I'll Stay

"I wasn't—"

"You were." He smiled. "But that's okay. I'm not offended."

I stared at him. "You're not?"

"No." He tilted his head. "You don't know me. You only know the rumors. The whispers. The stories." He paused. "And I'd rather you run from a monster than marry a stranger."

I didn't understand.

"What do you want?" I whispered. "Why are you being so... nice?"

"Maybe I'm not a monster," he said. "Maybe I'm just a man who wants to get to know his wife."

"I'm not your wife."

"Not yet." He leaned in again. "But you will be. You're running away, but you won't get far." He paused. "Your father has enemies. He's made one. A powerful one. The moment you leave me, they'll come for you."

My blood ran cold. "You're threatening me."

"No." He shook his head. "I'm protecting you. There are people out there who want to hurt your family. Hurt you. I'm the only one who can stop them."

I didn't know what to say.

"Running away won't save you, gattina," he continued. "But staying with me will."

"Why?" I demanded. "Why do you care?"

He smiled. "Because I've already fallen into your charms. And I won't let you go."

I opened my mouth to respond. But before I could, he kissed me.

Soft lips. Gentle pressure. Warm and unexpected.

He pulled away with a smirk.

"There," he said. "Now I've kissed you. You can stop imagining it."

I was frozen. He kissed me.nHe actually kissed me.

And I... I didn't hate it.

"What do you think?" he asked, his voice teasing. "Was it worth the wait?"

I blinked. "I—you—that was—"

"Your first kiss," he observed.

My face burned. "How did you—"

"Your reaction." He smiled. "You haven't been kissed before, have you?"

I shook my head, too embarrassed to speak.

He laughed softly. "Oh, you poor thing."

He pulled me into a hug. His arms wrapped around me, strong and steady. His hand cradled the back of my head, pressing me against his chest.

"I'm going to take care of you," he murmured into my hair. "I promise, gattina. You're safe with me."

And for some reason, I believed him.

***

We arrived at a villa.

It was beautiful. Massive. Nestled in the hills overlooking the city. Green vines crawled up the white walls. Flowers bloomed in the gardens.

"This is your place?" I asked, staring out the window.

"My father's," Diego said. "But it's mine now."

He stepped out of the car and walked around to open my door. He held out his hand.

"Coming, gattina?"

I hesitated. Then I took his hand.

His fingers closed around mine. Warm. Steady.

He led me inside.

The villa was even more beautiful on the inside. Marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. Paintings on the walls that probably cost more than my family's entire fortune.

But I barely noticed any of it.

I was too busy watching Diego.

He was barking orders at the staff. Calm and commanding. They scattered to do his bidding.

"Get her something to eat," he said. "She looks exhausted. And have the stylist come fix her makeup and hair. She's been crying."

I blinked. "What?"

He turned to me. "We still have an hour before the ceremony. I'm not letting you walk down the aisle looking like you've been crying."

"The ceremony," I repeated. "You still want to marry me?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Did you think I'd change my mind?"

"Yes! I ran away from you! I jumped into your car without knowing who you were! I called you a monster!"

He laughed again. "And yet you're still here."

I stared at him.

He stepped closer. His hand came up to my face, tilting my chin so I had to meet his eyes.

"You're safe with me, Olivia," he said softly. "I don't care how you got here. I don't care why you ran. I just care that you're here. And I'm not letting you go."

I couldn't breathe.

A staff member approached with a tray of food. Diego gestured for them to set it down.

"Eat," he commanded gently. "You need your strength."

I stared at the food. I hadn't realized how hungry I was. My hands shook as I reached for a pastry.

Diego watched me with an unreadable expression.

"What?" I asked, my mouth full.

"Nothing." He smiled. "You're just... interesting."

"Interesting?"

"Most women would be screaming. Crying. Demanding to be taken home." He tilted his head. "You're eating a pastry."

I paused. He was right. I should have been terrified. I should have been trying to escape.

But I wasn't.

I was sitting in a stranger's villa, eating his food, feeling... safe.

I didn't understand it.

"Finish eating," Diego said. "Then the stylist will fix you up. We still have time."

I looked at my dress. It was wrinkled from running. My makeup was ruined. My hair was a disaster.

"You really want to marry me like this?" I asked.

He smiled. "I want to marry you no matter what you look like."

I didn't know what to say.

So I just ate my pastry in silence.

~~

An hour later, I was standing in front of a mirror.

The stylist had worked wonders. My hair was perfectly arranged. My makeup was flawless. The dress Diego had insisted I change into something different was stunning. White. Simple. Elegant.

I barely recognized myself.

"You look beautiful, gattina," Diego said from behind me.

I turned. He was standing in the doorway, wearing a black tuxedo. He looked devastatingly handsome.

"I don't understand," I said. "Why are you doing all of this? You don't even know me."

He walked toward me. Slowly. Deliberately.

"I know enough," he said. "I know you're brave. I know you're stubborn. I know you refuse to be a victim."

I shook my head. "You don't know anything about me."

"I know your sister is cruel and selfish. I know your parents never valued you. I know you've been alone your whole life." He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I know you deserve better."

Tears burned my eyes. "You can't possibly—"

"Let me prove it to you," he interrupted. "Give me a chance. Just one. And if you still want to leave after the wedding, I'll let you go."

I stared at him. "You'd let me go?"

"I'd rather die than lose you," he said. "But I'd rather you be happy than trapped."

I didn't know what to say.

"I'm going to take care of you," he continued. "I'm going to protect you. I'm going to give you everything you've never had." He paused. "And if you still want to leave after that, I won't stop you."

I stood rooted to the spot. This wasn't happening. This wasn't real.

But his hand was warm in mine. His eyes were soft. His smile was gentle.

And for the first time in my life, I felt like someone actually saw me. Someone wanted me.

Someone cared.

I didn't know how to run anymore. I didn't want to. So I nodded.

"Okay," I whispered. "I'll stay."

Diego smiled. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.