Page 57 of Cavaliere

I let out another scream as I pound my fists against his back, the kitty ring cutting into his skin, and making him groan. “I swear to god I hate you.”

“Hate is an imitation of love, so by all means, hate away.” I can hear the smirk in his stupid fucking voice. “Keep cutting me with that ring. Every cut makes me think of your nails drawing blood when I fuck that sweet cunt raw.”

“You are the most infuriating man. Count your fucking days, Matteo Adduci. Count your fucking days,” I say, my voice grave as he continues to carry me down the sidewalk. “Put me down.”

“No,” is his simple reply.

“People are staring, Matteo,” I hiss. “Put me down. I promise to act like I’m coming willingly.”

“And you don’t think people weren’t staring when they watched me chase you down the fucking street?” Matteo laughs. “You can run as many times as you want, tesoro, but what did I tell you before? Do you remember?”

I don’t speak for a few moments, not wanting to give him the satisfaction I know my answer will bring. “That you’ll always chase me.”

“Good girl,” Matteo rumbles. I should be relieved at his praise, but I’m not. His voice still holds that scary edge to it, like one more thing will make him snap. “I’ll always chase you. Fucking always.”

Matteo beeps the locks on his car and opens the passenger door once again, only this time, he doesn’t let me go. He switches up his hold so he can carry me bridal style before lowering me into the passenger seat. “Buckle up,” he grits out before slamming my door shut and locking me in.

I glare at his silhouette as it rounds the car.

“So, are we going to go get more of my stuff?” I ask once he turns the car on and speeds off.

“No.” His hand flexes on the steering wheel.

I’m really about to lose my shit on him. “Why? The reason I left in the first place was because Rob wouldn’t take me! I deserve to have more of my things. It’s the least you can do since everyone loves keeping me in the dark with what’s going on.”

“Rob didn’t take you because there’s nothing in your apartment to get. As for the rest, we’ll talk tomorrow when I’ve calmed the fuck down. Right now, you’re making it very hard for me to not take you over my knee and spank your pretty little ass until my handprint is a permanent bruise.”

That familiar ache is starting to build in my lower stomach. I hate that my body responds to him when all I want to do is hate his fucking guts.

“What do you mean there is nothing at my apartment to get?”

“It’s gone.”

My head whips over as I narrow my eyes, “What do you mean it’s gone?”

“It means that nothing is inside the apartment anymore.”

“I swear to fucking god, Matteo!” I scream as I slam my hands on the dashboard. “If you don’t start telling me what the fuck is going on, I’m going to take a baseball bat to every single car that’s in your garage! And once I’m done with that, I’ll slash three tires on every car!”

Matteo brings a fist to his mouth as he coughs, trying to cover his laugh.

“Do you seriously think this is funny?” I ask, my tone sounding scary even to me.

“There’s nothing in your apartment because it’s all at our house.”

Um, what?

Our house?

“What about my lease?”

“I broke it.”

“You had no right.” I can feel angry tears starting to pool in the corner of my eyes. I’m not a crier, but when I get really mad, it’s like all of those emotions have nowhere to go but out of my body in tainted water. “That was my place!”

“Your place is by my side, Wren. Not a place where any piece of shit can break in and assault you.”

I cross my arms as I slam back in my seat, glaring out the window. I’d give anything to not be in this car with him right now. “That wasn’t your decision to make, Matteo. I get you’re used to calling all of the shots, but that’s not how this relationship is going to go. This is a partnership. You can’t just declare your house as our house. There is no ‘our house’. I haven’t done anything to contribute to it.” Not to mention, I will never be able to contribute to a house that size in this lifetime.