~132~ChiaraWhen he told me I was going to love it, diving never crossed my mind.We stood by the edge of the boat and dived in together. I knew how to dive. What I wasn’t prepared for was the meters we went below. The blue shade of the water was getting darker. Different marine animals and fish species in different colors swam with us. I raised my hand to touch a group of small fish, zoning out at how beautiful and synchronized they were. But they avoided me like I was a plague.I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned to find the man frowning in his mask. He motioned for me to follow him. He was a natural with the water current, unlike my careful diving self. I’d never dived under the sea, just for starters. Then a large bronze statue came into view as we dived to it. The Christ of the Abyss. I’d heard about it before. It stood majestically on the seafloor with hands spread wide and raised upward. The head was also tilted upward. The statue stood on a sort of styled altar which
~131~CarmeloRight after landing in Italy, coming from our one year vacation, Chiara wanted to pass by Milan first before we head home, in Portofino. I escorted her to the graveyard, where she stood for a while without saying a word. Just staring and wiping the corner of her eye. Only God knew what went through her mind.Next, we stopped at Marco’s place. Yeah, he sold the previous mansion and bought another one at a different location within Milan. Where he and their mother, Laura, lived along with the remaining of their men. Marco freed those who wanted to walk away, too. Good news, he was planning on proposing to his long hidden girlfriend soon, and only I knew about it. Then we passed by her art gallery. Then we met with her therapist since his office was around the area. Her therapist said he loved her development. And I loved hearing that.I had my own plans for her, but I worked hard to keep them under wraps and not spoil them this whole time.The helicopter landed on our pro
~130~ChiaraOne year later.Steamy scene alert!!!A smirk stretched on my lips watching as the man’s eyes were squeezed shut, his badomen tight just like how taut his jaws were. One hand fisting my hair and the other one supporting himself on the wall. His ragged breaths filled the bathroom. I licked my lips clean looking up at him as he finally found the sense to open his hooded eyes. His fingers found my chin and tilted my head up. “Do you have any idea how amazing you are, tesoro?”A smile replaced the smirk on my lips. I was never getting used to him singing praises to me. “Of course, you desperately never cease to remind me. Any chance that you get.” I rolled my eyes. He chuckled, “And I would never stop. God, you look so breathtaking down there my love and I want to worship you for the same reason.” He uttered, rubbing my chin soothingly, watching me as if I was his entire world and more.“Then what are you waiting for? An official notice?” I asked with a raised brow. His abdo
~129~ChiaraFour months later“Slow down, tesoro!” Carmelo shouted. He was sitting by the gazebo, talking over a phone.My grip on the reins tightened. Wind hit my face and the rush of the moment travelled all over my body. “Make me!” I shouted back and giddied up. Queen was sprinting in the wind like an arrow across the green field. Her and I have been having good times together ever since the doctor said, you are healed. “I swear to God, if you don’t slow down now….” I turned to glance at him. “You’re not scary. If anything you’re just wetting my panties.” I shouted back, grinning.“You!” Then I heard his laughter. The man had been breathing on my neck since I was released from the hospital weeks ago. I didn’t get to do anything on my own. I couldn’t even lift a fork. He did all of that, saying I shouldn’t tire myself or the wounds would open up. At first it felt nice and then it started to get on my nerves. I loved being pampered but he was on my air all the fucking time! Treating
~128~Two months laterCarmelo“Hey, baby. Your man is back. Sorry I took longer today.” I grabbed the curtains and pulled them aside. The sun lit up the room. “I’ll go and grab you a change of clothes.” Storm said, standing by the exit. “You have your own room in heaven, Storm.” I replied. “Stop being dramatic. And cut the hunger strike the hell up, you look like a malnutritioned prick. It’s not like she’ll wake up if you stop eating.” I sneered at her. “Can’t you be nice to her for once?” She rolled her eyes and left the room. I shook my head. I wonder what story these two had in the past that made them bitter to each other.Yesterday, her employees came to see her. They brought her a bunch of flower baskets and cards. I kept them all stacked away on a table. I’d read the cards to her and got emotional like a bitch. They loved their boss.The female employee. What was her name again? Sia? Safiya? She cried a lot and raised both her palms in front of her face and recited a prayer fo
~127~CarmeloLaura took a deep breath, her face looking past the windows. Where the sunrays slipped into the room. Her hands clasped and resting on her lap. I knew whatever she was about to tell us was going to break my heart further into pieces.“I used to be a marathoner, and Simone Rossi, her father, was a marine. We were one happy family and since Chiara was our only child we pampered her and cherished her a lot. Our home was filled with love and laughter because of her. She was so young but cunning and witty.” A wide smile broke on her beautiful face as she spoke in a hushed tone. It was so warm and contiguous that we found ourselves smiling as well.“Until one day.” Her smile fell and so did mine. “It was on Christmas, boxing day. Chiara couldn’t sleep the whole night waiting for the day to break. And we found her already sitting under the Christmas tree waiting for us to unwrap gifts with her. It was five o’clock in the morning,” She chuckled, her eyes pooling with tears. “So