The choice had been easy.
I’d choose Isla every single time.
When I’d told Courtney as much, she stopped talking to me. I was okay with it. My relationship with Isla was my priority. However, that didn’t mean I stopped caring about Courtney.
The last time I’d seen Courtney was the day Isla had gone to my Los Angeles estate and saw the redhead on my lap. I didn’t have sex with Courtney in her blitzed-out state, but I did spend the night with her in the emergency room. She’d lost her mind and needed her wrists to be cuffed to the bed.
That night, I managed to convince her to go into rehab.She lasted two weeks. I hadn’t heard from her until now. Maybe she was in trouble and needed help. I glanced down the hallway where Isla had gone and decided to reply to Courtney’s text.
Ciro: I’m good. How are you?
Courtney: Alive. Can I come over?
Ciro: Sorry. I’m out of town. Are you okay?
Courtney: Aww, you do care.
Ciro: Don’t be like that. You’re my friend.
Courtney: Friend? Guess that means you’re still hung up on her.
Ciro: I’ll always be hung up on Isla.
I waited for a reply. A few seconds passed and I knew there wouldn’t be another text. I didn’t want to hurt Courtney, but I had to be straight with her. No matter what Isla and I were going through right now or in the future, Isla would always be the only woman I loved. Speaking of…
Isla appeared and eyed my phone. “Everything okay?”
“Yes.”
“Who are you texting?”
“Paolo.” So I wasn’t outright lying, I shot him a quick text.
Ciro: Are you here?
Paolo: Yes
Eccellente. I knew he wouldn’t leave me in a sketchy part of town. I bit my tongue, so I didn’t unload on Isla about thedumpy area she lived in, while she watched me with a suspicious gaze.
“Let’s go.” I opened the door, drinking her in. Even in plain black pants and a T-shirt, she was the most beautiful woman to me. “We’re taking my car.”
“Nuh-uh. My car.” She exited out of the apartment.
“That deathtrap? No way. That’s another thing we need to discuss.” I closed the door and twisted the knob to make sure it was locked. It was thanks to the automatic lock with a keypad. At least there was something high tech in this place.
“My car isn’t up for discussion. You can’t control me, Ciro,” she said over her shoulder, leading the way down the hallway.
“Pippa deserves to be in a safe, reliable car. I won’t have you driving her around in that piece of shit.”
She stopped suddenly. “You’re nothing but insults today, aren’t you?”
I grabbed her arm and tugged her toward me. “I like your short hairstyle.” I slowly ran my nose along the side of her head and down behind her ear. “And you smell delectable.”
She trembled against me. “Stop it. Play fair, Ciro.” She pulled her arm away and left the building.
“Never,” I hollered as I watched her trot toward my car and get into the back seat. I grinned smugly… I still affected her and she still knew how to obey me. And I’d seen her cheeks turn pink…
I got into the back seat on the opposite side of her. “In a hurry, My-la?”
