Page 119 of Frayed Bonds

“Why did Adriano even think to do a search on Horatio?”

“Said he had a bad feeling about him and if anything, we've learnt to trust Adriano's gut. It’s always right. Anyway, that’s why we had all that security. It’s also why we had weapons in case anything went wrong. None of us knew about you being married to him though.”

I want to cry all over again. “He made sure to not keep any records of our relationship public because he was worried someone might 'come after me.'” I laugh. The irony of the way he kept our entire relationship a secret from the world, went so far as to have other women hold up the facade, and then still hunted me down like a psycho.

The beeping of the keypad draws our attention to the door. “Here’s your boyfriend now,” Antonio says and sure enough Ambrose and Gus come rushing in.

“Are you both okay?” Ambrose asks, looking between us both, Antonio simply nods. Seconds later Ambrose has me in his arms. “Thank you,” I hear him whisper to who I assume is Antonio.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” He pulls back to give me a once-over.

“Yes, I’m fine, just shaken up, Nino got us inside in time.”

“I’m glad he did,” he brushes my hair out of my face and kisses the top of my head.

“The security says the perimeter is clear and if anyone was here they're gone now,” Gus says hanging up the call. “Adriano’s tech guy also located Horatio’s phone, looks like he’s in Spain for now.”

“Make sure they don’t move from their posts unless they’re dying,” Ambrose says.

“Yes, Papá I’m sure I’m okay,” I say into the phone as I sit on Ambrose's bed.

“Is Ambrose there? I saw the news, Valerie. I want to be sure you're okay and not alone.” His voice is threaded with concern and I frown knowing how much stress this has probably caused him.

“Yes, Ambrose is here, Papá, please don’t worry I promise I’m okay.”

He sighs so loudly I can hear it through the call. “Okay Fiore Mio, have Ambrose call me in the morning.”

“Will do, Papá, I love you.”

“Ti amo, Fiore Mio.” I love you, Fiore Mio.

Ambrose stumbles out of the shower, his towel hanging low and usually his body screams sex but right now it’s whispering pain. The purple bruises that line his ribs paint a dark picture of how heavy this day has been on all of us.

I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist, placing a small kiss on his back. He tenses under my touch but softens again under the kiss. “I’m gonna take a quick shower too.”

“You could have joined me, you know.” It isn’t an innuendo or an excuse to see me naked like it usually is, instead it genuinely sounds like a caring offer.

“I wanted to give you time alone to think,” I say, immediately wondering if I shouldn’t have done that.

“Thank you,” he grabs my hand and kisses it.

The shower does nothing but rinse off the physical dirt of the day. The emotional dirt lingers long after I’ve dried off.

Antonio killed someone today and I worry about what happens now. Will the police get involved when this gets out to the media? I push the worry to the back of my head when I get out of the bathroom and hear Ambrose on the phone with someone.

Thank you, we’ll come and visit this evening,” he says before hanging up.

“That was the hospital,” he says as I sit next to him. He pulls me into his lap. “They said he’s in a lot of pain but he’s awake and out of surgery.”

“That’s great, not that he’s in pain but that he’s awake,” I say.

“They don't know the full extent of the damage to his shoulder but with physical therapy, they’re hopeful he’ll regain full mobility of it.” He swallows and I hear us both sigh in relief. “I was so worried I was going to lose both of you today. I’ve never felt that useless and scared before in my life.” He admits.

“But you didn't. We live to see another day.” I smile up at him.

He looks down at my hand that’s rubbing small circles into his forearm. “Why do you do that?”

I hadn't realised that I’d been doing it. “My mamá would always do it whenever I felt anxious and it always helped, I guess it’s something I picked up from her.”

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