Chapter 60: Resumption

Chapter 60: Resumption
Isla

"You can just stay home if you don't feel like resuming work today..." Rosa pressured me for the umpteenth time. Last night went wrong, I wasn't supposed to be fighting the one man who had vowed to protect me. A part of me got defensive, as the accusation rose to the top of my bones. I couldn't take it. Everything was replayed back into my memory. It was like the scales fell from my eyes to see the true nature of the man I was dating. Wait... Are we dating? I asked myself. I shook my head, the questions only made me confused.

I recalled last night. The closer we were, the way he paid attention. Something Dante never does. I blinked away the memory trying to fit back into my reality.

"You are thinking about him aren't you?" I gulped, blinking as I looked over the top of her head. She was smart, and as she had insisted before, she was damn good at observing. Seeing something that wasn't there.

"I don't know who you are talking about." I avoided her gaze. She tilted her head, forcing her eyes to meet mine.

"Don't pretend like you don't know what I am talking about. You are thinking about Sicario." She pointed at me as I tried to shut her up.

"Dante can walk in any minute."

"I want him to. He needs to see this so he can go kill the bastard for good." I rolled my eyes. I knew what Dante was capable of but I didn't think he was going to hurt anyone just because they had a conversation with me. Since last night, I hadn't even caught a glimpse of him. Or had he gone to really him? My heart skipped a bit as I painted the scenario in my head.

"He wouldn't do that. Besides, whose side are you on?" I scolded, tucking my hands against each other.

"Dante of course. I would not betray you if that's what you are thinking but Sicario isn't the kind of person you would want as a friend."

I had prepared my files and kept holding my laptop, as my mind wandered to what she was saying. "I know. I just met him but it was almost like he knew my desires just by sitting with me. I didn't... I haven't felt that way with Dante before. Maybe he is harmless?"

Rosa facepalmed in frustration. "Trust me, Dante is a necessary evil. Sicario? I'm not sure. All I am saying is be careful, he is not the kind of person that needs to be close to anyone."

I stepped outside into the garage where Giovanni kept the car running, waiting for me. Before I could step into the car, his cologne swept across my senses. I sighed, as his warmth was the only thing left. He dressed casually, in a tee and sweatpants.

"I didn't know you were in?"

"Came back pretty late."
My heart sank, thinking about where he might have been. I shook back the memory. "How is she?"

"I don't know. The last time I saw her was at the party. I don't have her in my mind. Someone else has already occupied that space." His eyes were sunken like he hadn't had any sleep. I sighed, resisting the urge to walk up to him and hug him.

It didn't change the lingering tension between us. "I have to go."

"Tesoro, please wait." He paused. "I want you to know I would not choose anyone above you. When this is all over you'd know." I rolled my eyes. as a guard appeared beside him. "Cesare would be your new driver and your bodyguard."

"You don't have to do that. I am fine on my own."

"Please, Tesoro don't fight this. You aren't going to win. Based on what I know, you are not safe in this city. Giovanni would come with me." He handed me a phone. "It's an emergency phone, you click it, and Cesare would know if you are in trouble. This is a pepper spray." I burst into laughter. He glared at me. "Why are you laughing? I'm being serious here."

"You being protective is cute." I smiled at him as I took a step forward.

"I have military training and said guns. I can spot a threat from a mile and trust me I don't come close to being cute."

"You are cute."

"No I am not." His glare stretched into a smile. "I'm sorry for yesterday. I just don't trust him."

"I know. You don't trust any man who come close to me from a hundred miles." I began. "He just lended a hand of friendship. Nothing more."

"If he hurts...."

"I'd call Cesare and call you. Noted." I stretched on my toes, planting a kiss on his cheek. "I will be fine. Dante. It's my first day at work, I'm not going to a war zone." He grabbed me closer to himself, my eyes wandered to Cesare, waiting for him to leave. He moved quicker into the car. His lips crashed into mine., biting my lower lip, deepening the kiss. His hands snaked around my waist, not letting go.

We both pulled away ravishing in his minty breath. "I will be fine." I paused, eyes glancing at the car, where Cesare was. "Do you trust him?"

"Yes, we served and trained together. He is loyal." He glanced at me, locking a strand of my hair behind my ears. "Besides, he knows if anything happens to you he would be dead too."


We arrived at the company and I sat in the car for a while, staring at the bug building from behind the tinted glass. I sighed, steadily pacing my beating heart.

"Do you need anything, ma'am?" Cesare asked, his expression was a bit calmer. Unlike Giovanni who had the expression of a killer on sight. I was safer because he had always been there. Anyone Dante trusted, I tried to trust too.

"No. After what happened back at San Francisco, I am just scared to be living normal again."

"We could go somewhere you would like..." He offered.

"I don't have to. It's fine." I got out of the car before he could reach for my door. I entered the building, checking in with the assistant on my resumption. The head quarter design was filled with marble floors, iron balconies overlooking the old city. It was a blend of old Sicilian aristocracy and contemporary minimalism. Back at the San Francisco office, people say the headquarters felt like a museum , quietly curated. But they
didn't say one thing.

Hisini interiors was deeply intimidating..