CHRISTIANO

Eighteen

Six months later

Carina

"Hey, should I wait for you?"

"Depends. If you allow me to sleep in your bed, then hell yes. Wait up for me"

"In your dreams" I laugh hanging up. That's easier said than done. I'm always saying today will be the day but then when he comes back, I chicken out. I don't know why. He's the nicest person I've ever known and he treats me like a queen. Why am I so hesitant to get into a relationship with him? I like him and if I think hard enough I can see a future with him. Turning to Concetta I tell her Marco will be late again.

"Don't take it the wrong way Cara. He's not fooling around with other women"

"I know"

"Then why don't you give him a chance?"

I don't know what to tell her. She's been like a mother hen since I first came here. I can see why Marco kept her for so long. Aside from being kind, she knows what to say and when to say it. She has always hinted at my relationship with him but never asked straightforward why I'm keeping him at bay. Hell I don't even know why I'm doing that.

"It's okay to take your time if you're not sure but if you wait too long he'll get tired and find someone else" she pats my arm then leaves, retiring to her bedroom for the night.

Her words hit too close to home and I try to swallow the lump in my throat. It's not impossible for Marco to find another woman. He's young, rich, hot and one of the most sought after bachelors in this country. He can have any woman he wants. For all I know he's out there looking for one. If that asshole can cast me aside then anyone else can do it. Damn it, everything always leads back to him. To this day I can't believe he moved on so quickly and even got another b***h pregnant. They must be preparing the arrival of that child any time now. God, I'm jealous, angry, sad, miserable, pissed at him. Deep down I know this is the reason I can't enter into another relationship because I'm not done with that son of a b***h Christiano De Luca.

Once I started remembering, the memories were like a waterfall, each piece fighting for the front seat. I spent the first two months in depression, crying for my baby. I was so miserable that I wanted to die. Marco and Concetta nursed me back to life, making sure I was eating and preventing from doing something stupid. I thought that phase was over until I found out Chris was shacking up with some b***h and they were expecting a baby. Getting out of that hellhole had been the hardest thing I've ever done. It was so unbelievable that he'd moved on so soon. I had to go to his house and verify it myself. Seeing a pregnant woman coming out of his house had broken whatever was left of my heart.

I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought of taking revenge. There were all sorts of ideas swarming in my head at that time. Running them over with a car, burning that f*****g house to the ground, hiring someone to kill that b***h. I even thought of changing my face and infiltrating the De Luca organization to bring it down then I remembered he still had the Lombardi organization. It was rightfully his and at the end of the day, it won't change anything. Getting revenge wouldn't bring back my baby. It wouldn't erase all the hurt and pain I went through. So in the end, I decided to hide in Marco's house. He and Concetta are the only ones who know that I regained my memories. Even Paulo, Gianna and Simona don't know.

Mainly because I'm angry with them too. Instead of hiding such important information from me, they should have been honest with me. I deserved to know about my baby. I trusted them and they broke my trust. That day I left the Maldives was the last time I saw them. Thanks to Marco's discretion, no one knows where he lives so they couldn't come looking for me. Surprisingly, I called Marianna to tell them I'm fine and that they shouldn't waste their time looking for me. Since that day we've spoken a few times and somewhat become close. We're not besties but she updates me on what's happening out there.

It turns out Damiano quit his job as a cop after blowing the whistle on his boss who was selling the weapons they confiscated during busts. Now he manages the coffee shop and looks after the girls I had saved from being trafficked. He has already opened another shop which serves as a refuge for girls who escape from human trafficking. Who knew he had a knack for business? As usual Giovanni is managing the organization. I've never thought of him as my father and I never will. To me he'll always be Padre's second hand. Marianna's more accepting than I am. She even addresses him as her father. Just thinking about it makes me nauseated. Ornella and Fabrizia still fight nonstop, which makes me feel grateful that I'm not living with those two. I can only imagine the headache everyone is going through because of them.

A hand settles on my shoulder, startling me "Were you waiting for me?"

"Oh, you came back sooner than I expected"

"It's past midnight Carina. You called me two hours ago and I got here twenty minutes ago, went upstairs, showered and you're still here. What are you thinking about?"

