I had reached a point where I didn't want to be around him at all.
But I did not have any option.
The construction site lay out before me, resembling a deserted skeleton of steel and stone, left vacant and incomplete before it could ever serve any functional purpose. The air was thick with the scent of rust blended with the earthy odour of moist soil, and an atmosphere like a cemetery filled with fragments of incomplete work stood silently in its eerie stillness.
And perhaps, unfinished business.
Somewhere within this wreckage, a clue had been left behind. A necklace. Her necklace.
Sophia's prized possession.
This was not the type of lead that was to be dismissed or pushed aside, regardless of the enormous disdain that I felt towards the corporation that I was supposed to work with.
Lorenzo walked beside me, his step rhythmically even and maddeningly so on the uneven and rocky terrain we walked. Unlike my own clumsiness, he never stumbled or faltered in his step. He moved with a low and easy self-assurance that was palpable—the kind of confidence that openly advertised he truly belonged here, in the darkness, in the odd places that humans seemed to disappear without ever leaving behind a trace of evidence.
I hated the fact that I depended on him.
My grip on the cold, hard metal of the gun holstered securely at my hip tightened even more. I was definitely not stupid enough to arrive at this location without carrying some kind of protection, and I was equally sure that he was not.
Outside, our bodyguards stood patiently, just at the fringes of the shadows. Those accompanying me—two men to whom I had given my very life—were parked a whole block away, merging with the night surrounding them with trained ease. His—highly trained operatives employed by Hudson Security—stood much nearer, vigilant eyes scanning the perimeter for even a hint of movement, prepared to respond at the first hint of threat.
in spite of Lorenzo's troubled history, I felt safer with him than I did with any of the bodyguards
"Are you normally this quiet, or am I just making you a little nervous?" His tone was soft and low, with a touch of amusement.
I laughed. "You wish."
His own lips quivered. "You do seem awfully tense."
"I don't trust you."
"Nevertheless, here we are in this instant," he softly murmured.
I shot him a glare, but he didn't stop walking. Of course he didn't. Lorenzo Hudson was impossible to intimidate.
The information provided to us by the tip we had indicated that we should check around the vicinity where part of the building collapsed recently, due to the earth movement after a torrential rain that feel last week. If she were here—if she were, in fact, here—then there was a possibility that she might have dropped something and not even notice it within that area.
I needed to find it.
I was so totally and utterly absorbed in my quest that I did not even see the thick, heavy metal rod in front of me until it was much too late for me to get out of the way.
A stinging and burning pain ran through my leg as I suddenly stumbled, the constant pull of gravity pushing me forward in a rapid motion.
I prepared myself for impact.
But it never arrived.
Before I was able to reach the ground beneath, I sensed the grip of strong hands that reached out and enveloped me, firmly holding around my waist. These powerful arms drew me tightly against a body that emanated solid heat, giving an instant feeling of security and comfort.
A sudden and sharp breath caught in my throat, making it momentarily difficult to breathe.
I was pressed firmly against Lorenzo's hard chest—strong and unshakeable in its presence. His body emitted a significant amount of heat, which appeared to permeate my skin, producing a suffocating feeling that prevented one from acknowledging just how close we actually were at that point in time. His powerful arms stayed wrapped firmly around me, holding me fast and lingering for just a second too long than was necessary, as if he wasn't exactly in a hurry to release our hug.
"You need to be careful where you're walking and pay attention to your surroundings," he quietly whispered
I drew a hard breath, annoyance growing. Naturally, he'd crave this.
"You can let me go now," I said to him, tipping my head back to glare.
"Could I?" His fingers closed around mine, just a little, just enough to get my attention. And then—finally—he released me.
I stepped back hastily, jerking my body away from the source of heat that still lingered on my skin. I crossed my arms over my body, even though I knew doing so wouldn't do anything to help me. "Next time, just let me fall," I grumbled in annoyance, speaking out against what was happening.
He only smiled, his eyes flickering with the warmth of a bright glint. "I simply cannot do that," he stated smoothly. "If I were to do that, then I would be losing valuable moments such as these."
With an over-the-top gesture, I rolled my eyes in sheer frustration. "I swear to you, you are totally insufferable."
"And yet, in spite of all that has happened, you always end up in my arms."
I had to hold myself back from shoving him.
I detested that he was having a good time.
And I hated that a lot, because for one instant in time, I had really enjoyed it as well.
I jerked my head away, not wishing for him to catch a glimpse of my face. "We have to focus on finding that dumb necklace," I insisted.
But the moment I stepped forward, my leg was hit by a violent and piercing pain. I released a gentle hiss of pain, my eyes involuntarily dropping to investigate the cause of the pain. There, I could see blood slowly oozing out of a new and deep cut that had been inflicted just below my knee. It was a ragged tear, a clean product of my ill-fated collision with the hard edge of the metal rod that I had tripped over mere seconds ago.
Lorenzo looked on at once. His sneer faded and gave way to something much grimmer. "You're hurt."
"It's nothing," I breathed softly to myself.
