The bar was packed with scantily clad women, and well-dressed men, with music pumping through the sound system. The waitresses were rushing to fill drink orders, and the VIP sections were filled to overflowing. All the things that usually made him happy, paled without knowing how Angel was.
Lorenzo decided to say screw trust. It wasn’t a matter of whether he trusted, but the fact he just wanted to hear her voice. Before he could change his mind he dialed her cell number. The ring back music on Angel’s cell reminded him of her and happened to be one of his favorite songs, Maroon Five’s “Moves Like Jagger.” When her voice came on the line, telling him to leave a message, he hung up and called her apartment number, but instead of Angel answering, it sounded like her mother.
“Mrs. Rugiero? This is Lorenzo Delgado. I thought I called Angel’s number in LA. I apologize for calling you so late.”
“Do not apologize. You did call my daughter’s phone. Her father and I are here visiting.”
Lorenzo nearly collapsed in relief at that bit of news, until her next words.
“What is my daughter to you, Mr. Delgado?” He pictured Mrs. Rugiero standing with her hands on her hips, demanding an explanation.
“I love her,” he said simply.
Maria exhaled. “And how does my baby feel about you?”
Lorenzo cleared his throat. “I think you should ask your daughter that, ma’am.”
“Oh please, don’t ma’am me, ni?o,” she said.
He chuckled at the image of an older Angel chastising him. “Is Angel available? I’d like to speak to her before I go to bed.”
He had already left his club and flagged down a cab while he spoke with Angelina’s mother.
“Angel is already in bed, but will be returning with us tomorrow. I will have her call you ma?ana, si?” Maria’s voice whispered through the line.
“Is she okay?” The shock of hearing Angel’s mother answer had his gut clenching. The overwhelming urge to rush to LA returned.
“She will be fine. I’ll tell her you called.” Maria sniffed. “Thank you for calling, Lorenzo. You are a good man. Adios.”
Inside the cab, he stared at the silent phone. Replaying the brief conversation, and the strange choice of words her mother used, in his head, he was somewhat relieved, but also confused. Angel’s parents, like his own, had moved to Miami when they were in their early twenties, but still had the heavy Cuban accent. Maybe he misinterpreted her words, but he would bet his left nut she’d said Angelina would be fine, not that she was.
He’d get answers tomorrow, if he had to camp out at her parents’ home on Fisher Island. That decided, he instructed the driver to take him across the bridge. Lorenzo would stay at his family’s guest house. That way he would be closer to her when she returned. The thought he might be a little stalker-ish crossed his mind.
****
Standing in the middle of her parents’ guest house she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to suppress a shiver. Despite her determination to tell Lorenzo about what happened, the thought of his reaction kept her mouth shut and her feet planted. She couldn’t make herself pick up the phone. “Gah! I am such a wuss.”
“Angel?”
Too involved in her inner dialogue, she hadn’t heard Lorenzo come in. She swung around, eyes rounding in shock that was quickly replaced with a longing so intense, it made her knees weak.
“I’m so happy to see you.” She rushed forward to hug him.
“What in the fuck happened to you?” Lorenzo took a step closer to her.
The expression on his handsome face frightened her. She wasn’t worried for herself but about what he might do to Andrew. There was no way she would allow him to endanger himself on her behalf. She had no doubt that in a fair fight Lorenzo would wipe the floor with her ex, but Andrew wouldn’t fight fair—she knew that with everything in her body.
Lorenzo was still staring at her. His fists were bunched at his side and a tick at the side of his jaw made him appear dangerous.
“I am a total fright.” She touched her face, pushing her hair behind her shoulder.
“Angel, what the hell is going on?” Lorenzo’s eyes traveled from her head to her feet and back to stare at her face. “What happened to you?”
“Could you just give me a hug? I could really use one right now.” She wanted to erase the past couple of days.
“Shit, Angel. I’m so sorry.”
His powerful stride ate up the distance between them. His arms snaked around her, anchoring her to him like he wanted to absorb her pain.
“It looks worse than it feels.” Angelina breathed Lorenzo’s scent.
“Really, because it looks like it hurts.” He inhaled against her.
Angelina snuggled into his embrace. His heart beating beneath her ear was reassuring and felt like home. Tears stung her eyes.