Burned by Rejection (Book 4 of Wolves of Milano )

7.Plans

She gazes at Elio in silence for a few minutes. She is at a loss for words. What to tell him? How much does he need to know? How much does he know that she doesn’t? And why the hell is he turning her on? What is it about this guy? Seeing him here completely erased that guy with the red Honda. Can she make her plan work if he distracts her so much? She needs to get out of trouble, not invite even more of it into her life. She feels bad suddenly about her plan to use him. Why? She will pay him a nice compensation sum to do this. She doesn’t have to feel bad. She is renting his services. She’s not paying him for s*x. And he might say no. She didn’t even introduce the plan to him and she was worried about what he might think. 

“Vittorio said you need help.” Elio breaks the silence and their eye contact. She suddenly feels like she can breathe again. Why is he affecting her so?

“I guess you heard that Uncle Vito plans to marry me off?” She whispers. “I don’t want that. I can’t marry now. I don’t want to! All my plans will be ruined.”

“I heard.” He nods. “It’s barbaric what he’s doing. He needs to be stopped. He can’t see past his own blind beliefs. He’s ruining this pack and the lives of everyone in it.”

“I wish someone would take him out.” Allegra grunts. 

“You and everyone else, but who’s gonna do it?” He scoffs. “For some reason I can’t see, everyone is afraid of him.”

“He’s crazy. He cheats in fights.” She tells him. “I don’t know what he has over the elders, but he has their support. I know my own parents follow him blindly. No questions asked. Mother informed me I was getting married and that’s it. Do you know I have a guard following me around? Not just a stalker, a real guard that makes sure I don’t run away.”

“What? I didn’t order that?” Elio exclaims. “You were supposed to be followed like everyone else, but this is new. He’s keeping me out of things. Again!”

“Yeah. Welcome to the club.” Allegra shakes her head. “Do you think he suspects you? Do you have anyone to slip information to you?”

“The enforcers were supposed to report back to me and I gave their reports to Vito. He must have another source. Someone he’s working with. Maybe one of the new guys? He imported a few new enforcers in the past few days. It seems to me that he doesn’t trust his own pack members.” Elio tells her. He is visibly angry over this.

“This is bad.” She sighs. “I think my plan needs more work.”

“What is it? What plan do you have? I can help you build it up.” He smiles at her and she is temporarily blinded by his face. Why does he have to look so good?

“Vittorio told me you helped Alessio plan his crazy scheme and it worked. He got Grazia back.” Allegra smiles. She is happy for her brother. He got to unite with his mate again. 

“Yeah. That one worked halfway. Vito still got the upperhand, but at least they are together.” Elio chuckles. “She really loves him.”

“I know. I hope they are safe.” She nods. She has no idea where they are. Alessio is very secretive, but that’s what she wanted. Nobody can use her to get information.

“They are fine. Vesna is keeping an eye on them.” He says. “Why can’t she protect you? She’s your boss.”

“She can’t interfere in pack business, unless Vito goes directly for her. She lives outside of the pack borders, so they are safe with her. I can’t go to her. I have classes, exams, and my job.” Allegra scoffs. “I can’t just give up on everything. I’m so close to finishing my degree. She gave me my own line to create. Can you imagine what that means for me? I get to design a clothing line at 22. She gave me the means to be a successful designer. I can’t let that go.”

“I didn’t know that about the goddess. Puts a little more perspective on things.” Elio nods. “So. About this plan of yours? You didn’t change your mind, did you?”

“No. I just don’t know how to start.” She shakes her head. Her moral compass is rearing its head.“I feel guilty, now that I met you in person.”

“Don’t be. I’m a grown man, I can take it.” Elio laughs. “I bet you can’t come up with anything crazier than your Uncle.”

“Keep in mind that crazy runs in the family.” Allegra chuckles. He made her mood better, if nothing else. “You can always say no.”

“Intriguing. I’m listening.” He smiles. Damn! Even his eyes light up when he smiles, she thinks. This will be hard. The man has the ability to throw her off of her game. He is charming her and he’s not even trying. How will she influence him in anything if the effect is the opposite of what she planned?

She takes a deep breath and looks at Elio. Now or never. If she can’t tell him her plan, he can’t help her. Get a grip, Allegra! She yells at herself in her mind. Her wolf is just sitting there and waiting for her to screw this up. Or is the wolf mesmerised by him as well? Strange…

“I think I need a boyfriend. Someone my family will approve of. Like a high-ranking wolf, maybe? But I can’t do it for real, not now. I have too much going on. I have work, college and my exams. I worry too much about Alessio to be social. I am a mess, I can admit that to you. Nobody else can know, though. They all expect me to be “Miss perfect”, like always. I can’t do it right now.” 

