Page 48 of Temptation
Without uttering a word, I pivot sharply and stride across the room. Each step feels like an enormous effort as if I’m trudging through quicksand. I need to get out of here. Now. The thought of needing fresh air and space, something that doesn’t remind me of this nightmare, is the only thing driving me forward.
My mind is a whirlwind, thoughts racing at breakneck speed as I burst out of the building, only stopping when I reach my car. I slump against it, staring at my own shaken reflection in the window. The cold afternoon air offers no solace; my chest tightens further with each breath. The biting wind cuts through my clothes, but it feels insignificant next to the numbness enveloping me.
The footsteps behind me come to a halt. I don’t turn around; I don’t care who it is. Yet, I can sense his hesitance without even looking.
“Sir, do you need—” Lucas’s voice pierces the fog in my mind, cautious and concerned. His presence is a jarring intrusion into my spiraling thoughts.
“No,” I snap.
I don’t need anything. I don’t want to hear anything.
Several moments of strained silence pass before he speaks again. “What should we do with… him?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Do whatever you want, but make sure he gets home afterward.Alive,” I order. Though I couldn’t care less about Michael Brenton, I’m not interested in dragging this out any longer than necessary.
“Yes, sir,” Lucas responds crisply. I hear the sound of his footsteps retreating, leaving me alone with my turmoil. On autopilot, I climb into the car and drive home, gripping the steering wheel tightly. The drive is a blur, my thoughts a chaotic tangle of disbelief and anguish.
I never imagined it would come to this, but the dreaded words echo relentlessly in my mind.This cannot be real—my wife is dead. My wife is dead.
The finality of it washes over me in waves, each more devastating than the last. And I know, as surely as the sun will rise, that it’s the truth. The irrevocable truth that has shattered my world.
When my phone rings and I see it’s my brother, Marcello, my nerves are already frayed. Whatever he wants, I don’t have the patience for it. Just seeing his name on the screen sends a fresh wave of irritation through me.
”What is it?” I bark into the phone, my irritation mounting with every second. As I listen to my brother’s words, an impossible rage builds within me. It feels like the very ground beneath me is disintegrating. Everything that could go wrong has—almost. The frustration and helplessness are overwhelming, threatening to consume me entirely.
“You need to listen to me before you freak out,” he says calmly, his voice a stark contrast to the storm inside me. “The twins are safe. They’re with Dad.”
”Why—what the—” I stammer, unable to comprehend. The relief is fleeting, quickly replaced by a fresh wave of confusion and panic.
”It’s just—the teacher. She’s gone.”
Twenty-Seven
Sienna
Ilean against the doorframe, letting my eyes wander over the mesmerizing view of our little private beach. The day is utterly perfect, with the kind of weather that feels almost too good to be true. The sky stretches in a vivid, uninterrupted expanse of blue, dotted with a few fluffy, cotton-like clouds lazily drifting by, casting gentle shadows on the golden sand. A soft, balmy breeze whispers through the air, ruffling my hair and carrying the unmistakable, invigorating scent of the sea. A huge smile spreads across my lips as I watch Fabrizio, his infectious laughter echoing through the air as he plays with the twins. His voice is louder and more joyous than I’ve ever heard it before. He’s in his element, frolicking in the shallow waves with the kids, the three of them engaged in a playful water fight. Their shrieks of delight and splashes of water fill the air, creating a symphony of happiness that resonates deep within me. I step out of the house, feeling the warm, invitingsand beneath my feet as I make my way down to the beach. Each step I take feels like a gentle caress, the grains of sand massaging my soles. At this moment, I can’t recall a time when I felt more at peace, more content. It’s as if every worry and stress has melted away, leaving only pure, unadulterated joy.
I settle onto a sunbed, my eyes never leaving the delightful scene before me. Fabrizio, with his infectious laughter and boundless energy, alternates between lifting the children high into the air and tossing them back into the water, their giggles and squeals of delight reaching a crescendo. Watching them fills my heart with so much joy that I can hardly contain it; it feels like it might burst from sheer happiness.
As soon as he spots me, Fabrizio strides out of the water, droplets glistening on his sun-kissed skin, and a mischievous grin spreads across his face. His eyes lock onto mine with intensity, reminding me of the magnetic effect he still has on me. It’s unbelievable how he can make me feel, even after all this time.
With each step he takes towards me, the anticipation inside of me builds. Fabrizio’s well-defined body gleams in the sunlight, making him look every bit like a Greek god emerging from the sea. He positions himself behind me on the beach bed and pulls me close, his cool, wet torso pressing against my back.
“You’ve never looked more beautiful, cuore mio,” he murmurs, his voice filled with genuine admiration.
“You’re lying,” I reply, rolling my eyes playfully at him.
“No. Never,” he insists before placing a sweet, tender kiss on my cheek.
“Yet, you say that every day,” I tease, a smile playing on my lips.
“Because it’s the truth,” he responds, nuzzling my neck in a way that makes me hot all over and lean back into him. His big hands gently caress my swollen belly, and I lace my fingerswith his, savoring this moment of pure bliss. “I love you,” he says softly, his voice resonating with sincerity. “Both of you.” Turning my head toward him, I press a loving kiss on his lips, feeling a deep connection that words can hardly describe.
“Ew. Mommy, Daddy, stop that!” Maddy squeals from the water, scrunching up her little face in mock disgust. “You’re supposed to play with us!” Her playful reprimand is met with laughter from both of us, and I realize that this—this beautiful, chaotic, love-filled moment—is what life is all about.
*
I love you.
