A N D R E A

12 HOURS AGO

I didn't remember waking up with Lorenzo, let alone in his arms, to be a usual occurrence, but when I'd tried to turn to my side after waking up today, I'd been amazed to see Lorenzo's arm caging me with my back to him. My head was on his other arm, and I was certain this couldn't be very comfortable for him. It wasn't very bright outside, which made me wonder just what time was it, but Lorenzo grumbled behind me when I tried sliding to reach my phone on the bedside table.

"Stop, moving."

"Are you awake?" Lorenzo rolled on his back, and I turned around to look at him. His eyes were closed, his hair falling over his face messily, shadowing his eyes as he hummed his answer.

I took my time cataloguing his features, and unlike the past when I'd done this, it didn't feel illicit, there was a rush of butterflies in my stomach that came whenever I was around him, but this time a stranger sensation accompanied them. Perhaps it was the iridescent peace on his face that I hadn't been a witness to before today. My fingers reached out to brush the hair away from his forehead, and as I leaned over to do that, a gasp escaped my lips as he opened his eyes.

"What–" I shushed him with my finger on his lips, and he raised his brow in response.

"You have a knack for ruining moments,"

"This is a little counterintuitive," he mumbled against my fingers as he wrapped his fingers around my wrist, pulling my fingers off his lips.

I narrowed my eyes as he sat up against the headboard, and reached for his phone. He had barely gotten the phone in his hand when I snatched it up, and held it behind my back.

"Not now, please." I whispered, awfully aware of what today was.

We were all going to the safehouse today, and Lorenzo was going on a suicide mission, which if I had my way, he wouldn't be going on.

"Andrea." He said warningly, but I shook my head, swallowing.

"I know it's important. It's always important, but for now I don't want to have those ghosts chase us here."

"This won't make it go away."

"I know," I sighed, "but can you blame me for not wanting this shadow to linger above our head for one moment. I'm already dreading what's about to happen today."

"Mia cara," he leaned forward, cupping my cheeks in his hands as he made me meet his eyes, "I can't promise you something won't go wrong. It always does in my line of work," he closed his eyes for the briefest of moments as if battling himself, and my heart shrank inside my chest, "I can only promise that I'll be back."

"That's awfully vague." I couldn't help my voice from breaking, and I closed my eyes to stop my tears from escaping as I felt my throat close up.

Lorenzo used his hold on me to bring me to his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. Holding me close to him. I breathed in his scent, praying that he could do that again when it was all done. He pressed his lips against the crown of my head, and I could've sworn he mumbled something but it was too low for me to make out.

It was at that time that the baby-monitor crackled and two loud cries forced us apart. I forced a smile on my face, and got up, "I'll go check on them, you can shower first."

"I'll come with you." I pushed my hands against his chest and shook my head,

"No, it'll be quicker this way." I'll make their breakfast, you can feed them while I shower?"

Lorenzo nodded, and just as I was leaving the room, he called out after me.

"Andrea, where did you throw my phone?"

"It's on the bed, look somewhere between the sheets."

I couldn't help a laugh as he cursed lowly, and went about looking for his phone. He clearly couldn't breathe without that thing, and here I was beginning to flatter myself that he was also getting a little devoted to me.

*

By the time I'd gotten to the twins' room, Maria had already been there, trying to console a screaming Rick. My brows furrowed at the unusual scene, usually it was Tori who had a temper. Riccardo was rarely fussy, unless...

"Is he feeling alright?" I reached for him, and he immediately pushed his arms out to me. I'd only held him in my arms, and I could feel the heat radiating from him.

I reached for his forehead, and it was as if my heart dropped to my stomach when I realized that Rick was running a fever. I rushed towards Tori, and touched her forehead, and arms, relieved to find that she was alright.

Tori looked wide-eyed as I tried to soothe Rick, who'd stopped crying and was sniffling,

"Hi, there," I whispered to her smiling, and turned to Maria to ask her about Rick.

On finding that he'd slept through the night, I was relieved, but I still undressed him, to check if there was something else. I then changed his clothes to a loose fitting ones as I followed after Maria to the living room. Tori was already munching on her fruit, her face a mess, and she was letting out the most perfect giggle everytime she squished the fruit. I smiled to myself as I helped Rick in his high-chair.

I offered him some water, and then got on cutting up some loose fruits for him, by the time I turned back around towards him, he had finished his water, and was looking for more.

"Sweetheart, you also need to eat a little," I offered him the fruits, and after a few cajoled bites, he pushed the bowl away, reaching for the water again. Deciding to let it go for now, I let him have a few more sips before putting it away.

While Tori was babbling to herself, cooing at the fruits, Rick was a bit lethargic today, slowly looking around instead. In her coos, she said something which sounded a lot like ma-ma, my eyes widened as my lips streched into a smile and I turned to Tori.

"Ma-ma," she kept repeating, then giggling when she saw me smile, almost like she was testing the word out. Her little dimple made her look so adorable, that I reached for my phone to just encase this moment into memory.

