Chapter 24 I Can Never Fall For You
Lorenzo’s POV
Of course I knew. I was the one who stormed into their hospital that night. I forced her to treat me, and coincidentally, she did it with so much ease. It was just unfortunate for me that I lost my power in the process.
She looks too innocent to be a threat to me. She has no idea how my strength was transferred to her.
But why do Kim’s words keep replaying in my head, like a part of me wants to agree with her?
My fingers lingered on Evelyn’s arm, too soft, too human. That for some reason it seems like I’m now forgetting my purpose on earth, a part of me is beginning to grow soft and I hate it.
“Look at me,” I forced her eyes on me. “That kiss back there was nothing”
I drew down her lower lip, exposing her clenched teeth. “I don’t want you to be carried away, I can never fall for you. I only take sex from women.”
she brushed her chin away from me with force, a bitter scoff passed through her. “Oh, don’t flatter yourself Mr. Man.”
she crossed her arms around herself. “I can never fall for you either.”
A small laugh slipped from my lips, quiet, restrained. I took a step forward, watching her eyes squeeze with so much hate.
Her breathing quickened, and I could almost hear her heartbeat racing beneath her skin. I shouldn’t have enjoyed it, but I did.
“Is that what you tell yourself?” I asked, my voice low. “I bet if I ask to kiss you again, you won’t stop me.”
She tilted her head, chuckled with her head turning sideways. “I don’t know who used to deceive you, but trust me Lorenzo Scofield….if you are the last man on earth, I will choose to remain single forever.”
I grounded my teeth, my pulse hammering on my ears. Every woman would always jump to me at the slightest raise of finger, I have always been the one to push them away.
But with Evelyn Martins.….?
The case is now different, she is the one rejecting me.
Funny, but I will still teach her a lesson. I will make her beg for what she swore she will never have and when even if she begs I will never give it to her.
I’ll push her past every line she’s drawn. I will tease her soft little clit until she no longer knows whether she’s fighting me or herself.
“We will see to that.” I finally said.
My chest brushed on her temple, slow, calculating and trying. I let my hand trace an imaginary line on the fabric flower perching on her dress, her heart pounding faster beneath my hands.
I knew she was lying, her body told me so. But I needed her to accept it with words. She can keep acting stubborn, but soon.
Very soon.
I pulled Evelyn through her waist letting our body collide in a shocking moment.
She gasped, breath shaky. “Let me go.” She fought to break free, but my grip was too strong to let her.
My face hovered over hers, our breaths mingling in the air, warm and unexplainable, almost about to kiss when the door flew open.
Evelyn pressed a hand on my chest pushing me back immediately Gideon revealed himself.
He froze with his eyes and mouth wide open. “Oh….I’m sorry boss,” he turned to leave.
“Wait.” My voice stopped him.” He stood at attention.
A knowing smile settled at my lips as my eye caught Evelyn’s head buried low, trembling with what I believed was shyness.
I turned back to Gideon. “You don’t have to leave, we are almost done.”
Evelyn snapped her head up. “Done with what?”
I shoved her off. “What brought you here?” I asked Gideon.
He slowly turned, his voice low. “The cars….we are are ready to go, sir.”
“We are coming.” I replied.
Gideon lowered his head before stepping away.
I turned back to Evelyn. “We need to start going now.”
She stumbled back, clutching at nothing. “Where are we going again?”
I rolled my eyes, another drama. Does she have to do this anytime I suggest we go out?
My hands found my pocket, curling inside. “What’s wrong with you?” I blurted out. “Are you not the one that suggested you don’t stop visiting the orphanage?”
She nodded, lost of words.
I squared my shoulders. “Well, that’s where we are going to.”
Evelyn’s face lit up. “Really?” She made an attempt for a hug but stopped at a point, lowering her head.
“Thank you.” She said softly.
I exhaled deeply. “I don’t need your thank you. This is part of the agreement and I’m just fulfilling mine, so I expect you to do so too.”
She didn’t hesitate. Her fingers moved with quiet confidence, twisting together as the corners of her lips curved……soft, effortless, the kind of smile that reached her eyes and made something inside me loosen without permission.
The drive was too long.
Too bright.
Too full of things I didn’t care to see.
My mind spiraled from what was going to happen, I have never been around kids, the few I have actually spent seconds close to, was when I was about to take their lives. Maybe because their parents or guardians choose to sacrifice them for their greedy needs.
But not for once have I spent quality time around them.
Now, Eve is going to force me to do so.
