𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝚩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭 | 18+

33 || SECRET PROMISES

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE | SECRET PROMISES
𓆩❤︎𓆪𓆩❤︎𓆪𓆩❤︎𓆪

The first thing Natalia did when she woke up in the hospital was cry. Lorenzo didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms and hold her, being careful of the IV connected to her arm and her various injuries. His fingers laced in her blonde locks as he pulled her closer and let her cry her heart out as she clung to him.

"It's okay, baby."

"I thought you wouldn't come. I thought they were going to sell me."

"They weren't going to sell you."

She shook her head. "No, they were going to. I heard their whispers."

He pulled her closer. "It doesn't matter anymore. You're here now and you're safe."

Hands fisting the crisp fabric of his white dress shirt, Natalia pulled him closer. "Stay. I'm scared."

"You're scared?"

She nodded and pulled him closer. Just as she was about to say something, a loud noise caused her to flinch and once she realised it was only Pepe, she broke into tears again.

"Shit. I didn't mean to scare you."

Natalia pulled away from Lorenzo, keeping one hand tightly gripping the fabric of his dress shirt as she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her blue gown. "It's okay."

"Fuck, Nat. I'm never gonna doubt you again."

Tears brimmed her eyes. "It's not your fault. I didn't think it'd be as bad as it was."

"What did you find?" Pepe asked, stepping closer. It had been plaguing his mind ever since she first disappeared.

"Money," she answered, "gold and a briefcase filled with spare phones and a singular laptop. Did you get the laptop?"

Lorenzo stiffened.

"What was on the laptop?"

She grew pale. "You need to find it."

"What was on it?" Pepe repeated.

"I- He-" Natalia suddenly grew anxious. "It had names of families. I never had time to go through all of them."

"But you went through the Valiente file."

She nodded. "It was incriminating stuff. Stuff that could put everyone in jeopardy."

"Everyone?"

Natalia nodded once again, letting Lorenzo gently wipe her tears and press an encouraging kiss against the top of her head. "Sergio and Josephine too. I was surprised because they're his siblings. He came in just as I was going to come to you and show you the content."

"Find it," Lorenzo ordered and Pepe went off running, leaving Natalia and Lorenzo alone in the luxurious private room. He'd filled the room with flowers, boxes of chocolates and a humidifier by her bedside.

Natalia didn't care about flowers though or stupid chocolates. Admittedly, the humidifier was nice but it wasn't anything worth staying for. She simply stared at her encased ankle and arm. She stared at her wounded and bruised skin. And she stared at her tear-stained gown. "I wanna go home."

Lorenzo stilled. That was the last thing he wanted to hear but he also knew he had no choice in the matter. He sat beside her and kissed the top of her head, taking her hand in his. "You wanna go back to New York?"

With tears lining her eyes, she nodded. She didn't actually want to leave but didn't want to stay either.

"Okay."