CLAIMED - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Bella
"How is it that you are constantly studying for exams? I thought everyone had their exams at the end of the semester" James asked as we walked out of the university.
"Well we usually give the exam to one subject before moving on to another. That way we know if we failed the exams if we have to retake them. I thought that was for everybody" I answered holding the door open for him. The day hadn't been that exhausting for once.
"No, that's shit though. Constantly studying, yuck" he muttered as he made a grimace at the end of the sentence. I chuckled halfway before my eyes caught the man, I had seen at the party standing outside alone. He didn't seem to fit in with his leather jacket and full beard. He had a scar on his face, right by his eye. James noticed me looking behind him, as he turned to see what I was staring at. His brows furrowed in confusion as he saw the man staring right at us. What was he doing here? I grabbed James arm before speed walking the other way.
"Bels, are you thinking what I am thinking?" he whispered as we were out of the creepy guys sight.
"That is the guy who had brought my paintings. Remember Alis interrogation of the girl in your group?" I mind browsed out loud. James nodded immediately, shooting his eyebrows up. "She told us that the guy she sold the paintings to have a scar! The guy has a scar! Its him!" I finished as I breathed out, placing my hands on my beating heart.
"So, no. We aren't thinking the same" he said after a moment of silence. I facepalmed myself before counting to three. Its okay, Bella
"James, I asked Lorenzo if he had brought the paintings. He said he did, but Scar is the person who came to our university to collect them. he doesn't look like a kid who studies psychology ok?! That only means one thing; Lorenzo knows Scar and is sending him to our university to stalk us!"
Just as I explained it out aloud, everything made sense. "You are mine". His words rang in my ears. Did he mean that? He couldn't. We were completely different people! NO.
"Babe, you. Not us. It's you. The guy is in love, innit?" James interrupted my important thoughts with his stupid comments. I glared at him earning a chuckle in return. "But, seriously though why would he do that? He knows where you work" he said seriously. I nodded up at him. He was right. Why would he do that?
"I have to confront him" I said puffing out my chest as I held my chin higher.
"No way. This is where I stop listening to your shit. I don't even know how I haven't told Ali about your kiss with lover boy yet!" he screamed as I hushed him instantly, cupping his mouth with my hand. He bit it as I screamed out.
A mobile ringing snatched our attention as our heads whipped in the direction of the voice. The creepy guy that we had seen earlier with the scar was standing some feet away looking at us. No, staring at us. Had he been listening to us?! Before I could react, he picked up his phone walking away from us. Leaving us dumbfounded. What. Was. That.
§
"One Cappuccino» I called out as I looked around the cafe. It had been a busy day, but a good one. Me and James had the same shift, which meant that I could talk with him between breaks. It was just much better working with a friend, all over. It felt nice.
I looked at the girl who had walked to the counter and picked up her drink. She smiled shyly as I smiled back warmly. I love happy customers. I turned towards James who was making himself a drink. I heard someone enter the cafe, and I turned around putting my warmest smile on. The smile was wiped away from my face immediately, as my eyes saw the same hazel orbs looking at me with fury in their eyes. Does this guy ever smile?
I turned my back to him as I patted James on his shoulder. He turned around and nodded as he saw the man at the counter. I grabbed his cup from his hand, pretending to continue making his drink that looked nasty. James went to the counter, taking the idiots order.
«Hi, what can I get you, today?» I heard James ask him politely. The cafe had turned silent as people had seen the most feared man in town enter this cozy cafe. Some even leaving the cafe, without drinking their orders.
«You can get me your friend Bella, pretty boy» his low husky voice uttered. My veins burned with fire at the thought of this stalker sending his scary friend to stalk me at university! Who does that?! And then he had the audacity to come to my work and insult my friend!
I slammed James cup on the counter, before walking to the other side of the counter to stand by his side. If he can do that to me, I will give him a piece of my mind too. James stretched out his hand to hold me back, but I saw red. Lorenzo was looking at me with amusement as his finger caressed his lip. That single action sent butterflies in my stomach, but I crushed them before they could enter. Showtime. That sounded so brutal. Sorry butterflies.
