Love and lies, desire and destruction. After desire leaves two hearts broken, Lucy and Enzo spend years apart, both hurting, neither healing.
One day Lucy finds herself in desperate need of saving, the only question is whether Enzo will hear her cal...
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Sophia and I doze off after an hour or two of nervous anticipation, both of us waiting for our loved one to return home safe to us. The tv lights up the room with a gentle, synthetic glow that keeps the silence from engulfing my panicked chest.
I never anticipated how hard it would be, not loving Enzo, that bit is easy, but the secrets, the things he cannot tell me, it drives me mad. I've always been naturally curious so fighting my natural instinct to question is killing me.
Starting to gnaw on the skin of my thumbnail, my eyes anxiously dart to the clock. It's late, so late the pit in my stomach grows.
"They'll be ok, Luce", Sophia whispers softly into the dim light, "You know my brother, he's the most powerful man in the country. He's a survivor and with Alex by his side, they'll be unstoppable."
I smile slightly and place my hand on her shoulder. It is cold to the touch and tight with nerves. I feel sorry for her, at least when Enzo gets home I can run into his arms and declare my feelings to the world, she can't. Both her and Alex are dancing with fire behind her brother's door, and I'm not sure if I can protect them forever.
"How long has it been going on with... you know?" I whisper, just in case there are bugs in the living room.
"A few months." She replies, mumbling behind her hand while her eyes are locked on the reality drivel playing on the screen. "Neither of us meant for this to happen, Luce. And I know Enzo can never find out. He'd... he'd kill him for touching me."
"He wouldn't Soph. Not if it hurt you." I defend, but the words feel dishonest even as I say them.
"I know you love him," she says in a sigh, "I love him too. But my brother is a proud man, and touching me is the ultimate betrayal Alex could make."
I shift slightly, talking to Sophia is helping to distract my thoughts.
"So does whatever this is have an endpoint?"
She pauses for a second, her voice breaking for only a second.
"I don't want it to end... I guess we would have to get out of my brother's reach. Maybe America? People can disappear there if they need to."
"You would really do that? Leave your family for your bodyguard?" My tone is free of judgment, but I still feel Sophia prickle at the insinuation.
"Lucy, I would give up anything to be with him."
I open my mouth to speak again but my words are cut off by the sound of tires squealing up the drive.
We both jump to our feet, apprehension and fear still clutching at our minds as we make our way to the hall. Neither of us take our eyes off the locks of the front door, my ears prick for the familiar tread of Enzo's footfalls on the gravel and when I hear them, my knees nearly buckle with relief.
"Enzo!" I breathe out, dashing forward towards his blood covered form.
"I'm here baby." He murmurs, while pulling me against him, his hands go through my hair until he is clutching at the back of my head.
"Are you hurt?" I whimper, unable to escape the coppery smell of blood.
"It's not mine, stellina. Let me go and wash it away."
"I don't want to let you go."
I feel pathetic even as I say the words, clinging to his shirt like he might disappear again. I am aware of movement around us, of Alex and Sophia leaving in opposite directions, but all I can feel is the rhythmic swaying of Enzo's body as he rocks us, and the reassuring beat of his heart.
"Come on then." He says gently, bending down so that I can jump into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist.
He carries us up the stairs slowly, I can feel his body is heavy with a former adrenaline dump and sleep deprivation, but I can't bring myself to let go. My brain has the nasty habit of spinning me the worst case scenario. The one today was his body being bought home, I can almost hear the thud of his head hitting the floor, empty and lifeless... I still feel sick at the sound.
"Darling, I'm home." He murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead as he opens our bedroom door and the feeling of private safety lands on my chest. "I'm home and I'm safe."
"I know." I swallow a sob, "but that doesn't mean you always will be."
Enzo gently lowers me back to the floor, but his arms remain wrapped around my waist. I finally open my eyes, they feel stiff from being closed, and I stare up at him.
He's so gorgeous he makes my heart splutter, his eyes are dark and bloodshot. As I scan his handsome face my eyes suddenly focus in on a deep purple bruise that is beginning to blossom.
"You said you weren't hurt!" I protest, my thumb jumping up to stroke his battered cheek.
"It's just a bruise, sweetheart." He says in a chuckle, clutching at my wrist in reassurance, "that Roman is a Swift hitter. He got a punch in before the situation was dealt with."
"Roman?" I question, trying not to get my hopes up at the way I am being included in his world... even just a little. "Isn't he Angelo's son?"
"Yes, he's a man who has been trained by his father to become exactly like him. A dangerous thing to do to a man, let alone a child."
I nod and swallow, it still startles me to hear such words come from his mouth so casually.
"As long as you're home and safe." I murmur, stretching my feet until I'm balancing on the tips of my toes, and press a soft kiss to his lips. "Now let's have a shower so we can both sleep."
His laugh is a deep, sonorous sound the fills the room and my heart. "Best news I've heard tonight."
He takes my hand in his and begins to lead me to the en-suite. I smile, when I'm with him, I'm more than happy to let him tell me what to do.
The shower starts and the steam fills the room. As Enzo begins to strip down I momentarily enjoy the show, before suddenly realising that my long hair is still down.
Stepping forwards, I press a kiss to his cheek.
"Be right back," I whisper before padding back out to the carpeted bedroom.
As I tie my hair in a messy bun, I have to bite back a smile as I hear Sophia's delighted squeal, and the telltale sound of a clatter and thud. Shaking my head to myself, I can't help but worry that those two are playing a dangerous game...
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Hello my lovely readers,
I cannot believe it has been a year since I have published a chapter! The inspiration for writing really left me there, didn't it?!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter and are looking forward to more xx
