Trust can be earned

Chapter 16

Morgan and I walk out hand in hand, both trying not to break character just yet. When we get in the car we drive away knowing Enzo is watching out of the window, as soon as we are away from view I grab my phone and turn on to the link Taylor sent me.

We both sit and watch the camera Taylor set up in Ivans earring, I turn the volume up and we listen as Enzo tries to convince Ivan I will be his bride not Morgans.

I can see Morgan getting more anger with every word Enzo spues, placing my hand on his thigh I give a gentle squeeze to gain his attention. His eyes snap to mine and I can see as softness overtakes the fury he was feeling, I place a soft kiss to his lips pouring all my love into it showing him he has nothing to worry about.

When I pull away he huffs and grabs my face between his large hands, I look into his eyes with sincerity “I love you Morgan, no one else.” Morgan looks at me for a second before nodding.

He pulls me closer and kisses my forehead before resting his on it, “I love you Savannah.”

I sigh and close my eyes breathing in his scent, him doing the same still trying to fully calm down.

Taylors voice interrupts us over our comms, “Guys it’s done, they have just shaken hands and Ivan is walking out. Hold up, yep he winked at the camera outside. Enzo is still seated at the table with a smirk, his on his phone.” Morgan and I open our eyes and smirk at each other knowing our plan is working.

About an hour after we left the restaurant my phone alerted me I had a message; it was from Enzo confirming him and Lucas would be coming to celebrate our wedding announcement party.

I smirk at Morgan and Taylor sitting the other side of my office desk, they can feel me staring because they both look up at me. Taylor gets impatient “Well!”

I keep my smirk, “Enzo and Lucas just confirmed the announcement party, no Gabriella but that was expected.” Morgan has a look of worry etched on his face; Taylor has a torn look.

I look between growling, “One of you spit it out, for f***s sake.”

Morgan and Taylor look at each other saying ‘Not it’ with their eyes. Neither backs down until I growl again and Taylor clears his throat, I turn my gaze to him waiting.

“Look we trust you, but do you really believe this will work. Have you even considered the lengths he will go to trying to get you back, Savannah you were the love of his life and when he knows you’re alive…? We’re just worried, we all need you.” I’m a little take back by what Taylor said.

I guess in a sense he is right, but again he has underestimated me. I slam my fist on my desk causing Taylor and Morgan to jump up in shock, I’m breathing heavy as I slowly raise my head to look at them. I sneer as they start backing away, smart of them.

“You dare underestimate me again, Enzo will die before he ever gets me back. That man is part of the reason my child will never take a breath, and I will make sure to steal his last before I ever consider going back to him.” I slowly stand up; I am so angry I am panting by the time I stop talking.

I am still standing behind my desk looking at them both under hooded eyes, Taylor opens his mouth to speak but I hold my hand up and stop him. I look him square in the eye with a sneer, “That brother, is your last warning. Now leave both of you, before I change my mind.”

I look down at my desk, until I hear them leave. When my office doors shuts I collapse in a heap behind my desk and I sob, I sob for the life I thought was mapped out in front of me. I sob for the time I wasted, but most of all I sob for the child that was taken from me.

I don’t know how long I sat in that same place and sobbed, eventually the sobs turned to hiccups and then to silent sobs. My phone was going off constantly but I ignored it, I didn’t move until I felt a hand touch my shoulder.

Normally I would have grabbed the hand and removed it, but instead I slowly lifted my heavy head and found the face of Shaun looking at me with sorrow in his eyes.

This caused me to sob harder, Shaun sighed, “Morgan told me what happened, when you didn’t come home I snuck out to find you. Figured you were still here, Ó mo chailín milis (Oh my sweet girl).”

Shaun wraps his hands around me and picks me up carrying me over to my sofa. I just continue to sob into his shirt, he sits with me in his lap and just holds me. It’s nothing s****l it is a father comforting his daughter, I needed this and when I am calm enough I pull away from him slightly and give him a small but thankful smile.

He returns my smile before looking over my head resting his chin on the top of it, I release a sigh just before Shaun starts talking “Losing a child is never easy and I won’t patronise you by telling you it gets easier to forget because it doesn’t, but every day it will start to hurt a little less until it just becomes bearable.”

I pull away from him and look at his face, I’m shocked to see a single tear leave his eye. Shaun looks down at me with sad eyes before he continues.

“Morgan and Nora had an older brother they don’t know about, he would have been two years older than Morgan. Six months after he was born someone attacked the house, they threw a firebomb into an upstairs window. We don’t know if they were targeting his room in particular, but the bomb landed in his cot. Lacey had just put him down for a nap, when she got back into the room it was ablaze and no one could get in there. We tried, I tried…” Shaun trails off lifting his shirt sleeves.

Under them all over his arms were horrendous scars from burns, how had I never noticed them. Shaun rolls his sleeves back down “It doesn’t matter how hard you try to protect them, you can’t always.”

I look at Shaun as fresh tears roll down my cheeks, he wipes them away and holds my face in his hands. He looked at me intensively before saying “I see how strong you are Savannah, but you have to promise that once Enzo is dead you move past it and live the future that is so bright for you.” I nod before curiosity got the better of me.

I couldn’t stop myself, “What was you sons name.”

Shaun offers a sad smile, “Brendan.”

“Do you know who was responsible?” Shaun looks at me and I know who “Lorenzo.” I whisper, Shaun nods his head sadly.

I fling my arms around his neck and hug him like I would my own father, I say through gritted teeth “The Marino’s will pay, for Brendan and Rome.”

Shaun gives me a tight squeeze, “That’s a beautiful name.”

I shrug, “It’s neutral, I never got to find out if Rome was a boy or girl and I thought the name best suited either.” Shaun let out a breath and squeezed me again.

Shortly after Shaun and I left my office, closer than before he shared something that only a few knew. We bonded over our grief and need for punishment; it’s not even revenge it is just a more than deserved punishment.

When we got home I went and apologised to Morgan, I’m still pissed at Taylor and can’t bring myself to speak with him yet. Morgan embraces me as soon as I walk into his room telling me I have nothing to be sorry for, I think Lacey may have spoken to him.

After such a long day I just want to shower and go to bed, so that is exactly what I do. I fall asleep before Morgan comes to bed; it was fairly peaceful but then a nightmare started taking over.