Page 75 of From My Past
“The fuck I can’t!” She screams, throwing an arm behind her in both my direction and Trent’s. “You don’t know. You two don’t know what it was like to be scared each and every moment for months on end. You don’t know what it is like to be beaten and bruised and still have someone come at you with a closed fist or a kick or anything within grabbing distance.” Her screaming anger turned to tears as she struggled to keep her emotions together. “You don’t know what it’s like…to be lying in bed and trying to pretend it’s not real, that it’s not happening.”
I feel my breathing hitch and my hands start to clench tighter and tighter as I do my best to control my anger. She should’ve never been in that situation, should have never have experienced any of that. I’m trying to control my breathing and my anger because she sure as shit didn’t need any of my issues while she was feeling this way.
“Baby,” I say, holding up my hands slowly and taking the bag she was holding in a death grip. She steps back, ripping herself out of my embrace. “Baby, give me the bag. Please.”
Her dark eyes sparkling with unshed tears, her chin tipped up in determination glaring back at me.
She let the bag drop to the floor. “He can’t do this, Kieron. I can’t let him.”
“I know, baby. I know.” And I can’t stand not having her in my arms anymore, this time when I try to hug her close, she lets me. The moment her body crashes into mine, all the tension is gone and she holds on for dear life. “You know you’re not alone anymore, right? You can’t let him do this, no,wecan’t let him. And we won’t.” I cup her face softly, bringing her lips to mine. “You and me, we’re a team. We’re going to be married. Your problems are mine and mine are yours.”
“And Luca is one big fucking problem, isn’t he? And it’s not just me he might hurt.”
“Trent?” I call out, hoping the connection was still live.
“Yeah?”
“Let’s go sit and talk this through. We can’t do anything; protect you at all times from mercenaries or protect the people the Italians are after without a solid plan.” I tell her softly, kissing her forehead. “Remember what I said, wifey.” Smirking at her and walking over to the couch to straighten out this shit-show that potentially could ruin the best thing I have going for me in my life.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Talia
I’m not going to lie; I was checked out for most of the conversation the two guys were having. They bounced around ideas and talked about the different people they were going to bring in, I just couldn’t focus.
My mind was in a fog about anything that wasn’t a fantasy where I put a bullet in Luca’s brain. My anger had turned me murderous.
“Talia,” Trent said, pulling me out of my daydream where I was gouging Luca’s eyeballs out with dull spoon.
“Hm?”
“I was saying that you shouldn’t worry. Bryan, Kieron and I will take care of this.” I couldn’t help but give him a pouty smile because he was just so sweet. There wasn’t anything for me to say really, so I just nodded.
Of course, I was going to worry.
“Okay you two,” Trenton clapped. “I’ve got a meeting for the Garzino’s I have to get to. I need to inform Bryan of the change in plan and Kieron, you’ll let the boss know?”
“I am your boss, but yes, I’ll conference with Skipper.” Kieron said.
“I’m sorry I didn’t have good news.” Trent said sadly, which was ridiculous in my opinion. I knew what he was risking going undercover. I knew how stressful it seemed to be for him. I was thankful, and it was obvious that Kieron was too.
“It’s okay, man. Thanks.” Kieron said and signed off.
He closed the computer and the two of us were thrust back into silence and darkness. Kieron squeezed my knee, got up and opened the wooden blinds to let the sunlight and sea air in. “You’re not still thinking of trying to leave again, are you?”
I chuckled and shook my head, standing up to join him by the window.
“No, that was a rage-filled fantasy. I wouldn’t be able to take on Luca.” I sighed. That was the truth and it fucking sucked. I’d never been the bodybuilder type girl or the one always in the gym, but my attitude and confidence was usually enough to get whoever it was to back off. Since everything that went down, I have no confidence. I’m barely healed from the last beating I’d taken, then the explosion, and I wouldn’t be able to cause any damage even if I was able to find Luca to try and hurt him.
“We will train together; you’ll get stronger and more confident on how to defend yourself. Then, hopefully, if anything slips by my very carefully placed defenses, you can get a few damaging punches in.” He smiles down at me. “You’re always a badass.”
“Train me. We have time here in this isolated protective bubble. I want you to teach me how to take someone your size down and I want to learn how to shoot.” I ask, without really asking.
“As you wish, baby.”
* * *
“Let’s go surfing. Get out on the water, let the waves take away some of this stress.” I was making a cup of coffee, Trent’s call waking us up way too early, when Kieron wrapped his arms around my middle from behind. After the initial jolt of surprise, I relaxed into his embrace. “I’m dying to get out on my board.” He said wistfully.
