Chapter 40
Iwake later that morning in the softest bed, with arms firmer than steel wrapped around me.
Zayn clung to me all night like he was afraid I would slip away while he slept.
Not that I mind. Dreams of Daniel chasing me through my apartment forced me awake multiple times through the night, and Zayn’s presence was like a beacon of light in the dark. A blanket of calm in a storm.
Nothing can hurt me while he’s with me.
I turn in his arms to find him already awake, looking at me through sleep-hazed eyes.
“This is how I want to wake up every day for the rest of my life,” he mutters, drawing me in closer.
His words remind me of another time, in another place.
When we were just two kids in love who had no idea what the future had in store for them, or what they would go through to find each other again.
He envelopes me against his chest where I snuggle in to his warmth.
“Me, too.”
We lay for a few moments in silence, just soaking up the moment together.
There’s a strange weightlessness in my chest as I mull over the events of last night.
I thought I’d feel traumatised, or more violated than I do.
But, really? I feel at peace knowing that I don’t have to worry about Daniel lurking behind every corner, waiting for his moment to strike. I finally feel free.
“How did you know to come to my apartment?” I murmur against Zayn’s bare chest, reliving that moment when I opened the door to find him standing there like my own guardian angel.
“I didn’t know Daniel was there,” he says slowly. There’s a hard edge to his voice, and I close my eyes when he starts running his fingers through the lengths of my hair. “I arrived home and Bruce told me you came by to see me. I turned around and went straight to you.”
Thank God for Bruce. I make a mental note to thank him properly later. He was long gone by the time Zayn and I arrived back at his apartment this morning.
“Where had you been?” I ask, distracting myself by tracing my fingers over Zayn’s chiselled pectoral, ignoring the pit forming in my stomach. Not with a woman, please.
“A friend’s wedding.”
Relief.
“Gianna,” Zayn says dryly, nudging my chin up so that I’m looking into his dark eyes. They stare back at me with too much knowing. “I’m not Daniel. You never have worry about me being with anyone else. Since you came back into my life, no other woman exists for me. There will only ever be you.”
I swallow down the emotion clogging my throat, knowing I won’t ever doubt him again.
“Just us? Always and forever?”
His smile touches his eyes and flashes his dimples, and the sight is something I will never get over. I can’t believe this beautiful man is all mine.
“Always and forever.”
“I can’t believe it!” Mum wails from across her dining room table a few hours later. She clutches Dad’s arm for support while he watches me with deepening frown lines between his eyes. “We had no idea! None! I can’t believe this!”
I shuffle in my seat and cross one ankle over the other, staring down at my interlaced fingers that rest on the table.
“Daniel was always careful how he behaved in front of you all. And for me, well, his behaviour just became normal. I knew the level of control he had over me wasn’t right, but I just thought that’s how our relationship was and I… accepted it.”
“Well it certainly explains a lot,” Dad says, his eyes still scrutinising me, although not unkindly.
“You gave up everything you had going for you once you got married. Then you changed so much after you left him. You became a much happier, relaxed version of yourself. I’m angry we didn’t see it. Then and now.”
My head snaps up to find guilt etched into his heavy features. “It’s fine, Dad. Don’t beat yourself up over it. It’s my fault I let it get so far.”
“But why didn’t you tell us!” Mum cries again, now clutching at her chest. “All this time I’ve been hoping you’d get back together with that, that, that psicopatico!
” She spits. “I called and asked him if he was coming to the gala!” The colour drains from her face.
“Is that why he came to your apartment last night? Because I told him where you were?”
“No, Ma. Dumbass of the year award goes to Tony over here.” I nod my head towards Tony, who’s been unusually quiet at the end of the table while I spilled my whole sorry tale. Lia sits between us, her hand a constant reassurance on my back for the last half hour.
Tony looks contrite, and for the first time in my life, he doesn’t open his mouth with a smart-arse comment.
“I’m sorry, Gia. I was just so mad. I didn’t even think about how it would effect you if I called him. I didn’t think him capable of what he did last night.”
I let out a long-suffering sigh. Of course Tony didn’t know what Daniel was truly capable of because I hid the worst from my family for years. They still don’t know Daniel sexually assaulted me, and hopefully they never will.
“I know, Tone.” I reach out and give him a pat on the hand, which he flips and grabs for a reassuring squeeze. “Just promise me you’ll all stay out of my business from here on out.” I glare at my brother and my mum, who both nod, Mum with a sniffle.
“I’ll make sure of it, Gia.” Lia says solemnly, throwing her husband a withering glare.
“So, this Zayn fellow,” Mum says as she collects herself. “You say you’ve known him since high school?”
“Yes,” I say, drawing the word out slowly. The promise of not interfering in my personal business has not yet grown cold between us, yet Mum still launches into another question.
“What is going on between you two?”
“That’s for him and I to figure out, and for you not to worry about,” I say with a pointed glare. Tony chuckles as it goes straight over her head. Thankfully, Lia kicks him under the table which both saves me from doing it and shuts him up.
“Well do I set a place for him at family lunch? I need to know these things, Gianna!” Mum’s voice rises as I stand from the table. “Where are you going? The lasagna is ready! Merde, it’s probably overcooked by now!”
The doorbell rings right on time. Zayn went to give his statement at the station while I had the long overdue chat with my family.
“Set him a place.”
I head down the hallway, my heart fluttering at the thought of what waits beyond the front door. I might not know exactly what the future looks like for us, but I know one thing for sure.
He’s my love, my heart, my future.
Him, always.
Zayn.