Is Trust Really Earned?

Chapter 5

FIVE YEARS AFTER ENZO LEFT

Enzo's POV

The last 5 years have been hard, and I've worked my arse off, I have one more year and I can go home. I have been waiting to get back to Savannah for so long, she stopped video calling with me a year after the break in. She never told me why, but I found it hard not seeing her face or hearing her voice, at least I know Dante wasn't hanging around her like some lovesick puppy.

We haven't spoken since the night Savannah first killed a person; he wasn't happy with what my Father had to say about him being in love with my future wife. He needed to get over his little f*****g crush and fast, she is going to be his sister when I return.

Savannah's POV

It's been 3 years since I first killed a person and I haven't stopped, I have been training and taking more responsibility over my family’s business. People underestimate me, one because I'm still a kid, two because I'm a girl and three because I'm f*****g small. I stopped growing at 15 I've stayed at 5 feet, everything else continued growing though.

I had a rather decent bust and a little waist with curvy hips, my hair was down to my bum and had a slight wave to it. Because of my looks I have suffered; I know that sounds conceited but it's the truth. Boys and men think because of the way I look I am free for them to do as they please, I have been grabbed, groped, and cornered more times than I care to remember.

True to his word every time I was in trouble there was someone there to help me, although I think I started proving to them that I no longer needed help. Well, that was until 2 years ago when four men cornered me, now don't get me wrong I managed to take two out pretty fast.

But the others managed to get me pinned somehow, I still don't know how but thank God Nora and Sasha heard me. Nora got her brother Morgan, and he killed all four men, thankfully they didn't manage to do more than rough me up and rip my clothes.

When Morgan got to me, I was pretty beat up, they were his men, and they knew better than to treat a woman that way. He didn't even give them a chance to say a word, I was pretty out of it by the time Morgan scooped me into his arms and took me to his doctor.

He hasn't left my side since that day; he feels so guilty about what happened. My Father was furious and threatened to cut all alliances with Morgan's family, his father managed to talk my Dad round thanks to a little help from me. Morgan knows I'm promised to Enzo, he also knows that I am in love with Enzo. He has admitted he wishes it were him over the last few months, he is constantly telling me no matter what happens between us or our families he will always have my back and stand beside me.

I haven’t spoken to Enzo since the incident, I didn’t want him to know about it and come home. He needs to be in Italy right now, I begged our fathers not to tell him either. Lorenzo has never liked the Quinn family or how they worked, they have an understanding with each other because of my father.

The incident 2 years ago destroyed that understanding, and Lorenzo has been trying to get my father to cut his alliance with them since it happened. It’s the only time Lorenzo has looked at me with disappointment in his eyes and it hurt, but he needs to understand Morgan and Nora had nothing to do with what happened and Morgan took care of it there and then.

If Enzo ever found out Morgan would be dead regardless, the only ones that know are me, my father, Lorenzo, Morgan, Nora, their father, and the guys that are now dead. Not even Sasha knows the full truth of that night, and that’s the way it has to stay too many people know already.

I know me not video calling has been hurting Enzo but I’m not ready yet to face him, it may have been 2 years ago, but those guys messed me up bad and I still have therapy because of it. I have another year before Enzo comes home and I can only hope I can face him without breaking down by then.

Dante has been in the background watching but he never speaks to me anymore, and since Morgan and I have gotten closer his been watching more. He always looks angry when he sees us together, I’ve asked mum and Aunt Gabs about it, but they always change the subject. I’ve spent any free time I had this summer with Morgan, everything we did we were laughing the whole time. I won’t deny I have feelings for Morgan, how can I not we have gotten so close these last couple of years and he really has been my rock.

I am in love with Enzo, but I can’t say that if I had met Morgan first, I couldn’t have just as easily fallen in love with him, he is my safe place and my warm comfort when I need it. I know when Enzo comes home our relationship will change a lot and we won’t be able to see each other the way we are now, Morgan isn’t happy about the situation, but he does understand how important these marriage agreements are.

His lucky his father is letting him choose his own bride like he did, I think that’s Lorenzos problem with him. Morgans father married outside his own and his wife isn’t Irish, Lorenzo is a traditionalist and believes keeping it within our own origin will keep our lines strong and long.

My father has some of the same views, but he has always said that if I ever wanted out of this agreement then I just had to say, although he was in an arranged marriage like Enzo and I, he loved her before they married. He said he would rather I marry for love than power, a happy leader is a good careful leader he would always remind me.

That is why I love my mother and father so much; they allow me to make my own decisions and if I wanted out of my dad’s business I only had to say. He made me realise that family will always come before power, because when the power has gone family is all you have left but only if you look after it. My parents always taught me that power couldn’t and probably wouldn’t last for ever, but sometimes parents can be wrong.

Summer was nearly over, and college was starting soon, I decided that I would do online courses and work closer with my father. I still had 9 months until Enzo got home so I continued my therapy sessions, after an afternoon of going through my father’s legit accounts I went to see my therapist.

I was meeting Morgan after at a café just down the road after, the session went well, and my therapist thought it was a good idea to start lessening my sessions. I was excited to tell Morgan I only need to see her once a week now, I parked closer to the café than the therapist office, so I was walking to meet Morgan.

I was stupid and wasn’t paying attention too happy that I was finally moving past my trauma, as I was about to cross the street I was yanked into an alleyway. I hit the ground hard as I was shoved further into the alley, my head bouncing off a wall as I stumbled to catch myself.

Dizziness hit me instantly and my vision blurred I could only just make out a dark figure, before I knew it a fist, I think connected with the side of my already throbbing head. Not once, not twice but three times. Then the fist started raining down on my face, I didn’t get a chance to react to anything it all happened so fast.

I was thrown against the wall again the back of my head hitting it hard, I fall in a heap on the floor breathing heavy. I was on the floor for a few seconds. Long enough for my vision to come back a little better, but the pain intensified with every second and I knew I wouldn’t be conscious much longer.

I quickly grabbed my phone and put it on record hiding it just under my leg, then I grab one of my guns just in time for the stranger to grab my hair. He lifted me off the ground, so my ear was level with his mouth, I felt him sniff the back of my neck.

He released a breath “So beautiful, such a shame I have to mess this pretty body up. Pass this on to your Daddy this time is a warning we will take his territory, and next time you won’t be left breathing.” He whispers into my ear before dropping me to the ground again.

It didn’t seem like he noticed my phone as he dropped me. He kicked me in the ribs a couple of times and as he went to stamp on my face I shot him in the groin, he went down like a sack of potatoes. I relaxed a second but really shouldn’t have as it seems my vision wasn’t as clear as I thought, I must have just grazed him because he roared “f*****g b***h!” Then he jumped up.

As he stalks towards me, I know this would be it, I aimed again but he just kicked the gun from my hands. He kicked and punched my body a bit more before he gave one final blow with his foot to my face. As soon as his boot connected with my face, I stabbed him in the leg causing him to grunt in pain before blackness consumed me, I couldn’t see or hear. All I could do is feel and f**k me feel I did, every inch of me hurt. I wanted to cry but nothing came out, so I just suffered in this blackness for I don’t know how long.