Will he

chapter 26 - make daddy proud

Pov: Carter

My hands roam around the mattress as I try to get up, I was tired from last night, from doing what I don't even know. 

After dinner last night, the boys decided to go to the city while Delilah and I decided to stay back. 

We danced to her favorite songs, and honestly, the smile on her face throughout the evening was one of my favorite things to witness. It made me beyond happy. 

Currently, I was still in bed, struggling to wake up because I felt lazy. 

I hear a knock on the door, I prop myself against the headboard and get up, "Si accomoda, [come in]" I rasp out in my morning voice. 

My eyes struggle to stay open, I rub them and things start to come into view as I see Delilah walk in.

"Buongiorno dormigliona [good morning sleepyhead]" she laughs, her soft voice filling the room and replacing the silence that lingered in it a few minutes ago. 

"Buon giorno cara [good morning dear]" my voice comes out low and deep, I rub my eyes once more and pull the sheets off to reveal my shirtless body with just my sweatpants on.

 "Way to flash a woman first thing in the morning, get ready and come for breakfast," she chuckles and walks toward me, she pats my face playfully and smiles. 

I smile at the sight of her grin first thing in the morning, "Okay," I state and turn to look for my phone. 

I hadn't called Eliza for a day or two at the most, I am fucked.

I got so lost here, with the boys, the mission, and Delilah. Ellie was not going to be happy, but I still had a burning sensation in my stomach about Italy. 

I feel like I belong here, it is my home after all, and being with Delilah after all these years felt so right. She had and has nobody, of course, the boys are there for her but she's alone.

I don't like that at all, I hated the thought of leaving Delilah.

It made me sick thinking of her going through all of this alone, even though the contract is signed I'm damn sure she isn't going to inform me if she's hurt. 

She's been solitary for so long that she just protects herself from any form of care she gets like she tries to shield herself from future pain; I respect that but at the same time I want to be the person who makes sure she believes the fact that it's okay to be cared about, and I do. 

After all this, I had the overpowering urge to let her know that even if she sets fire to the world around her, I would never let a flame touch her. I needed her to understand that. 

My eyes focus on the screen that turns on, 2 days, 56 texts, and 4 missed calls. All from Eliza, Cole, Jonah, and the girls. 

I paid close attention to Eliza's texts, they ranged from are you okay to what the fuck is happening over there, and then onto Cole who was casually describing his most recent date with Rowan and randomly mentions Eliza spiraling in between. 

Oh no. 

I dialed her number, my fingers grip the phone in a speck of fear, it goes straight to voicemail. She doesn't pick up. 

It was close to evening over there, why isn't she picking up? She must be busy I guess. 

I dial Cole's number, he picks up within a few rings, "Hey motherfucker, missed you, what's up?" he yells and a small breath of relief leaves me at the sound of his voice.