Locked Hearts

Chapter Thirty One

GRACE POV

I listened as Violetta told her story. I could see the pain in her eyes from losing her husband. The pain as she remembered the past. It was so crushing, I could feel it in my own chest, gripping my heart in it clutches.

"Having her was one of the best decisions I've ever made. You should have seen them together." Her eyes lit up. "The way he loved her and when I tell you, she had that man bending to her every will. He loved her as his own, that was one thing I never second guessed. She was always more his than she was mine. I know that's why she's going after Milano. He took her father away and though a part of me died the night Dante did, I'd rather her forget. Forget and move on." She sighed.

My hands reached over and wiped the fallen tears away. "She's not wrong. He needs to pay for what he's done."

"I know, but I am afraid." She gazed sadly into my eyes. "Afraid that my little girl will lose herself in her attempt to avenge her father. You can't let that happen, Grace." She gripped my hands, eyes pleading. "You have to make sure she comes back when this is all done. Promise me."

"How? I don't-"

"She'll need something to come back to. She isn't anything like him, her heart is kind. I watched my Dante instill good values in her. We raised her to be a decent human being, to look out for those who couldn't do so themselves. She may have been a little lost in recent years but she's still my Val. But she needs an anchor. Will you be her anchor, Grace?"

I looked into those pleading eyes, unable to look away. I had no intention of leaving her. Val may have thought it would make me run the other way but, truth be told, I fell harder. The only thing I wanted to do was wrap her in my arms and never let go. It couldn't have been easy to find out you were conceived that way, yet she was after justice for the man who gave her his name.

"I promise, I'm not going anywhere."

●●●

"You are annoying." Marcello muttered.

"I'm keeping you company, you can be a little nicer." Lena rolled her eyes, slumping in her seat.

I chuckled at the two bickering kids. They've been going at it all day, and I listened as I petted Nala's head on my lap. I was buying time before finding Val. Since our run in with Milano a few days ago, she's kept to herself. He let us go, saying he'll wait until she came to him. Everytime I tried talking to her, she walked away.

"You're like a little sister I never wanted and can't get rid of." He got up and walked out the room.

Lena scoffed and followed after him. "Where are we going?." I heard her call after him.

Laughing, I looked down at the husky, scratching behind her ear. "Time to see what your mom's been up to." Her head lifted and tilted, giving that adorable look only a dog could give. "You miss her too, huh? Me too girl, me too."

I quietly made my way into the gym. After searching her room, the garden and getting lost a few times, I decided here would be the best bet. I was right. There she was, dressed in sweats that hung low on her hip, sports bra and boxing gloves. Her perfectly toned and muscled tattooed body, dripping in sweat. I let my eyes trail over every inch that came into view. I sighed, remembering what she was capable of doing to me before pushing my lustfilled thoughts away.

Taking tentative steps in her direction, I came to a stop in front of her. "Can we talk?" She didn't stop or even give any indication that she heard me. "Val?" If anything she started hitting the punching bag harder.

Her grunts came out heavier the more she carried on, brows furrowed and frustration clear on her gorgeous face. I stepped back when the bag swung close to where I was. I didn't know what to do. It's been five days since, and she hadn't so much as look at me.

"Val?" I called out again.

She let out a frustrated and irritated sigh. "Can you leave?"

Though that hurt, I ignored it. "No."

"Excuse me?" She stopped, finally locking eyes with me.

"I said no." I answered firmly.

Her jaw clenched, her eyes hardened in a expressionless mask. "Grace, get out." She growled.

"No." I gritted out, anger taking over.

"I said get the fuck out!" She yelled.

"And I fucking said no!" I matched her tone.

She looked only a little shocked before tearing her gloves off. "I don't want you here." She said seriously.

"Then you shouldn't have brought me here." I shot back, shoving whatever hurt I felt down.

She walked in my direction, much like a lion would it's prey. I took steps back as she took forward ones. I stopped when my back hit what felt like a metal surface. Her bigger frame towering over me. Slowly her hand reached up, swung back and swiftly hit the surface beside my head, rattling loudly. I didn't even blink. I knew she what she was doing and I wasn't going to let it work.

"Leave before I hurt you, Grace." Her voice low, trying to be treathening.

Maybe it would've worked on someone else. Anyone really, who didn't know her. She wasn't capable of hurting me, her heart wouldn't let her.

"You're gonna have to try harder." I rolled my eyes.

This time her two hands slammed harder beside my head. The sounds harsh and cruel to my eardrums, I cringed at the pain that shot through my head. "You're being fucking stupid." She growled.

I attempted to push her away using both my hands. The asshole didn't even budge. "You're the only stupid one here because the only thing you're succeeding in doing, is giving me a fucking headache. Fuck off." I tried to push her again. "Why the fuck are you so strong?" I shouted and kicked her shin.

She hissed in pain, holding her foot as she bent over. "What the hell was that?" She groaned.

"I'm going to your room. When you get your head out of your ass, come to me." I walked off. "Fucking idiot, trying to scare me off." I muttered loud enough for her to hear.

I wasn't hurt by her words, I was fuming. How dare she think I'd want her any less? For days I've been after her, trying to get her to talk to me. To make sure she was alright. When she finally acknowledges me, she pulled that shit.

Fucking women.

I got to her room, laying face down in her sheets. It smelt like her, comforting and erasing whatever hurt or anger that resided in me. A few minutes later. The door opened again and I heard her head for the bathroom.

I sat up, leaning against the headboard and patiently waited for her to come out.

-E