Page 48 of Pain and Possession

I pause, something about her seems familiar. Not necessarily in a positive way. I really do need a break though; my legs are screaming and my gut has been cramping more and more frequently. I nod slightly as I grab the handle, only to find it locked.

"You aren't crazy, are you?" She asks her finger paused on the button for the door.

I give her a half-hearted laugh, "Are you?"

"Fair enough."

She unlocks the door and as soon as I sit down inside the luxurious interior, I can't help but to feel like I've made a mistake. That feeling is exasperated when she puts the car back in drive, when the light from the dash reflects off the gold ring on her finger. An unmistakable crest on the band makes my stomach do a back flip. It's the same crest dangling from my wrist. I pull my hand to my lap, covering the bracelet with my shaking palm.

"I know it's not my business, but did you come from Noè's?" She asks, glancing at me from underneath her thick lashes.

I take a deep breath, trying to figure out if I should lie. She could take me right back to him. If he catches me now, I might never get out. He'll never let me out of his sight. The idea of being stuck underneath his thumb until he bores of me makes my skin crawl. Just being another notch in his kinky bed post.

She glances at me again, "Sorry, there's just only two houses down this road and my brother owns the estate so…"

Oh my ever-loving fuck.

"No, you're fine, it's just been a long night. I'm Olive." I finally respond after an uncomfortably long pause not wanting to creep the poor girl out.

"I'm so stupid of course you are!" She exclaims, bouncing in her seat excitedly, "Noè has told mom and I so much about you. My name is Charlotte by the way."

I clench my wrist tightly the delicate chain rough against my palm, "He has?"

"Well yeah, I mean he really likes you. Don't tell him I said that, he gets broody but I'm sure you know that. Why are you out here walking? Was he home?"

I raise my eyebrows at her rambling, fighting a smile she's pretty adorable. I feel stupid for not realizing sooner, they look a lot alike. Only actual difference being her reddish blonde hair as it sits high on her head in a ponytail. The familiar warm shade of her honey-colored skin makes my chest tighten.

"Yeah, he's home and I don't really want to talk about it if it's all the same to you."

She just nods silently, awkwardness filling the spacious cab. Seeping into every nook and cranny until it suffocates both its occupants. I nearly sigh with relief when she breaks the tension, "My entire life I don't remember Noè mentioning a girl to me or mom. It's not my place but he truly has feelings for you Olive. I know my family… who we are can be intense but he's a good man. I mean, he practically raised me."

I don't try to hide the surprised look on my face, my curiosity eating away at me. It's her turn to take a deep breath, I brace myself for the words that follow. Getting the distinct feeling whatever she's about to lay on me will be heavier than I can carry in my near permanent state of unrest.

"I never met our dad, I have Noè to thank for that. When he wasn't beating mom, he was assaulting her in… the worst ways. Not that either of them told me about all of that but you know," She chuckles, "Italian women like to talk, I was bound to find out from another family or visitors at the compound. My brother grew up with a front-row seat to all of it. They say he was forced to take a life when he was only ten, thinking about it makes me feel sick. He was a kid, except not really. He was never given that option. Still he never held it against me, he made sure I got all the opportunities he didn’t. Hell he was furious when I found out about the… less than legal business practices our family engaged in."

Noè…

She grips the steering wheel tighter, a haunted look on her face. "Understandably mom isn't, well per se. Some days are better than others but there's more bad days than good. Especially after my uncle died. He loved her, so much. He was the glue, he and my brother."

"That's all awful, I'm sorry. Noè- “

She laughs, "Didn't tell you, of course not. Things like this… are shameful, seen as a weakness. As new age as he tries to be it's a cringe ass Italian thing." I can't help but smile, before reality comes trickling back in.

He has a good reason to be the way he is, but that doesn't change the wrongness of it. All the sweet moments that break through, the caring tender man… it's only half of him.

"He has a fiancé or did at least." I mutter, my voice coming off cold and chipped. Charlotte scoffs, "Are you talking about Camilla?"

I don't answer, only biting down hard on my lip. Trying not to say something that could be comprising for me. Despite the flood of baseless opinions and profanity that lurk behind my lips. I suppose my silence is answer enough for her.

"You have nothing to worry about, not with him at least. She's a snake and a crazy one at that. God, I've always hated her, so has Noè. Did you know that one time she berated mom for having a panic attack at the compound? I nearly punched her in the face then and there.”

People hate fuck all the time. I should know.

My phones navigation alerts that we're only a block away, signaling the end of my torment. She's a nice girl, sweet even. Too sweet to be a part of all this. I just don't have the mental capacity required to process half of what I'm feeling right now. My seatbelt is off before we hit my street, the sight of my apartment building only adds more dread to my permanently sour mood.

"Thanks for the ride, sorry to put you out."

She smiles, "You didn't at all. I usually go running at the track with some girls before school. It was worth missing it to finally meet you." She sounds so… normal.

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