I watched him walk away and wanted to chase after him but I didn’t and it tore me apart. Instantly I regretted it, but I’m still so fucking angry at him for doing it. For choosing and ignoring my choice.Right now, I don’t feel ready to forgive him. No matter how much I missed him, I can’t just ignore he did that. I can’t ignore the fact he locked me in there and had them keep me there until he had left.Staying sat on the sofa, at least an hour passes. I’m torn between wanting to go to him and wanting to lock myself away. I’m scared if I give in to him too quickly next time he won’t even consider me when it comes to walking away.“Lucia.” I don’t look up. “How can this be sorted if you won’t even look at me?”Turning, I face him.“Now, can you talk, please?”“I don’t want to Marco.” I glance back down.“What did I do so fucking wrong, tell me!” His words are loud.“You lied to me, for days you kept it hidden you were going to leave. Then, rather than just spending that night with me
It’s been a year, and so much changed. We now have our daughter. With my legs crossed, I lean forward, my eyes taking in the words on the screen. So much needed to be answered from my mother and Rocco’s relationship.It turns out Rocco is a fucking pro at hiding things. It’s taken a year, but all those secret messages, letters and pictures are now in front of me. Marco was wrong when he thought Rocco didn’t know about me. He did.The only reason things went so badly for me was because he kept it hidden. He died, and that meant he wasn’t still having an affair with my mother and getting updates.From everything I have seen and read so far, it’s clear that he loved my mum. He didn’t consider his death, however. While my mother and I were safe with him alive, it’s clear once he died, that ended. It’s clear my mother had been insistent that I was kept a secret and that no one would know the truth.I discovered Rocco was paying my mum far more than her job was worth. The numbers don’t matc
Please note, from this point forward, it is Lorenzo's story. Then it continues into Dario's I hope you have enjoyed reading Lucia and Marcos's story. As you have read, Marco's is a similar theme, with some of the same trigger warnings. Lorenzo's story also features alcohol abuse, sex, alcohol and fighting used as a coping vice. Lorenzo's story also features many flashbacks where he remembers his childhood and his mother's abuse. This story, like Lucia's is not a fade to black story. So some scenes may be hard to read. So consider this before beginning to read it. Thank you for reading Marco's story, now let's find out how Alice and Lorenzo began.
I wake up in an unfamiliar room. A hotel room, I glance around but don't see a woman. Typically, I use hotels with a woman, so where is she? My mind fights to remember last night. I vaguely remember her, I think. I know I wanted her more than anyone ever before.Now, though, it's blank. Nothing at all comes to me. I can't even remember the first drink, let alone fucking someone. I glance towards the bin and see the used condoms. I fucked her. A lot, apparently, I can't remember that. I fight with my own mind to remember what I did last night. I fail.Usually, I leave before they wake, not the other way around. I stayed, I remember I stayed because I liked her. God, I am so fucked I can't remember shit. Getting showered and throwing on last night's clothes, I leave. My mind is focused on who it was, trying to remember.I know I shouldn't drink so much, but it's either drink, fight or fuck, and apparently, yesterday, I did all three, which is impressive. Stepping inside the house, I smi
Life can't possibly get any more shit. I look around the table, and Harry laughs, his eyes coming to me, and I look away from him. Things have never been the same since that day.He destroyed this circle of friends. I can't speak up. He's a vile man. I miss Kane. Jacob has blocked me from seeing him again today. He's using his power and money to keep me right where he wants me.Weak, with no control."Are you joining us?" I look up, confused. Jane laughs. "We're going through to the other bar. Do you fancy joining us?""Who is 'we'?" I might just skip tonight now."Me, Callum and Paul." Well, if Harry isn't going, hell yes."Sure, let's go." I stand, and we leave. Getting to the bar, I order a drink. Sitting with Jane, we talk. I wish I could tell her about Jacob, about my son, but I can't.I will never see Kane again if Jacob finds out I have told anyone. We sit and drink, having a laugh. Walking to the bar, I lean over and wait."Hey." Turning, I look behind me. Fuck me, of course,
TodayI step in through the door and see her. She's here, in my house? I look at Harry and the others and realise Alice is the maid of honour. I'm not sure that's a good thing.Walking into the office, I sit down."Alice?" I look at Marco."What about her?" He turns to me. "Oh fuck, what have you done?""Nothing, okay, something. A warning as well, I've fucked her."Marco groans. "This is going to blow up. Just make sure you fix shit before the wedding."I can't blame him for worrying, his wedding is in a week, and I just announced I fucked the maid of honour. "I will, I remembered when I had slept with her, so I will apologise.""Do more than apologise, Lorenzo. Make sure you say it like you mean it; don't make it a joke."I nod, accepting his answer. "What's the plan for Harry?" I know he is leaving it."Still debating that topic. I wanted to leave it, but we uncovered more, so I will watch and see how he behaves with her when I'm not there." Sitting, he talks to us about the inform
