Chapter 26 Screw You
Evelyn’s POV
Lorenzo walked beside me for a while, his tall frame drawing far too much attention. People’s eyes lingered on him. Some out of curiosity, others out of fear. Of course, everyone knew who he was—the Devil, the man people whispered about but never dared to look at twice. A few even hid behind shelves, pretending not to see him.
I tugged gently at his sleeve. “Maybe you should wait somewhere over there,” I said, nodding toward a nearby coffee shop. “You’re…..kind of making everyone uncomfortable.”
He arched his brow. “Uncomfortable?”
“Lorenzo,” I sighed, tilting my head. “You look like a mafia boss in a crowd of tourists. I’ll be fine. Just let me handle this.”
His jaw flexed, but after a long second, he exhaled slowly. “Fine. But if you’re not back in fifteen minutes, I’m coming for you.”
I hissed. “You make that sound like a threat.”
He leaned closer, voice dropping low. “It is.”
I rolled my eyes, pushing the trolley forward. “Just don’t attract more attention please.”
He let out a wicked smirk, shaking his head.
As I moved toward the grocery section, I could still feel his eyes on me. Sharp, watchful, protective.
I was picking some cartons of milk when a man walked up beside me. His cologne hit first, too strong, too intentional. His broad shoulders fitted too well on the navy blue suit that he was wearing. If I wasn’t standing alone I would have sworn that he wasn’t talking to me.
Because, God. He looks…..charming that I doubted he would ever want to have anything to do with someone like me. But in everything there is still one man that bit his handsomeness.
Lorenzo Scofield.
“Excuse me,” he said with a grin, “I couldn’t help noticing you from over there. You’ve got one of those smiles that make people forget what they came here for.”
That was when I noticed the strong smell of whiskey coming out from his mouth. He must be really drunk or something.
I blinked at him, trying to keep polite. “That’s nice of you, but I’m kind of busy.”
“Busy buying the whole store?” He chuckled, stepping closer. “I’m sure your husband won’t mind if we talk a little. Or….” he paused, looking at my empty ring finger, “…..maybe he doesn’t exist yet?”
I gave a small laugh, more out of disbelief. “You should walk away now.”
He smirked. “Come on, sweetheart. Just one coffee. My treat.”
I ignored him and began to load my cart, humming songs that I don’t even know if they existed.
He scoffed, and moved forward. “By the way, my name is Logan.”
Before I could think of replying to him, the air around us shifted. Thick, heavy, electric. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.
Lorenzo.
His eyes blazing with fury, jaw cleanched. “What the hell is going on here?”
I distance myself from Logan with a quick jerk. “No….nothing.”
In two long strides, Lorenzo closed the distance between me and Logan, stepping in front of me with a protective arm. His hand seized Logan’s collar before the poor guy even realized what was happening.
“You think it’s funny to talk to her?” Lorenzo’s voice came out as a growl, low and dangerous. “You think she needs your attention?”
“Hey…..hey, man!” Logan stammered, struggling against his hold. “It was just a conversation!”
“Conversations, you say?!” Lorenzo barked, twisting his shirt like he had an intention to strangle him.
The entire aisle went silent. People froze, eyes wide, phones already sneaking out to record.
“Lorenzo!” I trembled, grabbing his arm. “Stop it, it was just a harmless conversation!”
But he didn’t. His eyes were black storms, his jaw tight as he slammed Logan lightly against the shelf. “Next time you see a woman like her, you walk the hell away.”
“Lorenzo!” I said again, firmer this time. “Let him go!”
I wasn’t done when I had the sound of a punch, it was on Logan’s face.
God. My heart went still.
Logan didn’t take it lightly either, I guess he doesn’t know who Lorenzo was.
“What’s up man!” Logan barked, gripping Lorenzo on his neck. Then, he landed a blow on Lorenzo.
Lorenzo’s face fell sideways, his hand cupping his jaw. When he straightened up, he looked nothing short of a monster, rigid, nose flaring, eyes burning with rage.
“You son of a bitch!” Lorenzo went for Logan again. This time he didn’t spare him a chance to even breathe.
Logan struggled, shoving at his arm. “Who the fuck are you to her?”
Lorenzo’s lips curved into something dark. “You want to know, huh?” He shoved him hard. “Wait, let me tell you.”
His fist connected again, the sound echoing through the hall, sharp, brutal, taunting.
For a moment, I was completely clueless. Should I scream, call the cops, or throw myself between them? Maybe then he would stop.
“Lorenzo!” I yelled.
I rushed toward them and grabbed Lorenzo’s hand, but he yanked it away with such force that I stumbled and fell hard to the ground, the groceries scattering around me.
“Eve, stay out of this!” He ordered.
The ache didn’t let me stand up immediately, I had to remain there for some minutes before thinking of standing up again. I stood up massaging my waist as I watched the two men still hitted up in a fight.
I couldn’t just stand and watch them, I had to do something, anything.
Call for help. The thought came to my mind.
I searched around, everyone was too terrified to even move forward. I ran to the staff, my breath too quick to form words.
“Don…..Don’t stand there and watch. Call the security.”
None of them moved an inch, they all coiled sideways. Staring with the corner of their eyes.
“Can someone hear me out!” I panted.
Still, nothing.
I ranked my brain, there should be someone else who could stop it.
“Yes, Gideon”
I didn’t think again, my legs moved. He should be somewhere outside, he had dropped us.
“Gideon!!” I lugged out, panic filling my voice.
In not much time I was outside. My head fell just where he had parked the car when we arrived and thank goodness he was still there, resting on the body of the car.
“Gideon…..!” I ran to him, panting.
“Ms. Martins.” he called out, his eyes locking on mine with desperate urgency.
“Lo……Lorenzo….” I pointed to the mall direction. “He’s about to kill someone.”
The stiffness in Gideon’s shoulders eased, his posture softening in a way that told me he was used to watching Lorenzo take lives.
“Gideon do something….!” I dragged his arm leading him to the mall.
He pulled away, his composure too calm for the chaos going on. “Ms. Martins, relax. You don’t have to panic that much.”
“Did I hear you well, huh?” My eyes widened in disbelief. “Please just do something before it is too late.”
Gideon followed me and we went inside, but still the same thing. It was as if the fight was just getting started.
Gideon rushed to Lorenzo, grabbing his arm and pulled him back, trying to calm the storm raging inside him. “Boss…..boss,” he said softly, placing a steady hand on Lorenzo’s chest, his voice calm but firm.
Lorenzo didn’t listen at first. He made another move toward Logan, who now lay almost lifeless on the ground, patches of bruises already decorating his face, streaked with blood.
I shook my head, panic clawing at my chest. “Gideon! Do something, damn it!”
Gideon quickly blocked Lorenzo. “Boss, you don’t have to stress yourself with this. I will take it from here.”
For a heartbeat, Lorenzo didn’t move. His breathing rough, his chest rising and falling like a beast barely contained. Then, slowly, he released Logan, who crawled backward and ran without looking back.
Lorenzo turned to me, fury still flickering behind his gaze. “You call that harmless?!”
I crossed my arms, meeting his stare. “I call that you overreacted!”
“He touched your hand.”
He took a step closer. “He looked at you like he owned you.”
“And you acted like you actually do!” I said, breathing shakily.
The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut air.
I stared up at him, my heartbeat fast but steady. “I don’t need a guard dog, Lorenzo. I can handle people like him.”
His expression softened slightly, guilt slipping beneath the fire. “You shouldn’t have to.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “Maybe not. But I want to. That’s the difference.”
He shook his head. “No, you are not in the right position to say that.” He hovered around me. “You belong to me, Eve…..and no one else deserves to be near what is mine.”
I flicked my head, forcing my breath to steady. My eyes moved around, capturing the faces of people quickly looking away. “Congratulations,” I muttered, “you’ve just turned a grocery run into a crime scene.”
A faint smirk curved his lips. “Maybe that’s the main fun in shopping.”
I muttered a curse under my breath. “Screw you, Lorenzo.” My voice came out flat, drained. “I’m out of here.”