Whispers of the Sea

My head tuned out for the rest of the conversation with the doctor. The only words that were stuck in my head were, “You're not pregnant,”. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or sad. Sylas and I had once talked about starting a family. I also thought it would be enough to make him love me but I was wrong. A part of me was relieved. After seeing what he and Taylor did to me, I realized that having his child wasn’t the best thing that would happen to me.

"I... I understand," I managed to reply, though my voice didn’t sound like my own.

The call ended with a professional reassurance that they'd review their processes to avoid future mistakes, but that was a distant hum in my mind. My hand fell to my side, my fingers barely wrapped around the phone.

"Lauren."

I turned, my gaze locking onto Enzo’s. His expression was unreadable, his cold eyes studying me with that unnerving intensity of his.

“What did the doctor say?” he asked, his voice calm but commanding.

I swallowed hard trying to hide how shaken I was, “It was a mistake. Some mix-up. Apparently, I’m not pregnant.”

Enzo went quiet and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Suddenly, something flickered in his eyes. Relief? Disappointment? It was gone before I could name it, replaced by that impenetrable mask he always wore.

“Good.” The single word hit me harder than I expected, but he didn’t elaborate. Instead, he leaned back slightly in his wheelchair, his focus shifting briefly to the shop around us. “That simplifies things.”

“Does it? Sylas and Taylor still took everything from me. Everything that I worked hard for. I might not be pregnant but that doesn’t simplify anything. I have nothing.” I said holding his gaze.

“You’re wrong.” His voice was calm and deliberate, and it stopped me in my tracks. “You have me.”

“You?” I asked scoffing at his words. I didn’t believe in fairytales.

“Lauren, the Riccardi family won’t leave you alone. The fact that you have taken back your shop means that they have lost a front for their business. They will most likely come after you.” Enzo said coldly holding my gaze.

Although he looked so cold and yet distant, there was something undeniably charming about him. He wasn’t hiding the truth from me. The fact that a whole mafia family could be after me because of Sylas made my stomach turn. This shop belonged to my family. I wasn’t going to give it up.

Enzo stared at me without saying anything. Suddenly, Enzo’s phone cut through the tension. Watching him stand up, my eyes followed him as he answered his call. His face was serious and his eyebrows were scrunched up as he talked to the person on the other side. Removing my gaze, I turned to see Enzo’s driver staring at me and I realized I had been staring. I turned around and headed to my office to grab a broom and something to pack the broken glass and sweep the place. By the time I returned, Enzo was still on his call so I immediately got to work.

“What’s going on?” I asked when I saw Enzo finally finish his call.

“I just got word from my people. The governor is hosting an auction tonight. The Riccardi family is going to be there. And so will be a painting.” Enzo said making my eyes narrow.

“An auction at the governor’s mansion?” I pressed, my mind already racing. “How am I supposed to get in there?”

Enzo’s lips curved into a sly, almost teasing smile. “Sweetheart,” he drawled, his dark eyes gleaming, “You’re coming with me.”

***************

The governor's house was nothing like I had expected. The place was huge, full of people and very very gorgeous. The gate opened for us and my eyes fell on the huge fountain as our car entered. Enzo didn't look fazed at all but I was. I was beyond happy to be at a place like this.

“Mr. Santoro, welcome.” A fat man in a black suit said smiling as he walked over to us.

Standing beside Enzo who was in a wheelchair, I watched as the governor walked up to Enzo smiling at him. The auction had not yet begun and I had no idea what painting Enzo wanted. Suddenly, my eyes widened as I watched Sylas enter the room with Taylor grabbed around his arm like a prize.

What were they doing here? Was he here on behalf of the Ricciardi family?

“Sylas is here.” I whispered to Enzo as he chatted with the governor.

Sylas's eyes narrowed as he approached me, every step radiating a cold arrogance that made him unrecognizable. This wasn’t the man I had married. The tailored suit, polished shoes, and gleaming wristwatch screamed wealth. A stark contrast to the life I’d been living. For five long years, I had scraped and struggled to keep our family afloat, all while he had secretly been living in luxury. The truth hit hard. He’d been hiding his fortune, likely showering Taylor with the riches he denied me.

The auction began and I sat down close to Enzo. I still had not seen anyone from the Riccardi family. Hell, I wouldn’t even know any of them if they were present right now. The Riccardi family, I had heard of them but never seen them even though our shop normally worked with the governor’s office. This was a private auction.

“That’s the painting,” Enzo said as some people carried a painting heading to the back.

My eyes fell on the painting. It was covered, so I couldn’t see it. Why would Enzo want a painting? If two mafia families were after a painting, it had to be important. I didn’t know what made the painting so special, but I didn’t want Sylas to get his hands on it first.

The room quieted as the auctioneer stepped onto the stage, his voice cutting through the murmurs. “Ladies and gentlemen, our next item is a truly remarkable piece of art. Let’s unveil it.”

The cloth covering the painting was pulled back, and my heart skipped a beat. The image on the canvas was striking, but it wasn’t the painting itself that made my stomach drop. It was what was hidden within it.

Faint lines and markings blended into the background, almost invisible to the untrained eye. But I recognized them. They were similar to the sketches my father had left behind, the ones he used to obsess over late at night.

“Enzo,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “That’s not just a painting. It’s a map.”

His jaw tightened, and his sharp eyes darted to Sylas across the room. Sylas’s gaze was fixed on the painting, his lips curling into a smug grin. He knew.

“Stay calm,” Enzo murmured.

But calm was the last thing I felt. Sylas wasn’t just here for the auction. He was here for the same reason we were. All of a sudden, the realization hit me like a thunderstorm. The painting. It was the Whispers of the Sea.

The auctioneer cleared his throat. “Shall we start the bidding at five million dollars?”

The game had begun.