Lonzo: Book 2 (Tycoon Series Book 2) (7 page)

She was shocked when she saw the black Maserati Granturismo parked a few meters from their vehicle.

The driver was standing beside the coupe.

Lonzo.

Chapter Four

He felt like the biggest pussy as he waited for them to get off the limo.

What the fuck am I doing here?
He had asked himself the same question countless of times this half hour. He never ran after women. But when Jordana left the theater earlier, he was sure he must’ve burst a blood vessel after imagining Rocco’s cousin touching her.

Something inside him snapped.

No one touches my woman.
That was all he could think about as he left a dumbfounded Helene escort-less. He jumped and drove his vehicle like a maniac following them. More like tailed their limo like those damned paparazzi.

He had gone mashed potatoville.
Merda!
He was really losing it. He’d never felt possessive over a woman before.

What the hell’s taking them so long?! What’s keeping them inside the limo?

A picture of the two making out inside drove him crazed with jealousy, so jealous that he wanted to smash the limo’s window to pull Falcone out.

If he just as much as kissed her, I’m going to break his legs...

He expelled a harsh breath when the limo’s door finally opened.

Chris stepped out first before Jordana came out.

He found himself striding over before he could think.

Jordana gaped when she saw him and unlike Helene, her rounded lips made his cock twitch. Surprise was soon replaced by irritation.

She gave him a stony look that would’ve turned him into a pillar of salt.

And she refused to acknowledge him after that. The little vixen wanted him to really work for it.

Chris broke the uncomfortable silence for the second time that night.

“Lonz! Fancy seeing you here, again—”

He racked his brain for an appropriate reply.

Fuck, it appeared like he was stalking them.

But you are stalking them.

“This place serves great steaks…Rocco and I ate here before.”

That really sounded trite, Vitale…good job.

He can’t believe he was discussing the restaurant’s merits when all he wanted was to punch the pup’s face. If that would happen, Zia Maria and Rocco would be upset. Especially Rocco. His friend was very fond of his cousin—familial relations to the biggest footballer in the world got him the finest seats at the Bernabeu.

“Same here! He introduced me to this place. Been a regular since.”

“May I speak with your date for a few minutes?” His tone was casual, almost friendly. It belied what he truly felt. It took considerable effort to put on a straight face.

He hoped his friend’s cousin wouldn’t go alpha on him. Or he’d rearrange his pretty face.

He expected Chris to be pissed. He was surprised that the guy looked almost…amused.

Jordana spoke before the footballer could reply.

“Guess, what? I’m wearing my hearing aid today…so why don’t you ask
me
instead since I’m here?” she gritted.

He swung his eyes on her. Her amber eyes were all fiery. Damned if that didn’t turn him on all the more. The bulge in his pants was getting more uncomfortable with every passing minute.

“Can we talk?”

“Aren’t we already?”

“Don’t be like this.”

“Be what?”

“Difficult.”

Her eyes were unyielding. “We’re done talking. No.”

“You’re saying no?” he repeated.

“Yes, I’m saying no to you. You got a problem with that?”

He and Jordana continued to glare at each other for a full minute.

Both of them were so into their pissing contest, they forgot Chris was present.

Chris cleared his throat, breaking their standoff.

“I really think you two should talk. Clear the air…you know what I mean?” he suggested.

Jordana gave the other guy a pleading look.

Lonzo hated that. She should only have her eyes on one man—him.

“If ever you need me, Dana…I’ll be in the restaurant. Lonz, be nice to my girl,” the footballer said before turning to give them privacy.

My girl?!
His mind repeated.

They waited until he was out of hearing range before rekindling their verbal slugfest.

“What do you want from me?” she raged.

You. I want all of you.

“I told you, I just want to talk.”

“So talk! You got exactly five minutes to state what you want and then I’m out.”

“Is he your boyfriend?” he asked.

“That’s none of your business!”

“It’s my fucking business. He called you his girl.”

She ignored him. “You’ve got nineteen more questions left.”

“Answer the question. Is he?”

She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Why are you even here, Lonzo? I kept my part of the bargain. Not a word about our sordid affair got out! What imaginary transgression did I do this time?!”

“You’re screeching.”

“I don’t screech!”

“Cara, you’re turning into a shrew. Not a good look on you.”

“Don’t you
cara
me!” she said vehemently.

“Why? Does he call you that, too?”

“No. He calls me
baby
.”

“Does he? What a cheesedick.”

“At least he’s got something. You’re just a plain dick!”

Both of them were so openly antagonistic that passersby were beginning to take an interest on the show they were putting on. Several had recognized them.

He had to act now before it escalated into a pay-per-view event or give them three million views on YouTube.

He held her arm.

“Let me go!”

“No. You’re coming with me,” he said as he steered her toward his car.

“I am not going anywhere with you!” she insisted as she struggled.

“You want to discuss our dirty laundry in public? Be my guest.”

She glowered at him but didn’t put on a fight.

She turned and gave him a sidelong glance as they reached the vehicle.

“Start talking, Vitale.”

“Not here.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “Yes, here.”

“No. Anywhere but here.”

