Hers To Love (complete) Cover By @army_ss841

Chapter 31

Ari had just brushed her teeth and climbed into bed when her phone vibrated.  She looked at the caller ID.  Luca!  "Hi!" she answered excitedly.  "How's my girl?" he asked.  "Fine now that I hear your voice."  I answered truthfully. She didn't ask anything about his business and he didn't offer up anything.  They just were having a normal conversation and Luca brought up the shooting incident.  "My second has now told me he feels safer in the house with you than me" Luca said wryly.  I laughed a big belly laugh.  We talked some more about that and our movie night.  "I'm a little jealous you know" Luca said.  "Oh why honey?" I asked seriously not getting what he was driving at.  "He was the first one you watched a movie with."  Shit!  I hadn't seen that coming.  "Luca I'm sorry" I said honestly.  "It's okay Ari.  I'll live, you know why?"  I paused to let him finish.  "Because I have you in my bed and I would rather have that than anything."  This made me smile.  We talked a little more and then said goodnight.  I settled down into the bed and tried to turn off my mind.  Sleep finally came but it was one in the morning and it was a troubled sleep at that.

I woke to the sound of my own screaming voice. Paulo busted in through the door and into the room, gun drawn. I was sitting up clutching my chest and almost hyperventilating to catch my breath. Tears streaming down my face I looked at him in terror. "Ari! What the hell?" he asked, his face a mask of concern. I shook my head, trying to find words that made sense. "I saw Luca being chased. I could just see him, but the more I ran towards him the further he got away from me. I heard a shot and when I looked up Luca was standing as close to me as you are now. Blood covered his entire chest. I couldn't do anything Paulo! I just had to stand there and watch!" I started weeping all over again. P put his gun away and sat down next to me. I crawled into his lap. "Christ Almighty girl! You're shaking like a leaf!" I clutched his shirt for dear life until my weeping became a few hitches. "Ari, I'm going to go get something for you to take.  I'll be right back."  I nodded, wide-eyed.  He disappeared for a moment and then came right back and handed me a white pill.  I looked at it and then looked at him.  "It's a Xanax" he clarified.  He put it in my hand and handed me a bottle of water.  Her voice sounded so small "stay with me " she begged.  She took the pill and I sat down on the bed and cradled her until the pill took effect.  Paulo gently laid her down and stepped out to make a call.

"What's wrong" Luca answered.  "Man, Ari had a helluva nightmare.  She was screaming bloody murder."  Paulo described the rest of the dream and Luca let out a frustrated sigh.  "How'd you handle it?" he asked. "I gave her a Xanax and then waited until she fell asleep and then called you. I'm sorry for the late call but I wanted you to know." Luca said no problem that he needed to know. They finished their call and hung up. Paulo sighed and went back into Luca's room to check on Ari and decided to spend the rest of the night in the corner chair.  

I groaned feeling like I'd been hit by a truck.  "How are you feeling?" a voice from the corner asked.  I whirled around to see Paulo sitting in the chair.  "Did you get any sleep?" I asked, feeling horrible about the fuss last night.  "I'll live" he chuckled.  "Are you hungry?" I asked.  He shook his head no.  "Me neither, I just want coffee."  Paulo told her that he just made a fresh pot.  Ari said she'd be down in a while.  He nodded and left the room.  She walked into the bathroom to throw some water on her face.  She had Samsonite under her eyes and didn't feel like she'd gotten any rest.  She really didn't care that she looked like death warmed over either she just wanted coffee.  She padded down the hallway, to the stairs and made it to the kitchen.  The coffee smelled so good!  She poured a mug and then wandered into the living room, aware that Paulo's worried eyes were following her the whole time.  She had to shake this off.  She wasn't going to walk around like a zombie all day.  Something caught her eye.  She hadn't realized before that the living room curved on around and in the corner sat a piano.  A beautiful black baby grand.  She put her coffee down on an end table, not wanting it any where near this beautiful instrument.  She struck a few keys.  Sounded great.  Someone's made sure it stays in tune.  It had been a while since she played so she started with something simple, to warm up with.  She hit the first keys and then it became a tune, Fur Elise.  She had always loved this wonderful Beethoven piano piece.  Paulo shook his head, listening from the kitchen.  Was there nothing this girl couldn't do?  She made it sound effortless.  He noticed that she'd started with another piece, more complicated.  Paulo might be rough as they come but his mother always insisted that he know a thing or two about the finer things in life and this included classical music.  Ari must love Beethoven as she had started to play Moonlight Sonata, a melancholy and hauntingly beautiful score.  He closed his eyes and let the music seep in.  He became aware that she'd finished and when he heard nothing else he assumed she was on her way back to the kitchen.  As if on cue, she appeared around the corner.  Her face seemed a little lighter.  Maybe the piano was just what she needed to shake off the funk of last night.  She flashed him her signature smile and said "I haven't taken my camera out since I got here.  I know Mr. Hannigan is bringing Midnight back today so I would like to walk around and take some photos.  Is that okay?" she asked Paulo.  He nodded affirmative.  She rinsed her coffee mug, patted his big arm and headed up the stairs to get ready for the day.