𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐞

Chapter 30. Burst

Lorenzo

"I'm so tired." she says waking up and grunting. I smile at her as I continue typing on my laptop. "Shouldn't have continued talking to them baby. I told you to come to bed but-" I tell her but she cuts me off and finish my sentence for me. "But I'm stubborn and wanted to get to know them more. Sue me." She says rolling her eyes and I laugh at her.

"You can always get to know them more. Besides, we're staying here for over a week." I tell her giving her a kiss on her cheek. She hums. "True. Want to get breakfast?" She asks me and I shake my head. "I've already eaten and you know mama, breakfast been ready." I tell her and she shoots up. "You're right. I hope she made rusks!" I chuckle at her as she sprints for the bathroom, getting ready.

"Ivy hurry up. You're taking hours!" I tell her as I've been waiting for 30 minutes.

"Oh shush. It's not my fault you can't be an hour without me." She says drying her curls with a microfiber towel. I walk up to her and rest my hands on her hips. "I never needed to spent an hour without, so I'm not getting used to it." She kisses me and I hum. "I have good news and bad news." I tell her.

She nods. "Good news first." I nod. "Shark and Drew are arriving with my brother in minus 15 minutes, the bad news is I need to attend some business meetings with my dad so I'll see you only later at 7 or 8" I see her visibly getting sad at the mention of me going away but she tries to hide it and smiles. "Ok that's fine. I'll see you later then?" She asks me and I nod. "Most definitely."

We hear a knock on our bedroom door and she goes to open it. "Hi Venus." Ivy greets my favorite, and only, niece. "Hi Ivy, is zio Enzo here?" she says in her sweet voice and my heart wrenches. "Hey Venus. What's wrong?" She fiddles with her hands and then looks up to me. "I was wondering, since you and nonno (grandpa) are leaving for work, I could hang out with Ivy today?" She asks me with hoping eyes.

I smile. "You can if Ivy wants to Venus. It's her you want to hang out with." Venus walks shyly in Ivy's direction and Ivy gives her an approving nod. Venus cheers and tries to take Ivy with her already. "Venus can I borrow Ivy real quick before you leave with her?"

Venus nods and leaves. I pull Ivy into a hug as she embraces me too. "I'll be back ok? I promise." She looks at me unsure. "Why are you saying that like there is a possibility for you not coming back?" I don't answer and that's when she disconnects our hug.

"Lorenzo, what kind of business are you attending?" She asks me and I rake a hand trough my hair. "I don't want to worry you about this Ivy." She rolls her eyes. "Just tell me."

"Alright, let's sit down and talk ok?" She nods and we sit down on the bed.

I start my story of the business side of the family. "As you know, I own a company that buys property's and helps people blabla, that is something I've gotten from my father, but my brother, Mauro, got the P.I.A. Which stands for Private Investors Agency. We handle the cases the police and FBI agent can't handle."

"We?" She asks me and I nod. "Me, my crew and Mauro. But as you know Mauro has a daughter Venus which he can't take care of since he's always busy and can't bring her into the danger. I've been taking care for her from home, but he wants to be there for her. So he's taking over my business at home, and I'll be taking over his here." I finish and she blinks without saying anything.

"So you're staying in Italy?" She asks me and I shake my head. "It's based in Italy, but that's why I'm going to headquarters today to sign the contract of bringing them to the US." She nods understandingly. "But that's not all. You said that like you weren't coming back."

"I am coming back. But you're right. My first field day is today and it's a heavy case. But I'll make it back to you Ivy." I promise her but she shakes her head. "This is an operation where you deal with heavy cases the FBI and the police can't handle. Lorenzo I'm already scared of loosing Ben now you're telling me you'll be doing heavier work?" She asks me in disbelief.

I hold her hand and look her in the eyes. "I've been trained for this Ivy. I can do this. Trust me." Her eyes soften as she sighs. "Fine. But I won't forgive you if you don't come back to me Lorenzo." She tells me sternly and I smile.

I hold her face in my hands, kiss her forehead and then her lips. "I promise I'm coming back to you Vine."

Ivy

It's been hours since Lorenzo has been gone. He told me he'd be here around 7, 8 being the latest and it's 7:50PM.

I've been spending the day with Venus but my mind keeps drifting off if Lorenzo's ok and I hate it. I know he has power and amazing skills for the FBI. Hell he went to college for it. But he could make one small mistake and he'd be gone.

I start to panic again pacing around the room. I hear a knock on my door. "Come in." The door opens and a huge, but still a puppy, comes running back to me jumping up. "Hi Sharky! Hi baby!" I hug my animal child.

I hear chuckling behind me and that's when I get startled as I turn around. "I'm sorry I didn't know you were here." I say at a handsome man in front of me with cool tattoos.

"That's on me. You must be Ivy?" He asks me and I nod. "Yes and you are?" He smirks. "I'm just here to pick up Venus. I got told she's sleeping in your bed." He says and I raise an eyebrow. "Who's asking?"

He walks past me towards my bed where Venus is laying down. "Don't you take even one step further towards her!" I warn him but he continues walking. He wakes her up and Venus smiles. "Hi papa" she says smiling and he kisses her on her forehead. "Hello mi amor. Ready to go?" He asks her.

She nods and he picks her up from the bed carrying a sleepy Venus. "Thank you for looking out for her today. And he's coming home don't worry." He tells me and leaves.

How did he know I was worrying?

Oh please. With the way you were pacing around the whole bedroom I think even a cat would know you're worrying.

I call out Shark and we continue playing as we hear the front door burst open.

"Mamma!!! Ma!!!" I hear Damian calling out.