[ S E R A P H I N E ] I feel like someone just poured a ton of bricks all over me. I glance around, half-expecting Dominico to appear by the stairs any second, my heart pumping more blood and faster. I don't like how quiet and dark the rest of this house is, including the front yard. “How did you find out?” I feign a calm, almost robotic voice. Did Alina talk to Ignazio before he got arrested? “Arabella. Remember her?” Alina mutters on the other line. “Yeah.” Arabella, her 20-something blonde Italian friend. “She was in housekeeping.” “Messaged me out of nowhere. Her fiancé’s an inspector. He told her about San Pietro.” Alina’s voice wavers. “Oh. Makes sense.” “Hey. You sure about coming back here?” Coming back to Italy? “What d'you mean?” “I don't... I think, you and Dominico should stay there. For the meantime. Like a month or two. Or just stay there for good.” “Here in Canada? No. I-I don't think that's gonna work.” I shake my head as if she could see me right
[ S E R A P H I N E ] The sky hangs low. It's windy today. A thick blanket of gray clouds cast a somber hue over the private cemetery. It's a spacious graveyard, one of the biggest here in Montreal. We're here with Dom's cousins and their families. The kids are running around, giggling and playing with bubbles and some of the flowers. The way they look so happy and carefree tugs at my heartstrings. Dominico’s cousins gather around the grave with flowers in their hands, their faces etched with grief. My chest slightly aches every time I steal glances at him. Not a single tear on his stoic face. I don't need him to take off his sunglasses. I just know his eyes are distant, and despite being only inches away from him, I feel the gap between us. We haven't really talked all day. Yesterday, too. “God, our shelter and our strength, You listen in love to the cry of Your people: hear the prayers we offer for our departed brothers and sisters, especially Dominique Deschanel. Cleans
× WARNING! GRAPHIC NSFW CONTENT BELOW INTENDED FOR MATURE READERS ONLY × [ S E R A P H I N E ] I taste something bitter in my mouth, and something tells me to put a stop to this now. But I keep still and don't say anything. I cup his tan, scruffy face and pull his head closer to mine. “No bullshit. I'm gonna go insane.” Why does he think I'll leave him? Because of Pierre? Does it really look like I'm still in love with my ex? “Stop. I'm not going anywhere.” My chest aches at the sight of his shiny eyes. “I'm not leaving.” I wipe the tears off his face and pepper his warm cheeks with soft, careful kisses. Dom cusses and looks away, but he rests his hand on my thigh and lets me smooth back some of his disheveled hair. A quiet moment passes. Like his stare, his hands and leg keep me close to his warm, firm body. The courage I'm trying to prolong almost ebbs away when he doesn't stop staring. I almost back off when something changes in the way he watches me. The look in his
[ D O M I N I C O ] Something's pounding my head. From the inside. And it won't fucking stop. The sheets feel unfamiliar. I groan and swat the blanket away. I'm cold, and the silence pressing in around me only seems to double the pain. “Cazzo.” My mouth feels like a sponge, rough and a bit numb. Shit. Of course I'm freezing my balls off. I'm buttnaked. The pain in my skull is spreading. The fuck did I drink? I rub my eyes until the glue in them becomes a stinging pain. The other side of the bed's empty. Where's Sephie? I haul my ass out of bed and wince. “Fuck.” The incessant throbs behind my eyes only deepen. All my fault. I took the "grieving son" act too far. About four glasses of wine. No breather between the last three. More or less five hours of sleep. Now my body aches in ways that remind me I'm no wine connoisseur. Rubbing my temples, I try fixing the bed without tripping over myself. Not sure why I feel the need to piece together everything that happened
[ S E R A P H I N E ]The guy sitting next to me looks like he wants to punch a hole in his computer screen. Then light it on fire before tossing the entire thing out the window. It's not something new, though. My pretend husband is a corporate executive and the CFO of a top-performing financial services firm. 'Stressful' doesn't even describe half of the work he's doing. This guy works day and night just to keep their company running. Making sure all their employees are paid on time. Making sure his staff are fed while he keeps a roof over our heads.It's not really a problem. I can deal with Daytime Dominico. I'm just worried he's working himself to the bone to pay the bills and to keep me in school. Me, on the other hand... I'm just sitting right here beside him, unapologetically picturing a future without him. Busy thinking of reasons I can use to convince him that we can't make this permanent. That we can't push things forward. That he's better off without me — another liabili
[ D O M I N I C O ] I owe her an apology. This talk can't wait another day. I can't just sleep this off. Neither can she, from the looks of it. We're out here in the backyard, the wind tugging at our clothes and rustling the leaves of the trees lining the property fence. It's quiet tonight. A bit too cold, but peaceful. Yet it doesn't tame the chaos inside my head. Guilt's been gnawing at me from the moment I saw Mamma walk out of the precinct. She barely talked or looked at me during the drive, which says enough about how she feels about this conversation we're about to have. Mamma sits on one of the chairs in the patio, alone and tight-lipped, her slender arms crossed. She looks like she's contemplating her entire existence. Or she's just convincing herself that I'm the biggest disappointment in her life. Yeah. Probably. I get it, though. It's nothing new in our family. I've gotten so used to it that I don't even feel that affected.Her expression shows a mix of anger and disapp
