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Chapter 58

Valeriana's pov

My arms were wrapped tightly around Verena when I woke up this morning. I called her over around midnight last night because I needed her near me to feel safe. It was a small moment of weakness I felt. Verena was the only one who made me feel safe. She willingly came over. It wasn't the first time I called her over to stay with me. She loves it when I call her.

Verena made it known that I wasn't ever interrupting what she was doing. Even if she was busy she doesn't tell me until she already gets here and I can't kick her out since she dropped what she was doing to come over. For me, she does that for me. It definitely makes me feel loved. Verena and I have been secretly dating for two months now. At first we were going to tell my brothers but then having them not know whether we were together or not drove them crazy. Every time they ask Verena and I if we were dating already or not, we never answer them.

My arms loosen around Verena. Her eyes snap open immediately. I smile at her. Verena forced my arms back around her. Her eyes fluttered closed. She let out a sigh. She opened one eye to look at me.

"Wrap your damn arms around me," she murmured. I raise an eyebrow.

"My arms are around you," I state. My eyebrows furrowed. I don't understand what she wants.

"They're not tight enough," she grumbled. I chuckle at her.

"Did you seriously wake up from me letting you go?" I asked. Verena glared at me before sighing.

"Yeah. You always have a death grip on me when we sleep. I like it. It's comfortable. Now do it," she demands. I roll my eyes before tightening my arms around her. "Ah, much better piccolo amore."

"Are you trying to fall back to sleep?" I asked. Verena hummed before her breath even out. I smile to myself. I place a kiss on her neck. Since it was around four in the morning I fell back asleep.

My eyes flew open when I was grabbed. I was thrown from the comfort of my own bed. Though I guess it wasn't really all that comfortable. I scramble away to try and figure out what was happening. Mother stood before me. The room was freezing. My eyes go to my window. I left it open last night because I was sweating last night from yesterday's torture. It left my body burning.

"What the fuck are you looking at?" She asked. Her eyes followed my line of vision. The open window. Mother chuckles before grabbing the front of my shirt harshly. She pulled me up causing me to crash into her. I think she expected me to be heavier. She shoves me away before dragging me to the window. She shoved my top half out the window. My back dug into the window sill as Mother held my shirt. My hands clutched her arms so if she did let me go I wouldn't fall. She shoved me out of the window more. My lower back was now scraping against the window sill. My eyes bored into Mother's. She smirked at me.

"Is outside still so interesting to you?" she asked. I shook my head. My eyes pleading with her. She laughed at my attempt.

"Plea-," Mother cut me off by wrapping her other hand around my neck. She forced my head down more. My toes were barely on the ground. My eyes land on Damien and Kolton's house. I could see them through the kitchen window. They had their back to me as they made breakfast. I could scream out and get their attention. Then I risk being dropped. Maybe Mother won't throw me out the window. This could be a scare tactic. The more I was forced out the window that thought left me. My butt was now resting on the edge.

"Aah!" I shout when my body falls. I flipped as I fell. My stomach hit the outdoor table causing me to gasp for air. I start coughing and struggling to breathe. I cough again. Blood spluttered out of my mouth. My head hit the table as I blinked my eyes to keep myself awake. My eyes open briefly. Damien and Kolton stood before me. Worry plastered over their faces.

"Help is on the way now, V. Hang in there," Damien says. His thumb wiped the blood away from my lips. My lungs hurt. My throat hurt from screaming. I feel light headed. I don't know how much more of this I can take. My eyes flutter close.

"Valeriana!" A voice shouted. A hand grazed my shoulder blade. My eyes open in an instant. My hand wrapped around the person's wrist before I flung myself out of bed. I had them kneeling in front of me with a knife pressed to their neck.

"Valeriana put the knife down," A new voice spoke. My eyes snap to the doorway. Papà Santorelli stood in the doorway. Another person stepped behind him. Aurelio looked at what was happening.

"Valerico what the hell did you do?" Aurelio asked. My eyes snap to my brother in front of me. It's Valerico not mother. My hold on him loosened.

"I came to get her for breakfast like you told me. She was wincing in pain so I grabbed her lightly then this happened," Valerico says. I removed the knife from his neck. My hand was shaking. I tossed the knife onto my desk so it was away from me. I run a hand through my hair. I could have killed him. Why would he think it was ok to touch me? He didn't know. Deep breaths in and out.

"Are you good?" Aurelio asked Valerico. "Valeriana. I asked if you were good," Aurelio says. Oh he wasn't talking to our brother. He was asking me.

"I'll be fine," I say. Aurelio gave me a look. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"I didn't ask if you will be fine. Are you if you're alright right now?" he asked again. My heart was still beating rapidly in my chest. My hands were shaking even if I had them clenched behind my back out of their view. My mind kept replaying the memory over and over.

"No. What did you think I had a fucking knife pressed to my brothers damn neck for fun. Because I was bored? Had nothing fucking better to do? I'm not alright. What does it fucking look like? Do you really have to ask that damn question, Aurelio? I'm fucking scared, terrified and I know damn well where the monster that haunts my dreams is. That doesn't make anything go away. She may be locked away in my base but she will always haunt me," I admit. I show my shaking hands.

"What do you want us to do?" Papà asked. Aurelio looks at him before looking back at me. Papà was trying to make me comfortable by asking what I wanted them to do.

"I-I want you guys out. I need a minute. I'll be down for breakfast soon," I finally said. The guys nod before walking out of the room. Aurelio shut the door behind him. I take a deep breath before turning to Verena. She was laying on her back watching me. She smiled at me before opening her arms. I dive into her arms. Verena chuckles before kissing my face in random spots. When she was done I smiled at her.

"There's that smile l love so damn much," she says brushing my hair out of my face. I snuggle into her more. My head resting on her chest.

"Thank you," I say Verena plays with a strand of my hair. She wraps it around her finger.

"For what, little love?" she asked. I bite my bottom lip. Butterflies erupt in my stomach. I love it when she calls me little love.

"For being here," I mutter. Verena pulls away from me slightly. Her eyes roam my face before her eyes lock with mine.

"You're my girlfriend, Valeriana. There is no place on this planet where you can go where I won't follow you. Wherever you are I will be there. I'll always be there for you, amore. You don't need to thank me for doing something I will do a thousand times again. I love you, Valeriana. Nothing will ever change that. Do you hear me, little love?" Verena asked. I nod my head. It's not our first time saying I love you. But everytime I hear it it's like hearing it for the first time all over again. I love that feeling. I hope it never goes away.

"Yeah, I hear you," I say with a smile. Verena smiles at me before leaning in to kiss me. She pulls away right when our lips brush. I narrow my eyes on her. She raised an eyebrow. A teasing smile played on her lips. I lean forward. "I love you, now kiss me already," I say. Verena laughs lightly before giving in and kissing me.