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"Yes," I whisper, my voice trembling with anticipation.
He comes closer, his hands caressing my lower back and buttocks as he enters me. We make love for hours, exploring every position we can think of. It's the most passionate experience I've ever had. With Shane, it's like tasting life for the first time.
Afterward, we lie in his bed, the boat gently rocking with the breeze. We talk playfully, and I feel truly safe for the first time in my life. Safer than I've ever felt before. I can tell him anything, and am ready to tell him everything. I make a promise to myself—no more secrets. If we're to be together, I want him to know everything. But that can wait until tomorrow.
We dock at dawn the next day. After brunch by the dock, we're home by 8 a.m. Shane spends the day working in his office while I tend to Jaime. The whole day, I'm contemplating how to tell Shane everything, wondering when the best time would be.
After putting Jaime to bed that night, I retreat to my room and find myself writing in my journal. My phone buzzes with a text message. The message states, "I've found something you're looking for," and includes a number.
I get up and make sure my door is completely closed, locking it just in case. I head to my walk-in closet and close that door as well before dialing the number.
"Hello," says a young man's voice on the other end.
"Hello," I respond, keeping my voice steady. "Someone texted me."
"You're looking for information on Giovanni," the voice continues matter-of-factly.
"What do you know?" I ask, my heart already racing.
"Giovanni has fallen in with some of the local gangs," he says, his tone emotionless.
"What?" My heart drops. "Are you sure?"
There's no response. Instead, my phone chimes with another message. I quickly open it.
"There's your proof," the message reads, accompanied by a picture. It shows Giovanni standing with a group of men, their faces hard and cold. I can tell just by looking at them—they're mafia. Which one, I'm not sure.
"When was this taken?" I demand.
"A week ago," the voice replies.
"Where is he now?" I ask, my voice trembling.
"He was last seen just before an incident in a city near your hometown. A man was killed during the incident, but the details are still unclear," the voice says.
"But Gio is okay, right? What city was it?" I press, desperate for more information.
"This is all the information we have right now. If you want more, it will cost. You know who to talk to."
The phone clicks, and the line goes dead.
My heart pounds uncontrollably as I walk out of the closet. My worst fear has come true only a day after one of the happiest days of my life. Gone are my happy thoughts and dreams of building a future. Once again, the mafia has crushed myhappiness and taken something I love from me. Panic spreads through my body, my nerves on edge. I sit on the edge of my bed and cry uncontrollably. My mind races with thoughts of what to do and who to talk to.
"They can't keep doing this," I tell myself, my voice shaking with resolve. "I won't let them."
Chapter 19
Shane
"She's gone cold again," I say to Balina, frustration lacing my voice. "Just when we were getting closer, she's opening up, and we have this amazing night of passion on the yacht, she starts looking off into the distance again like she's a million miles away."
"Small steps are still steps, Shane," Balina responds. Her tone is gentle but firm. "You have to be patient until she's ready to tell you what's wrong."
"I just want her to tell me what's wrong so I can help her and we can move past this," I say, rubbing my temples. The uncertainty gnaws at me.
"I know, but you have to give her space to work through her own things," Balina advises.
"Why can't I just tell her how I feel? That I know she's got her personal life, and I want what's best?" I ask.