Locked Hearts

Chapter Twenty Nine

GRACE POV

I paced the length of the room, nerves consuming me. Ben was getting his procedure done today and even though I said I didn't want to be there, I wanted to be there. I knew Kelly would make sure everything went well but I still worried. I loved that kid, so much and sometimes I felt stupid for it. I was crazy about the baby my sister and ex fiance made together.

"What are you doing?" Rae-, no Val's voice came.

I still wasn't used to it despite how many times I've screamed it in bed. "I need to talk to Kelly. Actually, can you take me to the hospital?" I asked with pleading eyes.

"Why, what's wrong? Are you okay?" She rushed to my side, hands and eyes scanning me.

"I'm fine, my nephew is there and I want to be there for him." I told her, moving away. It's been over a year since I last saw Ben and I missed the little guy. Although I doubted he remembered me now.

She frowned, slightly moving back. "It's dangerous to go anywhere, tesoro."

"Please, just for a little bit." I pouted for good measure.

She sighed, throwing her head back with a groan. "That's not fair."

"What's not fair?" I wrapped my arms around her torso.

She looked down at me, with a frown. "I need to take some guards, gimme a minute." She kissed my forehead then moved out of my hold.

I sat down on the loveseat, thinking about the past week. Since Val told me about her past and connection to Milano, I saw her differently. I still feared, but not for me anymore. I feared for her. I saw the look in her eyes when she told me, she was out for blood. I didn't push for the rest of it because, something told me it went alot deeper than just targeting a random family.

"Let's go." She grumbled, poking her head into the room.

We walked silently to her mom in the living room. Lena had been bothering Marcello alot lately. He'd bluntly told her over and over he didn't like her yet, the girl kept talking his ear off. She atleast acted considerate to his need for hush voices.

"Mamma, I'm taking Grace to visit someone. We'll be back soon." Val knelt before her.

I watched as Violetta smiled at her, patted her head gently. "Be safe."

She waved at me as we walked by. Silently a moody Val led me to her car, opening the door and shutting it once I sat. I kept quiet for the first twenty minutes, we were two hours away from the city.

"Are you going to sulk the whole way there?" I asked, amused by her attitude. It was a side to her I witnessed only when she didn't get her way.

"I'm not." She grumbled, looking in the rearview mirror once again. "There's two cars with guards following us."

Looking back I two black SUVs closely behind. My anxiety surfaced at the thought of something happening, all because I insisted on going to the hospital. Maybe we shouldn't have come.

"Do you think he'll send someone? Should we go back?" I asked, my fear showing.

She glanced at me briefly. "We're fine, relax." She placed a hand on my leg and squeezed before taking it back.

●●●

"Talk to me." Haley begged.

Val stood a little way off talking to Kelly. Kelly asked about the guards but Val only replied saying it was because of what's been going on at the club. Though I had no idea who's been running it now. My eyes were trained on her, taking in her gorgeous frame. She had her muscled arms folded as she leaned against the wall, smiling at whatever my friend went on about. I was in trouble with this one, I knew that much.

"I have nothing to say to you." I shrugged, not looking away from my-

My what? Friend? Sex buddy? Lover? We weren't together, no one made anything official. And with what's been going, I don't think being with me was on her mind.

"I'm sorry, Grace." Her annoying voice came again.

Tearing my eyes away from my Italian, I looked at my once favorite sister. I looked up to this woman at one point, she taught me so much growing up. Gemma was always busy, acting like a second mother to us. Haley was the one who drove me around when I was younger, she stuck up for me whenever I got in trouble with our parents. She even took the blame that one time I almost got caught sneaking out to meet a girlfriend, saying she left the window opened.

"I would've understood." I started. "Had it been for love or something more than just screwing around. I would have tried to understand, it might have been hard but eventually I would've forgiven you after some time. Okay, my finace fell for my sister and she fell for him too. I wasn't it for him but maybe she could be." I told her honestly. "But it wasn't for love, it wasn't something deep or meaningful. It was simply disgusting and selfish acts on both your parts. Instead you both made a fool out of me. Have you even seen him since I found out?" I spoke bitterly.

I could see the shame wash over her and I loved every second of it.

"No." She croaked out.

"I didn't think so." I walked off, going to Val.

She already had her eyes on me and lifted an arm. I walked into her warmth, circling her torso as she held me to her.

"Aww, that's adorable." Kelly squealed.

"Knock it off." I half heartedly scowled at her.

Val's chest vibrated as she chuckled softly, her breath fanning the side of my face. "Doctor is here." She told us.

I turned to see him talking to Haley. After he was done, I waited for her to say Ben was ok and soon he'd get back to his normal life. That is, after his follow ups and whatnot. He'd be fine now and that's all I needed to know.

"Ready?" Val asked me quietly, still holding me.

"Yeah."

We said our goodbyes to Kelly and made our way to the car. Just before she opened my door, I heard a booming voice.

"Well well, I've been waiting for you, little Valerius."

Men poured around us, each holding some type of weapon. Val's men drew out theirs as well. She pulled me to her, stepping in front of me.

She didn't say anything but I could tell she was fuming, or maybe scared. She held her fists at her sides, blocking any direct vision to me, her car behind my back. I couldn't see him from where I was, I held onto the back of her shirt, my smaller body shaking.

"Nothing to say?" He taunted. "My my, I knew you looked familiar. Just like her. Except her eyes, you don't have her eyes."

"What do you want?" She gritted out angrily.

"You." He stated. "When you're ready, you'll come to me."

"I'll never come to you!" Val shouted. I felt the anger radiating off of her, her body trembling from trying to stay still.

"Yes, you will." He simply said.

She growled lowly in her throat, staying silent other than that.

Something wasn't right about this exchange. I felt it in my gut, it felt excruciatingly painful. Whatever part of her story she didn't tell me, this was it.

"After all, you are my daughter."

-E