Criminal Casanova by C.L Harper

Author:C.L Harper [Harper, C.L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J&M Books
Published: 2026-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

17

Benjamin

There have been several things that have left me speechless over the past week, and none of them compared to hearing Cielo rip into Penny and then my parents, Lorenzo too. It still doesn’t feel right giving him a parental title.

After our talk in his office, I had every intention of going to bed and sleeping until the next day. Penny put pay to that by listening to music far too loud. I was already leaning out my window to give her an earful when I watched Cielo walk over and switch off the music player. I probably should have closed the window and minded my own business, but I was curious. I couldn’t think of a reason for Cielo to speak with Penny.

I listened as Cielo calmly berated Penny. My first instinct was to rush to her defence, but I was frozen, unable to utter a sound. As soon as he finished, the world began to spin again, and I found myself rushing to the stairs with every intention of having some stern words of my own. After all, I didn’t need him fighting my battles—battles I wasn’t convinced were necessary. I mean, sure, Penny encouraged me to stop being dull and live a little, but it was my choice. Granted, any time I tried to talk about how I was feeling, Penny shut the conversation down and shoved another drink in my hand, but it was me who chose to take it.

With Cielo’s added height, his pace was far beyond mine. I had to jog to catch up when I finally saw the direction he’d taken. I was wrong to guess he’d head back to his office. When I found him, he’d stepped into a beautiful building, fresh from renovation.

Once again, I stepped in, ready to have a row with him, but was pinned to the spot. Cielo was standing by a table with my parents and Lorenzo. His voice was more dangerous than it had been with Penny. I listened to him again and was floored. The man I’d called the Devil was fighting everyone…for me and my well-being.

The second he huffed out a frustrated breath, I knew he was about to turn and walk in my direction. The adult in me said I should have stayed put and faced it head-on, but as evidenced by my recent behaviour, I was struggling with the concept of adulting as a whole. So I tucked tail and rounded the corner of the building until I was sure he was gone and I could emerge unseen.

I ran straight into my parents, who still looked a little shell-shocked. And this is where I am now, standing in front of my parents without a clue how to approach what I just heard.

“Benjamin,” Mama squeaks. Her voice always gets high when she’s stressed.

“I heard him,” I reply, because I can’t lie to them.

Mum looks to the ground and nods to herself. It’s funny how people do that: nod to themselves or shake their heads.

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