Page 14 of Promising Her Forever

Does he really think I’m just going to leave with him? What fucking twilight zone have I fallen into? I look at the clock. Fionn said he’d come up in thirty minutes. It’s been fifteen now. But I don’t want him to come up, I have no doubt Playboy will shoot him. I still don’t know how he got up here and how Daphne didn’t see him. There’s only one way in and that’s the door that connects the apartment to the coffee shop.

“If you’re hoping that pretty boy will come and save you, you’re stupid. If he comes up, I’ll just shoot him and you’ll still be mine. So don’t be dumb.”

He shoots a bullet into my couch. I’m not sure why it didn’t make a loud noise, but it didn’t.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Just making sure you know this is a real gun. Don’t want you thinking it’s fake. And in case you’re wondering, your bedroom window was open and the fire escape was the perfect way in.”

Holy fuck, he’s more unhinged than I originally thought. Fucking fire escape. It’s supposed to be there to help me escape from a fire. Not to let in psychopaths. I’m still trying to figure out a way to escape when I see some smoke coming from the couch. All of a sudden, the couch bursts into flames. I take advantage of the fact that it startles Playboy and I lunge for the front door.

I hear him swearing and calling me names as I run down the stairs, slamming into whoever it is on the other side of the door to the shop.

“Whoa. Where’s the fire?” Eros laughs. The smile on his face disappears when he looks at my face.

“P-Playboy is upstairs in the apartment. A-and the couch caught fire after he shot his gun at it,” I stutter out.

Eros hands me over to Fionn who holds me tight. I watch Eros, Ares and Celestino head upstairs.

“He has a gun,” I remind them as I sob.

“You’re okay, love,” Fionn whispers as he holds me tighter.

“I swear I didn’t see or hear him when I was up there,” Daphne cries as she comes over to me.

“He was waiting in my room. He said he came up the fire escape.” I sob as we hold each other.

“I’m so sorry.” She sobs and hugs me tighter.

“I’m just glad that he didn’t attack you.” I sniffle.

We hear footsteps coming back down.

“The fire did some damage to the living room and into one of the bedrooms. But Playboy wasn’t up there. The window by the fire escape was open. You can’t stay here anymore,” Ares says as he rejoins us.

“She’s coming to stay with me. Daphne too,” Fionn says.

“Good. I don’t like the fact that fucktard actually got into the apartment. We need to start looking at the security in all our buildings in town,” Celestino says to everyone.

I watch everyone in the coffee shop, it amazes me how they all work together. Sometimes without even saying anything to each other. They’re getting more guys to come into town to check all the entrances, exits and windows of the buildings anyone in the family occupies. Listening to them, I realize that the family owns most of the businesses around me.

“I’m going to check on Fiorella. She said she was going to be in her shop today,” Celestino says.

“Is he talking about Fiorella Mancini? The fashion designer?” I ask Fionn.

“Yes, she owns Fi’s Boutique and she’s part of the family. Have you heard of her?”

“Oh my god, yes. I didn’t realize she was part of your family too. I have some of her designs, in fact Daphne and I both wear her clothes. We went into Fluff Stitch when we first came to Lake Renegade. How did I not know it was her shop?”

I can’t believe that one of my favorite designers has her shop a few doors down from me. I need to go back in there today.

“She’s open till seven I think, maybe eight? We can go there whenever you want.” Fionn chuckles.

“Time to close up, then.” I chuckle.

I’m only half joking—after what happened with Playboy, I kind of want to leave and just start over tomorrow.

“If you want, we can close up. Especially after what just happened, why don’t we go up and pack your things.”