Page 6 of Shattered Reign

A quick check of the time told me that it was time to head toward Villa Cimbrone. Thankfully, it was a walkable distance as well, and in about ten minutes, I was standing at the entrance.

Villa Cimbrone was just as beautiful as Villa Rufolo. As I made my way through the gardens, I couldn’t help but be thankful that I was here. Sure, the circumstances that allowed me to come here were unpleasant, but being here felt life changing in more ways than one.

And that was before I reached the Terrace of Infinity.

The Roman-like statues, which stood along the fence, provided a gateway to a view that was absolutely breathtaking. Then something hit me. The endless stretch of blue water that met the sky at the horizon was probably why it had gotten its name.

Once I’d taken enough photos to last a lifetime, I found myself walking to the exit with a renewed sense of purpose. The sun had begun to set, streaking the sky in orange and pink as I left Villa Cimbrone.

The beauty of the moment was bittersweet in a way. The scenery was mesmerizing, yet there was something missing. Deep down, it felt as if the sight was too beautiful to be enjoyed alone. It was then that I realized, once again, I wished I had someone here with me. But there was nothing I could do about that now, and I needed to own that this trip was a path to me healing from the turmoil I’d endured.

As I walked toward my hotel, the smell of food hit me. It was then that my stomach growled, reminding me that it had been a while since I’d eaten anything. As I walked by a small café, I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to stop and have something to eat.

I was seated immediately, and I had time to enjoy a glass of water while I waited on my dish. I looked into my purse and fought the urge to turn on my old phone and check any messages I might have received.

That thought quickly fled my head when my waiter served me my dinner, and the smells told me that this was going to be another wonderful experience for my tummy. This time, eating alone didn’t feel so earth-shattering, and I decided I needed to make this a part of my routine when I returned to the States.

Once I’d finished my meal, I made sure to thank my waiter and the host for their wonderful hospitality and continued my walk back to my hotel. The streetlights were on now, providing the light I needed to walk down the cobbled streets. The soft sounds of the sea in the distance were comforting and I allowed my thoughts to wander.

Once I reached my hotel, I walked up the stairs and found myself in front of my hotel room. It took me a moment to find my key, but once I was safely locked away in my room, I reflected on my journey so far. I was getting comfortable being alone and depending on myself and discovering how nice it was to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

Not only that, but I felt happy despite the emotions and uncertainties about the future that swirled inside of me. Today, I experienced a slice of what Italy had to offer. For that, I was extremely grateful.

After a long day of exploring and visiting historic landmarks, I knew I needed to unwind before getting into bed.

First, I turned the television on to a random station for some background noise, and as I was watching the show, I took my hair out of its ponytail and let it fall onto my shoulders. It took a lot of energy to force myself to stop staring at what was playing on the screen long enough for me to walk into the bathroom so that I could wash some of the grime of the day off my skin. When I’d completed that task, I made sure to put on the soft pajamas that I’d bought specifically for this trip.

As I settled under the crisp white sheets, the scent of fresh laundry surrounded me like a warm hug from home. A hug that I missed, but couldn’t bear to think about for longer than a few seconds for fear that I might cry.

I closed my eyes and sighed, hoping that sleep would overcome me, when I heard something vibrate on my bedside table. My gaze narrowed in the direction of where I’d heard the sound, and it took me a second to realize it was my new phone that had buzzed. I assumed it was alerting me to a new message or call. I picked it up, expecting it to be from Tristan, but my heart skipped a beat when I realized it wasn’t.

Unknown Number: I hope you’re enjoying yourself on vacation, B.

My hand flew to my mouth. How did whoever this was know I wasn’t in New York? Did they know that I was in Italy? Better yet, how did they get this number?

I refused to let fear fuel my thoughts, but more questions than I could count flew through my mind. As I tried to piece together the puzzle, it still refused to be solved. I thought about answering the message, but being that I was by myself in another country, that probably wasn’t the wisest idea.

Instead, I turned that phone off too because, damnit, I needed to rest. I also didn’t want whoever this asshole was to ruin the beautiful day I’d had today. I turned over, laid my head down on the pillow, and stared at the television screen until my eyes started to grow heavy. Then I finally drifted off to sleep.

5

EASTON

THE SAME DAY

Istared up at my ceiling as I watched a glow appear out of the corner of my eye. It was coming from my window as the sun was rising. I normally would have been irritated that I’d let the sun seep in because I left the curtains open. Today it didn’t make a difference because I’d lain in bed awake for an hour anyway.

I should get up and pack my bag because I was leaving in thirty minutes and I didn’t want to be late, but for some reason, I needed to lie there for a few more minutes before I got up. I needed to just be still and think about what I was about to do.

I was going to get Bianca. I was going to get my girl.

I grabbed my phone and checked my text messages in hopes that I might have missed her call or text back. All I found were unanswered text messages and calls from me to Bianca.

That wasn’t going to stop me.

I sat up and removed the covers from my body. I threw my feet over the edge of the bed and ran my fingers through my hair.

It was go time.

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