Natalie #5
He sits me down on the sofa, eventually managing to pry my fingers away from his hand, and walks over to the counter to flick on the kettle. Not saying a word to me the whole time.
I shake my head with an amused smile. He always makes tea whenever I’m upset like it's some sort of miracle cure .
“Maybe talk to him too, find out how he feels and then go from there.” He says when he comes back, two steaming cups in his hands.
Talk to Dante about feelings? I kind of already have, he hates me yet still has some sort of love for me. But my feelings for him are all positive.
Julian sits down beside me, puts the cups onto the table, and lifts my hands, threading his fingers with mine.
I want to kiss him again.
For fucks sake, down girl!
“Listen, I know you probably don’t want my advice right now, but if I was that dude and I didn’t hear from you for whatever reason for the last five years. I would like an explanation. Even if I had moved on.” He sighs. “Do you remember his name, I could find him for you.”
“No need, I know where I can find him.” I pick up my cup and take a sip of my tea. “Julian, my ex, he…”
“Don’t tell me.” He sighs. “Please don’t torture me by telling me who he is.
” He doesn’t bother being sly with the kiss he plants against my temple, “please, treasure. Don’t tell me.
I know I asked for his name, but I shouldn’t have.
I don’t want to know anything about him.
I don’t know what I would do if I knew who the guy that stole your heart was.
” He places a hand against my chest. “Your heart is precious, Natalie. And you should give it to whomever you wish. But if it doesn’t fully belong to me, I don’t want to know who I am sharing it with. ”
I blink, he doesn’t want to know. Julian - my stalker, is rejecting this bit of information, normally he wants to know every single detail about my life. “Are - are you sure?” I ask, placing my free hand over the one he holds over my racing heart.
“I’m sure.” He smiles. “I know he must be a good bloke if you fell in love with him. And your happiness is all I can ask for, treasure.” He tucks my hair behind my ear, hovering his hand over my cheek for a split second.
Feeling his hesitation, I lean into his palm, giving him a small smile.
“Are you going to tell him everything?” He caresses my cheek with his thumb.
I’m so conflicted when it comes to this man. His hot and cold personalities.
I fell in love with my stalker, the man who came to my apartment and protected me, the man who held me just because he wanted to comfort me. The man who rejected my every move on him whenever I was drunk. He respected me and never crossed any boundaries.
Julian at his home though is completely different.
This Julian is dangerous, psychotic and deadly.
He makes me feel nervous, scared, and for some reason - loved.
Even though he wanted me to kill Howard, he did it out of love.
His sick and twisted version of it anyway.
Everything he has done, he did it for me.
And deep down, I appreciate him for that.
If I loved someone as deep as Julian loves me, I probably would’ve done the same.
If I still had my daughter and someone hurt her, I would do exactly what Julian did.
If someone tried to hurt Nico, Dante would go crazy.
Anyone would do the same when it comes to their loved ones.
And that fact makes me not want to hate the man currently stroking my cheek so delicately, like I’m some precious china that will crack with the smallest little flick.
“I’ll speak to him soon, could you maybe have someone take me back to my apartment tomorrow so I can give him a call?”
I pray he still has the same number.
“No.” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry but I can’t do that. I don’t want you going back there, not after last time. If you want some privacy I can go outside.” I look around at all the cameras. “Orrrrr maybe you can go outside, as long as you don’t try and run again.”
“I won’t. It’s not like I know my way back home anyway.” I mumble. Standing. I ask Julian if he has any shoes and a jacket I can borrow.
“You want to call him now?”
“What, no time like the present right?” He shakes his head and gets to his feet.
“Wait here and I’ll get you something warm to wear.”
I’m sorry if you’re sleeping Dante, I just really need to know some things.
A minute or so later he re-emerges from the bedroom with a hoodie and some sandals. I see something else in his hand too, something shiny.
Oh my God, is that…
“I didn’t just take your photo that night, Natalie.” He holds up a locket, the locket Dante gave me that day I told him I loved him. “I’m so, so sorry. I regret everything.”
“You know what,” I stand and snatch the locket from his hand as well as the hoodie and sandals. “I’m getting pretty fucking sick of your apologies Julian .”
I storm away, leaving him standing in the middle of the room.
“I really am sorry.” I hear him whisper as I exit the building.