Chapter 21

"Testing Boundaries"

Lorenzo's POV

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I wasn't the kind of man who second-guessed himself. Decisions, once made, were executed with precision. Doubt was for the weak, and weakness wasn't in my vocabulary.

But when it came to Vee, I felt like I was navigating a minefield blindfolded.

It had been days since she disappeared into herself after her visit to Lily's bakery. She was still there—snarky, sharp, infuriatingly brilliant—but something had shifted. She was quieter at times, more focused on her work, yet distant, as if she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

And I hated it.

I hated seeing her like that. I hated not knowing what was going on inside her head. And I hated that I cared this much.

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She was in the office now, hunched over her laptop, her fingers flying over the keyboard with the kind of focus that would put most people to shame. I leaned against the doorframe, watching her in silence.

She didn't notice me at first, too absorbed in whatever she was doing. Her brow furrowed slightly, her lips pursed in concentration. God, she was beautiful. And it pissed me off because I knew she'd probably laugh in my face if I ever said that out loud.

"Should I be worried?" I asked, finally breaking the silence.

She jumped slightly, her head snapping up to look at me. "Jesus, Moretti! Ever heard of knocking?"

"Ever heard of locking a door?" I shot back, stepping into the room.

She rolled her eyes and turned back to her screen. "What do you want?"

"An explanation," I said, my tone firmer than I intended. "You've been... off. And don't even think about denying it."

She sighed, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. "I'm fine."

I raised an eyebrow. "You're a lot of things, darling, but fine isn't one of them right now."

She didn't respond, her gaze flicking away from mine.

"Talk to me," I said, my voice softer now.

Her laugh was bitter, almost hollow. "What do you want me to say, Ren? That I'm peachy? That I'm just loving this whole 'partnering with a mafia don' thing?"

I ignored the jab, stepping closer. "I want you to be honest. With me. With yourself."

She scoffed, shaking her head. "Honesty's overrated."

"Bullshit," I said, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "You're carrying something, Vee. I can see it. Feel it. And I can't help you if you keep shutting me out."

Her eyes snapped to mine then, and for a moment, I saw it—raw, unfiltered emotion. Pain. Guilt. Fear. It was there for a split second before she masked it again, but it was enough to knock the air out of my lungs.

"I don't need your help, Moretti," she said, her voice tight. "I've been taking care of myself for a long time. I don't need anyone."

"That's where you're wrong," I said, stepping closer until I was standing right in front of her. "Everyone needs someone, darling. Even you."

She stood then, pushing past me, but I caught her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

"Let me go," she said, her voice low.

"Not until you tell me what's going on," I said firmly.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breathing uneven. "You don't get it, Ren. You don't know what it's like."

"Then tell me," I said, my voice softening. "Let me in, Vee. Let me help you."

For a moment, I thought she might. Her lips parted as if she was about to speak, but then she shook her head, pulling her wrist free.

"You can't help me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her words cut deeper than I expected, but I didn't back down. "Maybe not. But I'm still going to try."

She turned to face me then, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Why?"

"Because I care," I said simply. "More than I probably should. And because I know you're worth it, even if you don't believe it."

She blinked, and a single tear slipped down her cheek. I reached out, brushing it away with my thumb.

"You don't have to do this alone, Vee," I said, my voice barely audible.

Her gaze flicked to my lips then, and for a moment, the air between us shifted. It was charged, electric, and I couldn't help but lean in, just slightly.

Her breath hitched, and I could feel the heat of her body, the pull of her presence. I wanted to kiss her, to close the distance, to make her see that she wasn't as alone as she thought.

But then she pulled back, breaking the spell.

"I can't," she said, her voice trembling.

I nodded, taking a step back to give her space. "Okay. But when you're ready, I'll be here."

She looked at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine. Then, to my surprise, she stepped forward and rested her forehead against my chest.

I froze for a moment before wrapping my arms around her, holding her close. She let out a shaky breath, her body relaxing against mine.

For the first time, she let me in—just a little.

And I wasn't about to let her down.

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˗ˏˋ Author's note ˎˊ˗

Heyy (✿◡‿◡)

Poor Vee

Please Vote and comment to make another insignificant human happy (^◕.◕^)

Question of chapter:

Smartest person in the world or richest person in the world?

Smartest person in the world. If you are smart, you'll know how to get rich ><

See you next Sunday!

You are everything <3

Byeeee

Izel

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