A N D R E A

It was always the same crimsons in my dream, and this time was no different. Except this time, when I broke free from my nightmare, I didn't wake up alone, Lorenzo's murky scent was embracing me, the soft notes of wood caressing my skin. And without thinking anything, I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and pulled him to me, wanting more of him.

"Andrea." His hot breath fanned my neck, and I wanted to reply, but my throat closed up as the reminders of the horrifying dream shook me again, "Andrea?"

I swallowed, "Just please don't say anything...." I'd barely managed to string my sentence together when my throat closed up, and the tears I'd stopped myself from crying every time Carlo had haunted me in my sleep broke free.

"You told me it wasn't often," His ire was apparent even in his whispered words, but I couldn't find it in myself to tell him that even in death, Carlo wasn't leaving me alone.

"I kn–know," I managed to speak without choking up again, "and they weren't,"

Lorenzo pushed up on his elbows, forcing me to concede my hold on his neck as he looked at me, "Define often,"

"Lorenzo..."

He looked like he had more to say, but instead, he exhaled, pushing his head down on the pillow beside mine. "You need to start being honest with me, mia cara, or this time you will really kill us both,"

The sudden softness in his voice startled me, and when he was trying to straighten, I couldn't help but look at his face. He stilled before staring at my face with a faraway look I couldn't place.

Lorenzo's incandescence heated me up, and the ache for him returned with a fervor that was a stranger to me. And in a total eclipse of rationality, I pressed my lips against his, seeking him out in our darkness. His muscles seized up beneath my arms, but he didn't pull away. I knew better than to take his silence as encouragement, but I couldn't stop myself from swiping my tongue against his lower lip.

His silent rejection stung more than I ever wanted to admit. His earlier warning rang in my ears when he'd told me not to be a fool, but none of it mattered because I'd gone and done the most foolish thing possible. I'd fallen in love with him.

A lone tear slipped from my left eye, I loosened my arms from around his neck, and they dropped down beside me. I'd almost turned my face away when his hand cupped my jaw, holding me still. I didn't even understand what had happened, except that his lips were now on mine, and somehow my hands had found their way back into his hair.

His lips against mine were enough to make my head spin, but even with the electricity simmering in my veins, I could make out the dominance behind his caresses. He didn't deepen the kiss, teasing me with calloused anticipation, and with subtle rhapsody, he took over my senses.

I arched my neck, seeking more of him, but he knew just how to give himself in assiduous doses, making me drown for him every single time before he'd breathe the air back into my lungs. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and only when I moved my hips against his did he deepen the kiss, battling my tongue with his before taking my mouth with sheer force that made my head spin and my vision turn black.

I hadn't realized when a moan slipped past my lips, and while he swallowed my voice, he'd felt it. Somehow, that was enough to push him out of the trance he'd been in, and he broke the contact between our lips, his face hovering above mine as his warm, fast breaths fanned my face. I arched my neck, trying to seek him out again, when he pulled his face away, pinning me with his hard gaze.

"Don't do this again," his soft murmur had my eyes fluttering close, "unless you want me to fuck you, and it will be nothing more than a fuck."

His venomous words had my eyes snapping open, and widening as I watched him push himself off of me, and turn to his side of the bed. I traced my lips with my fingers as the realization washed on me that this wasn't his surrender. It was simply him reestablishing the dynamics of our uncertain relationship. He might have let me have him for a little while, but he'd thrown me away just as fast.

All Lorenzo had done was show me that I was underneath his skin, just not deep enough because he would never trust me enough. And I had no one but myself to blame for that.

Wiping under my eyes harshly, I turned to my side and buried my face in the pillow. And only when I'd made sure Lorenzo was asleep, did I let the rest of my tears fall, covering my mouth with my hand to avoid making a sound.

*

Alex had dragged me out of the penthouse to go out with her, and now the boys were at home, babysitting the twins. I didn't know whose wellbeing I was more afraid for, the twins or the five grown men taking care of them, though it was debatable that Roberto wouldn't make a mess the same way Riccardo and Tori might.

Lorenzo wouldn't let us leave alone, despite Alex's many protests, so Milan was in a car right behind ours. I had to give it to him that he was trying to be inconspicuous, but he wasn't fooling either me or Alex.

"What do you say we lose him?" Alex tilted her head, grinning as she kept her eyes on the rear-view mirror. We'd just stopped at a red light and were waiting for the signal to turn green again.

"I don't think that's a very good idea...."

"Why?" Alex jutted her bottom lip out, pouting, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Because, for one, Lorenzo would be furious."

"That's not a reason why we shouldn't do something." Alex shrugged, "Besides, anything that ruffles his feathers is my favorite."

"Oh my God, you're serious!" I was half-excited, half-mortified, and while I knew this could blow up in my face, I also couldn't let the chance to make him lose his cool go.