My head turned to Evelyn who was seated beside me in the passenger seat, her face turned to the window, the sunlight shining brightly on her skin. She’d been quiet for most of the ride, humming under her breath to a song I didn’t know. Peaceful. That was the word. She looked peaceful and for some awkward reason, that irritated me.
“You look too excited.” I asked finally, my eyes now on the road. “Just wondering if this is actually necessary.”
She turned to me, smiling like she’d been waiting for the question. “It’s not about necessity, Lorenzo. It’s about what keeps me going. Just wait, you will love the kids too.”
Love the kids?
The words left a bitter taste in my mouth.
The tires crunched over gravel as we pulled into a compound that looked too big, an old building with a faded painting. A wide gate, overgrown flowers resting along the fences. Children’s laughter filled the air, too loud, too alive.
I felt my jaw tighten.
She unbuckled her seat belt and looked at me with those eyes. Soft, pleading, impossibly gentle. “Please don’t frown like that before you scare the kids away.”
I adjusted my shade. “I’m not frowning.”
“You are,” she said, already opening her door. “Come on.”
The moment I stepped out the scent of dust, baby soap and something sugary, maybe cookies blocked my nose. I shoved my hands into my pockets, ignoring the group of children already running toward her like she was some kind of goddess.
“Big Sis!!!”
Their voices collided, a blur of giggles and tiny feet. She knelt immediately, arms wide open, and they crashed into her. The sight would have been laughable if it didn’t make my chest feel……tight.
I stayed by the car, watching.
She greeted them all by name., hugging them one after the other, the smallest one clung to her neck, toying with her hair, whispering something that made her laugh, and for a brief second I couldn’t look away.
She was glowing and I hated how much I noticed.
When she finally looked up, she waved me over. “Lorenzo, come meet them!”
I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Stop pretending,” she said, standing and brushing her dress. “They won’t bite.”
“I’d rather not find out.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
Before she could turn away the kids were already close, staring at me with those tiny curious eyes, whispering among themselves.
Evelyn forced a smile and held my wrist ignoring my face.
“This is my friend, Lorenzo,”
Friend?
The word struck harder than it should have.
If I had not known her for a few days I would have believed she was actually this sweet. But I guess all this softness was just an act in front of the kids.
Maybe to make them feel safe.
A little boy stepped forward, maybe six or seven, his clothes too big for his frame. “You look scary,” he said plainly.
Evelyn gasped. “Demian!”
I almost laughed. “He’s observant.”
The boy grinned up at me, clearly unbothered by her scolding. “Do you like football?”
“No.”
“Do you like candy?”
“No.”
“Do you like people?”
That one made Evelyn stifle a laugh.
I met the boy’s gaze. “Not particularly.”
He blinked at me for a second, then shrugged. “That’s okay. I didn’t like people when I came here either.” And just like that, he ran off, chasing another child across the yard.
Evelyn looked at me, shaking her head. “You could have at least pretend to be happy.”
I scoffed, then walked over to her. “Pretend….?”
“Yes”
“Well, I don’t like pretense.”
Her upper lip curled with her hands now resting on her chest. “You are wired.”
I didn’t talk back. My eyes swept over the place instead, wooden benches, a garden with beautiful sunflowers, a group of girls braiding each other’s hair under a tree.
Evelyn moved beside me, her tone softening. “You know” she looked around. “After I had lost my parents, I took it upon myself to open an orphanage where I will lend voices for children like me.”
The silence stretched before she continued. “I grew up where orphans are seen as garbage. Freinds, my uncle, even schooling was difficult for me because people believed that kids without parents shouldn’t have a say. So after school I decided to be the voice of these kids.”
Her gaze followed the children as they ran, chaos and joy spilling everywhere. The corners of her eyes softened, a quiet light flickering there
“You did all this?” I asked quietly.
“With help,” she said. “But yes. These kids….. they remind me that life doesn’t always have to be cruel.”
Cruel.
The word echoed somewhere inside me.
I looked away. “I don’t like being around kids.”
She laughed softly, as if she’d expected that. “Why not?”
I wanted to remain silent, opening up to her might awaken a wound I’m not ready to feel.
“I just don’t like them, they stare too much.” I lied instead.
“Maybe they see something you don’t,” she said gently.
“Like what?”
“That you’re not as heartless as you think.”
Her words hit somewhere I didn’t want them to.
“Why did you say so?”
She let out a deep sigh. “Gideon…..he told me.”
I turned quickly to her. “Told you what?”
Evelyn lowered her head. “That you are not actually human.” She said it in a tiny voice, barely audible.
I almost laughed. The words sounded crazy to me, but it is what it is.
Before I could even think of how to reply to her, a voice echoed from behind.