Garden of Roses ✔️

Chapter 28

Zara

There were so many things on my mind. I didn't even know where and how to begin sorting them out. Camilla threw a bombshell at me, and I didn't know what to do with it.

I wish Dante would tell me exactly how he felt so I could figure out how I felt. I wasn't even questioning our connection. There was something between us, something unspoken but deeply felt ever since my first night here and our intense encounter in the kitchen. Our similarities were obvious despite him not knowing the first thing about me. And me not knowing the man that my little friend had become.

The number of things we did know about each other was small, almost insignificant. And yet, there were moments when our eye contact would get so intense that it felt like we've spent our whole lives together.

But even though we both felt it, we never spoke about it. We didn't need to. He knew that I understood him. The hidden him, the one that fought with his own mind inside. I believe that he found comfort in a person who had so many demons of her own, even if he didn't know what they were. It didn't matter. The point was in the comfort of not being alone in that constant battle.

I felt the same. I may have been the one comforting him at first, but he has no idea how much relief I've gotten out of it myself. The relief of helping him slowly overcome the blocks that made him almost incapable of showing emotion and caring about other people. If he could climb over those walls inside him, then maybe there was hope for me too.

In the last few weeks, I wasn't only recovering physically, but also emotionally and mentally. Together with Dante.

But was there something more? Besides our deep understanding of each other, was there more? And how would I even know?

One more thing about practically not leaving the bunker for the past eighteen years was that during that time, I had very limited communications with people. Those few relationships I've had with people were mostly business. The closest one I have is with Luca, and he's like my older brother. How am I supposed to recognize something different and know exactly what that different is?

Oh, God, I haven't called Luca yet.

The thought just pops into my head that I've been delaying this call for a while now and I should stop right now.

Alex spoke to him last week, but he failed to mention my situation. And by failed, I mean I told him to keep his mouth shut. I wanted to call him and tell him myself about what happened as soon as I got a little better.

I guess I should really make the call now. He's been keeping order back home alone and probably worried sick about us while we were here sunbathing, drinking mimosas, and making friends of our supposed enemies.

A wave of guilt hits me like a punch in the stomach as I dial Luca's number and wait for him to pick up.

"Zara? Where the fuck have you been? I haven't heard from you in weeks." I almost forgot what his voice sounded like. I'm glad to hear from him, but damn, he's pissed, and with a good reason. I know he deserved to know the truth right away, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him.

"Luca I'm sorry. I need to tell you something."

"Please, tell me what was so important that you couldn't pick up the damn phone and call me."

"I... I got shot, Luca." There is silence on the other side as I wait for him to say something.

"You what?" Luca's voice is quiet and falsely calm. I know he's even more pissed than before. I hear his heavy breathing on the other side, indicating he's upset even though he doesn't say anything yet.