Page 24 of Forbidden Fruit

Our stolen moments together had been a dream. But cold reality had caught up tonight. I was a fool to think we could outrun the dangers surrounding us. That love would be enough.

Still, I had to tell Natalia that face to face. Had to know her radiant beauty one more time before disappearing into the shadows forever. Even if it destroyed us both, I could not leave without a last goodbye.

Tires smoking, I finally screeched up outside the hotel entrance. Throwing the car into park, I rushed inside, shoulder burning, to find the lobby empty except for staff.

I ran to the velvet sofa in the lobby hoping to find her there. But no. Natalia was nowhere to be seen. My heart shattered. She was gone...

CHAPTER 9

RECKLESS HEARTS

Leonardo's POV:

My shoulders slumped as I took in the empty lobby. No sign of Natalia anywhere. She must have finally given up waiting and left, assuming I wasn't coming.

I had failed her. The one person who saw light within my dark reality, and I couldn't even show up to say goodbye properly. She would think I simply abandoned her without a word.

The pain in my arm was nothing compared to the ache in my chest now. Our time together had been a beautiful ephemeral dream, gone too soon. Harsh reality had caught up tonight.

Part of me thought I should go after Natalia, try to explain face to face why we could never see each other again. But finding her would only put her at greater risk if my enemies traced me to her family.

No, better she believed I was the heartless one, the monster I so often played. Then she could hate me and move on, find some measure of happiness far away from the danger and violence that clung to me.

I had failed to protect our stolen moments together. All that was left now was to drown my sorrows before disappearing from Natalia's life forever.

Numb inside, I made my way to the hotel bar and ordered a drink. What did it matter now? The only light that had pierced my darkness was gone. Tomorrow I would become a ghost once more, to keep Natalia safe.

But tonight, I would allow myself to mourn what we could have had in another world, another life. I lifted my glass in tragic salute to the greatest joy I had ever known - and the greatest heartbreak

. I was on my third drink, wallowing in self-pity, when a woman's voice rang out loudly from down the bar.

"Can you believe I waited here over two hours for that jerk? Two hours!" she exclaimed, words slurring. "Should've known he was too good to be true."

I shook my head, ignoring the noisy drunk. But something about her voice tugged at me. I glanced over through the hazy crowd.

My heart stopped. It was Natalia, swaying precariously on her barstool, makeup smeared and eyes glazed from drinking. She was still here.

I was moving before I realized it, pushing through people to get to her. Natalia didn't notice my approach, gesturing wildly as she continued venting to the annoyed bartender.

"Just left me here waiting like a fool...waste of a hot dress..." she trailed off, nearly toppling from her seat before I caught her shoulders to steady her.

"Natalia," I said urgently. Her bleary eyes widened in shock as she recognized me.

"You!" She slurred angrily, jabbing a finger at my chest. "You got some nerve..."

Before she could finish, I crushed her against me in a fierce embrace. "I'm so sorry, my love," I whispered hoarsely, kissing her hair. "I'm here now."

Natalia mumbled incoherent objections, but soon melted against me, clingy in her inebriated state. Relief flooded through me. She was safe, and I was holding her again. Nothing else mattered now.

Natalia mumbled incoherent objections, but soon melted against me, clingy in her inebriated state. Relief flooded through me. She was safe, and I was holding her again.

As we stood there embraced, she poked my chest angrily. "You're...you're late mister...and I look stupid..."

Despite her slurred insults, I couldn't stop smiling, overwhelmed to have Natalia in my arms again. I pressed soft kisses to her forehead as she grumbled half-heartedly.

Suddenly she gasped, fumbling at my shirt. "You're hurt!" Her clumsy fingers came away tipped with blood from my bandaged shoulder wound.

I gently captured her hand. "It's just a scratch, my love. I had some obstacles tonight, but nothing could stop me from getting to you."

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