Page 61 of Stolen By the Enemy

The sound of waves crashing is familiar, and the gentle hum of the ocean is a sound I’ve come to love, but I don’t want to be here.

I want to go home.

I know that yesterday, I was thinking about never leaving this place, and now that I can’t leave, I feel suffocated all over again.

Nothing in my mind makes sense anymore. I’m exhausted.

We have a quick dinner standing in the kitchen, neither of us talking much. I still don’t feel like eating, so when Marco isn’t looking, I throw my food in the trash and pretend I’ve eaten it all.

Marco offers me tea and I take it into the living room to drink while he sets up the bedroom.

It feels odd to have him running around the house, tidying it up and taking care of me, but he seems to be doing it so naturally.

I finish my tea, put my cup in the sink, and go find Marco in the bedroom.

“Your bed is ready,” Marco says, pulling back the covers for me to climb in.

He’s dimmed the lights and closed the curtains already, making sure the room is perfect.

I get into the bed and lay my head down on the pillow, feeling empty and drained.

Being here doesn’t feel good, and knowing that this might be where I am destined to stay for the rest of my life—however long or short that might be—feels even worse.

“Marco…” I say to him softly, hesitating to utter the next words, “will you stay with me?”

I don’t think I can get my mind to quiet down enough to fall asleep if I’m left alone.

This beach house is just too quiet and secluded for how I’m feeling right now.

He has every reason and right to say no, but there is no one else right now that can make me feel less panicked, and if I’m going to get any sleep at all, I need to feel safe, even if it is just for a second.

He hesitates, standing near the door and looking at me. I imagine he’s trying to weigh the pros and cons in his head.

“Okay, I’ll stay here tonight, but you do need to get some sleep,” he says to me and I wonder if he’s worried that I only want him to stay because I want to have sex with him.

If so, he’s got it completely wrong.

I couldn’t bring myself to have sex with him now at all, but I do need to feel less numb, and somehow having him here is a comforting feeling.

As he strips down to his boxers and gets into bed next to me, the warmth of his body helps me relax.

I don’t move up too close to him, so that he still has his space, but I reach out and hold his strong arm with my hands, feeling myself already close to sleep.

Maybe my brothers were right to leave me—falling in love with Marco is an unforgivable act.

Chapter Nineteen

Marco

I see the light outside and I still haven’t managed to sleep, which seems to be becoming a pattern in my life, but with Grazia being distraught and then Luca calling the deal off, my mind is racing too fast for me to rest.

I need to get outside and move, to help clear up my thoughts for what’s next. I’m glad I left my running gear in my car, because right now is when I need it.

I slide out of bed, careful not to disrupt Grazia who is still sleeping soundly next to me.

The last thing I want is for her to wake up too soon. It won’t be good for her.

It took hours of her crying before she was able to fall asleep, and I have a feeling that she’s going to battle her emotions again if she wakes up.

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