Chapter 158 *
This was day seven of his stakeout.
His mother had called him a week ago. Hysterical. Saying she'd seen Scarlett getting out of a BMW with some older man. Salt-and-pepper hair. Expensive suit. Had to be at least fifty.
Lorenzo needed to see for himself.
And there it was. The BMW. The older man. The way he rushed to check on Scarlett when she hit her head.
Lorenzo's hands tightened on the steering wheel.
He'd thought maybe his mother was exaggerating. But that level of concern? That immediate reaction?
That was personal.
Lorenzo waited until Scarlett disappeared into the campus. Then he got out of his car.
The BMW was still parked. The older man was checking something on his phone.
Lorenzo crossed the street. His footsteps were deliberate. Each one brought him closer to this piece of shit who thought he could touch his sister.
Arthur looked up just as Lorenzo's fist connected with his jaw.
The impact sent Arthur stumbling backward into the car. His phone clattered to the pavement.
"What the—" Arthur started to say.
Lorenzo grabbed him by the lapels of his suit and slammed him against the BMW.
"You son of a bitch." Lorenzo's voice was low. Dangerous. "She's twenty-two years old."
Arthur's eyes went wide. "I don't know what you think—"
"I know exactly what's going on." Lorenzo's grip tightened. "You're old enough to be her father. And you got her pregnant."
"Pregnant?" Arthur looked genuinely confused. "I think there's been a—"
Lorenzo punched him again. This time in the stomach. Arthur doubled over with a grunt.
"Don't play dumb with me." Lorenzo shoved him to the ground. "I saw how you looked at her. How you rushed over when she hit her head."
He kicked Arthur in the ribs. Not hard enough to break anything. But hard enough to make a point.
Arthur rolled onto his side. Tried to catch his breath. "You're making a mistake."
"The only mistake here is you." Lorenzo crouched down. Got right in Arthur's face. "She's a kid. A college student. And you're what? Fifty? Sixty?"
"I'm fifty-three." Arthur coughed. "But that's not—"
"Disgusting." Lorenzo stood up. "Absolutely disgusting."
He remembered the phone call from a few weeks ago. When he'd called Scarlett's number and some arrogant asshole had answered. Told him to mind his own business.
This had to be the same guy.
"I'm going to give you one chance." Lorenzo pulled out his wallet. Started counting bills. "Take this money. Fifty thousand dollars. And disappear from her life."
Arthur didn't move. Didn't even look at the money.
"I'm serious." Lorenzo dropped the cash on the ground next to him. "Take it and leave New York. Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of."
Arthur slowly pushed himself to his sitting position. He straightened his tie with shaking hands.
"I can't do that."
Lorenzo's jaw clenched. "Then maybe you need more motivation."
He grabbed Arthur's collar again. Pulled him close enough to smell his breath.
"Do you know who I am? Lorenzo Romano. My family runs half this city. We're not the kind of people you want as enemies."
Arthur met his eyes. "I'm aware of your family's reputation."
"Good." Lorenzo let him go. "Then you know what we're capable of. What we do to people who cross us."
He stood up. Looked down at Arthur still sitting on the pavement.
"This is your last warning. Stay away from my sister."
Arthur was quiet for a long moment. Then he started to laugh.
It wasn't a scared laugh. Or a nervous laugh. It was the kind of laugh someone made when they knew something you didn't.
"I'm sorry." Arthur shook his head. "I really am. But you've completely misunderstood the situation."
"Enlighten me."
"I'm not romantically involved with your sister." Arthur brushed dirt off his jacket. "I'm her household staff. A butler and driver."
Lorenzo stared at him. "What?"
"I work for Mrs. Wolfe's husband." Arthur stood up slowly. Tested his ribs. "I drive her to school. I manage the household. That's all."
"Bullshit."
"It's the truth." Arthur pulled out his phone. "Would you like to speak with my employer? I'm sure he'd be very interested to hear about this assault."
Lorenzo's mind was racing. Household staff? Husband?
"If Scarlett has a husband, who the hell is he?"
Arthur straightened his jacket. "Someone who's going to be very unhappy when I tell him about this conversation."
He started typing on his phone. Lorenzo watched him with growing unease.
After a moment, Arthur's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen.
"My employer would like to meet with you." Arthur showed him the message. "He's sending a location now."
Lorenzo looked at the address. It was a high-end coffee shop near Wolfe Global Enterprises headquarters.
Wait.
Wolfe Global?
"He'll be there in one hour." Arthur pocketed his phone. "I suggest you don't keep him waiting."
Lorenzo's stomach dropped. "Who exactly is your employer?"
Arthur smiled. It wasn't a friendly smile.
"I think it's better if he tells you himself."
Fifty-five minutes later, Lorenzo was sitting at a corner table in the coffee shop.
Arthur had cleaned himself up and left after making the call. But not before giving Lorenzo a look that promised consequences.
Lorenzo checked his watch. Five minutes until the meeting.
His phone buzzed. A text from Nico asking where he was. Lorenzo ignored it.
The door opened. Lorenzo looked up.
And his blood turned to ice.
The man walking in was tall. He wore a black suit that fit perfectly. His dark hair was styled back from his face. His blue eyes swept across the room with the confidence of someone who owned everything he looked at.
Lorenzo recognized him immediately.
Damon Wolfe.