1. Courtney #2
I take hold of Miles’ hand, lacing our fingers together as I take comfort in his warm touch.
“I don’t want that, Miles. I’m scared, and being here will only make that worse.
Even with your guards, I’ll spend the whole time I’m here looking over my shoulder, terrified that someone will get me.
I won’t be able to do my work, or live a normal life.
I’ll be on edge the whole time, which will only make my life more miserable. I can’t do it.”
As each word rushes out, the panic in my voice becomes more evident, and when I finish, I pull in a ragged breath, trying to blink away the tears that are threatening to fall again.
Although it’s clear Miles doesn’t agree, as he wants to put my education before anything, he can’t ignore the fear in my voice. With a resigned nod, he agrees that I can move to Morelli Mansion, but only on one condition.
“As soon as the threat has been eliminated, Court, you have to promise me you’ll go back to school. I know you’ve been finding it hard here, making friends and trying to be normal, but I promise, getting a good education will be the best thing for you.”
I shake my head as I try to hide the smile that’s threatening to make an appearance as I take in his stern, brotherly tone. He’s been more like a parent to me my whole life, and this is just another occasion where he thinks he knows best .
“I promise you, I’ll come back to school when the time is right,” I tell him, keeping my promise vague.
Miles glares at me and Marcus lets out a short, sharp laugh that he quickly turns into a cough when Miles turns his hard expression onto him. “A true politician’s answer. I think you may have missed your calling, Court,” Marcus adds, his lips lifting into the smallest of smiles.
“Why don’t you gather your things? Take only essentials for now, as we can come back for everything else when you’re settled,” Miles tells me as he lifts me from his lap, keeping a hold on my hips until he’s sure I have a secure footing.
About half an hour later, I’ve gathered up everything I think I will need, while Miles and Marcus collect the photos and ‘gift’ I was sent, so they can hand it over to their team to be investigated.
As I sit in the backseat of Marcus’ car, with Miles driving, I watch the university campus fade away behind us. I hoped there’d be a sense of loss, that I’d regret having to leave, but there’s nothing except a small sigh of relief when we pass the exit sign.
I hate not knowing what I want to do with my life, and feeling such an overwhelming level of uncertainty about everything.
Everywhere I turn at school, they all know what they want to do with their lives, or at the very least, what subjects they want to take…
I’ve never had that. When I picture my future, it’s like a blank space, giving me no hints as to what I’d enjoy doing with my life.
As someone who has lived her whole life a day at a time, desperately trying to survive without anything awful happening, I guess I just got good at not planning for the future. Only now I’m at a crossroads, and I have no idea which route to take.
Once we turn onto the driveway for Morelli Mansion, all other thoughts fall out of my head, and I stare with my mouth wide open as we drive up to the massive house.
The gravelled drive is long and windy, taking us through perfectly manicured lawns with big trees and beautiful, well looked after flower displays.
The house itself has three floors, including the ground floor, and is a stunning white colour that you don’t normally see on houses.
But there’s some intricate plants climbing up the walls to give it a hint of colour.
The black outlines of the windows are a stark contrast to the white, and it gives the place an almost regal feel. Which is only emphasised by the two large white columns in front of the entrance, and the small set of wide steps that lead up for the front door.
Don’t even get me started on the elaborate circular water fountain that’s in the middle of the driveway, acting almost like a roundabout for people to drive around, so they can go back down the driveway in the opposite direction.
I push open the car door and climb out, rushing to Miles’ side as Marcus strolls on ahead. There’s an older woman, who looks to be in her late sixties, waiting at the top of the stairs.
She’s a shorter lady, with tight grey curls that frame her face. She’s a bit on the plumper side, but it probably looks more pronounced because of her height. She’s wearing a full length black skirt and a floral blouse, with sensible black pumps.
As soon as she sees Marcus, the smile on her face grows wide and she reaches for him, pulling him in for a tight hug, as Miles and I walk up the stairs to join them. The way she hugs Marcus feels almost motherly, and I’m just as surprised to see a slight blush on Marcus’ cheeks.
Once she lets go of Marcus, she’s quick to pull Miles into a hug too, although he doesn’t let go of my hand, returning her gesture with just his free arm.
The way she looks at him, the same as she did with Marcus, is so full of love, and for just a fraction of a second, my chest aches and jealousy spikes.
As Miles takes a step back, the friendly woman turns her assessing gaze to me. Though her warm smile doesn’t falter, I feel very exposed under the weight of this woman’s eyes.
“Such a beautiful young girl, but you are much too thin,” she says finally, gently placing her hand on my cheek.
I find myself leaning in to her warm touch, until a deep rumbling voice startles us both. “I think she looks fine just the way she is.”
I turn towards the door, in the direction of the voice, only to find an older man leaning against the doorframe, his gaze locked on me. There’s no doubt that this man is Maximus Morelli, and although I’m not sure what I was expecting, it is definitely not this.
Despite him leaning, it’s clear he's much taller than me, and more muscular than you’d expect for a man of his age.
Although I know he’s in his early fifties, I wouldn’t have guessed that by looking at him.
He has faint lines around his eyes and across his brow, and his dark hair is turning grey in places, but they’re the only giveaways regarding his age.
He’s wearing a dark, perfectly tailored suit that fits his body to perfection. The dark shade of his trousers and waistcoat contrast with the crisp white of his shirt, making him look more like a rich businessman than the feared mafia leader he really is.
With Marcus, it only takes one look at his hard exterior, blank mask, and general stern expression to know that he’s dangerous. He exudes it from his pores, whereas Maximus doesn’t have that. His almost relaxed, friendly posture draws you in, until you see his eyes.
