Chapter 104 *
Third Person POV
The second morning, Scarlett looked around at the boxes she'd packed the night before.
Not many. She hadn't accumulated much in the few days she'd been here.
Damon was already loading them into the SUV. He'd insisted on helping. Hadn't said much. Just started carrying boxes downstairs the moment she finished taping them shut.
She grabbed her laptop bag. Took one last look at the empty living room.
She locked the door behind her. Headed down to where Damon was waiting.
The drive back was quiet.
When they pulled up to the estate, Maria was waiting at the entrance. Her face broke into a huge smile when she saw Scarlett.
"Mrs. Wolfe! Welcome home!"
Scarlett managed a small smile back. "Thanks, Maria."
"I'll have your things taken to your room right away." Maria was already gesturing to the staff.
Within minutes, her boxes were being carried upstairs. Maria was talking about dinner plans. About how happy everyone was that she was back.
Scarlett nodded along. Made the appropriate responses.
Nobody mentioned divorce. Nobody mentioned anything that had happened over the past few days.
It was like they'd both agreed to pretend none of it existed.
Three days later, Scarlett was in her room. She'd just changed into pajamas. Was about to climb into bed when her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She stared at it. Let it ring twice. Three times.
Could be spam. Could be a wrong number.
Or it could be Lorenzo with yet another burner phone.
She'd blocked his number at least six times now. He kept calling from different phones. Different numbers.
The man was relentless.
Against her better judgment, she answered.
"Hello?"
"Scarlett. Thank God. I've been trying to reach youâ€""
She closed her eyes. Of course. Lorenzo.
"How many phones do you have?" Her voice came out flat.
"I just want to talk. That's all. Just five minutes."
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Please. I'm worried about you." His voice sounded genuinely distressed. "You left the house. You won't answer my calls. I don't know where you areâ€""
"And that's exactly how I want it."
"Scarlett." He took a breath. She could hear him trying to calm himself down. "I went to that apartment. The one Graham mentioned. But nobody answered. Are you okay? Are you safe?"
"I'm fine."
"Where are you staying? Is it with the baby's father?"
"That's none of your business."
"It is my business!" His voice rose. "You're my sister. You're twenty-two years old. Pregnant. With some guy whose identity you won't even tell us."
"Who I'm with. Where I live. What I do. None of that concerns you."
"You're part of this family."
"No." She cut him off. "I was never part of this family."
"That's not true."
"Really? Then why did everyone assume I cheated on my SATs? Why did nobody defend me? "
Lorenzo didn't answer.
"Exactly." Scarlett's grip tightened on the phone. "So forgive me if I don't buy this sudden concern. This caring big brother routine."
"I do care." His voice got quieter. "I know things have been complicated. But you're still my sister."
"We're not family." She enunciated each word clearly. "Family doesn't treat each other the way you all treated me."
"Just tell me where you are. Let me help."
"I don't need your help. I don't need anything from you."
"At least tell me about the guy. Who is he? What's his background? Is he treating you right?"
Scarlett almost laughed. "Now you care about my relationship?"
"I'm trying to look out for you."
"A little late for that."
"Scarlett." Lorenzo's voice got firmer. More insistent. "You're young. You grew up in rural Montana. You don't know how these men in the city operate. How they take advantage."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm just saying you need to be careful. Make sure he's not using you."
The condescension in his tone made her blood boil. He was talking to her like she was some naive country girl who didn't know any better.
"Thanks for the concern." Her voice came out ice cold. "But I can take care of myself."
"If you won't tell me about him, at least consider getting married properly. Make it legal. For your own protection."
"That's none of your business either."
"Scarlett, I need to knowâ€""
"No. You don't." She was done with this conversation. Done with his questions. Done with everything. "Stop calling me. Stop trying to find me. Just leave me alone."
"Wait. Don't hang upâ€""
She ended the call. Her hand moved automatically. Went straight to the block contact option.
Added the number to her growing list of blocked Lorenzo numbers.
Her phone was becoming more blocked contacts than actual contacts at this point.
Maybe she should just change her number completely. Start fresh.
She tossed the phone on the bed. Climbed under the covers. Pulled them up to her chin.
Family. What a joke.
The Romano estate in Staten Island was quiet. Lorenzo sat in the first-floor study. His phone was still in his hand. The mechanical voice message was playing on repeat in his head.
"The number you are trying to reach has been blocked."
Again. She'd blocked him again.
He set the phone down on the desk. Ran both hands through his hair.
Not that he could blame her. After the way the family had treated her.
But still. The thought gnawed at him. His little sister. Out there somewhere. With some man whose identity he didn't even know.
What if the guy was bad news? What if he was using her? Taking advantage of her age? Her inexperience?
Lorenzo had tried to find information. Had mobilized family resources. Called in favors with investigators.
Nothing. No marriage license under her name in New York. No property records. No paper trail.
Whoever this guy was, he knew how to stay hidden.
That thought made Lorenzo's stomach turn. Because men who knew how to hide usually had something to hide.
He picked up his phone again. Stared at Scarlett's contact. The blocked icon stared back at him.
"We're family," he muttered to himself. "How did it get this bad?"
A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
The door opened. Zelda stood there. She was holding a plate with a slice of cake. Homemade by the looks of it. Chocolate with vanilla frosting.
"Hi." Her voice was small. Hesitant. "I baked this earlier. Thought you might want some."
Lorenzo looked at the cake. Then at Zelda.
Her expression was hopeful. Eager to please. That same look she'd had since Scarlett left.
"Thanks." He didn't reach for the plate. "But I'm not hungry."
Her face fell slightly. "Oh. Okay."
She set the plate down on the desk anyway. Hovering near the door.
"Do you want company? I could make us some tea."
"I'm fine." His voice came out sharper than he intended. "I just need to be alone right now."
Hurt flashed across her face. "Right. Of course. I'll just..."
She backed toward the door. Gave him one last hopeful look.
When he didn't say anything else, she left. Closed the door quietly behind her.