Page 31 of Lost Prince

She sucks in a breath. I know she thinks I’m being naïve. “It’s not smart, Diana.”

“Are you going to fire me?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “You might think Lazaro is a nice man, but if I fired you, I imagine I’d have a problem from him. I can’t protect you except to encourage you to leave or at the very least stop this nonsense.”

My jaw is so tight it’s a wonder it doesn’t crack off. “I don’t want or need your protection.”

She nods and steps away. I hate that she thinks I’m being stupid even as I know that I am. But I’m not an idiot because Lazaro is dangerous to me physically. I’m an idiot because Lazaro is a danger to my heart.

12

LAZARO

Istep out of the kitchen, feeling a sense of strength and solidity that's been missing since I woke up with no memory. Diana has that effect on me. She grounds me, makes me feel whole in a way I can't explain.

But as I walk through the house, doubt creeps in. Have I put her in a difficult position? She does work for the family. She even expressed concern. Not that I’d allow Elio to fire her, but still, it could get awkward for her. I wonder if she'd be better off quitting, letting me take care of her instead.

I shake my head, dismissing the thought. Diana's a free spirit. The idea of being trapped, even in a gilded cage, would suffocate her. Besides, it's far too early to be thinking that way. We've only just begun whatever this is between us.

I rub my hand over my heart, a little unsettled by thinking such thoughts. Is there really something between us? Something more than just sex? I can't deny how good I feel around her. She brings out a side of me I didn't know existed or maybe forgot. No, not forgot. Based on what I’ve learned about my past self, I doubt I was a man who developed feelings for anyone beyond my family. Everyone sees me as the “mad dog”, a man to fear. Butshe isn’t afraid of me. And while I don’t know who I am anymore, with her I feel normal, like I can be me, whoever that is.

But even as I bask in the afterglow of our encounter, I can't ignore the beast that lurks within me. The one that took over when that foreman pulled a gun on Elio. The one that's capable of violence I can't even remember. Diana may calm me, but she can't tame that part of me that I’m not in control of. I'm not sure anyone can. And that terrifies me more than I'd like to admit.

I head up to my room to shower and figure out my plans for the day. After I nearly killed Elio’s foreman, I can't imagine Elio wants to include me in any business discussions or activities. Maybe I’ll head out to the garage and tinker with the cars.

I step out of the shower, toweling off as I continue to mull over my situation with Diana. Part of me knows I should end things before they get too complicated. She deserves better than a man with no past and a violent streak he can't control.

Unfortunately, I'm not that noble. The selfish part of me wants to hold on to her. And she seems to genuinely enjoy my company. It's not like I'm forcing her into anything.

I pull on a fresh shirt, still wrestling with my thoughts. Before I can come to any real conclusion, there's a knock at my door.

"Come in," I call out.

Matteo strolls in, looking as carefree as ever. "Hey, are you up for a job?"

I tense immediately, memories of the warehouse incident flashing through my mind. "I don't know. After what happened?—”

He waves off my concern. "Relax, it's nothing like that. This is an easy one. No guns, no intimidation needed. Promise."

I eye him skeptically. I did more than intimidate the other day. "What kind of job are we talking about?"

"Just checking in with Paulie at the club. No need for threats."

I hesitate, still unsure. I’m eager to prove I can be useful without resorting to violence, and maybe this is the chance I need to show everyone, including myself, that I'm more than just a "mad dog".

"Alright." I nod.

Thirty minutes later, I follow Matteo into one of our family's clubs, the bass blasting until my ears throb. The place isn’t crowded yet, but the few men who are there are getting an eyeful of the dancers strutting around in glittery costumes that leave little to the imagination.

As we enter, heads turn and eyes light up. A leggy blonde saunters over, her smile wide. "Lazaro! We missed you, handsome."

I freeze, caught off guard by her familiarity. Before I can respond, a petite redhead joins us, running her hand down my arm. "Where've you been hiding, sugar? It's been ages."

More girls crowd around, their perfume overwhelming my senses. They chat and laugh like we're old friends, but I can't place a single face. The disconnect is jarring.

I glance at Matteo, hoping for some help, but he just smirks and shrugs.

A brunette with huge tits nearly falling out of a sparkling blue bikini top pouts at me. "You haven't forgotten me, have you?" I have forgotten her. I’ve forgotten all of them. Every single one.