Is Trust Really Earned?

Chapter 3

THE DAY BEFORE ENZO LEAVES FOR ITALY

Savannah's POV

It's the first weekend of summer break and therefore the last night Enzo is here, he leaves for Italy in the morning, so his parents are hosting a going away party. All night Enzo has been surrounded by girls from our school, I haven't had a chance to speak with him alone.

I decide to go outside for some fresh air and take a seat on a bench, I'm trying hard not to be upset about him leaving as I always knew it would happen. Doesn't mean I'm not scared, what if he meets someone his own age. What if she's prettier than me, or worse smarter.

I can't help the little whimper that leaves my lips at the thought, I'm so lost in my own depressing mind I don't hear the footsteps approaching. I feel a finger under my chin, it lifts and turns my face, so I am facing Enzo. He has a soft expression on his face "I know not seeing each other every day will be strange, but I will come back to you." He promises.

I hold in the tears that are threatening to fall "I promise I will keep you safe while I'm gone, I have people watching out for you I promise." He says with conviction. I believe him so give a small smile and nod; I then release a sigh before looking away.

He lifts my face to his again and place's a gentle kiss to my lips "Your first kiss is mine, and when I come home so will your last be." he says before releasing my chin. He stands up and walks away without another glance, I won't see him again for 6 years. I can only hope he keeps his promise, I hope he does come home to me.

TWO YEARS AFTER ENZO LEFT

Savannah's POV

It's been 2 years since Enzo left and it's my fifteenth birthday, Nora and Sasha are staying over for a girl’s night. Movies junk food and pizza, we're on our fourth film and both girls have fallen asleep on me. Well, more like they’re in a junk food coma, my Mum and Dad are at the Marino’s, so we have the house to ourselves.

There are a few security men around the outside of the house, but otherwise we're alone. The film has just finished and I'm about to wake the girls up to go to bed when I hear the sound of glass breaking, I turn the telly off quickly and creep over to the door.

I don't know why but I sneak out of the room, I close and lock the door hoping to keep the girls safe. My guns are in my bedroom, so I start to sneak up to it, as I'm halfway up the stairs I hear men whispering coming towards me. I creep up the remaining stairs as quickly as I can, thank god for my training because I managed to not make a sound.

I ran to my room my heart pounding in my chest so loud it's the only thing I can hear now, until I hear footsteps heading up the stairs towards me. I get into my room and grab my Glocks; they already have the silencers on because who needs to wake the neighbours. I get under my bed on my belly and keep my eyes on the door, it opens quietly and someone steps in closing it behind them.

I take aim and the first thing I do is shoot the man in the ankle, as soon as he hits the floor, I shoot him in the head. I hear running footsteps and know that this is another one of them, as soon as the door opens, I aim and shoot him in the shin. I shoot him in the chest twice when he hits the floor, I wait and listen but don't hear any more footsteps.

I crawl out from under the bed just enough to grab me phone, I get straight back under and calmly call my Dad. He answers on the second ring "Hey Principessa...." he starts but I cut him off "Unicorn two down their side, don't know about ours but no guards. Don't think there's more, girls locked in junk room I'm underground." I say in a rush using all our code words.

I hear my Mum in the background asking questions, Dads ignoring her "Five." is all he says before Mum comes on the line. She is breathing heavy "Salvo? (Safe)” She questions "Salvo." I reply back "Bene e meglio che resti cosi. (Good you better stay that way)” She says firmly "Promettere. (Promise)” I say back before the line goes dead and I go back to listening.

I don't hear anything for a good 5 minutes, suddenly I hear two sets of footsteps running up the stairs right to my room. Lucky for the girls I know their shoes, or they would have been dead by now, I hear them both gasp "Sav." I hear Nora whisper "Get under here." I whisper back to them.

They both quickly join me, and I look at them both putting my finger over my mouth to indicate for them both to be quiet. I hear the front door slam open and this time I hear a lot of footsteps running around the house, I know my dad’s here "SAVANNAH!" He calls as I see his feet in my doorway.

I start getting out "Yep I'm here, so are Nora and Sasha." I say so he knows it’s us three getting out from under the bed. Lorenzo Marino walks in as I stand up "It's all clear, but all your guards are dead." he says gravely. Dad just nods and turns to me, grabbing me in the tightest hug kissing the top of my head repeatedly.

I've never seen him like this before, I hear him take a ragged breath "Principessa, I thought I'd lo...." he can't finish his sentence. I squeeze him tighter "I'm fine Papa, you taught me well." I finish softly looking at the two men lying dead on my bedroom floor. I release a sigh and the breath I didn't know I was holding; my dad does the same "How do you feel baby, being your first time?" He questions softly taking me in his arms again.

He rests his chin on my head as I think "Honestly, I'm fine it was either them or me. They were clearly here for me; he came straight to my room." I say pointing at the first one I shot. Lorenzo turns to his head of security "Get this cleaned up, you know the drill." he says. He turns to my dad "You can all stay with us, at least for tonight." he adds quickly as my Dad opens his mouth to argue.

Dad looks at me still in his arms and back at Lorenzo, giving him a nod, he looks at me again "Principessa, pack an overnight bag. Girls you're more than welcome to come, or we can drop you home?" He says to Nora and Sasha. They look at each other and then Lorenzo, he nods at them, and they look back at my Dad "We would like to spend the night with Sav, if that's ok Mr Costa, Mr Marino." Nora says.

My Dad chuckles "Girls please call me Rocco...." "And I'm Lorenzo, and it’s absolutely fine girls grab your things." Lorenzo interrupts my dad who chuckles softly. We all grab our things and head over to the Marino house as soon as I walk through the door Dante throws himself at me. He holds me tight "Thank God you're ok, when Mum called, I came straight home." he says in a rush.

His Mum Gabriella, or Aunt Gabs as I call her laughed at her son. When she calmed down "Dante let Val see her daughter, let the poor girl go." She said with a soft chuckle. Dante seemed to remember himself and quickly drops his arms to his side, I nearly lose balance, but my Mum grabs me in a tight hug steadying me.

My Dad clears his throat "Principessa, we need to know what actually happened. Let’s go to Lorenzo's office, we need all the details." he says to me. I give him a nod "The girls don't need to be there I locked them in the theatre room, they didn't find me until I had killed both intruders." I finished to my Mum and Aunt Gabs gasping.

I forgot they weren't at the house; I think the shock of everything is finally setting in. I turn to my Mum, and she has a look of pity on her face, she wraps me up in a tight hug "If you want to talk about it, I'm here, I know your first time can be hard. Please talk if you need to, don't bottle anything up." She whispers in my ear.

She releases me and looks at my dad, she gives him a nod and turns walking over to Nora and Sasha "Come on girls, we'll show you to the room you three will be sharing." She says indicating for the girls to follow.

They all walk off and up the stairs, Lorenzo, my dad and I head to Lorenzo's office. I didn't notice Dante following until I turned to close the office door, I nearly knocked him out with it. He rubbed his head as I chuckled and opened the door wide enough for him to come in, he sits down with a huff crossing his arms over his chest.

We all take our seats "I think Enzo should be in on this meeting." Lorenzo explains. Dante scoffs and seems to stiffen next to me, but I ignore it as there are more important things right now. Lorenzo dials Enzo's number putting it on loudspeaker, Enzo answers after 2 rings "Dad, everything ok?" He asks.