Broken heart of a warrior

Chapter 13

Leaning back under the warm cascade of the shower, I let my gaze drift over the swirling pattern of the tiles, their muted blues and grays blurring as my mind raced through the day's events. Memories flashed past like fragments of a storm—each one sharp, urgent, pressing against my chest until it ached. My thoughts twisted in on themselves, tangled and relentless, and for a fleeting moment I felt the fragile edge of control slip away. A single tear escaped, tracing a warm line down my cheek before disappearing into the flow of water.

I was too close to unraveling, too raw to steady myself completely. The thought of the upcoming dinner made my stomach tighten. Every eye watching, every judgment lingering in the corners of the room—I had to remain anchored, focused. Yet Antonio's expression haunted me, etched into my mind with all the force of truth. His honesty, his vulnerability, the way he had laid bare his fears and his longing, it had been right there, offered directly to me.

A soft, fleeting calm settled over me then, like the quiet after a storm. I felt Master's presence, subtle yet insistent, a gentle reminder to hold fast. Soon, it would be time. I lowered my head, inhaled deeply, and let the steady rhythm of my breath anchor me. The warmth of the water clung to my skin, carrying me back to a steadier place, a place where I could endure what was coming.

Through the haze of swirling memories and restless thoughts, the faint knock on my door barely registered. I needed a few more precious seconds to shove the chaos of my emotions back into the tightly sealed box at the depths of my soul. I had to become the version of myself that could survive tonight. It was a mask I wore for survival, one I hoped might someday earn forgiveness for the lies I carried.

Closing my eyes, I forced the last lingering threads of fear to retreat into myself. If I faltered now, I would be useless on this mission. And if we displeased Master... failure was unthinkable. None of us could afford it, not even for a moment.

Instead of moving toward the door, I let the hot steam wash over me, letting it ease the tension knotted in my muscles. I reminded myself over and over that no matter what I tried, I could never be fully ready for the dinner that awaited.

Memories of Antonio lingered, his hidden worries about Alessandros gnawing at the edges of my mind. Something monumental had happened years ago, something he alone held the truth about. I needed those answers soon. I needed to uncover what he had been keeping from me. Yet I, too, carried a secret of immense power, buried since the very beginning, a truth that had shaped everything that had unfolded and would shape what was still to come.

But now was not the time to dwell on it. The mission demanded my focus. My truths would remain locked away, for now, as I braced myself for the night ahead.

The knocking grew urgent, shifting from polite taps to impatient pounding that rattled the doorframe.

"Just a second!" I called, hastily securing a fresh towel around my body. I slid on my sunglasses, trying to summon a hint of composure, then stole a quick glance in the mirror. At least my reflection suggested I wasn't completely unraveling. With measured steps, I moved toward the door and unlocked it.

Miri barreled in before I could react.

"Finally, girl!" she laughed, the sound spilling through the room like sunlight. "Look at you...hahaha...towel and...hahaha...sunglasses...hahaha."

Fantastic. Just fantastic. I was now officially a living punchline.

She bent double, clutching her stomach as laughter wracked her body, while I slammed the door behind me and yanked off the glasses. Could the universe cut me a single break today? Apparently not.

With all the sarcasm I could muster, I shot back, "Well, it's nice that you find it funny...which it absolutely is not!" I swung the towel over my hair, drying with exaggerated force, nearly pulling strands from my scalp in my frustration. Damn it!