Locked Hearts

Chapter Thirty Two

GRACE POV

She wasn't coming out. No, she decided to stay in there for over an hour instead. I contemplated going in but figured she needed time to get herself together. So I got comfortable and laid beneath the covers. Another half an hour went by before she came out.

Peeking over the covers, I saw her naked form disappear into the closet. The sounds of clothes being thrown and grumbling could be heard. Guess she thought I'd leave of she stayed in the shower long enough. She came back out in basketball shorts and a tank top. Without so much as a glance my way, she took her spot on the bed and rolled over, her back to me.

"You're being really childish right now." I told her, reaching a hand out to rest on her arm.

She shrugged it off with a scoff. "Says the one who kicked me. That shit hurt."

"Well, you shouldn't have shouted at me or curse. And you should definitely apologise for the headache you gave me from whatever the fuck you tried to do." I put my hand back on her. She didn't reply and shrugged me off again. "You're hurting me, Valerius. I don't know this side of you and I'm not mad because you have every right to be angry. Knowing your mother went through that, not once but twice. Losing her ability to walk and losing her husband, your father. Having to see it happen, I couldn't begin to imagine the pain. I've had my share but it's not the same. So be mad, hate the man who caused your family this much agony, do what you need to do. But please, don't push me away." I begged softly.

Silence.

Blinking back my tears and swallowing the knot in my throat, I got up. Suddenly I felt unwanted, something she never made me feel before. I knew she was going through something no words could placate but I had feelings too. All I wanted was to be there for her, but I wouldn't force my place in her life.

I made my way to the door but before I could exit, arms wrapped around me. Without a word she lifted me and threw me on the bed, then went back to lock the door. After I got over the shock, I laid with my jaw dropped. She crawled into bed and hovered over me.

"Valerius makes me sound so.....masculine." She twisted her face up. "Then they went and gave me two male names. Do I look male to you, tesoro?"

Not sure how to respond, I kept quiet. My eyes trailed to her arms on either side of me. Strong, firm and muscular yet feminine with just the right amount of muscles to tempt. But surely nothing masculine about them. Her face features were soft, though she mostly carried a stoic expression. Her bow shaped lips and high cheeks, her eyes were my favorite thing to look into. They told so much yet nothing at the same time. I loved the way she looked at me as though I was all she saw. She had strong toned legs, perfectly defined and don't even get me started on her back. It just might be my favorite part of her body, the way the muscle rippled deliciously with every move she made. She was a masterpiece really. My masterpiece. Alteast I wanted her to be.

"I'm sorry, amore mio. I'm so sorry." Her voice soft now.

My heartbeat quickened at the endearment. She'd called me pet names before but never that. I laid beneath her quietly, staring into those hazel eyes. I wanted to badly to reach up and hold her but I didn't. Not yet.

"You don't know what it feels like. One day I'm happy, so happy. Laughing at dumb jokes he told. Wanting to bury my face, because he wouldn't stop teasing about this girl I liked back then. Play fighting with him and trying to get Marcello to join but he never would. He taught me how to ride a bike, how to cook. I was twelve when I came out to him and you know what he did? He took me out to the park and bought me ice cream. Started telling me about how he pursued mom and giving me pointers for the future. That was it. I wasn't rebuked or made to feel guilty about how I felt. He just simply...loved me. Then I found out the truth. The truth that he lived with for years, and I never once felt anything but love and affection."

My heart broke at the look in her eyes, the shaky tone of her strained voice told me she held her tears at bay. Reaching up I cupped her cheek with both my hands.

"I can still hear their screams and see everything they went through. It's engraved into my brain, a constant cruel reminder that I have to carry. And the worse part? I'm the child of the man who stole their happiness from them."

"You're not." I tried to move so I could hold her better but she wouldn't let me. "You are the daughter of Dante and Violetta Romano. Sister of Marcello Romano. That man is nothing to you. You are nothing like him."

She moved off of me and stood as I sat up. "I will be after I'm done with him." She stared at a spot on the bed. "I have to. Last time I was a scared kid, too terrified to fucking move. I'm not her anymore." Her body trembled with whatever she felt.

"I'm not going anywhere." I told her, knowing she thought I would. "I'll be right here."

"You'll regret it."

"Look at me." She didn't. "Val, look at me." She stubbornly shook her head. "Please baby, look at me." Her body seemed to relax as she gave in and locked eyes with me. "I. Am not. Leaving you." I told her as fiercely as I could.

She stayed staring at me before slowly nodding. I patted the the bed, indicating for her to lay down. She obeyed and took her place next to me. For the first time, I was the one holding her in my arms. I was the one comforting her until she fell asleep.

-E