Make Me Moan, Daddy-Chapter 88

REINA

Calestino’s hand moved slightly—just enough for me to notice. His jacket shifted, and for a split second I saw the outline beneath it.

A gun.

My stomach dropped.

Andrew saw it too.

His face paled, then hardened with anger. "You threatening me now?" he snapped. "Over her?"

Calestino smiled.

It was slow. Cold. Wrong.

"You don’t rate a warning," he said. "You rate restraint."

Andrew laughed, sharp and bitter. "You think you scare me? I know who she is. I know what she did."

My heart slammed against my ribs. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Andrew ignored me, eyes locked on Calestino. "She didn’t tell you, did she? About us. About how she begged me once."

The words sliced straight through me.

Calestino moved before I could speak.

In one fast step, he grabbed Andrew by the front of his jacket and slammed him back against the wall hard enough to knock the breath from his lungs. Andrew gasped, hands flying up instinctively, fingers clawing at Calestino’s wrist.

"Say another word," Calestino said quietly, "and I won’t need this."

His other hand pressed deliberately against his side.

The gun.

My chest seized. "Calestino!"

He didn’t look at me.

Andrew struggled, face turning red. "You—can’t—"

"I can," Calestino said flatly. "And I will."

"Stop!" I shouted, panic flooding my veins. I grabbed Calestino’s arm with both hands, my fingers digging into his sleeve. Afraid that if I didn’t do something, he was really going to hurt Andrew and it would be on me. "Please. Don’t."

For a moment, I thought he wouldn’t listen.

Then his grip loosened.

He shoved Andrew away hard enough that he stumbled and nearly fell again, coughing violently as he sucked in air.

"You walk away," Calestino warned. "Now."

Andrew straightened slowly, eyes burning with humiliation and rage. "You think this is over?" he spat at me. "You think you can hide behind men like him forever?"

"Yes," I said, my voice shaking but loud. "I can."

He stared at me like he wanted to tear me apart with words alone. "You haven’t changed," he said bitterly. "Still acting like a little girl who couldn’t think for herself."

Woah. That fucking hurt. But I definitely wasn’t going to let him have the last smile.

"And you haven’t either," I shot back. "Still going after things you can never have."

Andrew laughed harshly. "You’ll regret this."

Calestino stepped forward again.

Andrew didn’t wait.

He turned and walked away, fast and stiff, disappearing between the parked cars.

The silence he left behind was thick and suffocating. I let out a shaky breath and realized my legs were trembling.

Calestino turned back to me instantly. "Are you hurt?"

"No," I whispered. "Just... shaken."

He nodded once. "Good."

"That’s it?" I snapped suddenly, emotion spilling over. "That’s all you have to say?"

His eyes flicked over me, sharp. "You’re alive. You’re not bleeding. That’s what matters."

I exhaled harshly. "You didn’t have to do that."

"Yes, I did."

"You were going to shoot him!"

"And?" Calestino said. "He was provoking. He didn’t stop when warned."

"That doesn’t mean—"

"It means exactly that," he cut in. "Men like him don’t understand words."

I stared at him, my heart racing. "You can’t tell Domenico."

The name changed everything.

Calestino stilled.

Slowly, he turned his head toward me. "Why not?"

"Because if he finds out," I said quickly, my voice breaking, "he won’t just scare Andrew. He’ll hurt him out of jealousy. And I don’t want that on my conscience."

Calestino studied my face. "That little shit hurt you."

"I know," I whispered. "But I’m handling it."

He scoffed. "You froze, Reina." he let out with a deep breath. "Who knows what he might have done to you if I hadn’t shown up?"

"That doesn’t mean I’m weak. I was about to tell him off." I blurted out. I knew it was irrational of me to be angry when Calestino had literally stopped me from doing something I was definitely going to regret.

Not that I could tell him the truth that I was considering kissing Andrew before he jumped in, putting a stop to it. Only the thought of it alone irritated me.

"No, I wasn’t saying you are weak," he said. "It means you were caught off guard."

I grabbed his sleeve again, this time pleading. "Please. Don’t tell him. That’s all I’m asking."

Domenico might use that as an excuse to force me to come back home.

Calestino’s jaw worked. He looked away, clearly torn between instinct and obedience.

Finally, he said, "If that man comes near you again, I’m definitely going to tell boss, and maybe... your husband too."

I nodded quickly. "That’s fair." I said, clearing my throat. "I promise he won’t do it again."

"Stay close to campus security today," he added. "Don’t walk alone."

"I have class."

"You’ll be watched."

That sent a chill down my spine.

"Is that why you are here?" I asked with a frown. "Am I being watched? Did Domenico send you here to watch me?"

I was scared to hear his reply, but Calestino only shrugged one shoulder, not saying anything. He picked my bag off the floor and handed it to me as we began walking towards the building.

We turned toward the hallway that led to my first class.

We hadn’t taken more than three steps when I felt it again—that crawling awareness, that pressure between my shoulder blades.

I turned my head.

Professor Philip stood near the steps. The same man from earlier. Leather jacket. Calm posture. Eyes fixed directly on us.

My stomach twisted.

Our eyes met. Recognition flashed across his face—quick, sharp. Then his gaze shifted from mine and slid to Calestino.

Calestino tensed immediately.

Not dramatic. Not obvious. Just enough that I felt it beside me. His shoulders stiffened, his hand flexing once like muscle memory.

"You know him?" I asked quietly.

"No," he said rather too quickly that I knew for sure he was lying.

"You’re lying." I pointed out.

"No." Calestino insisted, eyes looking everywhere but at Philip.

Philip’s mouth curved slightly as if to prove Calestino wrong. He adjusted his jacket and nodded politely in our direction instead.

"Call me if you need anything, I’ll hang around to make sure you’re okay." With that being said, Calestino rushed out of the parking lot like his life depended on it.

When I turned to stare at Philip, he was also watching Calestino walk away, grinning with his lower lip snagged between his teeth.

"That’s weird." I said, and that caught Philip’s attention.