“Uhm...didn’t you get the memo? I’m on a date. With someone.”

“Then leave him.”

“I’m not leaving him!”

He snorted. “Why not? He’s old enough to fuck, he can damn well get his ass back to wherever the hell he came from.”

She stared at him incredulously.

“Wow. You’re an even bigger dick than I remembered. Major milestone, Vitale.”

His mouth twitched. He missed her mouthiness, this fiery temper that she kept in check from others except him. Who was he kidding? He missed everything about her.

“Well…we like them big in my part of the world,” he replied cockily.

“You’re unbelievable! You’re friends! Haven’t you even considered his feelings?! How awkward he must’ve felt?” she continued heatedly.

He shrugged. When it came to this woman, he didn’t care shit what Falcone felt or thought about him. Screw friendship, he thought possessively.

“I don’t give a flying fuck about his feelings. I’m friends with his cousin, not him,” he snickered.

“Well, newsflash: I do care about him,” she said before she pointedly stared at her wristwatch. “Time’s up, Vitale.”

She turned to leave but he gently pushed her back on the side of the car before extending his arms on either side of her, preventing her from scurrying off.

“You’re not going back there.”

“I came here with Chris. I’m not leaving him just because you said so. I only take orders from one person. Me.”

“We’ll that’s too bad…because I’m not leaving without you in this car.”

He could get in deep shit for his actions. He was in essence about to kidnap her. She could sue his ass for millions in damages. But he was beyond caring at that point.

“Chris will not allow it!”

He was quick to notice that her statement lacked conviction. He went for it like a dog to a bone.

“I’d like to see him try and stop me.”

“You wouldn’t dare, you dirty bastard!”

“If he tried to play prince-fucking-charming, you will have a brawl in your hands. You know me,
cara
…I won’t back off.”

“You devious jerk!”

“Or you can be a nice girl and get in the car. Pick one. Oh, I’ll help you decide. His legs cost Real Madrid one hundred twenty million euros a year. A pity if they break in an accident…or fight. No more European Cup.”

She gave him another withering stare before she finally gave in and did his bidding…but not without slamming the door of his custom ride in anger first. He pumped his fist in his mind in victory. His tactics were a bit underhanded. Was he even guilty? Hell no! It bought him precious time with her.

When he slid into the driver’s seat, Jordana slanted him a look of pure venom.

“Is kidnapping your new idea of ‘fun’?” she tartly asked as he drove off, burning rubber to get them out of there.

She was bitching, trying to pick a fight with him, but he was too pleased with himself to get into an argument with her. Shit, he felt like bursting into a song like that girl Maria in ‘The Sound of Music’. He felt alive again after weeks of living like a functioning zombie.

“This? No. What I had in mind entails cuffs, a blindfold and a riding crop. I’m tempted to punish someone for being a bad girl.”

She paled at his joke.

Then it registered. They haven’t gone that sexual road yet when they were on the island.

“That’s...sick!” she exclaimed, scandalized. “Are you a d-dom?”

He gave a short laugh. God, laughing felt so good. “Been reading up lately?”

She blushed beautifully that he would’ve kissed her senseless if he weren’t in the middle of the road driving.

He chuckled, trying to diffuse the situation. “Relax. For now, we’re just…talking.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“To my hotel.”

“Let me guess…you own it? How convenient.”

“Sorry to disappoint you but no…never liked L.A.’s realty market.”

She turned to look out at the window. Then he heard her sigh.

“We’ve got nothing to talk about.”

“I beg to differ.”

“I don’t want to talk.”

That made him grin like a maniac. “Then we won’t, if that’s what you want.”

She switched her gaze back to him, her brow raised. “Excuse me?”

“What?” he asked without taking his eyes from the road, trying to sound like an innocent prick.

“Why are you doing this?” she threw back at him. “Can’t your legions of women satisfy you?”

His eyes remained fixed on the road, his brows drawn together.
I’ve been asking myself the same question for weeks…

The thought petrified him but he’d rather be scared shit of these unfamiliar emotions than not see her.

“Not with you stuck inside my head,” he replied softly, the words were out of his mouth before he could even stop himself.

Cazzo! What is it about this woman that turn men like him into cheesedicks?

His statement melted her anger and left her speechless.

Uh-oh…don’t fall for that line, missy!

Still, a traitorous thrill went through her spine.

Not again. God, save me from myself!

She knew he’d never allowed any woman to get emotionally close to him in the past.

She felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction at the knowledge that even a gorgeous Hollywood A-lister like Helene Harwood couldn’t make him forget her.

Don’t feel so smug, Jordana.

She knew she shouldn’t dwell too much on that. That could be just him sweet-talking his way around her.

Lonzo was still Lonzo. He broke her heart. That made him the enemy.

Still, the idea he couldn’t evict her from his mind relighted something inside her—a small solace for all the sleepless nights and crying episodes she went through.

It became blessedly quiet during the ten-minute ride to his hotel.

When they reached their destination, he was out of a car in an instant, opening the door for her.

They used the private entrance so they were shielded from snooping eyes. She held back a retort when Lonzo led her to a private lift that went all the way to his suite.