As we race away in the car, a storm of anger and fear swells inside me. How could she be so reckless? How could she risk everything like that?
When the empty road stretches before us, I slam on the brakes, my heart pounding in my chest. I throw the...
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"What do you think you're doing snooping around again?" I spat, my voice dripping with venom. She tried to explain, but I didn't listen, my tirade growing louder and more vicious with each word. "You're nothing but a nuisance, always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong," I sneered. My men watched in silence, their eyes darting between us. I felt her cheeks burn with humiliation as I continued to berate her in front of everyone.
I didn't relent. "This isn't your place to wander around. You don't belong here," I spat, the harshness of my words echoing in the silent room. The hurt in her eyes deepened, and she turned away, walking out with her head held high but her shoulders slumped in defeat.
Guilt twisted in my gut as I watched her go. The cutlery and plates were a simple explanation, yet I had jumped to conclusions and lashed out. But I forced myself to push the guilt aside and refocus on the meeting. We had critical matters to discuss, and I couldn't afford distractions.As the meeting progressed, my mind kept drifting back to Chiara and the pain I had caused her.
I knew I had hurt her, but part of me rationalized that it was for the best. If she hated me, she would stay away from this dangerous world. Her safety was more important than her feelings for me, or mine for her.But even as I tried to convince myself of this, the image of her wounded eyes haunted me. It was a necessary cruelty, I told myself.
Better she hates me and stays safe than gets too close and ends up in harm's way.I forced myself to focus on my men and the business at hand, pushing thoughts of Chiara and my guilt to the back of my mind. There was no room for weakness in my world, even if it came in the form of protecting someone I cared about.
As I entered the dining hall for lunch, Nonna greeted me with a concerned expression. "Gabriel, I asked Chiara to get the plates from the storeroom. Did you... lash out at her for no reason?"
My heart sank at her words, realizing my mistake. "I... I thought she was snooping," I admitted, my voice heavy with guilt. "It's for the best if she stays away."
Nonna shook her head, her eyes filled with compassion. "She didn't eat anything, Gabriel."
Sighing heavily, I made my way to Chiara's room, only to find it empty. Panic surged through me, and I quickly alerted Matteo and Antonio. We searched every corner of the house, but Chiara was nowhere to be found.
Then, one of my men reported seeing her heading to the backyard. Without a second thought, we rushed outside, and there she was, sitting alone, her back to us. As she started to rise, I couldn't stop myself—I rushed forward and enveloped her in a tight hug, relief flooding through me.
"Tuono," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "I thought I lost you."
Chiara tensed in my arms, but then she softened, snuggling into me. "I hate you," she muttered, her words muffled against my chest.
"The feeling is mutual," I replied with a smirk, my heart lighter now that she was safe.
She pushed away slightly, meeting my gaze with a mixture of sass and defiance. "I'm not weak, you know. Your words didn't break me."
I chuckled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "I never doubted that for a second," I admitted, a warmth spreading through me at her resilience.
We shared a moment of laughter, the tension dissipating like fog in the morning sun. As we headed back inside, I caught Matteo and Antonio exchanging glances, their expressions mirroring my own realization—I cared about Chiara more than I dared to admit.
But for now, we would keep up our banter, our facade of mutual dislike. It was safer that way, for both of us. And yet, deep down, I knew that no matter how much we pretended otherwise, Chiara would always hold a special place in my heart.
As we sat down for lunch, the tension from earlier melted away, replaced by a comfortable ease that only Chiara seemed to bring.
"So," she began, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "am I the only one who can make you eat lunch at this time, Mr. Romano?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at her teasing tone. "I suppose so," I admitted, reaching for a plate of pasta. "But who's fault was that, really?"
Chiara raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at her lips. "Oh, I don't know," she replied coyly. "Maybe the person who can't resist my charm?"
I rolled my eyes playfully. "You wish," I retorted, but there was a warmth in my voice that betrayed my true feelings.
We fell into a comfortable rhythm of banter, trading playful jabs and witty remarks as we enjoyed our meal. Despite the chaos of our world, for that moment, it felt like we were just two people sharing a meal together.
As Chiara laughed at one of my quips, I found myself getting lost in the sound, the melody of her laughter like music to my ears. In that moment, I vowed to myself that I wouldn't let her go, no matter what obstacles lay ahead.
And as we continued to talk and laugh, the world outside faded away, leaving only the two of us, connected by a bond that seemed to defy logic and reason. In that moment, I knew that no matter what challenges we faced, as long as we were together, we could overcome anything.
