Wanted

Prologue

Working for the most prominent political figure in Italy is hard, especially with his beautiful daughter around. She is far from my reach and completely forbidden.

It started as a few stolen glances, then a couple of kisses. Now, I'm sneaking around this mansion, trying not to get caught by the guards. When I find her, she's standing in front of a large window overlooking the vast gardens laid out over many hills.

I walk to her, wrapping my arms around her waist. Whispering sweet nothings as we rock on our heels, listening to the birds, feeling the light breeze blow through the window.

She tells me that there's been a development, that her father is getting suspicious. I used to fear the man, but now I'm just scared for her.

We discovered she was pregnant a few weeks ago, and questions will soon arise.

Suddenly, we heard an angry knock at the door. Her father is yelling my name somehow, knowing I was here with his daughter. We both freeze. She turns around to look at me while still in my arms. She has tears streaming down her face as she tells me to run.

"Go out the window and run as fast as you can. Guards surround the house. Run for the water."

She knew I was not too fond of the ocean, that the vastness of it was frightening, especially after losing my parents to her deep depths.

Luckily, despite my fear, I can swim.

The ocean sits just a mile and a half past the gardens—no other islands beyond it.

I look into her eyes and kiss her one last time before I leap out the window.

Just as I do, her father bursts through the door, screaming obscenities.

I first stay close to the house's wall, spotting guards inside the windows above me. As well as slowly stalking the grounds in front of me. Luckily, it doesn't seem like they are entirely swarming the gardens. This is my chance. I start running as fast as I can. I weave around bushes, flowers, and trees. I hear the shouts of the guards and the firing of guns. I feel a breeze as a bullet races past my head. The severity of my crime now becoming clear.

I duck behind a tree. I breathe for one second, then two. I run to my right, not facing the ocean now. I'm hoping this weaving tactic will make me hard to spot. Thanking God I've prepared for a situation like this. I suddenly turn again towards the ocean. I'm not far from it now.

Suddenly, I stop. I'd never come out here this far before, and I realize now I need to jump off this cliff to get to the ocean below.

"Fuck" I mumble.

I hear shouts from behind me.

"Where did he go?!" They shout.

This is my chance.

I jump.

I land in the water and duck under the waves quickly as I see guards peering over the side of the cliff.

I hold my breath for God knows how long until I'm confident they are gone.

Soon enough, I hear a chopper stalking the area above my head.

Luckily, they can't seem to see me since they're too busy watching the gardens.

It's starting to get dark out now. I've been swimming for almost half a day. Getting farther and farther from the estate, all I can think about is Serena staring out that window, looking for me.

I feel large fish beneath me, praying there aren't any sharks in this water. Though I know for a fact there is.

Our spot where we met on the rocky shores is my destination.

It's far enough from the estate that they wouldn't find and plenty hidden from the helicopter.

The rocks soon come into view, and I see a small light shining. I race towards it and see my Serena watching the water anxiously.

I peel myself out of the water, completely exhausted. When she sees me, she runs over to me. I can tell she's worried, but I can't keep my eyes open and quickly fall asleep on the shore.

When I wake up, I'm pulled up further onto the shore than I was previously, my head on Serena's lap as she runs her fingers through my mop of wet curls.

"Damien?" She whispers my name.

I open my eyes wider to look into her bright blue ones.

She gives me a soft smile.

"I can't be here much longer. I snuck away while they were distracted."

She whispers.

"I'm so sorry this happened... I should have been more careful... when I went to the doctor, she promised she wouldn't tell my dad, but here we are. I didn't know she was under his employment... I should have gone to a doctor a couple of cities over."

She rushes out.

I lift my hands to cup her face.

"This isn't your fault, my love. You're old enough to make your own decisions. He can't keep you locked up like this.... Your 21, for God's sake."

I murmur.

She rubs her cheek into my hand in a soft gesture.

"I know what we're having, Damien," she says with a sparkle in her eyes.

I'm momentarily confused before I realize she's speaking about our child.

"You do?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, excited to hear her response.

"We're having a girl!" She whispers excitedly.

I'm overcome with emotion at this news. A baby girl, one just like her, I hope.

She'll have her beautiful long blonde hair, maybe my curls—a mix of green and blue eyes, with the biggest cheeks.

I can see her now, Serena, holding her in a rocking chair... being the most loving mother the world has ever seen.

Suddenly, the church bells across the city start tolling.

Serena suddenly stands,

"I have to go, my love," she says urgently.

"Do you know when I'll see you again?" I ask, hoping it will be soon.

She looks at me somberly, and something tells me it will be a long time.

"Damien... he won't let me out again after this stunt. I just had to see you, and I was already in deep water with the pregnancy. I doubt I'll see the light of day until the baby's born."

I put my head in my hands, of course... this isn't some perfect love story. I don't get to keep her. I never do...

I nod my head before getting onto my feet to hug her. I whisper in her ear, "For our girl, would you name her Liliana?"

She smiles and nods her head.

"Of course, I can. That's the perfect name, Damien. Where did it come from?" She asks me.

"It was my mother's name," I say, looking back towards the ocean I came from just an hour prior.

Serena squeezes my hand.

"I love you, Damien," she whispers.

"I love you too, Serena." After a pause, I tell her. "I will see you again."

She gives me a small smile, though I can see in her eyes that she isn't confident in my words.

"I hope that's true."

She kisses me on the cheek before she disappears into the darkness.