I stopped right by his face, not wasting a minute before talking business; «You are stalking me». The voice of James slurping his drink, the only voice heard in the cafe. Lorenzo coughed lowly before he turned towards me, parting his legs slightly. I looked at him confused before his next action caught me off guard. His big hands held into my tiny waist sending shivers down my spine. I put my hand over his, from the sudden contact as I watched his eyes follow my action closely. He pulled me towards him between his legs. I felt a slight moment of Deja vu, from our...meeting...in my kitchen? I looked away from his stare, looking everywhere, but at him.
«Where you saying something, baby girl?» his husky voice whispered. Before I could cut his sentence, I heard James cough loudly. I looked at his direction to see his eyes bulging out as he smiled at us forcefully before walking off to the kitchen. Great, just fucking great.
As if my life wasn't ruined already, I felt Lorenzos hands roam around my body. It honestly felt nice. If he wasn't this scary, I would sleep on him. That sounded weird.
I wriggled out of his grasp, failing miserably. Therefor I tried another method; the talking method.
«You are stalking me» I said looking at him with furrowed brows. He looked hot. Does he always wear expensive suits?
«Am I?» he asked as a smirk lingered on his face.
«I saw the scary guy outside my university. He was the same man who brought the paintings. You said you brought them. Which means that you two know each other. Judging by your actions, I wouldn't consider you his friend. You are probably his leader. And stop sniffing my hear» I breathed out poking my finger in his chest after each sentence, trying to scare him away. I don't think it worked, because he wasn't even listening to me! He had put his head on the crook of my neck, tilting it to sniff my hair?
He chuckled, tickling my skin in the process. «I like it that you see me as a leader» was the only thing he said after my rant.
«That's it?!» I asked with disbelief evident on my face. He nodded before pulling me in his lap. I stared at him with wide eyes before squirming in his grasp. I could see the customers trying to leave silently to not get noticed by this mystery like man.
«Ask me why I came here» he mumbled looking at me struggle for my life. Where is James?! Lorenzo took my silence as an answer, continuing his talk; «I missed you». Now that caught my attention as I stopped squirming in his grip. My face was probably flushed red as I felt the heat radiating in my body. He looked at me with adoration in his eyes as my heart did a happy dance in my chest. What is happening to me?!
«I am a dangerous man, Bella» he whispered, only for me to hear. The cafe was empty now. I nodded at him wanting to hear him talk. «But I like you. I thought we were going good» he said. I could hear the underlying anger in his voice as he clenched his jaw and held onto me tighter. I let him, wanting to hear about his reason to stalk me!
«The scary guy is Scar. He works for me and guess what he told me today? » he whispered in my ear, making me grip to his blazer. We were too close for my body to handle. I am sure I would have fallen down, if it wasn't for his tight grip on me. He leaned back to see my face as he said the following sentence; «He told me that you and pretty boy were talking about a secret kiss». Today's events scrolled in my mind as I repeated mine and James conversation. My brows shot up at the realization of what he was talking about, but he took it the wrong way.
«I think I forgot to tell you that only I get to kiss these lips» he whispered roughly, staring into my soul. His aura was different and the thought of him matching his dangerous image, made me shudder. I looked down, not wanting to meet his eyes. It felt as if my bravery always vanished in front of his intimidating personality.
«I am a single woman and can do whatever I want» I stated and was about to continue before he interrupted me; «You just ordered that guys death». I gasped as i looked at him. He had shut his eyes tightly, his knuckles white from clutching my waist. He took slow and steady breaths to calm himself down. It felt weird to sit in his lap as he was having an internal debate with himself. The words registered in my mouth as I used my hands to cup his face fast. «Lorenzo» I whispered as I saw his eyes flutter open. «What? » he snapped at me; his hazel eyes morphed into black. «The kiss. It was you. I told James and he just- he is stupid- I-I didn't mean to say anything- this sounds so dumb- I stuttered as I tried explaining myself before hearing him chuckle.
«What did you tell him about how the kiss was? » he asked, his lips so close to mine. Was he going to kiss me? I could feel his heart race as my hand was now laying on his chest. I leaned in closer as he pulled my body closer to him by my waist. He tilted my face and I could feel his breath on my lips before-
The kitchen door opened before James uttered the dumbest sentence ever;
«She said it was okay». Fuck. I was expecting Lorenzo to explode, but to my surprise he tilted his head back letting out a throaty laughter. I stared in awe at the tough mafia leader who was holding me to him, his chest vibrating, eyes twinkling as his laughter filled up the café.
Wow, he is beautiful.