The Don's Young Love (The Don's of Italy Saga Book 1) Age Gap Romance

Episode 6: Unexpected Turns: Heartache in Florence

Thalia's POV

Whispering into the receiver, I matched my tone to the rhythm of the passing breeze that brushed against my hair. "Hi Mom, what's going on?" I tried to calm her down as she screamed and cried into the phone.

She was nearly unintelligible through her sobs, but after a few deep breaths, her words began to form coherent sentences. "Thalia, darling," she said, with an urgency that sent a cold shiver down my spine, "There's been an emergency, your father had a heart attack last night. We urgently need you to come home as soon as possible if you are able to do so."

My heart skipped a beat as the words washed over me, the world around me suddenly feeling distant and muffled. "How's Dad now? Is he..." I couldn't finish the question, fearing the answer.

"He's stable, for now, in intensive care," she replied, her voice a fragile thread of hope. "

I felt my knees go weak as a flood of emotions threatened to overwhelm me. "I'll be on the next flight out," I promised, my voice barely above a whisper. Ending the call, I turned back to Gabriele, my eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Gabriele noticed the change immediately and stepped towards me, concern etching his features. "Thalia, what has happened?" he asked softly, taking a hesitant step closer.

"It's my father," I managed to say, the words catching in my throat as the reality of the situation threatened to crash down on me like a wave. "He had a heart attack last night. I need to fly back home—to be with him and my family."

Gabriele reached out, his warm hand gently resting on my shoulder, a silent offer of comfort amidst the storm of my emotions. "I'm so sorry," he said, his voice carrying the weight of sincerity. "Let me help you with whatever you need. We can get you to the airport, arrange for your flight, anything."

I nodded, grateful for his support but unable to fully process his words. A chaotic whirlwind of thoughts swirled in my head, each one a fragment of the uncertainty that now gripped my life. Gabriele seemed to understand the turmoil within me, for he did not press with questions or hollow reassurances. I gestured towards a taxi and said, "I should head to my apartment across town."

"Actually, I have a car and driver here. They could take us to your place, and I could help you pack," Gabriele replied while pointing at the town car.

"Are you sure? We just met today, Gabriele. You don't even know me yet and you're offering to help me pack. What's the deal?" I asked, feeling a bit taken aback.

Gabriele offered a soft smile, one that failed to hide the concern in his eyes. "Sometimes people just need a little kindness, especially at times like these," he said. "And who knows, maybe one day you'll be in a position to offer help to a stranger. Besides," he added with a slightly worry chuckle, "it's not every day I get to assist a damsel in distress. Consider it my good deed for the day."

I couldn't help but give a weak smile at his attempt to lighten the mood, even though the heaviness in my chest refused to lift. "Thank you," I said sincerely, feeling a small surge of warmth amid the cold dread that had taken residence in my heart. "That would mean a lot to me."

With that, we walked together to the sleek black car parked at the curb, Gabriele never once letting his concern wane, as if he were a guardian against the encroaching shadows of my despondency. The driver, a silent figure in a crisp uniform, held the door open for us, and we slid into the car's plush interior. I talked to the driver in perfect Italian and provided him with my home address. As we drove through the city, I saw a blur of people and buildings, each with their own unique lives and experiences that seemed so different from my own story of loss and urgency.

Gabriele filled the silence with gentle attempts at conversation, each topic carefully chosen to be distant enough from the turmoil in my heart. He talked about the architecture of the city as we passed historic buildings, pointing out small details that I had never noticed before. His voice was a calming presence, a lighthouse in the tempest that raged within me. When he spoke of the city's ancient roots and the countless feet that had trodden its cobblestone streets, I found myself momentarily anchored in a sense of continuity, a reminder that my own troubles were but a whisper in the vast symphony of human experience.

As we approached my apartment building, I felt a twinge of reluctance at the thought of facing the emptiness within its walls. The place was not just a structure of brick and mortar; it was a repository of memories, of laughter and tears, of love lost and dreams abandoned. But Gabriele's presence beside me injected a quiet strength that I desperately needed.

Dear Readers,

In Episode 6 of "Thalia's POV," brace yourselves for a profound shift in Thalia's journey. A heart-wrenching call from home abruptly steers her path away from the artistic explorations of Florence, plunging her into a whirlwind of personal turmoil. Witness how this unexpected twist tests Thalia's resilience and shapes her evolving bond with Gabriele.

Warm regards,

Zapphire Zucca