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Chapter XXIX: Life goes on
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Nicole lay on her side beside Salvatore, gently running her hand over his back with him sleeping soundly. It had been almost 3 days since he finally managed to get some sleep, but that also with Nicole rubbing his back and she was too afraid that he'd wake up if she stopped, and for that very reason she resumed the movement at 2 a.m. in the morning; hoping that he'd get as much as sleep before he took over Arcangelo's turn at the hospital.
She didn't dare move, no matter how uncomfortable she might be, or how her arm may be getting numb, she wouldn't move, much too well acquainted with her husband's sleeping habits.
Inhaling deeply, she slowly ran her hand up and down his back, gauging by his breathing in the dark and let out a relieved whoosh of air to know that he was still asleep. No soon had the relief arrived when a knock sounded on the door and forced Nicole to hold her breath before wanting to curse when Salv
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Unknown Territory Chapter XXXI: Mind's need to blame
Sighing tiredly, Salvatore pulled off the t-shirt he wore, lazily stretching out on the bed before covering his eyes with his arms. Inhaling deeply he took hold of his phone and checked to see if he had any messages."What are you doing?" Nicole's voice inquired in exasperation as he scrolled through the device."Just checking for messages,""We agreed, Salvatore," She admonished and plucked it from his hands before putting it onto his side table."Fine, fine," He relented and lay back on the bed. "No phone,""That's right," She grinned at him and hitched up her silken nightgown to straddle his waist watchingSalvatore let out an exhale before she intertwined their fingers together. "No phone,""This is new," Salvatore noticed the grey satin nightgown she wore that was pooled up to her thighs.
Unknown Territory Chapter XXXII: Making Sense
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Unknown Territory Chapter XXXIII: Domestic Squabble
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Soft music swam through the interior of the bedroom, Nicole cleaning around with a bounce in her step and gently humming along to the instrumental symphony as she fluffed the cushions with the 1-year-old toddlers too occupied by the blocks laid before them. Humming to herself, Nicole turned around to grab something but instead was greeted by her husband's chest."Oh," She jumped in surprise, never having heard him enter much less come and stand behind her.Nicole looked up at him as he was giving her a gentle smile. She watched him wrap an arm around her waist with the other taking hold of her hand and he began waltzing as his wife laughed at him, Salvatore's smile growing at the sound.The two of them swayed around the room and danced to the music, Nicole too lost as the occasional giggle would escape her at his antics.Salvatore had been getting better. Sleep
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Unknown Territory Chapter XXXVI: Mama
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Nicole stood in front of the mirror, staring at herself in the black V-neck wrap dress that reached her knees. Her hair was left open, but it was a mess, she hadn't bothered brushing out the tangles after her shower, as a matter of fact, the only reason she had showered was because of Salvatore dragged her in with him.Swallowing the lump in her throat, she gave herself a long hard look. Her eyes a soft pink from her incessant crying, her lips chapped and her cheeks ashen. It hadn't been 2 days, and already she looked like a zombie.Black always had suited her, accentuated the green of her eyes or contrasted with the rich hazel of her hair, but now, she wore black to commemorate her grief for her loss. She had every right to be a mess, Salvatore said, she had every right to cry and scream and be angry, and she knew that and agreed.But what she didn't agree with was the need to invite
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Unknown Territory Chapter LI: End of the Line
Nicole choked on her sobs, unable to breathe as she clutched her knees, throwing her head back to inhale deeply, a trembling hand against her chest as she tried to regain her bearings."Nicole," Her father called out behind her softly and tried to lift her off the floor, stumbling back when she lost her footing.The lump and tears made it difficult for her to breathe, forcing her to wheeze as she pulled herself away from her father, making her way forward. Both Marco and Arsenio took a step back, allowing her to walk towards the bed, watching her shoulders shaking with her tears before she fell on his chest, gasping for breath.A hand stroked the back of her hair as she cried into his chest."Breathe," He croaked beneath her, stroking her hair with drips connected to the back of his palm. "Breathe, Nicole,"Shaking her head, she pulled back h
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Nicole had gotten discharged a few days ago with a prescription for medicine and instructions stating that she should rest and come for a check-up every month for the next four months. When she signed the forms, she had turned towards her guards, handing one of them the prescription and sending him to get the medicine, while the other was instructed to get her a fresh change of clothes, while she went and settled in Salvatore's room.She slept and woke there, didn't move from the place and always asked the doctor the same question."Have they found a heart yet?"But given that the Mafia Boss was an O-positive, it was difficult to find someone with that blood type and was a donor.His wife decided to speak to him in case she went insane from things left unsaid."You had no right to order Major to pull the plug,"Nico
