Page 118 of The Chaos She Brings

“Are you getting sentimental, old man?” Enzo teases.

Massimo steps away from Tess and swats Enzo on the shoulder before pulling him into a hug. “Don’t tell anyone.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Enzo laughs. “I don’t have a death wish.”

Massimo turns towards the rest of us. “Thank you for bringing my daughter back.”

We all just shrug and mumble similar lines of, “We’d do anything for her.”

Massimo finally leaves after he fusses over Tess for an hour, desperate to make sure she’s okay. It’s only when she yawns for the tenth time that he gets the hint.

We all walk towards the kitchen as a group. “So,” Tess starts, “I wonder what crazy new revelation tomorrow will spring on me.”

I scowl and Enzo frowns. “You’ve had enough chaos to last a lifetime don’t you think?” I say, leaning against the counter. My leg is killing me from not resting it enough the last twenty-four hours.

Tess just shrugs. “I reckon I’ve got one more surprise family member in me before I have a breakdown.”

Nate snorts, wrapping an arm around Carina’s shoulders. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m shattered. Can we sleep now?”

We all nod, and Enzo directs Nate and Carina to his room, stating that he’ll take the sofa, while Tess and I head towards the spare room.

Neither of us speak as we get ready for bed, brushing our teeth side by side, changing out of our dirty clothes.

I climb into bed beside Tess.

She doesn’t move towards me like I’d expect.

I lift my arm in silent invitation.

She immediately curls herself around me, resting her head on my chest and her leg strung over mine.

“I’m sorry,” Tess whispers, her voice barely audible in the quiet of the room. The words are fragile, like they’ve been trapped inside her for too long. I can feel the weight of them before she even says them.

“What for?” I ask softly, not wanting to push her, just needing to understand.

“For leaving. I should have known you’d have a plan.”

I tighten my arms around her. “It’s all okay now. No point dwelling on it.”

She yawns and I kiss her head. “Sleep, Hurricane. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Exhaustion presses down on me, but it doesn’t offer the kind of peace I crave. I lie there, wide awake, my mind spinning with all that’s happened. Letting someone in means letting them hurt you. Tess almost walked away from us—how do you come back from that? How do I keep her here without losing myself in the process?

40

Give Up

Tess to Kai: Sometimes I think I’m still trapped there. [unsent]

Tess

Theskyisadull, endless stretch of grey, and the drizzle seeps into my skin, clinging like a second layer. The damp scent of freshly turned earth fills my nose as the coffin sinks lower, swallowed by the grave.

All around me are men wearing perfectly fitted, all black suits. There’s a sombre air around us all as we all say goodbye to Nico.

Enzo stands with an expressionless face, but I can see the pain in his eyes. Max is next to him, the same neutral expression on his own face.

One by one everyone throws a handful of dirt over the top of the coffin before stepping back and turning their faces to my father and brother.