4. I Know That Man

Camellia / Lia

I know that man from yesterday.

I have no idea where I know him from, but as soon as I saw him sitting in the back with Marcus yesterday, I felt it. A tug in the center of my chest, and when we made eye contact, I could see the sliver of shocked recognition in his eyes even as he tried to hide it.

Those eyes… The same eyes I fell in love with five years ago in a hospital surrounded by people I don’t know. The same eyes as my son. Then he walked past me and the scent of bergamot and leather immediately made me pause.

Without a doubt, I know this man; or rather, I knew him. Could he be the one who left me here for dead?

I shake my head and look up just as the cafe door opens; only to meet the gaze I couldn’t get out of my mind yesterday. My hands shake as he makes small talk with me, noting that he has an American accent, and I have to steady them when I get his coffee.

Caramel rum cannoli. No one else orders it and no one in town makes it, only us and only because I asked it to be added to the menu because it’s my favorite. Out of all the pastries on the menu—a menu he didn’t even look at—why order that?

Then he just has to mention that I remind him of someone. Do I look familiar to him as well? Does he know who I am?

I can’t outwardly ask him though, can I? From the way he carries himself, he must be an Alpha as well. Maybe Alpha Matteo knows him? Marcus was in the back with him yesterday. Maybe I should ask him later.

Even as I serve other customers, I can feel his eyes on me. He’s watching me and I feel no better than prey being stalked by an experienced predator. Goddess, I need to calm down before I die of a heart attack.

He asked for my name but didn’t offer his. Why didn’t he? Is he scared I might remember it?

Just then, the cafe door opens again and Nereo runs in with Maria in tow. “Mamma!” he exclaims, that same smile on his face as if he didn’t get into a fight at daycare yesterday. 

“Hey, Amoruccio. Have fun with Maria?” I ask as he runs around the counter, then I scoop him into my arms and kiss him all over his face, causing him to giggle.

“Mamma!” he laughs, and somewhere I hear the scrape of a chair before I open my eyes and see the familiar stranger walking out. His scent—that damn familiar bergamot and worn leather scent, nearly brings me to my knees.

Without thinking, I ask Maria to keep an eye on Nereo before rushing out to follow the strange man. If I don’t ask him who he is right now, I am going to regret it for the rest of my life. 

He’s walking down toward a black car when I call out to him. I can tell he stiffens up at the sound of my voice, and this just gives me more incentive to push. He doesn’t turn around to face me, but I’m not going to let that deter me.

“Can I help you, Lia?” he says, and the low timbre of his voice causes a shiver to run up my spine. 

“Do I know you?” I ask, deciding not to beat around the bush, and he chuckles before turning around.

“Is there a reason you’re asking me that question?”

I stare at him, trying to place where I might have seen him before. There’s something so familiar about his eyes, his presence. It’s unsettling yet comforting at the same time. “You... you just seem familiar. Have we met before?”

His lips curl into a slight smile, but there’s something pained in his eyes. “You could say that, but it’s a bit complicated.”

I narrow my eyes, trying to read him. “Complicated how? Please, I need to know. My memory isn’t... I can’t remember a lot of things.”

He nods slowly, as if deciding how much to reveal. “My name is Nero,” he says, and the moment the words leave his mouth, something inside me stirs.

A flash of memory hits me like a bolt of lightning. His face, softer, younger, kissing my fingers and smiling up at me. The image is vivid and leaves me breathless. “Nero,” I whisper, the name rolling off my tongue like a forgotten song.

But with that memory comes a headache that seems to split my skull in two. My hands fly to my head and I groan, my eyesight momentarily flashing white. “Ah, Gods…”

“Lia? Lia, are you okay?” 

Pulled under by bergamot and worn leather again, my vision returns and I find myself looking up into slate gray eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever had a stranger look this concerned for me, but then again, didn’t he just admit that he knows me?

“I… yes, I’m okay,” I say, taking a step back from him. “Uhm, I have to get back. Will… I mean, are you staying in town?”

Gods, I sound so stupid. This man must think I’m a complete nut job.

He smiles gently, the kind of smile that feels both reassuring and heart-wrenching. “Yes, I’ll be around for a while,” is all he offers, as if he’s too scared to say more.

“Then I’ll... I’ll see you around.” With that, I turn and head back to the café, my mind swirling with confusion and the dull throb of the headache. 

Maria looks at me with concern as I approach. “Are you sure you’re alright, Lia?” she asks, her eyes kind and worried.

“I’ll be fine,” I assure her, though my voice doesn’t sound convincing even to my own ears. “Just a bit of a headache. I’ll take a moment to rest.”

I sit down at one of the tables, trying to make sense of everything. The memory of Nero kissing my fingers is so vivid, yet it feels like a dream. And his scent—bergamot and worn leather—lingers in my mind, bringing a strange sense of familiarity and comfort.

Nereo comes running up to me, his face bright with excitement. “Mamma, Mamma! Look what I made!” He shows me a drawing he’s done, and I smile, trying to focus on the present.

“That’s beautiful, sweetheart,” I say, hugging him tightly. “You’re such a good artist.”

He beams at the praise, and I feel a surge of love for my son. Whatever my past holds, I know that he’s my priority. But I can’t shake the feeling that Nero is a crucial part of that past, and I need to understand how.