I'm waiting by his car. He's taking an eternity in there. Maybe he's with Flavia, laughing about how much of a fool I am. I am a fool. After everything I've been through, all the horrors I've faced, I'm bothered because Enzo said he would discard me. But isn't that what I want? I want him to leave me alone. I wish I had never met him. So why am I offended? Why did that insignificant word cut me in half? Although I feel sorry for Flavia, it isn't because Enzo doesn't love her back. It's evident that he doesn't. It's because she's crazy in love with him, but she's making excuses about her family name. Maybe that's what her brothers are fighting for, but not her. She wants his love and affection. She wanted to buy me a ticket out of this mess so she wouldn't have any competition. She can rest assured. I'm not competition. As soon as it's convenient to him, he'll leave me. Discard. I scoff. It seems he treats every woman in his life like trash, especially the ones he has no affection

I've been in and out of consciousness for a few days.Enzo refused to take me to a hospital, because he doesn't believe it's safe. Whoever tried to kidnap me could still be out there, and that person is probably the same person who sent that young man to kill him. Well, that's what he thinks. So there's been a doctor coming to see me, and I feel much better today. The wound on my neck got infected, but it's all been taken care of. I'm recovering.As for the issue between Enzo and I, we haven't talked about it.I get uncomfortable every time he comes into the room. I haven't looked him in the eyes in days. He's looking for confirmation in mine and I can't give that to him. I can't love him. I can't bring myself to love him. It's just the way it is. Enzo enters the room carrying a bowl of soup. I take it from him and mutter a 'thank you'. It's rich and delicious. I have one spoonful after the other. He's still in the room watching me, and I don't know what to make of it, so I keep my e

I wake up with someone tapping my arm. I scrunch my eyes before opening them, and I find Enzo staring at me. What is he doing in my room so early in the morning? I was glad that he hadn't mentioned anything, please don't tell me he wants to talk about it now. "Enzo?" "Aurelio left. You're stuck with me for the rest of the day."I suppress a groan. Not again. "Can't I stay behind?" I promised myself that he'd have to drag me out of this apartment if he ever intended on making me spend the day with him, but I've realized that it isn't worth the effort. I don't want to have to fight him. In about a week, I'll be free of him anyway. "You know that isn't an option. Come on, get dressed. I'm already late." Late for what? He leaves me alone and I shower quickly, then dress up. I tie my hair in a bun and meet him in the living room. I ask, "Where are we going?" "To pick up some things." We leave the apartment, but this time Enzo doesn't give the men in the lobby a day off. He tells them

We're out of the house at eight AM sharp. Once we're in the car—a brand new Lexus, not the car we drove in yesterday—he says, "I have to meet some guys today. We'll be discussing the grand day." He likes to call it that. I hope he's right. I hope it'll be the day all of our suffering ends. I ask, "Won't Aurelio be there?" "No, he's busy with something else."He stops by a nearby bar and buys coffee and pastries for breakfast. It's all so delicious that I moan as I take a bite. I thought I wouldn't have an appetite after yesterday. I was dead wrong. The drive isn't long. I still have my cup of coffee when we park in front of a hotel. "You're meeting in a public place?" He says, "It isn't a problem. Giotto doesn't have eyes everywhere."The interior looks like every other hotel I've ever been to. Dark wooden reception, red carpeted floor, a small lobby. Enzo turns to me and says, "Wait here. I'll give the guys a call."I nod and he walks away. The lobby is practically empty, so I

He gets in Aurelio’s face. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you bring her to this place?" "Calm down," Marco pleads. "We've come to help you. You're in their territory, Enzo, and you didn't have any back-up with you.""That was the deal I had with them," he spits. "You had no business coming here and you shouldn't have brought Chiara with you!""What makes you think they'll keep their word?" Aurelio asks. "You're upset that I'm here, when in fact you should be grateful that we've come to your rescue. They're going to kill you."He runs a hand down his face. "You shouldn't have interfered. Just go, get out of here." "I won't leave without you," he declares. In a lower voice, he says, "Without you, killing Giotto will be damn near impossible. I'm not going to let you die in the hands of these rascals!" Behind us, someone asks, "Is there a problem, Enzo?" It's a bulky man with the tattoo of an eagle on his right breast. He ignores him and says to Aurelio, "I can take care