CHAPTER 28
She fell asleep crying.
From the moment she left the dining room, she cried and never stopped. At one point, my mother went in and took care of Finn. Lana didn’t even argue. She just sat on the bed, staring into nothing.
Her lips were swollen—she always bites them when she cries so no one hears her. Her eyes were red and raw. She was a mess.
Mom tucked her in. She dressed her, and when she gave her a pill, Lana didn’t even mention Finn. She was just complying. Gone.
At lunch, she suddenly stopped eating when her eyes met mine. She drifted into her thoughts, and when she came back, she couldn’t stop shaking.
I hate them.
The last time we were together, I kissed her while I told her how much I loved her. She told me she loved me for the first time. I had so much to give her… and they made her believe I only used her.
I will never blame her for her lack of trust. She tried so hard for months. She sent me messages, begging me to save her… until I replied that she disgusted me.
She needed me. She begged. She tried. And I failed.
I have no way to prove I didn’t write those messages. I tossed that phone when she became unreachable. I assumed she’d blocked me or something.
I have nothing. No proof. I could tell her everything that happened, but she wouldn’t believe me—not while she’s blinded by their lies. And her condition makes it even harder.
I just need her to put her trust in me one more time.
Finn jolts awake and is about to cry, but I whisper his name. He looks at me and smiles.
I pick him up and rock him around the bedroom so he’ll fall asleep again.
When Finn was born, I ordered my men to put cameras around her house. I wanted to see how bad she was. They couldn’t get inside until Finn was four months old.
It was enough to see what Stefan did to her. He never laid a hand on her while she held Finn, but the moment his murderous gaze settled, she would place Finn in his cot so Stefan could unleash his rage on her—away from her son.
I couldn’t hear them, and I couldn’t watch her endure that torture again. She never told me what happened when she was kidnapped. For some reason, she wanted to keep that to herself, and I respected that.
As soon as he started the beating, I turned my gaze away and sent someone to interrupt them. I needed any excuse. I ruined my own rescues just to stop that torture, even if only for a little while.
But it wasn’t enough.
She slept barely two hours a day, and sometimes she didn’t eat a proper meal at all. She had no rest, and she was still figuring out how to care for Finn while Stefan did nothing.
Here, my mother has been giving her some tea so she can sleep a little better. She also takes care of almost everything in the house, so Lana doesn’t have to lift a finger. If she didn’t, I’d hire someone, but Mom insists she has her “own ways”.
And Finn? I’ll take care of him whenever she lets me. I have to make up for every minute I wasn’t there.
Finn lays his head on my shoulder, near my neck. I lean into him and sing ‘O Sole Mio for the first time in almost two years.
My heart burns with every word. I’m so hurt. So furious. They had no right—no fucking right—to take everything from us. From her.
I’m going to kill them all.
Lana shifts in her sleep. That’s my cue to leave. It kills me to place Finn on his side of the bed, where I should be resting. It kills me even more when he whines and reaches for me, stretching his arms out.
“I love you, Finn. Go to sleep,” I whisper.
“Daa—”
No. Don’t say it. Not now.
I bolt for the door as Lana stirs on the bed. My heart breaks when Finn starts crying, calling for me to hold him.
I close the door. Lana’s sobs begin a minute later.
I’ll find her fucking father and force him to tell her everything.
I’ll rescue her mother. I’ll bring her whole family if I must. She will know I never wanted to leave her.
She will know I belong to her.
She will forgive me.