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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It was a little after nine when I pulled up to Chiara’s apartment, the soft hum of my car engine dying down as I parked. The night was cool, a light breeze rustling the leaves in the nearby trees. My mind was a storm of thoughts, a thousand things pulling me in different directions, but as I made my way to her door, I pushed all of that aside. Tonight was for her. For us.
I needed it—needed her—before I left for Italy.
I knocked softly, the sound of my knuckles tapping against the wood reverberating through the quiet hallway. A few moments passed, and I heard her footsteps approaching the door. When it opened, I was greeted by a sight I hadn’t expected but one that immediately brought a smile to my face.
Chiara stood there in the cutest pajamas I had ever seen—some kind of patterned fabric, something I couldn’t place, but it didn’t matter. What really caught my attention was the face mask she had on, a creamy layer spread across her skin. She looked shocked, eyes wide with surprise, but the sight of her like this, so unguarded and adorable, hit me right in the chest. I chuckled softly.
“Gabriel?” she said, blinking at me, clearly not expecting me at her door this late. “What are you doing here?”
I stepped inside, closing the door behind me as I leaned in, placing a quick kiss on her forehead. “Couldn’t stay away from you,” I said lightly, though there was more truth in the words than she realized.
She rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. “I wasn’t expecting company, as you can probably tell.” She gestured to her face, the remnants of the mask making her look even more endearing. “I look ridiculous.”
I shook my head, my gaze softening. “You look perfect.”
Chiara huffed a small laugh, clearly unconvinced, but the blush that crept up her neck told me she appreciated the compliment. She made a little gesture toward the living room, and I took the cue, moving over to settle on her couch. She followed behind me, and I could feel her eyes on me, curiosity evident.
“So,” she began, crossing her arms as she stood in front of me, “what’s really going on? You don’t just show up for no reason. Not that I’m complaining.”
I exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of my neck. “I need to go to Italy. Got some... business to take care of.” My voice was calm, but my thoughts flickered back to the reason for the trip—Gio. My brother. The one person who had disappeared from our world and now seemed to be resurfacing in the most dangerous way possible. “I’ll be back by Thursday,” I added, watching her carefully.
Her face fell slightly at the news, and I hated that I was the cause of it. She put on a brave face, though, nodding as she moved toward the bathroom. “Italy, huh?” she said over her shoulder. “Well, I guess that’s not too far.” There was a sadness in her voice, but she tried to hide it.
I watched her retreat, letting out a low sigh as I leaned back on the couch. The weight of everything had been pressing down on me for days. This trip to Italy wasn’t just another business run. It was personal—too personal. But that wasn’t something I wanted to burden her with. Not tonight.
