Sold to Moretti Mafia

Lucca

Claire turns to face the window, arms folded over her chest. It sucks that this is how today will end, with her pissed off at me, but it is what it is.

A few minutes later, we turn into the subdivision and then into the driveway of the small cookie-cutter house. As if she can’t get out of the car fast enough, Claire undoes her seatbelt and bounds from the SUV, the second she spots Steven and Tracy waiting to greet us at the front door.

I take my time and put the vehicle in park and shut it off before I climb out. I wanted to give Claire a moment with her parents, especially after everything that happened the last time they were together.

As I step out of the car and walk up to them, Claire’s soft laughter rings through my ears. It tugs at my heart, and I’m reminded why I’m doing this. Why I’ve done everything I could to protect her. She is too innocent for this world, a butterfly that should be free to fly and never caged by the harsh rules that this life I live brings.

“I was so worried that something had happened to you,” Claire whispers and wraps her arms around Steven.

He smiles and kisses her on the head. “Nothing could stop me. I’ve got a few bruises but nothing serious.”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Claire pulls away, taking a step back. It’s then that she realizes I’m there, and she returns to her sour-faced expression. The door to the house opens, drawing our attention to it.

“Hey!” Carter walks out with his hands in his pockets. Young, and hopefully, not dumb. He’s only a little older than Claire but will be the perfect live-in bodyguard. His dark green eyes pause on Claire. I half expect desire to pool in his eyes, but all I see is curiosity.

“Who is he?” Claire doesn’t direct her question at me, but instead, Tracy and Steven.

“Lucca thought after what happened that it would be a good idea to have a live-in bodyguard. Someone that could…”

Tracy doesn’t even get to finish her sentence before Claire is turning and shoving her finger into my chest. She’s short, her head coming to about level with my pecs.

“If this is what you meant when you said things would be different, then no. No, he isn’t staying here. It’s one thing to have someone follow me when I leave the house, but this… this is taking it too far.” The anger in her eyes ignites a fire in my belly.

I want to push her, make her understand why it has to be this way, why I am leaving. That this is why I will risk her heart to sever the connection.

“Carter will not hurt you. He will not interfere with your life or bother you in any way. If it’s easier, you can pretend he isn’t here at all.”

Carter snorts, a smirk on his lips that slips off his face when I pin him with a don’t-make-me-kill-you-right-here gaze.

“Ha, yeah. That sounds doable.” Claire shakes her head. “No, you’re taking him with you. End of discussion.” The more she pushes, the more I push back. She thinks she can win this argument, but there is no arguing with me about her protection.

“Sorry, Claire, but he’s staying. It has to be this way.”

My word is final, and she knows it, which is probably why she curls her lips and hisses at me like a kitten.

“I hate you!” She pokes my chest with her finger. “I hate you, and I don’t want your protection. I don’t want you to be a part of my life. In fact, I wish you never saved my life that day.” Each word is a slap across my face, but I stand tall and strong like a lighthouse battered by the salty ocean waves. Claire is just mad. She doesn’t mean anything she’s saying right now. A response sits on the edge of my tongue.

Angrily, Claire turns around and marches into the house, slamming the door closed behind her. Tracy sighs, and her red cheeks tell me she wants to apologize, but she has nothing to apologize for. Claire’s reaction is as expected.

“Carter is here to help with anything you may need. I’ll still be available via cell phone.”

“Do you want to stay for dinner? Maybe she’ll perk up soon.”

“No, that’s okay.” I smile through the pain pulsing in my chest. “I think it’s best I leave.”

I know Tracy is disappointed, but the only thing that will make things better for Claire is for me to disappear. Once I’m gone, she’ll return to a normal routine. I’m sure of it. Especially after what she said about wishing I had never saved her life that night.

“Well, drive safe, and if you need anything, please let us know.” Tracy smiles.

Steven waves goodbye and ushers his wife into the house, leaving Carter and me on the front porch.

“I’ve got this, boss. No worries.”

I grit my teeth. I’m putting Claire’s life in his hands. He better have a good fucking grasp on everything. Otherwise, this is going to end badly for him.

“You better. I want updates every single day, and when I say this…” I stalk toward him and fist the front of his shirt, forcing him to both hear and see me. “If you touch her or hurt her, I will kill you, and I promise it won’t be a simple little bullet to the head. Understand?” I give him a little shake.

Carter keeps it together, only allowing a sliver of terror to slip through.

“Yes. Yes, I understand.” Carter clears his throat.

“Good.” I release him and take a step back. “Every day. I want a text every day, Carter. If I don’t get one, then I’ll assume the worst, and show up right on this fucking doorstep.”

“I know. I’ll give you an update every day, and I won’t touch her. I won’t have anything at all to do with her.”

I nod, satisfied with his answer. “Good, be safe and take care of her. I’m leaving now.”

“I will.” Carter stands a little straighter.

He’s the perfect person for this job. I shove my hands into my pockets and walk down the driveway. Every step that I take away from her is another weight added to my feet, making it harder for me to walk away.

I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to push her away, but staying with me isn’t safe. I can’t protect her and be the reason she’s in danger. I have to go, even if it’s just for her. Maybe I’ll see her again someday? I would hope so given the way things ended today, but if I don’t, I won’t be surprised. Claire wished I hadn’t saved her life, so it is better for me to not exist in her life, not in the physical sense at least.

If I ever see her again, I can only hope it is years from now, when she has realized her crush on me was nothing special and that I did everything I could to make sure she had a good life.