Page 45 of Lorenzo & Lily

“Her family is high society in Italy.” His mother stiffened, but he kept going; there were a lot of high society families, even in other countries, who didn’t approve of the Vallerian monarchy. He wondered if her reaction related to that, or something else entirely.

“She hasn’t spoken to them in over four years, since Liliana was born. They cut her off financially and emotionally. She’s been raising Liliana on her own and, once you meet her, once you meet them both, you’ll know she’s done a great job. Liliana’s bright and fun and happy.” His voice choked up. “She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Oh, my son.” His father’s voice was a little gruff, too, though Lorenzo didn’t think it was from sleep.

“The mother’s name is Cecilia Brionne. I always called her Lily; when she had the baby, she chose my nickname for her as the baby’s name. I think that says quite a lot, don’t you?”

His father glanced at his mother again. “Yes, it does. We knew the Brionnes many years ago, though it was only socially, and through the Italian prime minister at the time. Her family was involved in a scandal, were they not?”

Lorenzo stiffened. “Yes, but, as I said, she hasn’t spoken to them in years. They won’t be involved in Liliana’s life, or ours.”

“How…how did you meet Cecilia?” his mother asked.

Lorenzo looked away, then back. He couldn’t hide it, he knew. “When I came back from, well, from my last mission in the army.” He cleared his throat. “I was recovering in the hospital, as I’m sure you remember. Lily was stationed there as a volunteer with the VSO, and that’s where I met her. We grew close over those several months. Really close.”

His mother’s face was even; it was the diplomatic face she showed the world when she didn’t want anyone to know what she was thinking. Lorenzo wondered why she used it now. “You never mentioned you were seeing someone back then, not any of the times we came to visit. Why?”

“It was against the rules for us – a volunteer and a patient – to see each other, and I didn’t want her to get in trouble. I knew once I left the hospital, we could be together and make it public. We were planning for that. I’d been discharged for just a few days when she broke things off with me.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t just some misguided emotions on your part? This did happen during your recovery. Perhaps, since she helped you recover, you incorrectly thought you felt more than you did.”

Lorenzo quickly shook his head. “No, Mama.I’mthe one who recovered, physically and emotionally. I know that. However, she did help me. She reminded me what it was like to feel, just as much as the therapist did. I didn’t want to feel anything once I got back, because all I did feel was fear and terror.”

His father cleared his throat again. “Did she tell you why she walked away, my son? That was when you had your, er, relapse, was it not?”

Lorenzo nodded stiffly. “I suffered from depression after she left me, it’s true.” He gave his parents a keen look. “She told me a little bit about why she left me, and what happened after I left. What little she did tell me indicates someone interfered in our relationship and deprived me of the first four years of my child’s life.”

Both his parents winced. What the hell did that mean? Could they both be involved in this?

“I’m going to look into things on my own. If this person poses a danger to her and Liliana, I need to make sure they’re protected. I’ve had agents on them both since I found out, in any case.”

“I’m sure that whoever is involved in this, my son, poses no danger.”

“Papa, you can’t be serious. Think of everything our family has been through in the last year. If we knew without a doubt who was involved, we could manage things better, but I’m not taking any chances.”

His mother’s brows drew together, and her face took on the same worried look she’d had at his father’s hospital bedside a few months ago. “What will you do if Cecilia leaves again, Lorenzo?”

“She won’t leave me again. She’s the mother of my child, and we’re going to be in each other’s lives for a very long time, forever if I get my way.”

“Forever?” his mother choked. “You want to marry her?”

“I wanted to marry her five years ago before she left me. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved. Seeing her again, I know now that love never went away. I couldn’t stop loving her then. I certainly can’t stop now. If anyone tries to come between us again, they’ll find my support with her and Liliana. I’ll do anything to protect them and keep them near.”

Both faces paled.

“So, you’ll be living together?”

“No, Mama, not at the start. We both need a little time, and Liliana needs to adjust. I don’t want to rush things.”

His father nodded. “Are you working on the press release?”

He nodded. “I told my admin, Rio – you’ve met him, yes? – and he’s preparing one now. I’ve asked him to coordinate with Corrado, Tavin, and Mara, and Finn’s staff in Brazenbourg,” he said, referring to the chiefs-of-staff for his father, Alex, and Rebecca, as well as his sister Arianna’s husband, who was crown prince and ruler of Brazenbourg, a small country far north of Valleria. “He’s just waiting on my go-ahead to contact them, which I’ll do after I let Alex and the rest know.”

His father exchanged some unspoken communication with his mother. “We’d like to meet them, both Cecilia and Liliana.”

“I figured as much. If you’re feeling good enough to travel, come down the day after next.”

“Of course, I’m feeling well. Haven’t I been traveling to visit Arianna, Finn, and Eloisa? And Brazenbourg’s quite a bit farther than Masillia is.”

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