Chapter9.
1521 Words
Lily's POV.
Isabella was right. The garden is amazing. It almost feels like a stepped into a secret fantasy world. There are so many things to look at. So many colors that catch my eye. I could easily get lost in here. I could spend hours walking around, finding inspiration. The only thing that spoils it all is the way I feel at the moment.
I feel lonely and trapped. I feel sad. I want to go back home. I want to go back to my studio, but Alessio won't let me. He told me that I couldn't leave. I hate it. Who does he even think he is? He can't just keep me here against my will. He has no right.
He tells me that I won't be safe if I go back to my studio on my own. He tells me that he won't be able to protect me there. Protect me from whom? Keep me safe from what, exactly? He told me that his enemies would try to use what I know against him. But no one even knows that I exist. He's the only one that knows what I saw. Well, him and the people in this house, but they aren't his enemies. They wouldn't try to use me against him. Would they?
"Lily."
I jump because I did not think that anyone else was out here with me.
Alessio is holding a single red rose in his hand. He must have picked it from the garden. He holds it out to me. I'm angry with him, and I don't want his flower, so I don't move. I just stand here staring at him. After a few seconds, he withdraws his hand and sighs. He runs his hand through his hair and my stomach flutters. I feel irritated with myself for reacting to him. I feel betrayed by my own body.
"What do you want?" I'm pleased that my tone sounds irritated as well.
"I owe you an apology. I should not have spoken to you like that."
I don't say anything. I just continue to stare at him. Some of the anger that I feel towards him begins to subside, and I hope that he doesn't notice.
"Dante just has this way of getting me worked up. It's no excuse, I know, but it's the truth."
"Yea, no kidding. What's his problem with me anyway?"
Alessio ushers me over to the small table standing in the middle of the garden and pulls out one of the chairs for me. He tries to hide it, but I can see the flash of sadness and disappointment in his eyes.
"Dante thinks that I made a mistake by bringing you here. He thinks that I should have put a bullet through your head the second I found you in your studio. He thinks that keeping you alive makes me look weak."
My heart drops into my stomach. The tone in Alessio's voice suggests that he might as well be discussing the weather. He must be so used to talking about killing and death. I, on the other hand, am not. Especially not my own death. An ice-cold shiver runs down my spine and I can feel my body shudder.
"Why does he think so?" My voice sounds small.
"Because you saw me killing someone else. What you know could be very harmful to me if the wrong people found out about it."
"But you said that it was self-defense."
"Even so."
I swallow. My heart is no longer in my stomach. Now it's pounding away in my ears.
"And, do you agree with Dante?"
Alessio takes a few seconds to answer. He shakes his head. "If I wanted you dead, Lily, you would be."
I'm not sure if his answer is supposed to make me feel better. It doesn't. I just stare at him. Eventually, he reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. I know that I should be pulling my hand away from his, but I can't. I don't really want to. I like the feel of his skin against mine. I like the way it makes me feel. I look up at his face to find him staring at me as well.
"I would never hurt you, Lily. I wouldn't be able to. If you really want to go back to your studio, I'll take you. Just tell me when you want to leave."
"Now." The word falls out of my mouth before I can stop it. It's what I want. At least I think that it is.
Alessio looks disappointed and even a little hurt, but he nods his head and stands up. He's still holding my hand in his. "Fine, Lily. Let's go." He doesn't look at me again.
I thank Isabella and say goodbye to her before we leave. I did not expect to feel so sad. She has tears in her eyes as we walk out the door.
We drive back to my studio in complete silence. Alessio doesn't look at me once. He just stares out of the window. I can't tell if he's angry, hurt, or both.
The alley is closed off with yellow police tape. There are a few people standing in front of it taking pictures. They must be tourists. I look up at Alessio to see his reaction, but he doesn't even look in the direction of the alley. He takes my hand in his again and leads me into my building, up the stairs, and into my studio. Everything is exactly how I left it. The door is also still hanging on its hinges. I almost forgot that Alessio kicked it in. I'll have to call someone to fix it.
I stand in the middle of my studio. I'm not really sure what to do next. I turn around to look at Alessio. He's looking at me again. I can't read the expression in his eyes.
"Thank you for bringing me." I whisper a little unsure of myself.
"You're welcome, Lily."
He doesn't move. He just stands there. I feel nervous.
"Are you leaving?"
"After I fixed your door."
"You don't have to do that, Alessio."
"Yes, I do."
We look at each other for a few seconds. I can see that there's no point in arguing with him, and the door does need to be fixed. I shrug. "Coffee?"
"No, thank you." He has a faint smile on his face.
I don't think that the atmosphere in my studio has ever been this charged. I feel incredibly uncomfortable. I don't know what to do with myself. Alessio doesn't seem bothered at all. At least he's not staring at me anymore. He's look around my studio now. I can't help but wonder what he thinks about it. I find myself hoping that he likes it. I don't know why.
"I'm going to go get changed."
Alessio doesn't say anything. He just smiles at me and keeps standing in the middle of my studio. I kind of like the way it looks with him in it.
I return a few minutes later with my hair pulled back and wearing my over alls. I find Alessio working to remove the door that he kicked in. He's taken off his jacket and his sleeves are rolled up slightly. He looks incredibly sexy. A strange heat spreads through my body and settles between my legs.
"I see you've found the tool box."
He looks up suddenly and freezes for a moment. His eyes slowly travel up and down my body before settling on my face. His eyes darken. I wonder if the same thing just happened to him.
"I hope you don't mind?" His tone is warm, almost seductive. The air between us grows even more electric than before. I shake my head, slowly. We continue to stare at each other for a few more seconds.
Luckily, Vito shows up with the supplies to fix my door. He notices Alessio and me staring at each other and I can tell that he's picked up on the tension between us, but he says nothing.
The two of them start working on the door. I sit down behind my canvas. Alessio and I keep stealing glances at one another. We both pretend not to notice. So does Vito.
A little while later, Alessio clears his throat. He's standing next to me now. I must have gotten lost in my painting. He looks at the half-finished painting. He looks impressed. I wonder if he has an appreciation for the arts. He looks like he might have.
"We're finished."
"Thank you."
"Here. I programmed my number in to it. If you need anything, call me, please?"
He holds out my phone for me to take. I've forgotten that he still had it. I take it from him with a trembling hand.
Alessio doesn't pull his hand back. Instead, he reaches for my cheek and gently caresses it. He bends down and kisses my forehead. His lips are warm and soft. My skin tingles.
"Goodbye, Lily."
And just like that, Alessio is gone.
- Writer
