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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Author: Oyin Afinnity
last update Petsa ng paglalathala: 2026-04-20 00:09:02

I woke up with my arms aching.

Not the dull, familiar ache of a bad night, though I'd had one of those too. The kind where I clawed my way out of a dream right before the fire got to me, but something more immediate. A burn in my shoulders, a tenderness at my wrists where Matteo had gripped them and said, step in, not away. It was strange to wake up in pain that had nothing to do with grief. Strange, and almost a relief.

I lay there for a while, listening to the house breathe. It had its own
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  • The Shadows We Keep    CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

    I woke up with my arms aching.Not the dull, familiar ache of a bad night, though I'd had one of those too. The kind where I clawed my way out of a dream right before the fire got to me, but something more immediate. A burn in my shoulders, a tenderness at my wrists where Matteo had gripped them and said, step in, not away. It was strange to wake up in pain that had nothing to do with grief. Strange, and almost a relief.I lay there for a while, listening to the house breathe. It had its own rhythm now that I knew it. The distant clatter of Gretta setting up breakfast somewhere below, the low mechanical hum of the air conditioning cycling on, the faint birdsong that came every morning from the side garden where the hedges were thick. I used to hate the mornings here. They felt like the same darkness with better sound design. Lately, I had been waking up before Gretta knocked. I wasn't sure what to make of that.I got up slowly, stretching my arms overhead and wincing at the pull in

  • The Shadows We Keep    CHAPTER SIXTEEN

    I stood because he told me to. That was the thing about Matteo—he didn’t ask, not really. He spoke like gravity itself bent to his words, like I’d follow before I even realized I was moving. And the most irritating part? I did.The bench felt suddenly cold without him beside me, and the sunlight was too sharp on my face. His hand hovered close, waiting, and though I hated the idea of needing him, I hated more how natural it felt when my fingers slipped into his. His hand was warm, steady, alive in a way I hadn’t let myself touch in weeks.“Count your steps,” he said. Low. Certain. Unyielding.So I did.“One. Two. Three…”At first, it felt childish. Like I’d been reduced to a little girl learning to cross a street again. But his voice followed me, not with corrections, just presence—close enough to catch me, far enough to let me try. Somewhere between twenty and thirty, I caught the rhythm of it. Breathing on the even numbers, like he told me, grounding myself with each inhale.The path

  • The Shadows We Keep    CHAPTER FIFTEEN

    MATTEO'S POVI found her in the garden. The sun wasn't even completely up yet, and there she was, just sitting, her eyes closed as her head was tilted up to the sky. I could have sworn I saw a small smile there as a bird passed her by. She was beautiful, all bundled up in her grey cotton sweater. I could tell this moment was probably one of the things that kept her going. Her serenity. I remained there for a couple more minutes, just watching her, until the sun sat right in the sky, it's rays chasing off what was left of the early morning shadows. I took a couple of steps towards her direction, making my presence known. “Good morning,” I said, finally.She turned towards my voice so fast, her hair slid over her shoulder, cascading down her back. I could see the relief that washed over her features for a second before it was replaced with a slight scowl. “Oh, it's you. You sound better,” she said. “Less… tired.”I let out a small smile. “Coffee is a miracle, and sleep.”“Sleep,” she e

  • The Shadows We Keep    CHAPTER FOURTEEN

    Gabriella's povIt's been days since I gifted Matteo the music box, days since I hid the mini recorder in there, and days since I got nothing tangible. Most of what he talked about was work. The actual work he had mentioned in the beginning, selling cars and other things. A part of me was slightly relieved at the fact that just maybe he wasn't a bad guy, but I knew he was. I knew he was trouble. A trouble I found myself slightly interested in, and I hated that was actually the case. “I need to see him." I said to Romero after my dinner one night.He didn't stop me, instead he just sighed. “Give me a moment." I heard him say something quietly over the phone. "Okay.”"So?”"He's busy and can't see anyone.”"What?” I said, my tone pitched slightly in surprise. "Did you tell him that it was important? That I really needed to see him?”"I'm sorry, Gabriella. He was very strict about not seeing anybody.”“Is–Is something wrong?” I asked, suddenly concerned. Romero’s tone hinted at somethin

  • The Shadows We Keep    CHAPTER THIRTEEN

    Matteo's pov As much as I wanted to hear what Gabriella wanted to say, I didn't want her to be here. After our last argument, I decided it was best I stayed away. Both for my good and for hers. I couldn't afford those feelings I felt when I was around her. They did more harm than good. They were dangerous. "I got you this." She said and pulled up a little box from her bag.I eyed it suspiciously. "What is it?" "A music box. I went out the other day and got some. They have the most beautiful tunes. They're calming, you might need them.""Why?" I said as I took it from her hands. "Because of how much wrong I do?""I never thought of it that way, and if it is so much of an offence to you, perhaps you should just return it back. I apologize for being thoughtful. I almost forgot that you might lack a heart."I smiled at that and opened the box, letting the tune play out while what looked like a miniature cat twirled around on some rug. "It's…nice." I said and closed it back. "Thank you

  • The Shadows We Keep    CHAPTER TWELVE

    Gabriella's pov"Today, I want to go to a phone store to get a phone." I said to the guards when I finished my breakfast. "I'm going to have to check in with Matteo." Romero replied."There's no need to check anything with Matteo. Last time we talked, he said I could get anything I wanted, a phone included." "He agreed." I heard his chair push back. "Would you like to leave now?" "I said you didn't have to ask him." I gritted through my teeth. Truth to be told, I was surprised that Matteo had agreed. After our last argument, I wasn't sure he wanted me to do anything but stay cooped up in this place. "Everything has to pass through with Matteo. I'm sorry, it's just orders."I gave him a face as I got up to my feet. "It's my life, not his."I lengthened my cane, and headed outside to where the car was waiting. On the way there, I kept picking at the skin in my palm. Will I be able to pull this off?Especially with the way Romero watched me like a hawk? "We're here." He said, jolt

  • The Shadows We Keep    CHAPTER ELEVEN

    Matteo's pov "What do you really do?" Gabriella asked. We were sitted in the garden, just enjoying the evening. I never would have thought that in all my years, I would sit down in a garden and relax, especially with someone like Gabriella. "I've told you not to ask me about this." I said, keepi

  • The Shadows We Keep    CHAPTER TEN

    Gabriella's pov Matteo kept to his promises about me being able to leave the house, and I was ecstatic about it. Even though I couldn't see the places I visited, I could feel them like he said I would. The scents, music, people, the heat, I could feel it all, and it felt entirely different . It wa

  • The Shadows We Keep    CHAPTER NINE

    Matteo's povI couldn't believe she tried to escape, couldn't believe she even hurt herself in the process. She felt so light in my arms. and I couldn't help but notice how fragile she seemed. Her cheeks looked hollow, and her skin was pale. "When Gretta told me you were skipping meals, I didn't t

  • The Shadows We Keep    CHAPTER EIGHT

    Gabriella's povI was safe. I was safe. I was safe. It was what I tried to tell myself even though I was so unhappy. It's been fourteen days since I've arrived in Los Angeles, and it felt like eternity since I felt I had any form of control over my life. It felt just like the hospital, but worse.

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