"I think I'm feeling a little betrayed, tesoro." I shivered at the voice from over my shoulder, and turned to Lorenzo, who was busy looking at Tori, his smile betraying his words.

"Ma-ma?" Tori said with wide eyes, and Lorenzo chuckled, reaching over to kiss her forehead,

"Dada," Lorenzo replied, to which Tori repeated her earlier chanting, and I turned to him.

"She said her first word,"

"I know,"

Once the happiness and the amazement settled in, I couldn't help but tease Lorenzo.

"Are you jealous?"

He scoffed, "what?"

"That she said mama, and not dada?"

"You're forgetting, mia cara, we have two of those." He pointed to Rick, "I'm sure he'll make us even."

"Sure, whatever you say," I stuck out my tongue at him, and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"You realize you're not their age?"

"Now, now, there's no need to be salty." I laughed, but Lorenzo looked a little less amused, but I didn't think it was because Tori's first word wasn't dada.

"He seems a little tired today?" Lorenzo pointed at Rick, and went towards him, who while wasn't fussy anymore, was still a little quiet, and looking at Tori with wide eyes as she was making grabby hands at him.

"He's a little sick..."

"What?"

"He's running a little fever."

Lorenzo rushed to Rick, putting his cup of coffee aside, and picked him up, whispering to him as he checked for himself. I shook my head at him, and was just finishing up my food, when he turned to me,

"Did you check his temperature?"

"Yes, and it was only a little high."

"Does he need a doctor?"

"I don't think so," I replied just as I finished eating, and cleaned up after me, and tapped Rick's nose making him laugh a little. "We can see him today, and if he doesn't get better, we can get a doctor."

"If you say so..." Lorenzo sounded skeptical, but he chose to drop it for now.

"I do think he should be with me today." Lorenzo begin to say something when I continued, "I know you said it was safer if we were all separate but he's sick Lorenzo, I need to be with him."

"Andrea."

"Please." I whispered, "I don't want him to be looking for me when he's sick, Lorenzo. Tori is going with Alessandro. It'll be fine." I touched his forearm, staring at him pleadingly.

Lorenzo took a look at Rick, then at me, then nodded in resignation. "You need to tell me if he doesn't get better immediately."

"Are you sure you'll have your phone?" I teased, but I didn't think it was the right time because he scowled.

"Text Luca then. He's the one who gets my messages in tough situations."

I bit my tongue to stop myself from saying more, and whispered in resignation instead, "Okay,"

Lorenzo reached for my chin, forcing me to look at him, but before he could get a word in, Alessandro entered the room. He cooed at Tori, making her laugh by making a goofy face, and turned to us,

"He looks tired," Alessandro pointed at Rick, who'd decided to bury his face in Lorenzo's neck, and was eyeing Alessandro through his eyelashes.

"He's a little sick," I answered, passing him a cup of coffee, "you want breakfast? Maria's cooking."

"No, coffee will do, thank you." Alessandro sipped his drink, choosing to shower his attention to Tori. Tori had started an entire conversation with Alessandro by using the only word in her vocabulary. Ma-ma. And everytime she said, tears filled my eyes as my heart expanded in my chest.

Lorenzo sported a tight smile on his face all throughout breakfast, exchanges looks with Alessandro in between his playdate with Tori. And just as we'd finished eating, Lorenzo's phone rang, and he excused himself to go answer it in the hallway.

"You're tense," Alessandro observed.

"No shit," I scoffed, and Alessandro mock gasped, covering Tori's ears.

"I see Alex's rubbing off on you,"

"How are you so just..." I pointed at him.

So what?"

"Chill,"

Alessandro threw his head back and laughed, triggering Tori's giggles with him like someone had cracked the biggest joke. Even Rick cracked a little smile.

"You worry too much, Andrea."

"I do not!" I huffed, "It's not fun to be all calm and collected about putting yourselves in danger every waking minute of every day."

Alessandro winked, "Oh, trust me it is, makes for interesting stories."

"What stories?" Lorenzo asked as he came back towards us.

"Nothing." Both me and Alessandro said in unison and Lorenzo's eyes went between us.

"Was it Dad?" Alessandro asked instead, and Lorenzo nodded.

"Ma's reached the safe house, and he'll be here soon to drive Andrea and Rick."

"Wasn't Andrea with Milan?"

"Rick's sick, and Andrea wants to stay with him."

Alessandro looked at Tori, "Looks like it'll be us best buds today, principessa."

Tori giggled as Alessandro tapped her nose, and Lorenzo went to pick her up.

"You should get your stuff," Lorenzo turned to me. "Dad will be here soon."

I nodded, and turned to walk up the stairs, Lorenzo and Alessandro's hushed voices following me all the way to our bedroom.

*

I'd finished collecting my things, and was now packing a little of Rick's stuff was for the ride since Lorenzo had gotten all of our clothes sent over earlier. The door opened, and Lorenzo stepped inside, closing it behind him.

"You done?"

