49. Aurora
Chapter 49
Aurora
M y body is relaxed and in a perfect, hazy slumber right before I wake up. I luxuriate in the feeling of Romeo’s warmth surrounding me. It’s the only time I allow myself to forget what he’s done. To forgive him .
This is the second morning that I’ve woken up like this. His bare chest pressed to mine and his arms holding me with a gentleness that brings tears to my eyes. And each time, I blink my eyes open, press my hands into his chest, and force my way out of his embrace. He rolls onto his back, an ugliness filling the surrounding air. It’s getting harder and harder to push him away and it’s only been two days since I returned. It should be easy. I should be able to remember what he did— what he said —and fan the flames of my anger. But it’s not working, especially when I wake up with the reminder of what we had.
Why can’t it be easy to hate him?
Because I love him .
This morning, Romeo exhales sharply and throws the covers off before climbing from the bed and walking into the bathroom without a word. I stare up at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of him getting ready for his day.
I don’t want to love him. I want to hate him because I don’t like how weak I feel by giving in. Why am I doing this to myself? I should leave. There’s nothing keeping me here, after all. Even Doc said my leg was healing nicely and if it continues to, then he’ll be giving me the all clear at the end of the week. So why not just walk out of the door? What are they going to do, shoot me? Besides, if I stay any longer, I might do something as stupid as giving in to my heart when my head is screaming at me to run.
Sitting up, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, searching the room for my crutch that Callie brought over yesterday after she caught me walking on my own. It’s safe to say I’m motivated to get back on my feet. I prop my crutch up against the bedside table so I can reach it, but this morning it’s resting on the chair by the window. Great . Romeo must have moved it.
With one hand on the bedside table and the other on the mattress, I push up. I’m halfway to standing when the bathroom door opens and Romeo strides out, a towel wrapped around his waist and his wet, bare chest on full display. I avert my eyes and drop back down onto the mattress as I listen to him pad across the carpet. I’ll try again when he’s gone .
He comes to stand in front of me, holding out the metal stick. My hands feel clammy as I reach for it and I pray he can’t see the way my body is trembling as I wrap them around it. I hate that he has this effect on me. All he has to do is be half naked and I’m a melting puddle of need. It’s pathetic.
His deep timbre rolls through my body, sending bolts of desire shooting to my core when he says, “Callie will be here in an hour to check on you.”
Callie isn’t supposed to be coming today. I frown, brushing off the unwanted desire as I finally meet his gaze. “Why?”
“I’ve asked her to. She’ll take you into the garden and bring you back in. I thought you might want to do some drawing and get out of this room.”
My mouth forms into an O shape before I close it and nod. It would be nice to get outside and do some sketching. I feel his eyes on me, but neither of us speaks, and when he heads into the closet, I exhale a heavy breath before standing and heading into the bathroom.
A chill has settled into the air and the sun has long disappeared between the heavy gray clouds that have rolled in. I’ve been putting off going inside, the fresh air enough to keep me out, even if the hairs on my arms are standing on end.
Pushing my pad onto the table in front of me, I pick up my crutch and awkwardly stand from the chair, the blanket Callie placed over my lap falling to a pile on the floor at my feet. A drop of water falls from the sky, landing on my nose and I turn my face up, breathing in deeply as I wait for more to come. There’s something calming about the rain.
A knock on the window behind me pulls my attention and I turn to find Alma gesturing animatedly behind the glass. I watch as she rushes to the door a few steps away before bursting through it and crossing the patio toward me.
“What are you doing? You should call for help,” she admonishes.
I can’t help but chuckle and the first genuine smile I’ve felt since I was taken tugs at my lips before my face crumples and tears tumble down my cheeks. Rain falls in a sheet soaking me through and yet I still don’t move. Alma pulls me into her arms, squeezing me tightly as she mutters hurried Italian words that I don’t understand into my shoulder.
We’re both getting soaked as she hooks her arm into mine to help me into the house and through to the kitchen. By the time we enter the warm room, my teeth are chattering and my eyes have dried up. Maria is at the sink, her back to us and a stiffness that I know all too well in her posture. She doesn’t turn to acknowledge our presence and something about it fills me with unease. Alma settles me into a chair at the kitchen table and shuffles across the room to the refrigerator.
I watch as she moves around the room preparing tea, before darting into the laundry room and returning a moment later with a pile of towels. She hands one to me before returning to the two cups of tea on the counter. I don’t miss the way she runs her hand over Maria’s back in a comforting gesture.
Something’s happened .
It’s obvious by the straining tension that’s hanging in the atmosphere. Questioning eyes lift to hers when Alma places a mug of tea on the table in front of me. She smooths her palms down the front of her apron before sliding into the chair next to me and enveloping my hand in hers.
“Haven is missing.” Her words are said on a whispered breath, a fear of reality coating them.
My eyes widen and my jaw goes slack, certain that I must have misunderstood her. “M-missing?”
Alma nods, leaning forward and keeping her voice lowered as Maria quietly sobs by the sink. “She won’t be coming back.”
My brows tug together at her confusing statement. “So, she’s not missing?” Alma stares at me, deadpan until all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. “They’ve…” I can’t bring myself to finish that sentence. Tears well in my eyes and I choke out, “Why?”
Alma looks away, her eyes becoming as glassy as I’m sure mine are. Her voice cracks when she speaks, like she can’t quite believe what she's saying is true. “She betrayed the family.”
