Chapter 28
“Very well.” Lorenzo shifted, pulling me closer against his chest. “After you broke up with me… I was a mess. Completely heartbroken, in denial. Spent weeks just going through motions, convinced you’d come back.”
He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head at the memory.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered, pressing a quick kiss to his lips.
“Hey, it worked out in the end, didn’t it?” His fingers traced my wedding ring. “You’re my wife now. That’s all that matters.”
His expression grew more serious as he continued. “That day though – the day we broke up – I tried to keep things normal. Went to my morning classes at the university, then straight to my father’s company like always. We weren’t huge back then, nothing like Constantine International is now. But we had a decent reputation in the city, steady contracts.”
Lorenzo’s arms tightened around me. “That’s the day everything changed. Not just between us, but… everything. My whole world shifted on its axis in ways I never could have imagined.”
I nestled closer, sensing the weight of what was coming. The warmth of his body anchored me as I waited for him to continue his story.
“The company office was unusually quiet when I arrived. No reception staff, no usual buzz of phones and conversation. Should have been my first warning that something was wrong…”
Lorenzo’s POV
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” I murmured against Val’s hair, the memories flooding back.
“The hallways were deserted, papers were scattered all across the empty desks. It was so silent that my footsteps echoed, you know that eerie feeling when something’s just… wrong?”
The weight of her in my arms grounded me as I traveled back to that
moment.
I’d been so young, so naive. Just a university student working part–time at his father’s company, thinking I had my whole life figured out.
“The door to Dad’s office was closed. Usually, he kept it open – said it made him more approachable to employees.” My throat tightened. “I knocked, but there was no answer. Something made me push that door open anyway.”
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I paused, drawing a shaky breath. “He was standing by the window, back turned to me. But I saw the gun pressed against his temple, watched his hand shake as he gripped a letter.”
The image was seared into my mind afternoon sunlight streaming. through the windows, catching on the metal of the gun, my father’s usually pristine suit wrinkled and askew.
“Dad?” My voice had cracked on that single word,
The gun lowered slowly as he turned. His face was streaked with tears, but he smiled – that gentle smile he always had for me, even then..
ribs.
“Sorry, son.” His voice had been barely above a whisper.
“What happened, Dad?” I stepped closer, my heart hammering against my
“It’s nothing, son.” He folded the letter with trembling fingers, tucking it into. his breast pocket. “You won’t have to worry about anything anymore. Please… tell your mother…” His voice broke. “Tell her I love her so much. And I love you too, Enzo. More than you’ll ever know.”
“Dad, stop. Whatever it is, we can figure this out.” I moved toward him, hands raised. The gun glinted as he gripped it tighter. “Let’s just talk about it. There’s always a solution.”
“No.” He shook his head, tears spilling down his cheeks. “Not this time. If I don’t do this… they’ll come after all of us. They’ll kill everyone I love. Your mother, you…”
“Who? Who’s threatening us?”
“I can’t tell you. They’ll know. They’re watching everything.” His eyes darted to the window. “This is the only way. My sacrifice will keep you safe.”
“Dad, please-”
“Stay back!” The gun wavered between us. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be. Some things… some debts can only be paid one way.”
I froze, my own tears blurring my vision. “We can protect ourselves. Get help. Whatever they want-”
“You don’t understand.” His shoulders slumped. “There’s no running from these people. No hiding. No fighting back. They’ll hunt us down, make examples of us. This way… this way at least you and your mother have a chance.”
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Chapter 28
“Very well.” Lorenzo shifted, pulling me closer against his chest. “After your broke up with me… I was a mess. Completely heartbroken, in denial. Spent weeks just going through motions, convinced you’d come back.”
He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head at the memory.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, pressing a quick kiss to his lips.
“Hey, it worked out in the end, didn’t it?” His fingers traced my wedding. ring. “You’re my wife now. That’s all that matters.”