He knelt down to a crouch right in front of me before I even had time to say anything to stop him from doing so. His hand brushed against my calf lightly, and I was struck by how intensely soft his fingers were. I bristled by instinct at the unexpected contact but appeared to be disregarded by him as he examined the wound intensely with a resolute look on his face.
"This is rather deep," he whispered softly, his fingers following the rough outline of the ripped cloth that bound the gash. "It's crucial that you have this wound cleaned out before it can do more harm."
I tried to step out of it. "I already said it's fine"
"Stop being so stubborn." He was firm with his tone, making it totally impossible for anyone to go against him. "I am merely requesting that you just let me help you.".
He casually slung off his coat and looked in his pocket for a handkerchief before I could object once more.
I raised an eyebrow in astonishment and wonder. "Are you serious now? Do you really have a handkerchief with you?"
His mouth twisted. "You believe I have no class?"
I arched an eyebrow in rage, but before I could get at him, he carefully and gently wiped the cloth over the wound. I quickly inhaled in response to the intense burn that pierced my body.
His hold on my leg grew slightly tighter, making sure he had me steady and secure in the moment. "Just breathe, Reina," he told me softly.
I clenched my teeth tightly. "I am indeed breathing."
"Then for goodness' sake stop leading me to believe that you are going to hit me." Lorenzo replied
I scowled at him, clearly expressing my annoyance, but I could also see that he was amused, as the corners of his mouth twitched in response. This was obviously very funny and amusing to him.
However, he moved slowly and deliberately, and his touch was soft and gentle with a sense of calm. I detested his unruffled demeanour and the warmth that seemed to radiate from him, which gave me a sense of total security.
He fastened the handkerchief firmly around my knee. "For now, that will suffice."
I breathed out. "Thanks.".
He slanted a little to the left, staring at me with utmost interest and a stern face. "Did you just thank me?"
I narrowed my eyes slightly, squinting them. "Please don't force me to retract my statements."
He laughed and got up from his chair. "Noted."
For a moment, one momentary instant, we were there, both of us standing too close together in the warm, muffled light that surrounded us. The atmosphere in the space between us was heavy with an unmistakable power, something big I was not willing to name or define exactly.
I then roughly yanked my eyes away from whatever had captured theirs, as though I were shaking off some enchantment or trance that had briefly taken hold of me.
"Let's simply locate the necklace we're seeking and then leave as quickly as possible."
Lorenzo never opted to participate in any fights or arguments. But the farther we went in our search, I could feel his presence with me with a deeper sense of awareness that was more profound than ever.
Like a nagging shadow that followed me and would not be dispelled.
Like a danger I didn't know how to escape.
Within a short span of five minutes, I was able to find it.
The silver chain reflected the faint beam of light from my flashlight, and it was buried halfway under a pile of loose earth. I carefully removed it from its hiding place, wiping away the years' worth of accumulated dust that had accumulated on it, my fingers shaking with anxious anticipation.
A crescent moon necklace.
Sophia's.
My stomach roiled in agony.
"This is hers," I said softly, hardly above a whisper.
Lorenzo was by my side in a flash, his sharp and inquiring eyes glancing carefully over the intricate and delicate piece. of jewellery before us. "You're sure?" he asked.
I swallowed hard as a knot came up in my throat. "She never removed this at all."
Its weight, resting in the palm of my hand, felt far more ponderous than it reasonably should have.
I gripped my fingers tightly around it, holding fast until my knuckles turned a sickly white.
Lorenzo did not speak up right away. When he did, his voice was gentler.
"Perhaps she placed it here with a special purpose in mind?"
I suddenly raised my eyes with intensity.
He was watching me closely, and the expression on his face was totally impossible to read.
I was agitated.
I wished to be able to think that it was a coincidence. A mere accident.
But I knew better in my heart.
"She wouldn't have left this behind," I breathed. "Not unless…"
"Unless she couldn't take it with her."
Lorenzo's eyes clouded. "Then it's a message.".
A stingingly cold gust of wind blew forcefully over the construction site, sending loose fragments of material flying swiftly and in a haphazard manner over the hard concrete floor.
Outside, our bodyguards were waiting.
but I felt exposed. As if someone was watching us., and it wasn't the guards
Lorenzo must have sensed it too because he came forward, taking a slightly defensive stance in front of me.
"I do not like this," he said softly.
I struggled with the constriction in my throat and swallowed. "I don't either."
For one fleeting instant, neither of us attempted movement whatsoever.
His warmth was always there alongside me, solid and comforting despite the coldness of the night.
It was so infuriating to see just how safe and secure I felt standing beside him, in his presence.
As if he wouldn't allow anything to happen to me.
Like he couldn't.
I forced myself to step away, to keep a distance.
"Lorenzo, you should head back to the car I'll come in a second," I continued, trying to take the reins back.
Lorenzo's jaw clenched. "You're not going alone.".
I narrowed my eyes. "I don't need a babysitter.".
He crossed his arms. "Too bad. You've got one.".
With a huge sense of frustration, I sighed heavily. "I really, really hate you with all my heart."
His lips twisted slightly. "No, you don't.".
I turned on my heel and started off. The reality of the situation was that I really wasn't sure anymore. That particular realization scared me more than anything else could ever.