𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑

Being at home after months of being away was weird at first. Like when I first moved in except, this time, I know everyone.

Last night I had a nightmare that I don't want Christian to know about. He's only just got me back and I don't want to be a problem.

I can't stop thinking about that abandoned building. The random screams heard at night not letting me get any sleep. The constant sounds of thumping walls. The gunshots. Xavier.

Christian told me he had killed him and Leo and pretty much ended their mafia. He, Antonio, and Sebastian have all travelled to Leo's warehouses and taken everything and they are off to France for a short trip and should be home at any moment.

Emilia grins at me. "Come on. It'll be fun. We just got you back and I think what you need right now is a nice, relaxing, girls' day out."

I look over to Aria to see if she disagrees like me but of course, she sided with Emilia.

"You've been away for a long time and you probably don't remember your old self. This will be a chill day with your besties." Aria grins widely, matching Emilia's smile.

I roll my eyes at the two of them and slip on my large oversized hoodie. "Fine, but I'm dressing comfy."

They both share a look and turn to me. "Uh. Dress warm but not too warm. We're in October the weather's changing." Aria tells me.

Emilia holds up a long-sleeved black top and a cotton-black skirt. "This will do."

I sigh and stare at it. "Where are we even going?"

"It's a surprise."

𖤐𖤐𖤐

I stare at the tall trees covering the entrance to what seems to be a small garden. All the trees were bright green and the front was filled with beautiful pink flowers.

"Dios, es tan hermoso," I say, taking in the lovely sight.
{God, it's so beautiful.}

I turn to the girls. "What are we doing here?"

"Well, the boys arrived four hours ago and slept at the hotel. And- just go in and we'll be out here."

"They came home hours ago?"

"Yes. Just walk in," Emilia says again.

Confused, I walk through the gated door and stop when I see Christian sitting on a blanket on the floor with a picnic basket. He smiles, his perfect teeth showing. I walk towards him returning the smile.

"Christian-"

"Just sit." He tells me, when I do, he grabs my hand and continues. "I asked the girls to bring you here for our second date."

"Date? You should have told me! I didn't put any makeup on and I have a pimple as big as-"

Christian laughs. "No one's here. And you look beautiful with or without makeup." He brushes a hand against my cheek and I can't help but blush as his intense eyes stare down at mine.

I look down at my lap and decide to choose to say what's going on in my head rather than keeping it all to myself. "Christian?"

"Yes, love." He replies softly. When he sees my smile falter, he stops and frowns. "Is everything okay?"

"No. Christian. That place really messed me up I-" I pause not wanting the tears to fall down my face.

Christian pulls me by the waist and I lean into him almost instantly and rest my head on his chest. "Take your time." He whispers.

And I do. I tell him every little detail...

From when I was kidnapped to them forcing me to take random drugs and making me think random things. From tying me up to drawing marks on my skin on a knife. From throwing punches at me and threatening me with a gun.

To Xavier going down on me multiple times trying to get what he wants but gets stopped by an emergency every time. I'd like to think God saved me from that one. I don't know what I would have done if he had raped me. He just touched me in places I hated that his fingers touched.

I watch as Christian's jaw clenches but places a kiss on my cheek and makes sure our eyes meet. "Thank you for telling me. I'm happy you came to me instead of bottling this all up inside."

I press my lips against his and he kisses me back. This kiss wasn't the quick, filled-with-hunger kind. It was the comforting and lov- caring kind.

"You'll be okay, Tate. We'll be okay."

𖤐𖤐𖤐

"SÌ! È una missione importante e deve essere pronta!" Christian yells into the phone.
{Yes! It is an important mission and it needs to be ready.}

Christian and I made most of the date and it turned out well- minus my little rant. He told me all his childhood stories. And I couldn't help but be envious.

Though Alex and I made childhood fun for ourselves, it was sad that our mother and father weren't a part of it.

Christian had his mother up until nine years old and still managed to have more time with her than my mother and I had. I don't blame mom. Things were hard. I just wished she'd stand her ground and actually look after her children whether my father told her not to or not.

She's trying now, but I wished she tried then.

My father hasn't bothered and I honestly don't care. I can't wait for him to die so I can collect his billions and dance in his grave throwing the money in the air.

Well, that is if he doesn't decide to get buried with all the money so he has it in his next miserable life.

Christian places a kiss on my forehead. "Are you sure you don't want to come on this mission with me? We'll be back tomorrow."

I shake my head with a smile. "No. I'm good Christian."

He frowns. "What if you have another nightmare? I won't be there and-"

"My mother is on her way here. She wants to spend a few days with me since I won't go to Lakeside. And Alex will be here. I'm fine. If I need anything, I have Aria and Carlo and Cam so I'll wait for you to be here tomorrow."

Christian sighs and picks up his gun if his bedside table. He pecks my lips and walks towards the door. "I'll call you tonight."

I wrap the big pink blanket around me. "I'll be expecting the call."