“No,” I hissed, glaring at the tiny house.
“Don’t forget you’re the one who told her to never come back. You’re the one who told her to leave.”
“I know!”
“And I’m saying don’t be angry. She did exactly what you told her to do.” Paolo shifted in his seat, appearing uncomfortable. “We should leave.”
“No! Just be quiet and let me think.”
A gruesome scene played out in my mind. I’d give Isla an hour, then I would burst through the door and blow his brains out.
I replayed the scene a dozen times in my head. My vicious imagination created different ways to end his fucking life as I watched the little brown house. The lights in the front room were on. I tried not to picture Isla kissing and touching another man in the living room. No other lights were on in the place.
Thirty minutes had passed and like a loyal, obedient cousin, Paolo had kept his mouth shut. But by now, I was done being patient. And I was ready to commit murder…
“Give me your gun.” I put my hand out.
“Sir?” His dark eyes cut to mine.
Just as I was about to threaten his livelihood, Isla stepped out of the house. She wiped her eyes, walking to her car with her head down. Once inside, it took three tries to get her piece of shit started.
Maybe she ended it with her lover because I was back.Good.
“Follow her.” I pointed at her car.
Paolo grunted and obeyed my order.
I didn’t care how late it was; I needed to talk to Isla tonight. If she had a boyfriend, I wanted to know. Perhaps all I needed was closure and to see with my own eyes that she was okay. Perhaps then, the nightmares would go away.
Maybe I’d had a change of heart and wanted My-la back. It wasn’t that I was jealous of the man inside the small brown house. He obviously didn’t have money like me. But if Isla loved him… It would confirm what I had already known; that all my billions never mattered to her.
“Looks like she’s stopping at a gas station.” Paolo slowed down. “What do you want me to do?”
“Pull in and pump her gas.” I unbuckled my seatbelt, preparing to hop out as soon as the SUV stopped.
Paolo did as I directed without any pushback. Good thing too, because I didn’t want to hear a word outta him. This trip had revealed a different side to him, a more outspoken side, one I hadn’t seen before, and I wasn’t so sure I liked it.
We stopped directly behind Isla. She exited her crappy car and didn’t seem to notice us. I jumped out and Paolo followed.
“Isla,” I called to her.
She whipped her head in my direction and went white as a ghost. “Wha… What are you doing here? Are you following me?”
“I only want to talk to you.” I raised my hands to show I wasn’t a threat. Well, not a threat at this very second. Everything could change in a split second.
“Allow me,” Paolo said, using the credit card he was given for his expenses.
“Jesus, Ciro. This is crazy.” Her eyes darted around as iflooking for someone to save her. Admittedly, her distrust hurt me.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Tesoro.” I gently took her hand and guided her toward the front of the SUV.
“Don’t call me that. It’s not appropriate.” She visibly trembled and her eyes turned glossy with emotion. “Why are you following me?”
“Because you wouldn’t talk to me yesterday.”
“Ma’am, is everything okay?” A man on the opposite side of us asked. “Are these men bothering you?”
I was about to flex my power when Isla replied, “Thank you, but I know them.”