Although his emerald-green eyes are a different colour to Marcus’—who got his blue gaze from his mother, so I’ve been told—there’s a harsh seriousness to them that make it clear just how dangerous this man really is.
And the way they’re fixed on me, assessing my every move, makes me feel almost naked.
As soon as I catch him staring at me, Maximus is quick to glance away, making me wonder if he really was looking at me the way I thought he was. He doesn’t cast his eyes back to me again, dismissing like I’m not even there, and I couldn’t be more confused.
“Father, thank you so much for agreeing to this,” Marcus says as he reaches a hand out towards Maximus, sounding much more formal than a father and son should.
Maximus shakes his hand, though they don’t move any closer to each other than they have to, which strikes me as odd. Miles is quick to shake Maximus’ hand too, once he’s let go of his son’s.
“Yes, I can’t thank you enough for this,” my brother says, his emotions bleeding into his words so that his gratitude is obvious.
Maximus gives them both a firm nod, keeping his expression blank, which almost makes it look like he’s agreeing reluctantly, and might not actually want me here.
My thoughts are reinforced when his stern tone interrupts my spiralling. “As long as she follows the rules, and stays in her allocated rooms, we won’t have a problem. I trust it won’t take you long to eliminate the threat, and then she can get back on with her life.”
I want to cut in and tell him that I have a fucking name, and don’t particularly appreciate being referred to as she , but despite what my brain clearly thinks, I’m actually a coward deep down, and don’t have the guts to stand up to a man like him.
Instead, I keep my head down and let Miles and Marcus do the talking. Ultimately, I need to stay here as it’s the only place I’ll be safe, and if that means putting up with the grumpy arsehole who can’t even be bothered to learn my name, or talk to me directly, then so be it.
Marcus replies to him with the same promise Miles made me earlier. “We will work quickly to take out the threat, so that Courtney can get back to her life. We will determine who is behind the ‘gift’ and the note, and then we can go from there.”
“Good,” he replies sharply.
I know I should probably keep quiet, but this man has agreed to let me into his home, and even though he doesn’t deserve my politeness after the dismissive tone he used on me, I’m still grateful for the help he’s giving me, and I want him to know that.
“Thank you, Mr Morelli, Sir, for opening your home to me. It means a lot that I can feel safe.” I hate how small and weak my voice sounds, and I’m sure he can hear how much he terrifies me.
He finally lifts his gaze to meet mine, somewhat reluctantly, and his eyes darken as he takes all of me in, sending a shiver down my spine. Silence stretches between us as he just stares at me with his dark, piercing gaze, making me shift uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
When he finally responds, his deep voice is harsh and firm. “Mrs Branch will give you the tour. Pay close attention to everything she says, as not all of the Mansion is open to you.
“She’ll also go over the rules with you. If there’s any you don’t agree with, or you break them, my offer for you to stay here will be rescinded immediately, whether the threat against you remains or not.”
“Father,” Marcus snaps, sounding exasperated with him.
Miles glares at him too, looking like he’s about to say something we’ll all regret, so I hold my hand out to silence him. Despite wanting to shy away from the fierceness in Maximus’ gaze, I don’t.
I keep my eyes on his as I say, “That’s not a problem. I’m good at following rules.”
Maximus’ emerald eyes seem to darken once more, making them appear almost black now, as he pulls in a sharp breath. I’m not sure whether it was my refusal to look away from him, or something I said, but he seems more affected by me, and that only confuses me more.
With the briefest nod, he turns on his heel and walks back into the house without saying another word. Miles turns to Marcus, sarcasm dripping from him as he says, “Now I see where you get your people skills from. He’s even more of a moody bastard than you are.”
I have to fight a smile as Marcus flips him off, chuntering under his breath, so none of us can hear what he’s saying. Mrs Branch, who has been standing by in silence this whole time, clears her throat, capturing our attention.
“Shall I show you to your room, Ms Gibson?” she asks.
I give her a polite nod as I move to join her. Miles steps up beside me, but I quickly turn and stop him. “I can do this on my own, Miles. It’s more important that you get to work identifying the threat.”
“I can have someone take her things directly to her room whilst we’re doing the tour,” Mrs Branch adds.
Miles lets out a sigh, but he agrees with me. Pulling me in for a tight hug, we wrap our arms around each other and squeeze. Despite saying I can do this on my own, letting go of Miles is harder than I thought. He’s always been my safe place, my rock, and now I have to put my trust in other people.
Miles places a soft kiss against my forehead, before pulling back somewhat reluctantly. I can see the pain in his eyes, and I know leaving me here is just as hard on him. “Be safe, and be good. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will,” I reply, dropping my arms to my side, feeling an overwhelming sense of loss as Miles steps away from me.
“You have nothing to worry about, Court. You’ll be safe here.” Marcus stuns me by pulling me into a quick hug, which is over before I can even wrap my arms around him to return the gesture, but it’s still more than I was expecting.
I stand there for a moment, watching the guys as they walk away, waving at me as they climb into the car. With each step away from me they take, I seem to get colder and more numb, as fear settles into my bones.
I want to be brave for them, to trust that Morelli Mansion is the safest place for me to be right now, but even if that’s true, it doesn’t change how apprehensive I feel.
This is the start of a whole new chapter in my life, filled with the unknown, and as much as I want to embrace it, I can’t help but be afraid.
Despite not really knowing him, when I think about Maximus Morelli, I have no doubt he’ll protect me the same way my brother and his best friend would, and that leaves me with a sense of safety and calm I didn’t expect.