What? That doesn’t make any sense. Why would she do that? My hand grasps Alma’s. “You and I both know that’s not true, Alma. What have they said? What lies have they told about her?”
Her fingers fiddle with the delicate chain around her neck. Squeezing my hand, she opens her mouth to speak, but a harsh bark of her name cuts her off. “Alma.” It’s a warning and meant to silence her.
My eyes dart to Daniele standing in the doorway. Alma slips her hand free from mine, leaving it to fall to the table with a dull thud as she stands, walking over to Maria before escorting her out of the kitchen.
Only when they’ve gone does Daniele move into the room. He walks to the refrigerator, pulling it open and staring at the contents. I shake my head in disbelief at his callousness before using my crutch to stand and walk toward the door. None of this should be a surprise to me after what I’ve been through.
I come to a stop, holding onto the doorframe for support as I look over my shoulder. “What did she do?”
He rolls his neck, the ink tattooed across it stretching and contracting with the movement. “It doesn’t concern you.”
I scoff. “Wow. It’s really like that?” When he doesn’t respond, I add, “No offense, but I don’t really trust any of you to make a call on what happens with someone’s life, given my own personal experiences.” He tenses, and I know my jab hit the mark. “What exactly are you accusing her of doing?”
He widens his stance, squaring his shoulders. “I won’t repeat myself, Aurora.”
Turning to face him, I hobble back into the room, hating how weak I must look with the crutch. “Fine, I’ll leave it. But let’s just hope that you don’t leave another innocent woman to die.”
The sooner I can leave this place, the better, especially when I know exactly who would have made the call to have her dealt with. What’s worse is that even if I wanted to stay, I’d be at risk of being put in this exact same situation again, and I don’t know if I’ll be lucky enough to make it out a second time. I might not be fully fit to leave just yet, but there is something I can do to give myself some much needed respite.
“I will need your help moving to another room,” I demand, my mind made up.
Daniele narrows his eyes as he asks, “Has Romeo said it’s okay?”
My spine stiffens and I take a step forward, momentarily forgetting about my leg. I grit my teeth against the jolt of pain that slices through me and spit out through gritted teeth, “It’s none of his fucking concern. I’m none of his concern. There have to be at least a hundred spare rooms in this place and either you help me move into one or I do it myself.”
He regards me for so long I’m certain he’s going to say no, and as I turn to leave, his words pull me to a halt as he calls, “I’ll be up in thirty.”
Without a word, I leave the kitchen. Helping me is the least Daniele can do and he should count himself lucky that I’m not asking him to drive me to the nearest damn airport. But most importantly, screw Romeo Bianchi, and any man in this house who thinks they get a say in where I sleep.
I’m rounding a corner at the end of the hallway, heading to the living room, when I bump into Massimo. Just what I need . His hands land on my shoulders to steady me and his eyes drift over my body. “Are you okay?”
Shrugging him off, I go to move past him, but his tight grip wraps around my elbow.
“I’d like to speak to you.” He pauses, loosening his hold a fraction. “If that’s okay.”
Huffing out a breath, I tug my arm free. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”
He glances around the hallway before lowering his voice and taking a step closer. “It’s about Haven.”
I lift my chin, narrowing my eyes at him before I sneer. “Unless you’re going to tell me what she’s supposedly done or show me the evidence, I’m not interested.”
“I’d like you to look over the video and give me your side of the story.”
My lips part, but nothing comes out. What does he mean by my side of the story? I want to tell him to go to hell, but if it helps Haven, I can’t walk away. I don’t want anyone to have to go through what I did if they’re innocent. Sighing heavily, I reply, “Okay.”
Massimo heads down the corridor he came from, leaving me to trail behind. As we walk, I think over every interaction I’ve ever had with Haven, so that I can make sure he has the full picture. Deep in my heart, I know she wouldn’t hurt a soul, let alone betray her family.
When we enter Massimo’s office, he directs me to take a seat in front of his desk. A laptop sits open on top of it, and after tapping away on the keys, he turns it to face me. An image of myself in that stupid dress Romeo had me wear stares back at me.
Reaching over the screen, Massimo presses play and I watch the video, trying to take in every detail. When it finishes, he presses the lid closed and leans back in his chair before asking, “What did she say on that call?”
Shrugging, I reply, “Nothing.”
Massimo sighs heavily, as if my perceived defiance is tiresome. “You can’t protect her, Aurora. We know it was from a number associated with the Russians. And possibly the ones involved with your uncle.”
“I’m not protecting her. She literally said nothing,” I implore. “Well, not nothing. She said ‘hello’ a whole bunch but I don’t think anyone was on the other end.”
Exhaling, Massimo runs his hand through his hair. “Okay, thank you.”
As I stand, I lean toward him, resting my hand on his desk. “I don’t think she had anything to do with what happened to me. She’s my friend and if she isn’t already…” I shake my head, unable to get the word out. “I just ask that you don’t do it. If she’s still alive, let her go.”
He runs his tongue over his teeth, before turning his laptop back to face him and opening it again. “That’s not how this works.”
I dig my nails into the palm of my hand. “I’m very aware of that.”
“Even if it did, it’s too late.”
With tears brimming in my eyes, I leave Massimo’s office, my mind swirling with images of a lifeless Haven.
I’m not cut out for this life .