Page 23 of Unspoken Vendetta

Lia is standing there with a look of absolute horror on her face.

"Lia."

"So - it's true?" She stammers.

"What is?" I ask, confused.

"The stories they tell me about you. You do torture people." She looks as though she is about to start crying.

"My love, it's the nature of this business. If I didn't, people would continue to take advantage or view me as weak, and I can't let that happen."

"But you are going to hurt that man." She turns her head away from me when I move towards her to kiss her.

"My beautiful girl, this is just a part of my life that you are going to have to accept. I will never expose you directly to it, but it is who I am on a different level. In business."

"I - I don't like it." She says softly.

"There is darkness in everyone, little fox. I won't hide anything from you. I will always be honest with you. But you will need to come to terms with this part of me, and that it will be a part of our relationship."

She nods and leans against me when I pull her close. I knew it would be something that might shock her, and I didn't want her to find out by overhearing a conversation, but it is out in the open now, and once she has come to terms with it everything will be fine.

"Can I make you some coffee?" I ask, pulling her away from me so that I can look into her eyes. She smiles that beautiful smile of hers and nods. "I'd love some, thank you."

I lift her into my arms and set her on the countertop so that she can watch me while I make some coffee and breakfast. We chat as though nothing has happened, even though I can see she is still processing it all. I'll give her some time and then talk to her about it later again.

AMELIA

Over the next few days, I am lost in my head a little. I feel conflicted.

Stefano is the most loving, gentle, and beautiful man I have ever met. But on the other side, I now know that all of the stories about him are true. Everything my father warned me about is for a reason. He is that dark; he is that dangerous man that people are so scared of.

This morning Stefano left for a business trip, and I won't be able to see him for a few days.

It feels like a part of me is missing when he's gone, but at the same time today, I am grateful for the space so that I can think more clearly.

I am so, utterly and madly in love with him.

But I also need to work and focus on getting ready to start at Saint Aquinas soon.

I will marry him and spend my life with him, but I won't give up on my dreams while I do that. He understands that and supports me which is another thing that I love about him.

At the deli, I hear the oven ping to let me know that the fresh batch of rolls is ready to come out.

I dust my hands over my apron and grab the oven gloves. A smile splashes across my face because I love this part - the moment you pull the oven open, and the full scent of freshly baked blueberry croissants steams into the air.

But when I pull the oven open, and that fresh scent hits me I feel a wave of nausea.

I quickly pull them out and set them aside to cool.

Another wave of nausea hits me, and my manager throws me a curious glance.

"Lia, what's wrong? You look really pale."

"I feel a bit sick," I say pressing my hand against my stomach.

"Like a tummy bug"

"Hmm." I swallow hard as the nausea tightens the back of my throat.

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