Lahat ng Kabanata ng Under his protection : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 49

DanteA week agoMy phone rang, cutting off whatever Aria was about to say.Adriano.He never called unless it was important.I stepped away from the table, not wanting Aria to hear anything that would worry her.“What?”“Lucia has been found.”Four simple words.Four words powerful enough to make my entire body lock up.For a second, I forgot how to breathe.“Boss?” Adriano’s voice pulled me back.“What do you mean?”“I mean your wife has been found.”My grip tightened around the phone.“When?”“One of Franco’s cameras picked her up in his territory this afternoon.” He paused briefly. “Looks like she’s been there the whole time.”I stayed silent.Across the rooftop, Aria was watching me now, concern already written across her face.I lowered my voice immediately.“Where has she been?”“She’s been staying with locals. Apparently, when they found her, she couldn’t remember anything.”Amnesia.I closed my eyes briefly.“The family she stayed with claims she lost her memory, but we still

DanteThe days went by in a blur. I kept going back to Franco’s to see Lucia. Not just because the doc had said being around her might help bring back her memory, but because I hadn’t been able to face Aria.It was difficult being close to her and not being able to pull her close and tell her how much she means to me. So, against my better judgment, I avoided her.Only letting myself watch her from the cameras around the house. Or slipping into our room when I thought she was asleep just to watch her.I missed her and the feeling was foreign enough to unsettle me.I knew that not telling her about Lucia would only make things worse. But I couldn’t put that on her, especially when it wasn’t confirmed if the baby was mine.“You came again,” Lucia said one afternoon. She sat by the window of her room painting, something she had spent most of her time doing since we found her.“Yes.”“You don’t stay long.”“I’m busy.”That wasn’t a lie.But it wasn’t the truth either.She frowned slightly

DanteThe second Lucia appeared, I knew everything had gone wrong.Aria followed my gaze and froze.Her face drained of all color.Shit.She shouldn't have to find out like this.Not in a crowded room full of strangers.Not like this.Her eyes dropped to Lucia's stomach.Then to me.Then back to Lucia.As if she was trying to make sense of what she was seeing.I ignored Lucia and turned toward Aria, ready to explain.Ready to say something.Anything.Before I could, a familiar voice interrupted."Ahh, Lucia. You just wandered off."I looked up and, for the first time all evening, my anger outweighed my shock.Riccardo Bellini.Lucia's father.The old man walked toward us wearing a satisfied smile.A smile I immediately wanted to wipe off his face.He stopped beside his daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder."I just wanted to say hello," Lucia replied with a soft smile.After Lucia requested to stay with her father, I granted it immediately.Considering how distant I had been, it

AriaAfter dinner that evening, Lucia caught up to me before I could go up to my room."Would you like to take a walk with me?"I almost said no.But she looked hopeful enough that refusing felt cruel.Now we were slowly making our way through the gardens behind the mansion.The weather was pleasant, and the cool night breeze was exactly what I needed.But somehow, I still felt miserable.Lucia rested a hand on her stomach as we walked."The doctor says walking is good for the baby."I nodded."I'm glad you agreed to come with me."I offered a small smile."So am I."For a while, we walked in silence.Then Lucia spoke again."I've started remembering things."My attention immediately shifted to her."You have?"She nodded."Small things, mostly.""Like what?"A soft smile touched her lips."Things before I left. My life, Dante..."She laughed softly but something uncomfortable twisted in my stomach."We were friends first and I remember following him around when we were younger."Her

AriaThe smile disappeared from my face so quickly it almost hurt.Dante didn't take his eyes off me."Are you ever going to stop trying to leave me?"I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.He already knew."I...""You asked Franco to help you disappear."He didn't sound angry. If anything, he sounded tired and hurt.“Have I done something wrong?”I shook my head, hating that he thought this was somehow about what he did."Haven't I made it clear enough that you are mine and your place is beside me?"I swallowed."I wasn't running away from you."The words finally found their way out, but they weren't enough.His jaw tightened."Then explain it to me, Aria. Is being with me so bad that you try to leave at every turn?"He sounded broken, and I hated that."I was trying to help you.""By disappearing?"He let out a humorless laugh."Yes, Dante, because you deserve your family."“Family?”"You, Lucia... your baby."“So that's what this is about,” he replied slowly before closing his ey