"I am perfectly capable of keeping both of us safe, you know." She pointed towards her thigh, and I knew she was showing me the gun strapped to her thigh beneath her dress.

"I'm sure Lorenzo will disagree, but go for it." I motioned with my hands as she put the car into drive just as the lights turned green.

"Oh no, sweetheart, I'm not going for it." I arched my brow, confused when she stopped the car at the side of the road, "you are."

"What?" I nearly choked on my own saliva.

"You chased Lorenzo, didn't you? You can lose Milan."

"That isn't the same thing, Alex."

She turned in her seat, "Look, I could tell you how you have the talent for it, but I know it wouldn't mean a thing because you know you're a killer driver." She exhaled, almost like she was calming herself down, "You need to let yourself go, and enjoy the little pleasures this life will offer you. Yes, Renzo is an ass, but he won't stop you if you want to do something. Him being mad is just an added bonus," She winked to add the effect, and I couldn't help the laugh that broke free.

Maybe it was I that was holding me back. While doing this wasn't the same as climbing a mountain, it was a baby step, and I had to learn to celebrate those, so I nodded, "Fine. I'll take the wheel, but just so you know, him being mad isn't good for me."

"Sure, whatever you say," Alex grinned before getting out of the car, and I moved across seats while staying inside the Aston Martin.

I'd just finished strapping myself in when Alex closed the door and strapped herself in, "Now, don't worry about the route. Leave that to me. You just drive."

"Okay," I whispered just as the engine rumbled beneath me as I put the car in drive and back onto the street.

We hadn't even made it a little far when Alex's phone started ringing, and she brought it to her ears, "Milan,"

I couldn't hear what he was saying, but Alex sighed dramatically, "Yes, Andrea wanted to drive. Big deal?"

I absolutely had not wanted to drive, but I'd let her run with it because she obviously knew what she was doing.

"Milan, honestly, this is just stupid, even for you."

He said something before Alex told him it was fine and hung up, and pointed toward the next right.

"So take that, and then the next left. I'm gonna need you to be fast, so we turn the right after that before he sees us."

I nodded before flooring the accelerator and turning the car right, before speeding up again and braking right before the other turn. Alex was screaming beside me, and only when I made the third turn, with no sign of Milan behind us, did I let myself breathe.

I'd forgotten what freedom tasted like, and sitting here, driving a vehicle that wasn't mine, running away to just breathe for a second, I felt better than I had in days.

"Damn," Alex breathed, "knew you could make it. But he might still be onto us, so rush through this street so we can then go Lenox Hill."

"That's not even that far," I eyed her momentarily before returning my eyes to the road, unable to help the smile on my face.

"The point isn't to go far. The point is to dodge them. It just gives me such a rush."

"I think I know what you mean—" Alex's phone rang again, interrupting me, and I focused on driving past the buildings as Alex answered the phone again.

"No, we didn't give you the slip. You just weren't fast enough." I was sure even Milan could hear Alex's glee.

"You can tell him, Milan." Alex's voice became soft before she hung up again and started laughing.

"What did he say?"

She brushed me off, "Oh, you know, the usual, Renzo won't be happy, Murphy's at large yada, yada,"

"All of this is true, though."

"Doesn't matter," Alex shrugged, "Now we've done it, so we're already going to be hearing it from Renzo, might as well have our fun while we're at it." Alex smiled before pointing at a building, "Alright, park here. We'll go to the mall, do some shopping, then take some food home."

*

We'd spent the last two hours going through shops and now had more shopping bags in our hands than we could hold. I'd gotten quite a few clothes for the twins, but some of the onesies were just so adorable I couldn't help myself. Alex and I had also gotten stuff for ourselves that went everywhere, between dresses, shoes, makeup, and lingerie. In the meantime, not only had she ignored Lorenzo's and everyone else's calls, but she'd also made sure she put my phone in flight mode so I wouldn't even receive the call, much less be tempted to attend.

"I can't feel my feet," Alex sighed just as we were loading all the bags in the trunk, and I nodded, feeling the same myself.

"Where do you think we can get some food from?"

"What are you in the mood for?"

"Anything that's edible...?" Alexandra laughed just as we sat in the car and buckled our seatbelts.

"There's a cute little restaurant close by. We can get food from there."

While we were waiting for our order to be prepared, Alex and I had chosen a booth hidden in the corner to sit in. Alex had just gone to the restroom, and I was scrolling through my phone, finally having turned off flight mode. The notifications were blowing up my phone, and the fact that most of them were missed calls and texts from Lorenzo had goosebumps breaking out on my skin as the blood in my veins became warmer.

Lorenzo: There was no point in blowing off Milan, Andrea.

Received 05:04pm

Lorenzo: It's one thing to flirt with danger. It's another to fucking invite it. Pick up the damn call, Andrea.