His expression grew more serious as he continued. “That day though – the day we broke up – I tried to keep things normal. Went to my morning classes at the university, then straight to my father’s company like always. We weren’t huge back then, nothing like Constantine International is now. But we had a decent reputation in the city, steady contracts.”
Lorenzo’s arms tightened around me. “That’s the day everything changed. Not just between us, but… everything. My whole world shifted on its axis in ways I never could have imagined.”
I nestled closer, sensing the weight of what was coming. The warmth of his body anchored me as I waited for him to continue his story.
“The company office was unusually quiet when I arrived. No reception staff, no usual buzz of phones and conversation. Should have been my first. warning that something was wrong…”
Lorenzo’s POV
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” I murmured against Val’s hair, the memories flooding back.
“The hallways were deserted, papers were scattered all across the empty desks. It was so silent that my footsteps echoed, you know that eerie feeling when something’s just… wrong?”
The weight of her in my arms grounded me as I traveled back to that
moment.
I’d been so young, so naive. Just a university student working part–time at his father’s company, thinking I had my whole life figured out.
“The door to Dad’s office was closed. Usually, he kept it open – said it made. him more approachable to employees. My throat tightened. “I knocked, but there was no answer. Something made me push that door open anyway.”
94
turned to me. But I saw the gun pressed against his temple, watched his hand shake as he gripped a letter.”
The image was seared into my mind afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, catching on the metal of the gun, my father’s usually pristine suit wrinkled and askew.
“Dad?” My voice had cracked on that single word.
The gun lowered slowly as he turned. His face was streaked with tears, but he smiled – that gentle smile he always had for me, even then.
ribs.
“Sorry, son.” His voice had been barely above a whisper.
“What happened, Dad?” I stepped closer, my heart hammering against my
“It’s nothing, son.” He folded the letter with trembling fingers, tucking it into his breast pocket. “You won’t have to worry about anything anymore. Please… tell your mother…” His voice broke. “Tell her I love her so much. And I love you too, Enzo. More than you’ll ever know.”
“Dad, stop. Whatever it is, we can figure this out.” I moved toward him, hands raised. The gun glinted as he gripped it tighter. “Let’s just talk about it. There’s always a solution.”
“No.” He shook his head, tears spilling down his cheeks. “Not this time. If I don’t do this… they’ll come after all of us. They’ll kill everyone I love. Your mother, you…”
Π
“Who? Who’s threatening us?”
“I can’t tell you. They’ll know. They’re watching everything.” His eyes darted to the window. “This is the only way. My sacrifice will keep you safe.”
“Dad, please-”
“Stay back!” The gun wavered between us. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be. Some things… some debts can only be paid one way.”
froze, my own tears blurring my vision. “We can protect ourselves. Get help. Whatever they want-”
“You don’t understand.” His shoulders slumped. “There’s no running from these people. No hiding. No fighting back. They’ll hunt us down, make examples of us. This way… this way at least you and your mother have a chance.”
“Dad, tell me what’s wrong. Who are these people?” I pressed, taking
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your mother.”
I’m not a child anymore. I can help, I can protect us.” My voice cracked but I held his gaze. “We’re Constantines. We face things as a family.”
“You’ve grown into such a strong man.” Pride mixed with anguish in his eyes. “I wish I could see the man you’ll become.”
“You will.” I closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around him. His body trembled against mine. “Everything’s going to be fine, Dad. I promise.” Tears rolled down my cheeks as I held him tighter.
He hugged me back with his free arm, pressing his face into my shoulder. “Yes,” he whispered. “Everything will be fine now.”
The gunshot was deafening.
My father’s body went limp in my arms, his weight dragging us both to the floor. Hot blood soaked through my shirt as I cradled him, my mind refusing to process what had just happened.
“Dad?” My voice came out small, broken. “Dad, no… please…”
But he was already gone, his eyes staring sightlessly past me, that final peaceful smile still on his face.
I clutched him closer, a raw scream tearing from my throat as my world shattered into pieces.
12:02 Sun, 2 Mar 6
