Captured by the King

Chapter 6: Aftermath

The morning light seeps into my room, but it does nothing to melt the cold fear that still wraps itself around me. Yesterday's events keep replaying in my head—Matteo's betrayal, the moment he revealed himself to be Giovanni's pawn. I feel exposed, like no matter how hard I try to build a normal life, it all gets ripped away.

I hear a firm knock on my door. It's Lorenzo. He walks in, his expression as guarded as ever, not a hint of softness in his eyes. He's back to his usual cold self, the walls around him higher than ever. "Lilia, come downstairs when you're ready," he says, his voice clipped. He doesn't ask how I am or if I'm okay. Just business, just practical.

I nod, not trusting my voice to stay steady. He turns and leaves without another word, the door clicking shut behind him. It's almost like he blames me for what happened, like letting someone in was a mistake that he won't let either of us forget.

I get up and throw on the first clothes I find—a hoodie and leggings, something to hide in. My long, curly hair falls in messy waves around my face, a reminder that even though the world feels like it's crashing down, life still goes on. I take a deep breath and head downstairs, feeling like I'm walking into another confrontation.

Lorenzo stands in the living room, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his jaw clenched. Marco is nearby, a steely look in his eyes, but there's a hint of something softer in his stance, like he's waiting for me to break down so he can step in.

"Do you understand how dangerous that was?" Lorenzo finally says, his voice low and cold. "You let him get too close."

I swallow hard. "I didn't know, okay? I thought he was just a friend. I was trying to live like a normal person for once."

"There is no normal for you, Lilia," he snaps back. "Not in this life. Not when Giovanni is out there, watching every move we make."

I look away, biting my lip to keep it from trembling. I know he's right, but his words cut deep. It's like he's punishing me for wanting something real, something outside of this twisted world.

Marco clears his throat, stepping in to break the tension. "Here," he says, handing me a mug of hot chocolate. "Thought you might need this."

"Thanks," I say, my voice small. Marco nods, giving me a look that's almost kind, like he understands more than he lets on.

Lorenzo's eyes narrow as he watches me, but he doesn't say anything. He's still locked in his own head, still keeping me at arm's length. The warmth I thought I'd seen in him before is gone, replaced by the cold, calculating man I first met.

"Izzy's still in Greece, right?" I ask, trying to change the subject, needing something to hold onto that isn't this suffocating tension.

"Yes," Lorenzo says curtly. "We didn't tell her about what happened. No need to ruin her holiday."

I nod, trying to muster up some sense of normalcy. "She'll be back soon. She always knows how to make things feel okay."

Lorenzo doesn't respond, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond me, like he's already thinking ten steps ahead, planning how to keep me from messing up again. I realize that no matter how much he might care in his own twisted way, he'll never let his guard down, not for me, not for anyone.

"I can handle myself, you know," I say quietly, more to myself than to him.

"Maybe," he replies, his voice as cold as ever. "But I'm not going to let you take that risk. Not again."

We stand there in silence, the distance between us growing wider, even though we're only a few feet apart. Lorenzo's walls are back up, stronger than ever, and I know that no matter how much I want to believe I can do this on my own, he'll never truly let me. Not because he trusts me, but because he doesn't trust the world around me.

"Fine," I say, my voice flat. "I get it."

Lorenzo gives me a sharp nod, his face as unreadable as ever. "Good," he says, turning to leave the room. "Keep it that way."

As he walks away, I know one thing for sure: whatever happens next, I'm going to have to face it with my own strength, because Lorenzo's never going to let his guard down, not even for a second.