Received 05:24pm

Lorenzo: This is not fucking funny, Andrea.

Received 06:14 pm

There were no messages or calls from him after that, and it wasn't difficult to tell from his messages that he must be feeling vertigo of emotions, though none of them were ever real enough for him to battle the hatred in his heart for me.

"Hello, Andrea." My blood ran cold as the voice registered in my brain, and I tried turning around to see if it was my brain playing tricks on me, "do not draw attention here. I think you owe me that much after trying to kill me."

"Carlo," I breathed out as my throat became dry and my hands started trembling.

"So you do remember me. Do you remember how you rammed that knife into my back? Hurt like a bitch if I do say so myself."

"You were going to kill Riccardo. I had no choice,"

"Remember these words, Andrea, because one day soon, I'll repeat them to you before I kill your fucking children."

My tongue seemed to have swollen, and there were so many things that I'd wanted to say, but nothing came out as black dots danced in my vision. I didn't even know what had happened. One minute, Carlo was sitting behind me, and the next, Alex was shaking me, trying to get me to listen to her; however, it was impossible to make out anything past the ringing in my ears.

"Andrea!" Alex shook me, and I blinked, finally seeing the woodwork around me and the red leather cushion seats. "Oh, finally, what happened? I was gone only for a minute."

I swallowed, "Can we go home, please?" My voice was weak, and maybe it was something on my face, but Alexandra nodded, and took the keys from the table, held the takeout boxes in her hand, and offered her free one to me.

"No, no, it's fine. I can walk."

"I'm not taking that chance," Alex whispered before helping me stand up and leading me out of place.

I welcomed the silence outside and tried breathing in the air that wasn't infected with Carlo's presence.

"You're worrying me..." Alex whispered as she opened the door for me and helped me inside before placing the takeout boxes on the backseat and rounding the car.

She started the car and pulled out. I'd only rested my head on the door for a second, but when I opened my eyes, we were already in the parking lot of our building. I tried opening the door, but Alexandra stopped me.

"I called Renzo, and he's on his way down. We should wait for him."

"Why?"

"Andrea, your face has gone pale, and you nearly blacked out. You won't tell me a thing, and you don't have to, but I had to tell Renzo." There was no accusation in her voice, only concern, and while I still hadn't digested the fact that Carlo was alive, I appreciated Alex being here for me.

"Carlo is alive...." I whispered, the words sounding as much unreal to me as I was sure she would find them. I didn't even know how he had found me, out at the restaurant of all places.

"What? But didn't you say that you'd killed him?"

"I thought I did, but when you were in the restroom, he found me. I don't know how– I don't–" I hid my face in my hands; my skin was still crawling from feeling the monster in my dreams so close to me.

Alex held my knee, "Hey, it's going to be okay. He can't take you again. Breathe, alright?"

She'd only finished, and right at that moment, my door opened, and I turned my face toward the noise. Lorenzo was leaning down, disapproval written on his face and an intensity in his gaze that ignited the flames of a smoulderingly taunting fire inside me, but it wasn't enough to get rid of the ice in my veins.

"Lorenzo–"

He shook his head, "Not here,"

"Renzo, you might wanna hear her out first," Alex hollered as he led me into the elevator, holding me close to his side because my legs just wouldn't hold my weight.

"You and I are going to have a chat after this, Alexandra." I didn't hear Alex's response, but I reckoned it was some colorful words she was using on Lorenzo since she had to take the same elevator as us.

We rode in silence, and I tilted my head to look at him, but he didn't even spare me a glance. His jaw was clenched, and he held me by his side, but besides his body beside mine, it was almost like he wasn't even there.

The elevator dinged at our floor, and he led me out, motioning something to Alessandro. Lorenzo opened the door to his office and pushed me inside before closing it behind him. He rounded his table and placed his palms on the flat surface, his head hanging between his shoulders.

He lifted his head, eviscerating me with his blazing gaze, "What fucking part of flirting with death do you enjoy?" He hadn't raised his voice, but his words were knives on their own and had never needed the added bark of a shout.

"I–"

"Is it the attention that you are starving for?"

"Carlo is alive!" I managed to speak loud enough for him to hear without talking over me like he had earlier, and he stilled, though he didn't seem taken aback at all. If anything, his posture regained some of its tension, and he sighed.

His reaction was nothing like Alex's. The reality washed over me like rain, and I closed my eyes for a second before opening them again and facing him, this time with an ironic smile I couldn't help.

"You knew, didn't you?"

* * *

I should say I'm sorry, but am I really?

Sooo do you have any thoughts/theories?

How are you liking the story so far?

Also, I would like to request my old readers to hold back on spoilers where other readers can see them, and you're always welcome to message me here or on any of my socials to ask about or just to comment on the story.

Thank you so much for reading! Please vote and comment, I love hearing from you guys!