"Just almost," I said as I zipped up the diaper bag, and turned to Lorenzo, "Is Leonardo here?"

"Yeah."

Lorenzo closed the distance between us until the tip of his boots were touching my flats. He cupped my cheeks between his hands as he leaned down and pressed his lips against mine, stealing my breath. My eyes fluttered close as my hand worked their way up his neck of their own accord and my fingers tangled themselves in his hair. I fisted his collar with my other hand, holding him to me as I matched his ruthlessly angsty pace. His lips slid against mine as he took another step closer to me, making it impossible for even air to remain between us. His kisses had always swept me off my feet but there was a stranger sense of finality to this kiss, almost as if he was trying to etch me to memory. It took me a while to realize this might as well be a goodbye kiss because there was no way it was supposed to lead to a dull ache in my chest, almost like I was taking a shot, except the sting wasn't going anywhere. It had gone from a dull ache to an energy buzzing underneath my fingers. I whimpered against his lips, and he deepened the kiss, his tongue caressing mine as his hands held me in place for his pleasure. Lorenzo pulled away, breathing heavily as he touched his forehead with mine.

I opened my eyes only to be met with a havoc raging in his, and I couldn't help but brush my lips against his again.

"You'll come back?" It was supposed to be an order, but it had come out like a question instead, and before he could answer, there was a knock on the door.

"If you're done, Dad is waiting, and Rick has also gotten a little fussy!" Alessandro hollered from the other side of the door, and Lorenzo covered his face with his hands, exhaling.

"Coming!"

He turned to look at me again, and offered me his hand, "Let's go." Lorenzo brushed his lips against my forehead, held Rick's diaper bag and my hand bag in his other hand and led us down the stairs.

*

I couldn't sit still.

It had been a while since we had reached the safe house, and there had been no word from either Lorenzo or Alessandro. Vittoria was busy showering all her affections on Rick in a bet to distract herself, and Leonardo had locked himself in his room, probably trying to call anyone who would answer.

I could tell from the look on Leonardo's face something was not right, and I just couldn't help this incessant sinking feeling in my gut. It was past 10pm now, by now everyone should have been here. I'd been trying Luca to no avail, even Eva was on edge. She'd said Luca had never not at least gotten a text in, no matter how intense things would get. The silence in the house, save for a few coos from Rick, was prickling. I couldn't hear past my heartbeat, and in my haze, I didn't realize when a frazzled Leonardo entered the room, and averted his eyes the moment he saw me.

I'd never forget that moment in all of my life, it was as if the storm brewing inside me had settled into a chilling silence that remained the only memoir of the bodies the storm had taken with it. Leonardo whispered something in Vittoria's ears, and turned her tearful eyes to me.

I didn't realize I'd been shaking my head, whispering something intelligible as Vittoria approached me and held out her hands to me.

"I'm so sorry sweetheart," she whispered, reaching for my hair, but I flinched away from her affectionate touch.

"No..."

"They can't find Alessandro's car, and Renzo...." She swallowed fighting her own tears, struggling against the currents of her pain to console me, but didn't she understand it wasn't what I needed?

I needed my daughter.

I needed my husband.

I didn't need her pitiful empathy.

I needed...

"Andrea!" It felt like a distant voice, somewhere far away from me as I felt my airways swelling, and there being too little air in my lungs, and the silence in my ears being replaced with piercing ringing.

"Andrea breathe!" I could make out what she was trying to say, but in this abyss, nothing made much sense.

I tried forcing myself to blink several times until my vision got clear and I could make out Vittoria's tear stricken face.

"Here drink this," Eva passed me a glass of water, holding it close to my lips, forcing me to drink it slowly and not gulp it down like I'd wanted to do.

I was trying to keep myself away from the addictive pull of the darkness inside me, but it was hard, more so when I didn't know where almost everyone important to me was. The bewilderment I'd felt initially had now given way to skepticism, and I didn't know how to process the realization that the castles I'd thought were made of concete were actually sand that couldn't stand the lightest of waves...

* * *

It's been a while, and we're also officially in 2024! I'm a little late but HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I hope this year brings joy and happiness to all of us! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Writing these chapters is very hard because the last time I wrote them I was going through some family stuff so it just reminds me a lot of that time, but I'm hoping to push through and give you the next update a lot sooner than you think. I wanted to do a double update for this one, but I'm not quite done with the next one yet, and its taking me some time, but don't worry it'll be here soon, and it will be ONE LONG CHAPTER! 

On that note, I do have an announcement that might interest you. I've decided to make Lorenzo and Andrea's story a duet. Hear me out, there are some overarching plotlines which will be better explored through other characters like Alessio, but as always my promise is a good happy for now for Lorenzo and Andrea. This book will now have the content that was initially going to be divided between book 2 and 3. And we're close to the halfway mark of Fallout. As always if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

So on that note, what do you think will happen next?

Once again thank you so much for reading and sticking by me! I love you guys🫶🫶

Please don't forget to vote and comment and let me know what you think!!