He sits on his bed and smiles at me."Don't Lorenzo.""I'm not doing a thing." He grins at me."I'm not fucking you! Not when tomorrow you won't even remember." I won't be hurt again. I thought I could trust him, but how can I?"I'm sorry that I hurt you. Okay? I remember, though.""So you said, but that doesn't make a difference or change the fact I was like every other woman you fucked and forgot about. I wasn't good enough to remember."He stands and steps in front of me. "You want the truth, little kitten?""That depends, Lorenzo. Can you give me the truth?""Five years ago. I saw you in the bar. I bought you a drink, and you moved. I followed you from bar to bar. I leave after I fuck people Alice. I didn't that night. I stayed. I wanted to be there with you. Only I woke up to you gone and my mind trying to piece together the puzzle with the biggest part missing. You!"I did leave, I knew he fucked for fun, and I wasn't staying and giving up my heart."I woke and remembered whoeve
I didn't sleep well last night. For some reason, Alice was in my mind, and all I wanted was her or to drink, and I couldn't. So, instead, I spent hours in the gym.Hours were spent doing just about everything in the gym to relax. I thought I had shown Alice I would try, but then she upped and left. I look at the clock, it's ten, surely she should be free by now?"Come on, let's go." I look at Dario, confused. "You need to train, you need a distraction, let's train." He walks through the gym. If only he knew I spent hours in there last night. I need her or drink, but I'm really trying not to drink so much.Walking through, I watch him put the gloves on."You gonna beat up your little brother?" I laugh and walk in, collecting the gloves."No, we're training. They won't be hard hits." I want to refuse. I can't hit him. I know enough about his condition, and one hit can be fatal. One hit can leave him in a comatose state."Look, I'm fine. Concentrate on your leg work, right?" Nodding, I g
I'm so fucking happy. This is the best Christmas ever. She's pregnant, Alex is officially ours, and she's marrying me! Tonight! I left her for a bit. Her dad is here, so they are talking everything out. I wanted to be there but knew she needed space to do it herself. I look across the chairs and other things. She wanted to come outside, but we banned her. She can't see this, not until later. "It's looking good." Lorenzo smiles at me. "Have you considered this, Dario?" Marco looks at me. "She said yes! She said she would marry me." She said yes. "I know, but I mean the whole surprise wedding; she said yes, but that doesn't mean now." "Yes, it does!" She wouldn't say yes if she weren't ready now. She's ready. She will say yes. She will love this. "Okay, calm down, you're too high." Marco chuckles, but I can't. I feel amazing right now. "How is it going with her dad?" Matteo looks at me. "No idea. I gave her space." I'm giving her space. "Matteo, he's staying at your house toni
I walked out of the room feeling sickened. Not so much that he had slept with my mother, more he slept with me purely because I looked like her. Like in his mind, I was her. I need to check on Alex. Walking into his room he's sat up on the bed looking at the book. "Read it?" He holds out the book, and I laugh. "Move over." I climb onto the bed, and he cuddles into me as I read it to him. Today is Christmas. I didn't realise, but Lucia had the baby on Christmas day! It's nearly three. I read to him, watching as he fell asleep. Slowly, my eyes slip closed. I wake feeling someone wrap their arms around me. Glancing behind me, I see Dario. I open my mouth to talk, and he shakes his head. "No. Leave it, little rabbit. Let's just sleep for a couple of hours." He holds onto me, and I fall asleep, with him and Alex cuddling me. I need to get answers later. I wake up in bed alone. Neither Alex nor Dario are here. Climbing from the bed, I go to our room and begin to get ready. "Little ra
So far, this guy hasn't been forthcoming. It's Christmas, and we're wasting time on him. Sure, we could just forget him and go to bed for as few hours as possible before getting up, but he's a risk. Alice came to get the baby, and Lucia is currently resting. So this needs sorting now. He's not someone who can be trusted alone, even with soldiers. "I never would have hurt her." I look up, confused. "Evaline, my plan was never to touch her or harm her. Weirdly, she is just like her mother. She's amazing." "How did you meet her mum?" I want to get her answers. "I had just taken down a target and was ready to leave when I saw her. I was twenty-eight, and she was thirty-nine. She was so different. She was so amazing I just went over and said hi, which is how it began. At that point, Evaline was born." "Did you see Evaline?" "No!" His head shakes. "I never did; we had been sleeping together for years. She wouldn't let me see Evaline. She spoke of her. He found out about the affair and
