Page 136 of King of Omen

We fell back into being one big, happy family.

The dampener on our domestic bliss came when we discovered more about Tony’s movements and how he’d slipped into the country just after Bianca died. Apparently, he’d attended her service and wake.

That’s where Saint believed he mixed in with the guests and tagged Lorenzo and me.

He told us as much over a phone call one late afternoon, a day after my arm cast had been removed.

We were seated in Lorenzo’s study, the curtains ruffling in the warm breeze, the sun dappling the floor and desk.

I sat on my man’s lap, listening to the shocking revelation.

‘My crew retrieved Linda’s computer from your apartment, Mia,’ Saint rumbled, ‘and mined it for clues. They found photos.’

Lorenzo’s laptop pinged as a dozen images popped up on our end.

They appeared to have been taken with a long-lens camera. They featured Lorenzo and me standing close to Bianca’s terrace.

‘Tony and Linda assumed we were together then,’ I breathed, shocked as Lorenzo flipped through them, showing me in my lilac dress, capturing the moment Lorenzo bent over me when he’d kissed my cheek.

The Sovereign man continued. ‘They went on to follow you and hacked your WiFi when you were still living in the Mountains. After intercepting your searches and ads for a shared apartment to rent in Sydney, they emailed you about the accommodation,’ Saint informed Lorenzo and me.

‘So blissfully ignorant, I moved in with Linda, as both of them ingratiated themselves in my life, part of a nefarious plan to get to the Calibrese family through me,’ I murmured, my voice catching with emotion.

Lorenzo tugged me closer, pressing his lips to my temple.

For several days after the revelation of how naive I’d been, I felt like a fool.

Until I rationalised that it wasn’t my fault, I hadn’t had any reason to suspect Linda and her cousin meant me any harm, so in time, I forgave myself.

However, although my physical wounds healed, the emotional scars remained. For a few nights, nightmares plagued me, jolting me awake, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.

My gorgeous man held me close each time, whispering soothing words and wiping away my tears till I fell asleep.

The days turned into weeks. Life settled into a comfortable routine as I continued to heal. I chose to take therapy to help me recover from the trauma as I started to put the pieces of my life back together.

The looming threat of Tony and Linda, now a distant memory, was supplanted by a newfound peace and sense of security.

Lorenzo’s protective nature never faltered, and his care for me was evident in every action.

Lorenzo and I found solace in each other’s presence, leaning on one another for support and understanding. Our passion blossomed into something more profound than we’d ever experienced.

I found strength in my resilience, my man’s unwavering support, and the love that embraced me. The nightmares grew less frequent, replaced by peaceful nights wrapped in his arms.

Each day, I fell more in love with Lorenzo.

I adored his laugh, his soft, neat beard, how his long hair fell over his forehead when he fucked me and growled into my neck.

I cherished that we debated intellectual topics, from books to philosophy, food and travel, opposing each other on some and deliciously on the same wavelength on others.

His dark sense of humour and charisma were off the charts, as was his ability to mesmerise people’s attention with his insightful conversational skills.

Fiery, passionate, possessive, and caring, he supported my dreams to grow my business. Queen’s Clean was on its way to becoming a leading service with excellent reviews.

My clients especially loved my heartfelt thank you notes after every clean, written on my stunning stationery and lush paper and infused with my homemade perfume.

Lorenzo and his brothers parlayed their vast resources, combining them with their passion for food. They established an import venture focused on artisan pasta, cold-pressed olive oils, condiments, and gourmet sauces.

The siblings even planned for an extensive deli shop carrying small-format Italian beer, wines, and spirits. They wanted the resulting brand to become a source of everything Italian, a mecca for speciality imports, and an eclectic selection of international and locally sourced goods.

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