Marco had a feeling he’d just stepped on a landmine. He didn’t need this right now, not with the Bratva meeting coming up.
“Are these all my things?” Lila directed that question at him. Her tone was accusatory. This was one argument he couldn’t brush off.
“We’re leaving,” Matthias told Johnny and Lorenzo. His brother shoved the two other men out, leaving Marco to deal with the mess he’d created.
“I don’t have time for a fight. I have a lot to think about.” Marco immediately regretted the first words out of his mouth. She stomped up to him, looking like a mad little hellion, and poked a finger into his chest.
“Don’t have time? Don’t you think you should’ve discussed this with me first? Do those boxes contain everything I own?” she demanded. “You’re so used to making decisions for everyone, aren’t you?”
“This is for your own good,” he said. She clenched her fists by her sides. He lifted her hand but she brushed him off. “I’ve told you plenty of times. That neighborhood’s pretty shitty.”
“That’s not the point. Ask those guys to come back, to return my stuff.”
Marco evenly met her gaze. “No.”
Didn’t she understand what he was asking for? Lila spent most of her time here anyway. What was the point of her returning to that crappy apartment? It was more convenient this way for the both of them.
“No? Are you kidding me?” She let out a laugh.
Fuck, but that defiant look only made his dick hard, despite the inappropriate situation. Marco wanted to bend her right over the couch or table and fuck the resistance out of her. They’d forget about this ridiculous argument but only for a moment. She’d be twice as mad later on, once she regained her senses. Marco stayed put.
“Fine. I’ll move them back myself,” she said.
Stubborn woman. What was he going to do with her? Marco grabbed her wrist.
“You’ll do no such thing. Listen to me, Lila. Every single enemy of mine in this city probably knows about you now. I need to keep you close. Safe.” Hell, he wondered if he should lock her in her for her own safety. Lila might end up doing something wild and dangerous if he didn’t step in.
She wrenched her hand from his and that stung a little. “You said you didn’t have any time. Go. Conduct your damn business.”
Realizing she wouldn’t listen to reason at this rate, he let her go. She retreated to the bedroom. Marco heard her slam the bathroom door a moment later. Marco was, in a word, pissed. Lila didn’t need to show such a prissy attitude, although he had to admit, he might’ve moved her things here too hastily. Maybe they should’ve discussed this together. He could have gone about it differently.
Even Matthias had told him it wasn’t a wise move.
A headache hammered at his skull. Marco would need to deal with this later. What did Lila have planned tonight? She had a day off, so she was meeting Sky and Lara for lunch. They were supposed to have dinner later, but she might decide to blow him off. Okay. That was actually good. Lila wouldn’t stand up her friends.
Marco picked up his phone and called Gino. He answered immediately. “I want you to watch Lila today.”
He always sent someone to watch her the moment she headed out to work. Even if that café was owned by the Familia, Marco wanted extra protection for her.
“Of course, boss. Can I ask why?”
Marco blew out a breath. “She’s pissed at me right now, so if she sees another Familia member she doesn’t recognize shadowing her, she’ll go ballistic. You, she has a soft spot for.”
“She does, doesn’t she? I’ll watch her like a hawk.”
“I’m counting on you,” Marco said. He ended the phone call. Marco called Sky next.
“You and Lila had a fight?” she asked. “Must be your fault.”
Why did the women in his family all have to be obnoxious? No wonder Lila fit in with Sky and Lara’s little club.
He sighed. “Just do me a favor and keep her busy.”
“And you’ll make it up to her?” Sky asked.
“I will.” That answer seemed to satisfy Sky. He ended the call.
Five minutes later, she hadn’t emerged from the bathroom. Marco decided to let her be. Perhaps when evening arrived, both of them would have sufficiently cooled off.