[ S E R A P H I N E ] It's midnight. I should be sleeping. Or studying. The latter seems impossible, though, given my current state of mind. I can't focus every time Dominico's stepmom is staying over. Even worse: some nosey reporters have found out where Dominico lives. A couple of them have been camping around his property since yesterday, despite knowing he's got security staff and hates any media attention. So far it doesn't look like they've found out that I moved out of his house. But I do think they're planning to harass me next for any information about Dom, his father, and Leandro. Which is partly why I decided to move out temporarily. I don't want my family to see my face on the tabloids anytime soon, but it might happen one of these days. Sitting on the edge of my small bed, I rub my eyes as the wind howls outside. The soft glow of my desk lamp casts a warm light across my dorm room. My roommate isn't here yet. I don't think she'll be here until Wednesday. As the
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “Don't burn. Please. I need you to be perfect tonight. Absolutely perfect.” I let out a shaky breath and stir the pasta one more time as the white sauce I just made simmers in the pan. It's his favorite pasta. Homemade and fresh. The pot on the other burner is still cooking the spicy sinigang — the pork and veggie stew Dominico made me swear I'll cook for him every week. The house is quiet like most evenings, but it's not eerie. I prefer this. It's the complete opposite of the noisy campus dorms where I've spent the last couple of days. And nights. Because I thought some time apart will be good for us both. “Yeah. Right.” I scoff at myself. Well, sure. Being away from him gave me enough "me time" to focus on my schoolwork this week, and it gave Dominico some space. A bit of privacy while dealing with the grief and stress. But now I'm seriously doubting it's the long-term solution most of our relationship problems need. I already miss him. Badly. Way m
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “One last sheet. One last,” I sigh to myself, stretching my aching back as I recline. Looks like I'm still alone out here. I'm sitting by the pool, enjoying the gorgeous pink-orange sunset while waiting for Dominico to finish working. I stare at my laptop screen. I'm almost done with my work for the day, but my focus is split, already dwindling. Some mornings, I don't even feel like checking my emails. But I can't just quit now. I don't wanna feel like a freeloader or look for another job. Dominico can take care of me and provide our baby's needs. I know. But I don't want him to think I'm getting too comfortable. He's still upstairs, probably not done with their virtual meeting. “Emergency board meeting,” he told me an hour ago. Dom's been working from home all week. The new virus is still wreaking havoc all over the country. It's starting to scare me and Mamma, actually. Dominico agreed to stay home because he doesn't want to risk it. Our health and our b
[ D O M I N I C O ] “Look, Freja. It's my own money. And this isn't a loan. You don't have to pay me back. Okay?” Do I sound like an arrogant douche? I hope not. I sit back and buckle up, dying to get home. Freja’s tear-streaked face stays on the edge of the screen. The gray skies outside her window match the somber look in her eyes. She dabs at her pinkish cheeks, trying to put the waterworks on pause. It's not that she's been blindsided by her ex-husband's death. The sudden loss and grief. She knew what she was getting into the moment she agreed to be his wife. But it's not really her fault that she can't give her child a better life right now. I can't undo any of my father's actions or rewrite the past. But I could at least make sure that she and her kid won't struggle for another couple of years. “I just wired you the money.” “Thank you,” she murmurs with weak nods. I glance at the damp road. “Should cover tuition and some bills. If you need more, just call or text
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “We were gonna tell you. I-I just…” Just what? Forgot that I exist? That I have feelings, too? That I'm her best friend and they should've told me they're... Sheesh! I don't even wanna imagine what they've been up to. “Just what? It just slipped your mind?” Pierre glances at me, still can't look me in the eye. Like he knows how hurt I am. He should. This is like... It's betrayal. Right? I'm their best friend! I have the right to feel this way. “You just conveniently forgot?” My voice wavers. The odd numbness in my core spreads down my legs. Shucks. Breathing feels like a chore now. “Was it that hard to send me a text? Pick up the phone and just give me a call?”I probably sound hysterical. Overdramatic. I really don't care. I glare at Pierre, trying to dismiss the shock and hide the barely repressed anger. But I'm sure it looks like I'm failing miserably at it. Pierre sighs briefly, his hands on his hips. He's staring at the ground. Like he can't be bother