Two hours? I've been sitting here thinking about that asshole for two hours? "Nothing. Are you hungry? I'll fix you something"

"Do you even know how to cook?" He asks raising an eyebrow. Smiling sheepishly, I say,

"Luckily Concetta taught me a few things but don't worry. I won't test out my skills on you"

"I don't mind being your beta tester"

"You better not take that back. Ever" I think it's about time I learnt how to cook. I can't live with Marco forever and I have no plans of going back to the Lombardi mansion. While I was in the middle of grieving, I decided to not rely on anyone ever again. Reluctantly, Marco has been helping me find an apartment. He told me that I could always count on him if I needed help and that's the difference between him and that asshole. Knowing Chris, he would never let me move out to live on my own.

"I found a few places. Wanna go check them out tomorrow?"

"Yes" I reply excitedly. This is the kind of freedom I never thought I'd ever have. The thought of living alone makes me forget everything and I find myself planning how to decorate my house.

"Are you that happy to leave?"

"Yes. I think I've lived off of you long enough"

"I don't mind supporting you for the rest of my life. I have more than enough money to cater for your needs"

"And I'm also rich Marco. I might not be a big shot like you but I have money too"

When Padre died, Giovanni changed all his accounts, putting them in my name. A few months ago I found out he'd transferred the business ones to his and Damiano's name. The personal ones which had the most money are still mine. I can literally buy a plane and still have enough to live in luxury for a long time. It's the only fatherly duty he's ever done that I approve. Making sure I never need his or anyone's help. I'm an independent b***h and by God, I'm going to enjoy my life. Do everything I wanted to do freely. Who knew freedom tasted so good? For someone like me who's been under lock and key all her life, being able to live alone feels like a prisoner who's just been released. I cannot wait for that chapter of my life to begin.

"I know it's not about money" Marco stops, rubbing his face "Then let me post two guards outside your apartment"

"You said you were okay with me moving out" what do you know? All guys are the same. I take back what I said about him being different.

"I understand how you feel, trust me. But I also don't feel at ease letting you live alone. At least get your friends to stay with you then"

"Who? Simona and Gianna? No f*****g way. If you even tell them I'm moving, I'll be really mad at you"

"Okay fine. You're so stubborn"

Placing the plate Concetta had prepared earlier in front of him, I ask "Did you even find an apartment for me or were you just saying that in the hopes I'll change my mind and stay?"

"I'll take you to see it tomorrow. If you don't like it I had the realtor prepare more"

"Okay. I'm going to sleep. See you in the morning"

I'm too excited to sleep so I end up only sleeping for two hours. By seven, I'm downstairs, already dressed and waiting for Marco. Concetta offers to make breakfast but I turn her down, opting for coffee instead. When Marco finally comes down, I don't even let him eat anything.

"We'll get food on the way"

"With the way you're behaving, someone might think I was mistreating you. My feelings are hurt Carina"

"I'll buy you a teddy bear. Will that make you feel better?" He laughs getting in the driver seat. I don't fool myself into thinking we'll go alone. Three more cars follow but at a distance. While I understand why he needs his men, I hate how it draws attention to us. People get curious to know who is the important person that needs so much security. I'm pretty sure that by now Paulo knows I've come out of hiding and is probably rushing to catch up with me before I disappear again. And if Paulo knows, then Chris does too. I wonder if he'll come looking for me too. Do I want him to?

"You seem tense. Shall I put on some music?"

"No, it's fine. I'm just anxious to see the place"

"Since I went through all the trouble, do I like get a gift or something?

"Let's see the place first"

"If it's to your liking, I'll ask for a bigger reward. You ready for...." A car swerves in front of ours, making Marco curse. He throws out a hand, protecting my body from jerking forward "f**k, is that i***t looking for death?"

Hitting the brakes, we pull over on the side of the road. The person that tried to overtake us has stopped too. Problem is that Marco's men sped up and are now surrounding the grey car. Slowly, a door opens and guns are pointed at the person. I realize it's a woman. She puts her hands up in a surrendering manner

"One of your scorned lovers?" I ask Marco who shakes his head no.

"I've never seen her before"

"Okay, let's see who she is and what she wants" I turn to get out but Marco grabs my hand

"Let my guys handle her" he nods to them and we watch as they approach her, pushing her aside to search her car. One of the guys asks her something and she points to us. The guy walks towards us, while the others keep their guns trained on her."What is it?"

"She says she wants to talk to her" he replies pointing at me

"Why? I don't know her" rolling down the window, I ask "Who are you and why do you want to talk to me?"

"My name is Violetta and I'm Tommaso's mother"

"What?"

*****************************************

I see a way back to De Luca's mansion. Do you?

So Carina's back. I know everyone is waiting for the confrontation of the year and you will get it guys. Patience