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No matter how hard the doctors tried, Nicole refused to stay in her room.She would allow them to do their check-ups and would patiently sit through the 6-hour hemodialysis therapy, but the moment they would take her off the machine, she refused to sit in her room; instead, she would go and sit beside Salvatore.Day by day, she was regaining her strength, she began walking around her room, but wasn't strong enough to walk all the way to his room as of yet. So she had insisted that the doctors shift her to a room closer to his and promised to rest more if they did. It had taken a day or two, but eventually, she was moved to the room beside his.She even visited Serafina when the doctors would be in Salvatore's room.Nicole had to wonder, how beautiful and peaceful Serafina looked. Her hair was washed and brushed, her complexion fair, and her eyes closed, she loo
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The light overhead is what awoke Nicole, that and the incomprehensible jumble of words swarming around her. Groaning, she blinked open her eyes, shielding them from the harshness of the light, and was surprised to find something tugging at the back of her palm. Turning her hand, she found I.V drips and various wires connecting her to different machines, an oxygen mask over her mouth, and what looked like a dialysis machine purifying her blood through her left arm.Looking towards the large machine to her left, she blinked her eyes, seeing her father seated and hunched over a book, murmuring the words out loud.Straining to listen, sherecognized the words, her eyebrows knitting in confusion before noticing the rosary in his hands."Since have you taken to reciting Holy Scripture?" Nicole asked in a hollow voice, suddenly realizing how parched she felt."Christ!"
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A groan escaped Salvatore as he was regaining consciousness and felt himself being dragged against the moss-covered forest floor before the texture changed from the rugged natural terrain to smooth marble. His head lolled from side to side as the stench of death attacked his senses, feeling someone pat him down before taking out all the weapons that he had; his phone included and then took off the bullet proof vest he had been wearing.With his skull pounding, he tried to open his heavy eyelids suppressing shiver when a warm sensation tickling down his nape and down his back.Suddenly he was dropped to the floor without warning and his head hit the marble floor with a grotesque crack that had the Mafia Boss groan in pain, clutching at his skull. A pained moan escaped Salvatore as he rolled onto his stomach, sitting up to be kneeling on the floor, a hand cradling the abused area and slowly cracking open his eye
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Rushing down the flight of stairs, Salvatore stepped out into the late October chill as their breath fogged up. Guards creating a circle with their guns pointed at the suit-clad man kneeling on the grass with his hands behind his head and breathing heavily.The man had brown hair that fell into his beady black eyes, a hooked nose with a jutting square jaw and had a rather pale complexion – either that or he was terrified."Who are you?" Salvatore stepped forward and clenched the ring in his palm, the guards stepping to the side with their guns poised."I need to see Salvatore Regnante," He looked up at him, causing the Mafia Boss to raise his eyebrows, realizing he had no idea who Salvatore was. "Please," He pleaded in desperation."Why do you need to see him?""I...God..." He choked out. "They took the ring and I-"
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Nicole did not know how long she had been locked away in that holding cell. She did not know what date it was, nor what time it was, but there were two things she was most certain of. One, her husband would come and find her soon; and two, she had a friend.Davide had proven to be quite trustworthy.She had been hesitant at first, but he kept talking to her, and she had been so deprived of human interaction of late that she took what she could get. He had the day duty with her four days of a week, and every time when he came to guard her, he'd bring one game or another and always had the most fascinating stories to share. Nicole laughed every once in a while and sometimes told him stories about herself, granted he didn't know who she was or whom she's married to, and he was very content with not prying.Davide had warmed up to her as well.She felt like a little sist
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Nicole remembered how confused she felt when she had woken up in a room that wasn't her own. And her bewilderment had just grown exponentially to see herself dressed in the attire she had worn to the gala. Stumbling out of the bed, she had looked around herself, the room was scarcely furnished, with a wooden platform bed in the center, a wardrobe to her right along with a door leading to the bath, and a window to her left.Gathering her dress in her hands, she looked out, surprised to find it being dark, but her body was awake like it was morning. Walking towards the door, she tried turning it, finding it to be locked."Hey!" Nicole banged on the door with her fist. "Let me out!"The moment she had awoken she had realized she was kidnapped, and she had to wonder what happened to Salvatore, remembering the way he had stopped breathing. Knowing she had no way out, she settled back on the bed,
