Lorenzo’s POV
I hid Clarissa behind me and stared at the door. It was pushed open and someone walked in. My body became tense and the stranger and I locked eyes. He had a smile on his face and walked casually into the living room.
I was stunned and confused. Who was he and what did he think he was doing?
“Lovely place you have here,” he said lightly as he looked around the living room. “What happened to the wall though? Is this…coffee.”
He stared at the stain with intrigue and I pulled Rissa even closer to me. His mannerisms worried me. He seemed so comfortable walking into a home that wasn’t his.
I sniffed the air and his scent made my heart skip a beat. He was a wolf.
Was he a rogue? One of Hazan’s wolves maybe?
“Who are you?”
I snarled back at him and he finally turned to me. He smiled and glanced at Rissa who was still standing behind me.
“I will not ask again, who are you?”
I bared my fangs and could feel my wolf bubbling to the surface. I was ready to rip this man to pieces but he didn’t seem to care and still had that snarky expression on his face.
“I’m going to give you until the count of three. Get. Our. Now.”
His smile grew even wider and in a blinding flash, he was seated on the sofa. Rissa gasped in fright. Even I couldn’t understand how I moved so fast.
“Aren’t you a feisty one. That is no way to treat a guest. I was at least expecting a cup of tea.”
The smirk on his face was getting on my nerves. I was going to kill him.
I pounced with my claws extended but he didn’t even move. He sat there smiling.
“Lorenzo!”
I felt a strong tug on my shirt and I was stopped in my tracks. I was snarling and turned around to see Clarissa holding on tightly to me.
“Rissa?”
“Lorenzo, you have to stop. We don’t… we don’t know who he is…”
I felt a pang of jealousy sting my heart. Was she protecting him? Did she know him?
I stopped and stared at Clarissa and the stranger. My fists were balled and my teeth were tightly clenched.
“Who is he, Rissa?”
She gasped and looked at me in shock.
“What are you talking about? I don’t know him…”
“Then why are you protecting him?” I snapped back angrily.
I ignored the seated stranger and marched furiously towards her.
She backed away in fear and my hate and anger grew.
“I demand to know who he is! You’re cheating on me!”
“Are you listening to yourself, Lorenzo? I am just as surprised as you are to see him here. He could be dangerous. You could get hurt…”
I was still fuming at her. My anger consumed me and I got closer and closer to her.
“I suggest that you listen to the lady. She seems to have more sense than you.”
I whipped my head around and the stranger had stood up from his seat and was staring down at me.
“I love a good drama but I think that is enough. Your lover doesn’t know me but, I know her quite well.”
His smile came back and it looked even more sick and twisted. I stepped back and saw how he looked at Rissa.
Was he a stalker? How…how long had he been watching her?
“Who are you? I will ask that for the very last time.”
He buried his hands in his pockets.
“Tsk tsk tsk. You ask way too many questions. Who I am is not important. But I know you, Lorenzo, and I know your mate, Clarissa”
He looked over my shoulder at Clarissa.
“I suppose the waiter didn’t give you my number. What a shame. I was hoping that you would call and save me the trouble of coming to your house.”
Rissa gasped and her face went pale.
She began to shiver and I was even more confused.
“It was…it was you. You asked the waiter to give me your number.”
His smile increased and so did my annoyance. Who was this man?
“Yes. And you tore the paper up.”
He scoffed and walked around the room. I grabbed Rissa and made sure to keep her away from him. Something about him couldn’t be trusted.
“Well, now that we are all on a first-name basis, let me tell you why I am here.”
He stopped and stared at us. His eyes were slightly narrowed and his cheerful demeanor vanished.
“I have watched you both for a while. I know that you are cheating on your wife with Clarissa, who is your maid and also your mate. Everyone loves a good love story. I also know that you want Erica’s pack and to throw her out of…commission. I want to help with that.”
The shock of his extensive knowledge about us nearly threw me off my feet. There was no point in denying anything.
“And why do you want to help us? What did Erica do to you?”
His smile came back and I felt Rissa grab my arm in fear.
“My personal goals are my business alone. I don’t need to tell you anything.”
“Then fuck off!”
He chuckled manically and my anger peaked again. I wanted to attack him but I felt Clarissa hold me back.
Finally, he stopped laughing and his eyes beared down on me.
“Maybe you don’t understand that you are at a disadvantage. I know what you are planning to do to Erica. I could tell her and make all your plans crumble to the ground.”
“And what makes you think that she will believe you?” I snapped angrily.
“Trust me. She will believe me.”
I wanted to retort but Clarissa grabbed my arm and pulled me aside.
“Lorenzo, we have to be smart about this. He knows what are planning to do.”
“And what if he is bluffing? What makes you think that we can believe him?”
Rissa was silent for a while. She lowered her head and stared at the floor.
“If you love me, let him help us.”
“What?!”
She raised her head and looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“You said that you did nothing with Erica. If he wants to help us bring him down then accept his help. Stop trying to defend her.”
“Rissa, I am not defending her. I just”
I turned back to look at the stranger and he pointed to his wrist.
“Time is precious, Lorenzo. I have somewhere to be.”
I snarled and turned back to Clarissa.
“I don’t trust him, Rissa.”
“Well, neither do I. But I will do anything to get Erica out of our lives.”
She pushed past me and walked up to the stranger.
“How do you want to help us?”
He smiled.
“You’re a smart woman. I have a thing for smart ladies.”
“Enough banter. Talk.”
I watched him rub his hands and his smile weakened slightly.
“I know that Erica invited you and your ‘lover’ to dinner and with the current status quo, you can’t attend. So…”
His smile grew again my fists clenched.
“… I am willing to go with you while Lorenzo goes with Erica so that there will be nothing to suspect.”
I looked at him in shock. Rissa was shaken but silent. Was she really considering this?
“And what do you hope to gain in return?” She asked.
“I thought I said it earlier. My business is of no concern to you.”
He stepped forward and stretched out his hand.
“So, tell me, do we have a deal?…”