Elio is suddenly at her side of the table and she finds herself in a tight embrace. His scent is amazingly calming. He smells like the sea, or a little like fresh rain on the grass. His touch is not repulsive to her and her wolf whines softly. She lets him hold her and cries into his shirt. Gods! She is a mess. It was enough to say it out loud and she fell apart in front of him. A complete stranger. And he is nice to her!

“Breathe. Listen to my voice and just breathe.” He tells her calmly. “Nobody will see you here. You can let go.”

“Thank you.” She whispers some time later. “Alessio was the only one to ever console me like this.”

“Well. I’m here for you.” Elio whispers back. He lets her go and sits on the chair next to her. She fell apart and he comforted her. He was standing next to her and holding her, even when he could hardly stand because of the injury to his leg.

“I keep thinking about how to pull this off. It’s gonna be hard. I have almost no time for myself. I haven’t been out in ages. I avoid my friends to keep them out of Uncle Vito’s sight.” She sighs. “My plan needs some serious work.”

“Who did you have in mind to play your boyfriend?” He inquires softly.

“You.” She says so quietly she’s not sure he heard her.

Allegra glances at Elio. He sits there, next to her, and she can’t tell what he’s thinking. He has the perfect poker face she’s ever seen. There is nothing to tell from his expression. If he wouldn’t breathe, she could swear she was looking at a statue. Is he offended? She told him her plan was crazy. What can she say to correct this?

“The only other person who could do this for me is Dominic, but his family is not prominent enough. Uncle would know it’s a ruse.” She shakes her head.

“Dominic? The wolf I had following you a few days back?” Elio raises his eyebrows in wonder. “The kid is perpetually broke.”

“Yeah. And we’re not exactly friends, we know each other from school.” She nods. “It would be suspicious if he suddenly had money to take me out. Or even hang out with me. No… He’s out. Too dangerous.”     

“Good.” Elio nods. The way he’s looking at her scares her a bit. “I’ll do it. We’ll have to coordinate our schedules, but I think I can manage to slip you in.”

“Great! I can pay you 300 a week. I know it’s not much. I’ll ask Vesna for a full-time job. Then I can give you more if needed.” Allegra smiles at him. She will use all her weapons. She knows well what her smiles can do.

“Don’t worry about money. We can talk about that some other time.” Elio chuckles. “I have the next two days off, because of my leg and doctor’s appointments. After that, we have to coordinate a bit. I know you spend most days here or at college. I have a few errands  to run, but mostly surveillance. I can pick you up if you want. I can help you give a slip to that guard you have.”

“You’d do that? I don’t like the guy. He gives me the creeps.” She shudders just thinking about her guard. 

“Yeah. I have to see who you got. I swear I didn’t know about this.” Elio tells her. “When do you get off work? I’ll pick you up.”

“In three hours. I have to lock up. Vesna is not coming in for a few days.” She explains. “What car do you drive? Just so I know what to expect.”

“I don’t have a car. Is that a problem? I thought you wouldn’t mind a bike ride.” Elio cringes. Is he really worried? She is the one asking for favours from him.

“I don’t mind a bike. I used to ride with Alessio all the time.” Allegra smiles. “You’re doing me a huge favour, so don’t worry. Will you be OK driving with that crutch and all?”

“Don’t worry. It's not my first time on a bike with a bad knee.” Elio winks at her and her heart skips a beat. What is he doing to her?

“Thank you. I really appreciate this. We can talk more later. I have to go to the front. It’s just me for the last few hours.” She smiles at him.

Turns out she is all alone for the last three hours. There is not even one customer and she would welcome any of the obnoxious ladies that usually come and harass her to no end to buy nothing. She has too much time to think like that and that’s not good. She even sets herself to dusting and sweeping the already clean floor. The benefit of Milano winter: no snow. She doesn't have to clean the store’s floor every hour. She wishes she could deck out the store in festive lights and decor, but Vesna doesn’t celebrate Christmas. Her boss doesn’t want to have any of that sully her store. The small potted tree with cookies as ornaments is all she allows. Because the tree has nothing to do with Christmas, it’s older than that. Allegra forgot the meaning of it and she is not suicidal enough to ask Vesna again. She can just admire the tree and wish for twinkling lights.