𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝚩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭 | 18+

38 || FAMILY OBLIGATIONS

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT | FAMILY OBLIGATIONS
𓆩❤︎𓆪𓆩❤︎𓆪𓆩❤︎𓆪

As a child, Lorenzo had struggled with his anger. To him, it felt like no one could understand the pressure on his shoulders of constantly being tagged by guards and staff, to constantly have them hover around you and laugh at you when you told them to leave. The aggression turned into violence and not long after he was sent to live with his grandfather when his parents did not know how to handle him.

It was with his grandfather that he taught to manage his aggression. He was taught to channel that anger through other means and so the boy started his soldier training at the ripe age of twelve. It was expected of him as the heir and Lorenzo never questioned that, doing what was expected of him.

Soldiers feared him and distanced themselves from the heir, not wanting to make an enemy out of themselves. They respected him too much to befriend him yet too little to stop staring at him like he was an animal in a cage.

Soldier training disciplined Lorenzo and taught him control at a young age. However, as a consequence, the quiet child only became quieter to keep himself from using violence to make people take him seriously when he said 'Don't touch me'.

His dislike for touch never outlived him and neither did his dislike for overly curious nosey workers. Anyone with two brain cells knew that a dozen nurses definitely wasn't necessary to keep a man alive.

Lorenzo's glare caused the nurses to run away, having been caught staring at his shirtless self for a tad too long. They weren't even supposed to be there.

Niccolò rolled his eyes. "Is that necessary?"

Lorenzo's glare moved to Niccolò. He may have been his friend, but that didn't mean his opinion was needed. In fact, he didn't care for his opinion. "Natalia."

"Looking for her," Niccolò stated, grabbing a chair and taking a seat, his torso leaning against its back as he observed Lorenzo. "She's probably fine."

His molars nearly cracked, his gaze hardening, the glass of water shattering in his grip, causing blood to trickle down his hand and onto the white sheets. A nurse rushed forward and removed the glass from his hand, completely unaware of the glare Lorenzo was giving her boss. "Probably?"

Niccolò observed his friend, seeing his wild state and unruly hair. It was an odd change. Lorenzo was known for his tidy and disciplined nature. He was Alejandro's pride and a man many looked up to. Yet, here he was. Lorenzo was a mess. "Yes," Niccolò started. "Probably."

Needles ripped out of Lorenzo's skin as he suddenly shot forward, taking Niccolò's neck in his deadly grip before the man could even blink. "You gave me your word."

Niccolò's gaze hardened as he stared at the uncontrollable anger in Lorenzo's eyes. To him, the unkind anger of Lorenzo had been nothing more than a rumour yet here he was, eyes wild as an animal, completely disconnected from the reality that was the bloodied state he'd put himself in.

Niccolò's guards rushed forward, hesitatingly halting when their boss raised his hand, his second hand tightening around Lorenzo's wrist, silently threatening him to let go. "Let's talk."

"Talk?" Lorenzo barked out a laugh, his grip tightening and causing Niccolò's eyebrows to jut together. He tried to hide his pain but Lorenzo caught it in the way the man's nails dug into his skin despite trying to mask the pain. "It's too late to talk."

"Let go of him, nieto." Grandson.

Lorenzo flinched away from Niccolò as he grasped the burning skin of his neck and dismissed his guards upon seeing who had come to rescue, to everyone's rescue.