ILARIA (book 3)

51. ILARIA 🌙

"You gonna come in or what, princess?"

"I don't know why I'm here." My voice cracks.

He opens the door wider, stepping to the side. "Let's get you cleaned up, yeah?"

I take a second to look at my options. Go into his house and get cleaned up, possibly get some ice for this thumb. Or, walk back to the airport and go home.

I take the easiest.

I turn on my heels and begin walking down his lane.

I hear his footsteps on the gravel and then his hand grabs my wrist. "Come inside."

I look into his eyes, his hairs starting to grow back, and he's put all of his piercings back in. He smiles softly. "Come on."

I nod my head, walking into the house after him. He closes and locks the door.

It's different.

There's now shutters on his french doors.

He sees me looking. "Dad installed them. Extra security until I'm... fit again." He clears his throat. "Who were those men on the plane?" He walks me to the kitchen.

"Russians. Been on our back ever since Matty left for rehab." I jump up on the counter, beside the sink. "I'm fine, really."

He lifts my hand up, running this thumb gently over my swollen and already bruised thumb. "How'd you do this?"

"You should know. We stole the training from you guys." I keep looking at my thumb.

"You purposely dislocated your thumb?" He tilts my chin up. "That training is for extreme circumstances only."

"It was extreme. Your uncle kidnapped me and didn't tell me where we were going."

He smiles. "He did set you up."

"Its fine. It'll heal on its own."

He opens his freezer and pulls out an ice pack anyways, as well as his first aid kit.

"I knew you could fight but you amaze me everyday." He uses his teeth to rip open a bandage.

"That's nothing." I rub my lips together. "How are you?"

"Good." He nods his head. "They haven't cleared me for work still."

"That's for your own good." I wince as he wraps the bandage with just a bit of pressure, but it hurts.

"This was stupid." His finger taps it gently. "Really really stupid."

I know.

I stay silent though and after he's done with that, he fills the sink of warm water. "Ace is scared of you."

"Once a lot of men witness what I can do, they are." I turn my head to the side a little bit so he can clean my lip.

He presses a wet cloth to my lip, that also stung.

I look into his eyes as he's solely focused on gently cleaning my lip.

He is too beautiful.

"You're staring." He moves to the graze on my cheek, eyes flicking to mine.

"You're just so pretty."

He smiles. "Rich coming from you."

I smile. "This is the last time we can see each other. Ever."

"Fabio?" He tilts my chin to the side so I'm looking directly at him. "When's the wedding?"

"Should be soon." I look down at his lips, just a quick glance, but he noticed.