Chapter 13
Every time I closed my eyes, my thoughts spun in circles refusing to settle. So I spent the night curled up on the couch, knees to my chest, arms wrapped around myself as if it would keep me together.
By morning, I heard him moving in the kitchen. The low clink of a cup, the murmur of a call, the rustle of fabric as he moved through the space. I stayed where I was, waiting, listening to the familiar sounds of Luca getting ready to leave.
Minutes dragged by, stretching unbearably long. I didn't move until I finally heard the faint chime of the elevator.
I sat in the stillness of the room, my heart thudding too loudly in my chest, waiting to see if he would come back. Maybe he had forgotten something.
Seconds turned to minutes. He didn't come back.
He was gone.
And so was my patience for pretending that this arrangement. This cold, distant thing we had was something I could survive without cracking.
I needed to leave.
An hour later, I sat on the bed with my phone clutched in my hands, my thumb hovering over the screen.
I needed to go home. I hesitated before tapping on my brother's name in my contacts.
It rang once. Twice.
Then his voice came through, rough and familiar. "Alessa?"
The tightness in my chest loosened at the sound of him.
"Dario" I whispered, the relief in my tone undeniable.
A pause. Then, sharp and sure, "What's wrong?"
I swallowed hard.
"Can I come home?"
Silence.
I knew what he was thinking. Knew what he wanted to ask. Had something happened? Did Luca hurt you?
But he didn't ask.
Instead, he exhaled. "Of course. I'll come get you. Where are you?"
"At the penthouse"
"Okay, I will be there soon."
I ended the call, my fingers tightening around the phone.
I set my phone down, pressing my fingers against my temples. This was fine. I was just visiting my family. Just taking some space.
Luca wouldn't even care.
Would he?
Shaking off the thought, I stood and moved toward the bathroom to pack a few things when a sudden realization hit me.
How was I supposed to leave?
I didn't know the code or had a keycard for the penthouse elevator. It required one. Luca had never given me one.
Panic flickered through me.
I turned toward the entryway deciding to test my memory from the handful of moments when I had seen Luca type in the code.
I pressed a few buttons at random. The screen blinked red.
Access Denied.
I tried again, a different combination. Denied.
I swore under my breath and strode back into the penthouse, scanning the space.
There had to be a keycard somewhere.
I started in his study. It seemed like the most obvious place to start.
I pushed the door open, the scent of leather and expensive cologne filling the space. The curtains were drawn leaving the room in dim lighting, the massive mahogany desk sitting in the center.
I checked the drawers first. The first was locked. Of course. The second wasn't but it held nothing useful, just some documents, pens and a lighter.
Frustration simmered beneath my skin as I moved to the bedroom, heading for the nightstand on his side of the bed.
Still nothing.
I turned to the closet. The scent of him was stronger here, clinging to the air. I checked the shelves, running my fingers along the smooth wood, searching for anything out of place.
Nothing.
Then I crouched down, opening the built-in drawers. The first held a few watches, cufflinks, a leather wallet.
The second was mostly empty, just a single gun, a few stray bullets and a knife with a wickedly sharp edge.
The third stuck for a second before sliding open. Inside was a small black case. I opened it, finding a neat stack of cards. Credit cards, IDs... and in between them a sleek black keycard.
Relief flooded through me. I grabbed it and shut the drawer.
Just then, the sharp buzz from my phone made me jump.
I pulled it out of my pocket.
Dario.
I answered immediately. "You are here?"
"Just parked outside." he confirmed.
"I will be right down." I said instantly as I didn't want him to come up.
I ended the call before he could say anything else.
I reached the elevator, my fingers tightening around the keycard. For a split second I hesitated.
Then I scanned the card. The doors slid open. I stepped inside, pressing the button for the lobby. The elevator descended smoothly, floor after floor, until a soft chime signaled my arrival.
The lobby was mostly empty. A few men in dark suits lingered near the entrance but none of them spared me more than a glance.
I stepped outside, the cool evening air brushing against my skin.
And there, parked near the curb was Dario.He was leaned against a sleek black car, arms crossed, his gaze locked on me.
The second his eyes met mine. I swallowed hard and walked toward him.
"Hey" I said softly. He nodded at me.
Dario studied me for a long moment before pushing off the car and opening the passenger door for me. The moment the door shut, Dario rounded the front of the car and got in.
The engine purred to life and we pulled away from the curb, the city blurring past.
For a while, neither of us spoke. The silence was heavy stretching between us. Dario was the first to break it.
"Did Luca do something?" he asked his gaze on the road.
I turned to him sharply. "No."
His grip on the wheel tightened.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes" I said firmly. "He didn't do anything."
Dario's jaw tensed but he didn't push further.
The rest of the drive was quiet. I stared out the window, watching the city lights flicker past, my mind a mess of tangled thoughts.
Luca wouldn't care that I was gone. He barely acknowledged me as it was. This marriage was a formality to him, a business deal wrapped in empty vows.
So why did I feel a twinge of guilt?
Why did it felt like I was running from something I wasn't quite ready to name?
"I just... need some time" I murmured.
Dario exhale like he wanted to say more but instead he just nodded.
When we finally pulled into the driveway, a familiar warmth settled in my chest. It was the same as I remembered with pristine gardens, tall iron gates, the grand house standing just as it always had.
Dario parked, shutting off the engine before turning to me. "You sure you are okay?"
I exhaled, offering him a small smile. "I am now."
His gaze searched mine like he didn't fully believe me, but he nodded and got out. I followed, stepping out into the afternoon sun. The moment my feet touched the ground, something inside me eased.
Home.
The doors swung open before I even reached them. My mother stood in the entryway, her brows pulled together in concern.
"Alessa?" Her gaze swept over me, searching, worrying. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay?"
I forced a smile, stepping inside. "Everything is fine, Mom."
She didn't look convinced. "You are supposed to be with your husband."
The word made something tighten in my chest.
"I just wanted to visit," I said lightly. "Is that so strange?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't argue. Instead, she reached out, cupping my face. Her touch was soft, her thumbs brushing over my cheeks.
"You look tired." she murmured.
I was.
But I just smiled. "It was a long day."
She exhaled softly, her fingers lingering for just a second longer before she let her hand drop. "Go rest. We will talk later."
I nodded, relief washing over me. I wasn't ready for that conversation yet.
With a small glance at Dario, who gave me a short nod, I turned and walked inside.
I climbed the stairs, my heart beating a little faster as I reached my old bedroom.
It was like stepping back in time, into a version of myself that had existed before Luca, before this marriage.
I kicked off my shoes and crawled onto the bed, sinking into the familiar softness. The tension in my shoulders eased. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe.