Locked Hearts

Chapter Twenty Six

RAELYNN POV

Staring at the ceiling, I took comfort from my mom's soft singing while her hand threaded through my hair. My mind wouldn't calm down, my body felt drained and my heart craved Grace. In short, I was seriously fucked up at the moment. Danny would be here tomorrow and we now had to come up with a new plan. Yet, that was the last thing on my mind. Grace, beautiful, sweet Grace. I knew I owed her the truth but I wasn't ready to go down that road just yet.

"You need to talk to her, mia figlia."

"I don't know how." I looked up into her eyes.

Eyes that were so different my mine. I didn't get my eyes from her, I wish I did. Hers were these pale blue eyes that sometimes looked grey from certain angles. They were soft and had this light in them, I always loved her eyes. Grace's eyes were ocean blue. Deep, lovely blue eyes that held so much power over me. I could spend the rest of my days looking into those eyes.

"The truth, il mio bambino. You tell her everything." She smiled down at me. "If you want her trust, you give her yours."

I sighed, knowing she was right.

"Did you ever regret it, mamma?" My voice sounded small and vulnerable even to me.

She kept staring at me, that warm motherly smile in place. "Never. Not once, not even for a second. You, il moroso, made living worth it."

"Yeah?"

"Si. Ti amo."

"Ti amo mamma."

●●●

With a pounding headache, I laid in bed. I shoved my face deeper into my pillow, willing myself to get some sleep. I just needed to sleep, get a clear head and figure out the words I'd use to tell her. Just a little sleep.

Five minutes.

Ten minutes.

One hour.

"Fuck!" I screamed in irritation.

I pulled the covers over my head, shutting my eyes again. A knock on my door disturbed my attempts.

"It's open." I grumbled loud enough to whoever it was to hear.

It could either be my mom or Lena. Grace wouldn't come near me and Marcello spent all his time in his studio.

"Why are you in bed so early?" The object of my affection sweet voice rung out.

In a movement to quick, I sat up, only to regret it when my head pounded. "Hi." I answered dumbly.

She stood still in the doorway, and I sat in bed. Our eyes locked for what seemed to be minutes, then hers trailed lower. Only then did I realise the covers fell to my waist, exposing my bare chest. I had only worn a basketball shorts to bed. I watched with bated breath as she took me in. I could literally see the second her eyes started to darken with lust, then it was gone. She looked into my eyes again, and I saw the pain. The hurt I caused.

"I'm tired, Rae. I'm so tired and I fucking miss you." She breathed out, her voice strained.

My mouth opened to speak but I didn't know what to say. Another apology would not mean anything. None of them did. I could apologize over and over but it wouldn't do her any good.

"I can't sleep." I told her instead. "Can you come sleep with me? Please?"

She hesitated before slowly making her way to me. "Don't try anything." She mumbled, climbing in next to me.

She snuggled up to me and I wrapped her up securely. Peace. Comforting peace. I closed my eyes and in seconds I was out.

I was awaken by soft lips on my neck. The kisses were barely there, as if afraid to touch me fully. I groaned in satisfaction when one was placed on my soft spot.

"I thought you said-"

Her lips came down on mine with a fierce hunger. I immediately responded, and it felt like I was jolted awake. Like life was given back to me and I could finally breathe again. I pulled one of her leg over my waist, trying to bring her as close as possible.

"Rae." She moaned when I pulled back, sucking her bottom lip before releasing.

Hearing her say that name did something to me. For so long I wanted, no I craved to hear my real name leave her lips. As much as I wanted her right now, I couldn't do this to her.

"I can't." I moved away from her and sat against the headboard.

"Can't what?" She asked sitting up.

I rubbed my hands down my face, feeling another headache coming on. "Every personal thing I ever told you about myself, was all true. Everything I feel for you, it's all fucking true but I have lied to you." I turned to her and again I saw the hurt I caused. "I never wanted to, I mean that Grace. I lied about my name. My name isn't Raelynn Clarke."

"Yeah, I figured that much from the name on the gate." She rolled her eyes. "So what is it? Raelynn Romano?" She glared at me.

I could feel my fears surfacing, the thought of losing her completely too numbing to tolerate. "It's not Raelynn." I whispered looking down.

She scoffed, getting off the bed. "All these months and I didn't even know your name. That's just great, Rae. No wait, my bad. What the fuck do I call you?" She glared hard at me. "And you lied about being in the mafia too right? Vincent Milano?"

"One lie, my name. That's it. Everything else was true."

"And I'm suppose to believe that?" She almost shouted.

"Tesoro-"

"Do not call me that because I don't feel like your fucking treasure right about now." She gritted out harshly.

I sat there too afraid to speak or move. I had never felt more like a coward than I do right now. This wasn't suppose to happen. She was never meant to be in my life permanently, just a good fuck. Now she was the one I ached for, and I just didn't have it in me to ignore that feeling.

"Who are you?" She asked, the sound barely audible but the pain as clear as day.

I found the courage to meet her eyes. A strong pang of guilt flooded through my being at the sight I saw. Once I told her my name, I knew I had to follow up with the story I never wanted anyone else to know. So I steeled my heart as best I could, mustering up every bit of courage I had and spoke a name I haven't been called in years.

"Valerius Luka Romano"

-E