Emotional Battles I

The light mood in the room disappeared, and Luca felt the previous sense of distress return.

"Luca I'm worried. I don't know what to do anymore. Ever since the day he got back, he rarely speaks, he rarely eats, and he doesn't do anything but lock himself in his study, only coming out at night. But he can't even sleep." Cara informed him with a worried look.

"What exactly happened? I need to know to help him. What caused him to drastically change overnight?"

Luca released a sigh. 

He understood what Cara was trying to say and how she felt, but he wasn't in the right position to divulge any kind of information to her. That was Adonis's right.

"I think I want to know too." Cece piped up. "Baby, I know this is part of your line of work, but I've never seen Adonis react this way. Look at yourself. You may think I didn't notice, but you've been downcast too. Is everything fine? Tell us..."

Cara's eyes scanned Luca's face. He might be looking better for someone who had gunshot wounds, but the dark circles beneath his eyes showed how tired he was.

Luca looked between the two women. They meant well, but where was he to start? From Adonis's past? His mother's betrayal? His father part or the recent news they heard?

He felt uncomfortable under their peering stare that was filled with deep concern and stood to his feet. Going over to the glass wall that overlooked the city. His eyes held a faraway look as he spoke.

"Adonis isn't as privileged as we are. Yes, he grew up alone with just his grandfather as his only family, but it was never that way from the beginning. He once had a loving family, or so he thought."

Cara scoffed

"You might've forgotten, but I'm also an orphan. I didn't have the best life growing up." She mused.

Luca's lips parted to inform her that hers was different, but his mind drifted back to the truth Adonis had found out about her family. He shut it back.

Cara didn't know how right she was...

"It's not as simple as you think. He has carried the scars around for years, but he found out a few days ago that the truth he knew might not be the truth at all."

"What did he find out?" Cara's heart thumped in her chest.

There was something about the way Luca said those last few words that made whatever the 'said truth' was, sound bad.

Luca exhaled.

"I can't say more. You'll have to ask him yourself." 

Cara blinked, frustration taking over her features.

"Don't you think I've tried? Every night he'd have nightmares that'd cause him to lose his breath. Nightmares that prevent him from moving, and I'd have to shake him awake. It's frustrating knowing that I might be of help if only I knew the truth, but no one wants to tell." 

She stood to her feet, running a hand through her hair as she began pacing.

"I've tried Luca. I've tried, but he doesn't want to talk. No. I think he wants to but doesn't know how to." 

Yes. That must be it.

Cara realized. He had been quiet all his life; he didn't know how to communicate his feelings anymore. She needed to think of a way to help him. To make him know that she was there to listen. Not just through her words. But through her actions.

"Cara," Cecelia called.

The silence was deafening, and she couldn't take it anymore. Cara didn't know why she wanted to know or help badly, but she would find out later. For now, she needed to lend a hand. Make him aware that he wasn't alone.

"Cara!"

"What?!"

She halted and looked to Cecelia, who was already staring at her in shell-shock as Luca was.

"Calm down, girl. I know you love your man, but you need to chill out. Adonis is strong. He'll bounce back!" Cecelia comforted her, and she nodded, taking short breaths to calm herself.

Luca quietly watched her with a scrutinizing look. He never believed Cara would care about Adonis so much. He could tell from the stunned expression on her face after Cecelia advised she sat down back that she hadn't realized it. Or she had realized it but was not ready to admit it. 

This could be a silver lining in Adonis's cloud. Perhaps he could give a little piece of information to help them both. He walked back to the women and took a seat beside his fiancé.

"Have you ever seen Adonis without his shirt on?" 

Cara wrinkled her nose at his obvious question.

"Is that supposed to be a trick question? Of course, I have; he's my husband!" 

She rolled her eyes at Luca, and he smiled.

"Then you've seen his tattoos..." 

"Again. Are you testing me or what? Do you want to know about our sexual life?" She looked over to Cece. "Your man's a pervert." 

Cecelia sent a sharp slap to the back of Luca's head.

"Get straight to the point!" 

"Ow! I was getting there." Luca hissed before pulling back on his serious expression.

"I'm sure you've wondered why he has a lot of ink on his chest and back only. None on his hand or neck or anywhere else. Adonis isn't a fan of tattoos. I mean, one or two is fine, but he dislikes having a lot of them.

Cara sat upright. She didn't know where Luca was going with this and didn't hesitate to make it known.

"Then why does he have them if he hates them that much?" 

"Yeah," Cecelia added.

Although she was dating the second-in-command, he never divulged personal information about work, and she'd come to understand that he just didn't like sharing anything that he believed he wasn't authorized to. Anything that wasn't his to share... She'd known Adonis for years, but apart from their simple hangouts and silly jokes, the man was basically a stranger to her.

Luca's mouth pulled into a grim line, but there was prominent sadness in his eyes.

"They're to hide the past he wants no one to see."

Cara blinked at him.

"And that is?"

"Scars." He deadpanned. "Hundreds of them."