MAX'S POVSitting in that overly cushy chair, with my arm in a cast and my head feeling like it had been used as a soccer ball, I had to admit, this was not how I envisioned my heroic return. There I was, Max, the guy who'd taken a beating trying to be the knight in shining armor, and what do I find? My damsel in distress cozying up with Luca, the guy who probably doesn't even know the meaning of 'distress'."So, Max, enjoying the view from over there?" Luca quipped, breaking me out of my reverie.I shot him a look that I hoped conveyed all the dignity I could muster in my current state. "Oh, absolutely. It's not every day you get to see a live reenactment of 'Beauty and the Beast'. Tell me, Luca, who's playing the beast in this scenario?"Luca just laughed, that annoyingly confident sound. "Well, considering the state you're in, I'd say you're auditioning pretty well for the part."I couldn't help but chuckle, even though it hurt. "Touché. But at least I wear it better."Our hostess,
BENTLEY'S POV"Something with explosions," Luca declared, but the twinkle in his eye told me he'd enjoyed our emotional detour just as much as I had.The beautiful moment between us was abruptly interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. Luca and I exchanged puzzled looks. "Are you expecting anyone?" he asked, eyebrows raised."Nope," I replied, just as baffled. "Maybe it's a delivery?"Luca stood, setting the remote down. "I'll check it out. You stay put."As he walked to the door, I couldn't help but wonder who it could be at this hour. My question was answered a moment later when Luca opened the door to reveal Max, standing there in bandages and a hand cast, looking like he'd just escaped from a hospital soap opera."What happened to you?" Luca asked, shock evident in his voice but amusement twinkling in his eyes.Max glared at him, trying to push past into the living room, his eyes landing on me. "I had a little accident," he said, trying to sound nonchalant but clearly fishing for
ACCALIA'S POV"Hey, girl!" I greeted, my voice bubbling with the usual energy as I cradled the phone between my shoulder and ear, continuing to pack for the impromptu trip with Don."Accalia, you won't believe what happened today," she began, her voice a blend of excitement and drama that instantly piqued my interest."Oh, spill it! I'm just packing for a trip with Don," I replied, eager for a distraction."Guess what? My family thinks I'm pregnant. And Luca—yes, THE Luca—pretended to be my loving boyfriend to protect me," she shared, her laughter infectious, unraveling the story of her faux pregnancy and the familial confrontation. I listened, my response a mix of shock and amusement, perfectly complementing her narrative."No way! Luca? Mr. Ice himself? And wait, pregnant?!" I couldn't hold back my laughter. "This sounds like one of your romance novels!""I know, right? It's like I'm living in 'My Baby Daddy is a Billionaire Boss' or something," she joked, and I could almost see her
ACCALIA'S POV"Then, let's go, shall we?" I replied politely, taking his lack of response as a sign of agreement.“Yeah, let's go." He followed me downstairs, pausing to grab a bottle of water for himself before heading towards the front door. But then something suddenly occurred to him, as evidenced by the way his face softened when he turned his piercing glare back upon me. "I'll meet you outside in a couple minutes?"I nodded mutely, watching his retreating figure disappear down the hall. As soon as the doors closed, I slumped against the wall, letting out a deep breath, unable to contain the emotions that had been building inside me since yesterday. As I stood there, alone, my thoughts were consumed by the events of the last several days. "Young miss."I looked up to see Enzo waving at me happily, the sight causing my heart to warm. Though, the familiarity of the gesture also served as a reminder of the circumstances surrounding the incident earlier today. "Hello, Enzo. How is
ACCALIA POVI hesitated, unsure if he was telling the truth, if he'd even told me the entire truth. The way he'd brushed off my questioning eyes suggested otherwise, but I decided not to push the issue, knowing that he wouldn't tell me.I nodded silently, unsure of where this sudden decision had come from, but accepting nevertheless. "Well, then that sounds like fun." My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears, but I hoped that Don would be too engrossed with his plans to care. He must have sensed my discomfort, for he turned his head and flashed a quick but reassuring smile. But, instead of returning my smile, he seemed to grow more distant, his gaze fixed once again on the window before us, his fingers tightening around one another.After some time had passed, I began to feel nervous, my mind spinning rapidly with the numerous possibilities that presented themselves. What if he changed his mind? What if it became a disaster? What if I ended up trapped somewhere, far away from h
ACCALIA'S POV"What?" I screamed."Someone is threatening to kill us." His tone was emotionless; there was no indication that he even cared that he'd just dropped such an alarming statement in my lap. It seemed to me that he was completely disinterested in the whole situation, almost as though he were bored, detached from the situation. I couldn't blame him if he was. He had just received news that someone was attempting to kill him and he was doing nothing to prevent it. I guess the realization of how serious this situation was hit home for him; his expression grew dark and grim, anger radiating from him, his jaw clenched tightly, and his brow furrowed deeply. "They're either trying to lure us into a trap, or they've made their intentions known already. Either way, we'll never reach our destination" he sighed dejectedly."How can you be so calm? We're being attacked" I cried, feeling overwhelmed as panic crept its way into my heart. "I'm not calm" he retorted bitterly "it's only
DON'S POV"What?" she screamed.I kept my tone flat, deliberately void of emotion. "Someone is threatening to kill us." It was crucial to me to appear unfazed, even if inside, my mind was racing and I was trying to piece together a plan while suppressing the surge of worry threatening to break my composed exterior.To her, I probably seemed disinterested, maybe even bored with the situation. But that was so far from the truth. Inside, I was analyzing every possible angle, considering every threat. The news wasn't entirely unexpected, yet admitting it out loud made it all the more real and admittedly, daunting.As the weight of my words settled in, I felt the familiar clench of anger and frustration. It was as if a storm brewed within me, yet I allowed none of it to surface. "They're either trying to lure us into a trap, or they've made their intentions known already. Either way, we'll never reach our destination," I admitted, more to myself than to her, feeling a heavy sense of defeat
DON'S POV"Here, let me help you," I offered, my voice calm but my hands betraying my anxiety as I fixed her parachute. I joked about her putting it on backward, trying to lighten the mood, but the truth was, I was scared. Terrified, actually. She glared at me, not sure whether to laugh or cry. "Now's not the time for jokes, Don!""Oh, I beg to differ," I replied, securing the last strap. "If we can't laugh in the face of danger, then when can we? Besides, I've always fancied the idea of arriving in style. Parachuting into a crisis sounds just about right."As I helped her into her parachute, I couldn't help but notice the total difference between the two of us. While Accalia here was struggling not to pass out from sheer terror.The me? I was collected and was even making jokes at the edge of disaster."Remember," I continued, checking the straps on her harness with an efficiency that I was sure did nothing to calm her nerves, "it's just like jumping into a pool. Except the water is