I look at Marco. He's heard nothing. "It's Christmas. Maybe just leave it until after today?" Lorenzo looks at me. "I can't do much, Lorenzo." I can't do anything without information that we don't have. "This is your first official Christmas with Evaline, don't fuck it up." Our dad looks at me, and I know he's right. The gunshot has us all jump up and rush out. I watch as a window smashes and smoke begins to flood the hall. "Get the women and kids!" Marco screams, rushing upstairs; I grab Luciano, Lorenzo grabs Alice, and I see soldiers follow Marco up to Lucia and Evaline. Carrying Luciano down, I sit him in the safe room. Rushing up, I see someone carrying Alex. "Put it on." I see something throw a mask at me. Placing it on, I rush up and see Evaline fighting to get to Alex's room. "Alex is downstairs, little rabbit, go." I watch as she disappears. Rushing through, I get to our room and see him. Throwing myself at him, someone grabs me and stops, and I watch them grab him. "D
I wake hearing a bang, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. I reach out to Dario, but he isn't there. The sound of gunshots has my body jump up and out of bed. Rushing, I get the gown and wrap it around my body as the windows in the room smash, and smoke begins to fill the room. I rush for the door and hear something. Turning, I look behind me and see someone jump through the window. Running out the door, I get grabbed. Screaming, I go to hit him. "Evaline, go with him!" Marco? I feel them pull me, but I try to get to Alex. I need to get Alex. Screaming, I fight against him. "Alex is downstairs, little rabbit, go." I don't get a chance to respond. I'm just pulled further away. As we reach downstairs, I'm thrown into a room and the door locks. "Evaline, thank god you're okay!" Lucia rushes and hugs me. I look around, Alice, Lucia, Alex, and Luciano are in here, and I believe it's James. I'm not sure which soldier it is. "What is happening?" I look around us. This room has no windo
Dario's arms stay around me as we dance. He started out fine, but in the past week, he's been slowly drowning and getting lost in his mind. I know he's constantly overthinking what is happening. Everything I try fails. Sex works while we're having sex, and then he's back in his head. It's taking so much effort to keep him here and with us. The last thing we need is for something to happen and for him to slip away in his mind and not wait for answers. So, I need to keep his mind off Mad Hatter or Tim, as they haven't been able to find anything. Marco even tried to send a message out for my dad in the hope he would reply and give us something, but it's been silent. I lean up and kiss his lips. "We haven't spoken about how many kids you want." I smile, and he looks at me so damn confused. "Babies, Dario, how many do you want?" "I just want you." My eyes roll. "You have me. We have Alex. I want to know about us making babies. How many?" He seems to be considering it. "I would be hap
It's too quiet, and I don't like quiet, not in this way. Quiet in my head, fine, but this feels wrong. He's gone quiet. He's stopped sending messages out. He's ignoring us. He's planning, he's planning something, what is he planning? I pace the room. Today is Matteo's engagement party. Tomorrow is Christmas. It's too fucking quiet. Quietly, quietly, not a sound. I'm listening and listening. "Dario!" I turn, and Marco is staring at me. "You're singing." He holds out his hands. "We were waiting for you!" "I..." Something is wrong. Quietly, quietly, not a sound. I'm listening and listening. "Dario!" I glance at him. "Get out of your head, focus." I can't focus. It's too quiet. "Okay, tell me what is in your head. You keep singing quietly, quietly, so speak." "It's too quiet." It's too quiet. "Right, and I agree it is. It's unusual. He's gone quiet; he's not responding, but stay out of your head. It's been half an hour. How long have you been standing here pacing and singing in yo
I sit with Dario. His brothers and his dad are facing me. "You slept with him, just say." Marco laughs. "I did, but that isn't it. That time, I never returned; about a year into it, Dale had bought a holiday home. He sent me to it alone and told me not to leave as it wasn't safe. I stayed there for maybe six months. A few weeks after I got there, the guy showed up. He basically moved in with me." I see Carlos' mouth drop open. "He never stayed in one place!" "He stayed with me. Dale would send maybe one message a week saying I wasn't safe and to stay hidden. If I tried messaging him, it wouldn't go through. I told him I couldn't keep calling him Mad Hatter, so he said to call him Tim for now. That wasn't his name, I don't think. He confided in me, told me about his childhood and things, and I know I should have said, but I saw him as a friend." Which was stupid. "And now you don't? Why?" Marco looks at me, waiting. "Because now I realise he was trying to get information from me.
Dario pushes me to sit in a seat and faces me. He's looking at me like I'm about to blow everything up. I feel like I am. I didn't tell him everything, not because I didn't want him to know, but because I had no idea how or if he would handle this. Then, I just figured out things while he was getting Alex in bed. "Little rabbit, please." He looks at me, almost begging. "I didn't tell you everything. I stayed at a small holiday home without Dale for about six months. I have no idea where he went. Tim, or Mad Hatter as we know him, stayed with me." "You knew his fucking name!" "No! I told him I felt awkward calling him Mad Hatter, so he said to call him Tim, which could be his name for now. His name isn't Tim. It's just a name he said to call him, so I didn't have to call him Mad Hatter." "You don't know for sure, little rabbit, why the fuck did you live with him for six months!" "Dale was gone. I don't know where or why. He was just gone. Tim isn't a bad guy, or I thought. Dale h