Sequel to the Within His Reach series.
~
She tries to leave the past behind.
He can't seem to escape it.
The two lovers move to Italy in the hopes of a safer life. But when the greater powers living within the orchards and vineyards make themselves...
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My eyelids flutter open as I stretch my arms back, rolling around on the big plush bed. A delighted sigh leaves my lips as I peer over at the lit fireplace, the warm and dark room giving me ultimate comfort in my resting state. It's only when I realize how and why I ended up sleeping that the comfort quickly is drained and replaced by fury.
I sit up quickly, my head slightly spinning. I look around slowly, inspecting the room intently. The sound of voices come from outside the floor, very faint as they yell. The lump in my stomach tells me not to go out, to not walk into the explosive minefield. My mind on the other hand doesn't give a damn. I have an idiotic secretive boyfriend to kill for pranking me as he did.
I throw my feet off the bed, getting up quickly. My hands slightly shake as I make my way towards the floor, the image of what I saw before I fainted crossing my mind again. Just breathe, I tell myself. I must've seen something wrong, or Nico must've pranked me. There is no other valid reason. It's impossible for him to still be alive.
"Leo, e tutta colpa tua." [Leo, this is all your fault.] A muffled voice shouts in fluent Italian. I reach for the door handle, pulling it down hesitantly and quietly. It's at times like these that I wish I were fluent in Italian. It'd be so much easier to get an understanding of what's going on downstairs. Right now I don't know whether I'm walking into a giant mafia meeting or just two people fighting.
"Sei tu quello che le sta mentendo." [You're the one who's lying to her.] Another voice replies, this one unrecognizable. I pull the handle down, pushing the door open very slowly, wanting to avoid it from making any slight noise. The bickering continues downstairs, the two voices now talking over each other. Their similar tongues speak at great speed as they rap on in Italian, interrupting each other.
I take careful light steps around the staircase railing, taking one silent step down onto the old wood. Please do not creak. I beg of you. I close my eyes tightly, curling my lips as I keep sneaking drown. Luckily no sound comes from the wooden step, my eyes peering open again.
A high pitched scream leaves my lips as Jackson appears right in front of me. I stumble backward, catching myself on the step behind me as I fall. His eyes brow is cocked as he slightly glares at me, obviously not very pleased with me eavesdropping. I try to catch my breath as my heart keeps on thudding rapidly. He turns his body to the side, using one of his hands to point downstairs.
"Come on." He mutters, nodding his head downstairs. I gulp and nod my head, looking down at the kitchen as someone exits it. I stand up, dusting my hands off on my thighs. Jackson walks down the stairs before me, muttering something in Italian. I hesitantly follow him. The Italian conversation is now over, silence filling the old house instead.
I walk down the staircase, landing on the floor in the kitchen again. My eyes connect with those of Nico's, worried and slightly angry. I try to send him a small smile, not gaining one back. The silhouettes of two men stand in my peripheral view. My hands tingle with fear as I try not to shake too much.
