You're dead to me

Chapter twenty-four: Intoxicating Tongue

„And don't you dare talk to me like that!". I shout and push down the plates that were laying decoratively on the table. "Caroline stop!". Theresia tries to get me away from him, but I couldn't get my anger out in a more manner way. "If you don't stop, they will kill you". I laugh coldhearted at her and spit out the most cruelty words. "Try me, I will make sure you will die by sunrise".

Father clenches his jaw and tenses at my eye contact. He hates me now. But the real question is; doesn't everyone?

A door bursts out and Giovanni reaches towards me. "Caroline, let go". "Huh?". I frown and for one second, I forgot that I had his throat under my blade. Mr. De'Bardi gets thrown on the ground by Alessandro and I spin my head, trying to aim at him. But Giovannis strong arms have already settled me in and I can feel his heart pounding against his chest.

"Look at me!". He demands and I manage to blend everything out and just stare at him. The loud screams and voices in the back disappear.

"What had happened?". I grit my teeth together and press my hand onto his. "I will not obey!". I spit out and I can see him frowning over my answer. "What?". I scoff and tell him. "You're father threatened me".

"Threatened with what?". Somehow I can see real sympathy in his eyes. "Threatened with giving the empire a heir". The color must've sucked out of his face, because all what remains, is a pale tone. Kind of like stone.

"What?". I look away. I don't know what is going on with me, but I feel so used. Like I'm not a human. I can't fight the tears that stink my eyes. I let myself have a moment of weakness. "Giovanni". My voice is pleading and low, I have never heard myself talking so insecure. His black orbs drop down to me and he stills under my sound. I hold his gaze and my lip start to tremble. "Stop it. Stop it!". I can't look at him right now, its like I'm undressing myself in front of his eyes.

"I'm tired". I mumble and shut my lids. "I can't stand up for myself all the time, I can't fight this alone, just please, please help me". I feel a warm hand wrapping around my check and caressing the spot right under my eyes. "You don't have to, mi amore. I'm here, look at me". I dare, to fill him in me. "I'm here for you, you don't have to go through this alone".

He presses my head gently on his chest and brushes my hair to the side. I hear him talking to his brother Alessandro and then his loud voice rumbles through his body, it vibrates at my temple and somehow its so calming and inviting. "It's not over yet!".

I tear the contact and he leads me outside to his car. With one hand he opens the door for me, with the other one he buckles me up. My head leans on the pillow he has given me. "Sleep a bit mi amore". I nod absently and drift to a black space.

***

I woke up and register that I'm in the living room. I look out of the window, from the height you're eye to eye with the mountains. The world his held in a grey color. On the glass coffee table on the white fluffy carpet, stands a transparent cup of tea. I smile to myself and let the sound of nothing, swallow me. A cuddly blanket and many pillows surround my fragile body and I never felt more comfortable than ever before. Just as I wanted to cool down a bit, I notice that he has put me in fuzzy socks.

My stone cold heart beads a bit faster and I gasp at the cutest sign. "Fucking apple pie". How does he know that I like apple pie? Next to the cake are a few bowls, I bend over and look at them. I squeal like a fucking child. There is vanilla cream and cinnamon secured. Only Theresia knows how I like my apple pie. Sweeter than sweet.

I reach out for the plate and cut myself a big peace, putting all my ingredients on it and taste the first bite. I moan and drop my back back at the headboard. "Fuck that's good". I sip on my tea and let myself have the whole cake. I haven't even noticed how fucking tired and burnt out I was during the last weeks. My eye bags where always covered up with concealer and I replaced most of my meals with coffee.

There was so much to do and I couldn't get myself off for some me time.

That right there was maybe the best thing happening to me in years. I daze a bit and feel a presence enter the living room. Giovanni observes me with crossed arms. He only wears a pair of gym shorts and his body is drenched in sweat. I automatically lick my lips, I blame it on the crumbles from the cake.

"What?". I whisper, too tired to pick up a fight. We only fight, I never had with him an accurate conversation before. In moments like these, I start to hate my egoistic attitude. Why am I like this? I shut every door close, that gets open in my life.

"Why haven't you eaten the last week properly?". I just shrug and snuggle deeper into the cushions. His stare on me is sometimes way too hard to resist. "I had too much on my plate to eat everything you have cooked". "Why? Because your thought I would've put poison in it?". He laughs and starts walking to me. He drops himself next to me, in such an angle, where he has a good look at me though.

"I don't want to see you like this ever again".

"Pff, why do you care?". And there we are again, closing up, hating myself for opening up to him and showing a glimpse of my pain and tiredness. I hate myself for being me, but also hating me to chose to be different.

I scowl at myself and roll my eyes. "Just you know...". I trail off.

"I am me, you are you and we aren't made for each other". He observes me silently. I put my hands up in surrender. "Not that I have ever thought to would be that way, but I just want you to know that this". I point at him and me. "Is toxic".

His eyes light up with amusement.

"Good that I love tongues that are speaking lies". I frown confused. Suddenly he is nearer than before and our lips almost touch. He sticks out his tongue and tastes mine. Than he backs off and smacks his lips together.

"Yep, definitely a lie". I start coughing and he leaves, his chuckle still hearing.

"What the fuck was that?". I groan and plump back to relax my tense muscles.