Renzo + Lucia: The Complete Trilogy - Bethany-Kris Page 0,23

She hadn’t meant to make him feel badly about his situation. He, like everyone else in this damn world, was doing the best they could given what he had.

No one could expect anything more.

Laurie finally glanced up from the paperwork in front of her with a soft gaze. “It is a little unusual for him to go this long without attending the daycare, but that’s not my business, and it isn’t your business, either. That’s important to remember here, Lucia. There is only so much you can do, and becoming too involved with one person in particular can cause a problem. I hope you understand.”

Sure, she did.

That didn’t mean she was going to listen to the advice, or heed it, for that matter. If Renzo was avoiding the daycare because of her, then she was going to let him know that was pointless, and it only really hurt Diego in the end.

She knew where he lived. She could go right over there and let him know that as soon as she was done with her shift.

She certainly wasn’t going there just because she wanted to see Renzo again.

No …

It wasn’t that at all.

• • •

Lucia wasn’t sure which thing bothered her more. The fact that the guys loitering on the steps of Renzo’s apartment building were leering at her car like they wanted to get their hands on it, or that their attention instantly switched to her the second she stepped out of the car.

Jesus.

“Well, look at that. Damn.”

One of them even whistled.

Lucia was quite aware that she was pretty. She took after her mother with her soft features that were made even more dainty by the fact she was sprite-like in size. She also learned how to wield a makeup brush and hair tools from the time she was little because her two older sisters, Liliana and Cella, thought that was an important skill for her to learn.

That didn’t mean she enjoyed being leered at like a piece of meat walking down the sidewalk. She was pretty sure no woman enjoyed that feeling.

“Bit of a step down for a chick like you around here, ain’t it?” someone else called.

Lucia clenched her jaw, and tightened the coat around her waist as she headed for the steps of the apartment building. The guys’ comments only picked up more the closer she came, but she just tuned them out until she was standing right in front of them.

“I’m looking for someone,” she said.

The guy in the middle with the longer hair and beady blue eyes sneered. “You’re in the wrong place then, girly.”

Girly.

Lucia couldn’t even try to not be offended at that statement. “First, don’t call me that. Second, I know Renzo Zulla lives here. That’s who I’m looking for. I need an apartment number, if that’s not too much to ask.”

Looks passed between the three guys, but the one in the middle was the only one who seemed to want to do any talking for the time being. Lucia didn’t really give a shit who talked, as long as someone did, and they gave her the right apartment number. The less time she had to spend outside with them, the better.

“Since when does Ren hang out with someone like you?”

Lucia lifted a single brow. “What does someone like me even mean?”

“How much does your car cost?”

“I don’t know. I’ll ask my father, and let you know the next time I come around. If you’re done making comments about my money, an apartment number would be great.”

The guy scoffed under his breath, and glanced away from Lucia like she wasn’t worth looking at anymore. He could try to save his pride all he wanted. She didn’t care as long as she got the apartment number.

“Floor three, apartment five,” the guy muttered. “Don’t chip a fucking nail on your way up there, princess.”

Lucia moved past the guys sitting on the steps, and replied, “It’s principessa, actually. If you want to insult me, at least do it right.”

She was all too aware that she really shouldn’t be antagonizing people she didn’t even know from a hole in the ground, but they weren’t the only ones who had too much pride. She didn’t want to be insulted just because she looked like an easy target. No Marcello would stand for that, woman or not.

Lucia entered the building and made sure not to look back at the guys she’d left behind. She didn’t want to give them the indication they bothered her or got under her