts in. “You think I didn’t notice? Half the fucking staff saw you sneak out like some rebellious little brat p>
My stomach twists. “I went for air. That’s not a crime p>
He laughs. The sound is strange and not normal.
“Air? Is that what we’re calling it now? Because what I saw was you sneaking off with that boy p>
“His name is Lorenzo,” I hiss.
“You are going to destroy everything,” he snarls. “Do you understand that? Do you have any idea what your little rebellion costs this family p>
“Costs you,” I bite back, heat rising under my skin. “Not me. You. Because you see me as a bargaining chip, not a daughter p>
He storms down the stairs toward me, voice rising with every step. “You are seventeen p>
“Eighteen,” I snap. “Today, remember p>
“You are a child,” he spits, “who is about to ruin a billion-dollar deal because she got wet over a boy who fixes the goddamn gutters p>
His words slap me across the face. Tilting my world until my ears begin to ring. I want to hit him. I want to scream. I want to disappear. But my voice comes out cold. Steady. Lethal.
“I love him p>
He stops.
And laughs again. This time it’s sharper. Crueler.
“Love?” he echoes. “You don’t know the first thing about love. But let me tell you something about reality. That boy is a liability. And if you think for one second that I’ll let you throw away your future—our future—for a fling, then you’re more foolish than I thought p>
I take a step forward, the marble cold beneath my bare feet. “You don’t get to decide who I love p>
He leans in close. I smell scotch. I smell smoke. I smell the ruin of everything I should have been but never wanted to be.
“You think this is about love?” His voice drops to a whisper sharp enough to cut. “No. This is about power. About reputation. And you… you are my daughter. Which means your heart isn’t yours to give away p>
I shake my head, whispering, “I won’t let you control me p>
He grabs my wrist hard, and I yelp out in pain.
“You won’t have to,” he says. “Because you’re leaving. Your bags are already packed. The car will be here in twenty minutes p>
My mouth falls open. “What? No. You can’t do that p>
“I can, and I have p>
I yank my wrist back like his touch burns. “You’re insane p>
He gives me the kind of smile men give seconds before they break something fragile.
“You think this is insane? If you don’t cooperate, I’ll make sure that boy and his mother are on a bus to nowhere by sunrise. Better yet”—he pauses, savoring it—“I’ll let the people who are looking for them know exactly where they are p>
Everything inside me freezes.
“What… what do you mean?” My voice cracks as my heart slams against my ribs.
He just shrugs. Casual as hell. It’s infuriating.
We aren’t discussing the damn weather.
“You really thought she just wound up here? She’s hiding from people who don’t like to be disrespected. Dangerous people p>
My breath leaves my lungs like it’s been punched out. “Who p>
“Does it matter p>
“Yes,” I snap. “It matters. Lorenzo said things… stories. About how she always ran. Always looked over her shoulder. Are you saying you know who she’s running from p>
He checks his watch.
“You’ve got nineteen minutes left,” he says. “Use them however you like p>
He spins on his heel and walks off.
Just like that.
Like I’m disposable.
And to him, I am.
My legs almost give out. I grip the wall until the spinning slows.
Then I run.
I check the servant wing—empty. The kitchen is silent. It’s barely dawn.
Shit. What do I do? I need to tell Lorenzo.
I check the staff stairwell and even behind the laundry room. My heart pounds so violently that it shakes my ribs.
Then I see her.
Angela. Holding a tray. Her eyes widen when she sees me.
“Miss Victoria p>
“I need you to give him this.” My voice breaks, splintering in the middle. I snatch a notecard from the counter and scribble something on the back, my hands shaking hard enough to smear the ink.
They’re sending me away. I don’t want to leave you. I love you.
I press it into her hand. “Please. Tell him I’m sorry. Tell him I didn’t want to leave p>
Her eyes go glassy. She nods slowly. “I’ll make sure he gets it p>
I turn and run again.
Because if I stop, I’ll break into pieces too small to ever glue back together.
By the time I reach the front entrance, the car is already waiting—sleek and black. It’s still dark out. How is this happening?
My suitcase sits beside the door. This was planned. I’m a foregone conclusion.
We never stood a chance. I just need him to find me.
The driver opens the door.
I climb in, trembling.
The engine rumbles. The estate gates groan open.
And as the mansion shrinks behind me, my heart shatters with every inch of road we put between us.
Lorenzo will wake to a note. He’ll find me.