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “Hey. Alfeo looks more buff. Like, he looks bigger than you now.” Must be because Alfeo isn't taller and often wears clothes that flaunt his broad shoulders. I sit up on the bed, ogling my hot baby daddy as he walks out of the bathroom. “Is he taking anything? Steroids, or...” Dom snickers, glancing at me while he dries his hair with a black towel. After locking the door, he grabs a few clothes from his closet. “Why? Couldn't ask him yourself?” I scratch the back of my head. I don't know what his best friend's been up to lately. I haven't seen Alfeo in months. But I'm glad that he's not too busy to hang out with us. Maybe he's bulking up to impress a girl. Or girls? Not that it bothers me. He's always gonna be welcome here. Dominico still trusts him with his life. And no matter what his family thinks, Alfeo is still his most loyal friend. “Is he dating someone?” Dom scoffs and scrunches up his nose. It's straight, but the tip is a little bulbous, not too f
[ D O M I N I C O ] Are they downsizing? Or my dad's running out of payola? What even is this room? This is much smaller than the well-guarded room they let us use before. Smells like dried piss and sweat, too. Unlike the last time I was here, the prison guard stands behind the door. Just one. No weapon in sight, but I bet my left kidney he's carrying at least two. I sit down in front of the divider, surprised that the only prisoner I'm visiting agreed to see me today. I know he's still pissed that I didn't come by much sooner. That I didn't show up the last time he told me to be here. He wanted me to deliver more hush money, and of course more cash for his protection. And he's probably more pissed that I didn't help Ricchar Falco find his missing uncle. Stefano. The disgraced shipping mogul. The big-time swindler who ran off with the redhead. Daddy Dearest's former number one whore. Only because the bitch impressed him in and out of the sack. Glancing at the tall, dusty walls,
[ S E R A P H I N E ]What if Leandro found out about everything we did, all the sleuthing I tried, and the heap of evidence we contributed to the investigation, and then he got furious enough that he...Any way you look at it, my theory isn't farfetched. The guy's got motive. I don't wanna be the one to dwell on these negative thoughts. But we should consider the possibility. My privacy, my career, and my family's safety might be compromised.I'm pretty sure he's not here in Florence. Yet the feeling that he's somewhere near won't leave my head. Even now. Here in Dominico's house, a well-guarded private property in a gated neighborhood. I feel exposed. A little vulnerable. Even though I'm so much safer here with Dominico and Mamma keeping an eye on me. Plus the security staff guarding the property 24/7."Okay. I'll talk to Enzo again," Dom mumbles before reaching for my hand, giving it a light squeeze before he lets out a breath. Regrets and some frustration replace the pent-up anger
[ S E R A P H I N E ] I step out of the bathroom, my skin still warm from the shower. I took a quick one just to help me relax. To help me fall back to sleep. I'm not sure if it will. The rain outside taps lightly against his windows, an almost soothing rhythm that contrasts the weight of my thoughts. Although I'm wearing a robe, I feel the chill in the air as I walk towards his bed, my footsteps quiet. Dom's still wide awake like I guessed. He's sitting on the wrinkled covers, his attention fixed on his phone. As I approach him, he sets his phone down, and his heavy-lidded gaze shifts to my face. I sit close to him and try to ignore the tension in the air. It's not the same awkwardness I felt right after I tried to kiss him for the first time. It's something else. Can't quite put my finger on it. But it's nothing we can't address. I'm sure. “Hey.” “Feel better?” “A little.” I put on a smile. I hold onto his forearm when he goes back to reading some emails. ”Babe, that ema
[ D O M I N I C O ] Shit. I almost tore the label off. Cracked and nearly broke the cap into pieces, too. It's not clumsiness, though. I'm too distracted. Tired. Impatient. Frustrated. With caution, I press down a strip of tape over the torn label, running my thumb across it to smooth out the small creases. I can't just look up the right dosage on the internet. This label is practically the only thing helping me keep track of the proper dosage. I reach for the roll of tape again. I tear about an inch off the roll. Right after I put the bottle away, soft shuffling noises behind me interrupt me before I can get rid of the clutter on the counter. I look up and stare at my reflection in the mirror. Seraphine is standing at the bathroom door, just a couple of steps away, her eyes wide and unfocused. She's wearing the blue shirt I gave her before she went to sleep. There's some tension in her posture. Why is she out of bed? I turn to face her and put down the roll of tape near
[ D O M I N I C O ] “Cara, dico solo che...” [Dear, I’m just saying...] “Sì?” [Yes?] I tilt my wine glass, sitting back and interrupting my stepmother again. I don't have to keep my mouth shut. I already know how uncomfortable Seraphine feels. Trying to sit still beside me, she takes a small bite of bread and stares at Mamma, who's seated across from us and not really minding the food on her plate. Rain still patters on the windows. But it shouldn't turn into something worse. This should be a calm, quick, easy dinner. Unless Mamma brings up what happened last night. If that happens, Seraphine will probably... “Sephie, è più prudente se tu rimani qui ora.” [It's safer if you stay here for now.] My stepmother is talking a bit slower now, dragging her vowels. She drops her delicate smile, then sets down her fork with a soft clink. “Non preoccuparti, Mamma. Porto sempre una mascherina extra nel caso mi dimenticassi di indossarne una,” Seraphine replies with a polite smile, her vo