"Electric eyes, we can't deny the thunder inside us."

"Love me in the shadows."

— Aero Chord

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Everything has been so busy ever since.

This is the first time in the last few days I've got some time to myself. I have been exploring the mansion grounds I found an excellent view behind the greenhouse. The land we are on is a bit higher.

Long chains of trees are on display. I can see a stream down there. It's beautiful. I sit on the bench that is probably set here for this purpose.

I gaze up at the sky. It's beautiful. Magnificent.

"Victoria?!" I hear a distant voice of Christian yelling for me. "Victoria?!"

I stand up the second I hear the urgency in his voice. "Christian I'm here!"

I can hear footsteps coming towards me. There comes Christian with five guards in his trail. I frown. What is happening?

"Victoria?" He runs to me. He checks my body for something. "You're okay. Oh thank God, you're okay." He hugs me close.

I confusedly return his hug. "What happened Christian?"

He captures my lips in a kiss once he pulls back.

"Christian?" I whisper against his lips.

He breaks away and holds my hand. "Let's go back. I'll explain."

He takes me inside in some room on the third floor. Lorenzo is standing there with some people. They are all in suits.

At least I look presentable in my denim shirt, black pants, and heels. He takes a seat on the couch and I sit next to him.

"What's happening?"

Christian says nothing and hands me an envelope. I confusedly open it up. It holds a picture of me and Christian locked in each other's arms kissing. It's probably a week old. I see the next picture. It's me and I'm lying on a picnic cloth outside in the garden reading a book on my stomach and my legs up in the air.

I look at Christian, "Who took these?"

Christian clenches his jaw and looks at his father who gives him a nod, "Turn them over."

I see the words 'she's next' written behind one of the pictures.

Please let this not be, what I'm thinking it is.

"Christian?" It's almost a whimper. He looks away closing his eyes. "Mr. Vasquez?" I meet his eyes for an explanation.

"Victoria it seems like my ex-business partner is out for revenge," Lorenzo explains. "He somehow found about you and now he's threatening you."

I look at Christian but he is looking away with his jaw clenched.

"Who took these?" I repeat my question.

"Ricci's men," Lorenzo replies.

"But... How? This place is like a fortress." I can hear my own heartbeat.

"That's why we are concerned. If taking pictures of you two was this easy. Attacking must be too," The man in the suit working on the laptop says.

"How would they know?" I tightly hold onto Christian's arm.

"They could have spies there at the hospital. It could have been a nurse, doctor, patient. Anyone," Lorenzo says.

"What do they want for me?" I turn to Christian.

He looks at me, "I'm so sorry Victoria." He frowns. "I tried my best to prevent this."

I frown this time, "What are you saying?"

"What my son is trying to say is that now that you are with him the mafia is out for you. So that can weaken and hurt Christian," Lorenzo clarifies.

"Sir it's done," The man in the suit calls.

Both Lorenzo and Christian bolt to the laptop.

"I knew it. I fucking knew it," Lorenzo curses.

Christian mutters something under his breath. I tentatively walk towards them. When my eyes fall on the image on the screen.

I gasp and stumble back.

No. No, that's not possible.

He's in jail.

"Victoria?" Christian holds onto me, keeping me upright.

"That's not possible. He should be in jail." My breathing quickens.

"Victoria." Christian forcefully makes me look away for the screen.

My eyes meet his as he holds onto my face. He sees the fear and panic in my eyes.

"He was in jail," I whimper. "That's not possible."

"Baby breathe."

I clutch onto his shirt fisting it in my hand, "Matteo." Christian's eyes widen. "What is he doing in Italy? He should be in jail."

"You know Matteo?" Lorenzo is by my side. Christian makes me sit down.

"What do you mean he should be in jail?" Christian asks me.

I look up at him, pulling him down next to me and cuddle into his chest letting out a whimper, "He'll come for me."

Lorenzo kneels down to me and holds my hand. "Victoria panicking is not going to help you. You have to tell us what you know."

I look around the room. The five men present here are staring at me. Both Christian and Lorenzo feel my discomfort.

"Gentlemen you can leave. I'll call you later," Lorenzo dismisses them.

They hurriedly leave the room.

"Tesoro, you have to tell us what's happening," Christian caresses my cheek, "We are here to help you."

"He killed her Christian." I look up at him trying to keep my tears at bay.

"Killed who, baby?" He furrows his eyebrows.

"My mom. He shot her." I tighten the grip on the hand holding mine. "He should be in jail," I repeat myself for the tenth time.

"You gotta tell us everything that happened," Christian instructs me softly.

"We were taking our groceries down the street. It was late, and we had to get home..."

"What's for dinner tonight?" I ask mom.

"If your dad didn't cook anything, pizza," She replies back.

"I bet 10 bucks he made something the minute he knew you were going to be late," I giggle.

"I won't bet against it," She smiles back.

We talk as we go down the street to our car not knowing that we are being followed by a bunch of goons.

I open the car and just as I'm about to put the groceries in a hand yanks me back making me drop everything.

I come face to face with an ugly-looking man.

"Hey let me go," I struggle against him.

"Not so quick darling," His stinky alcoholic breath hits my face making me gag.

He moves his hands down feeling me all over. He rests his hands in my behind and squeezes it.

"Leave my daughter alone." Mom is next to me in a minute.

"Daughter?" The second one laughs with the other three.

"Leave us alone you asshole." I push against him but he tightens his grip making me cry out in pain.

The other one takes mom in his grip.

"Hey leave her alone you douche." I punch his face with my free hand knee him the groin.

He releases me and falls to the ground holding his damaged area. "You fucking bitch."

They talk to each other in Italian and I understand every single word. They are talking about where to take us.

"You are not taking us anywhere you assholes." I push the one who tries to grab me. "Leave us alone."

A hand comes and holds tightly onto my hair making me cry out in pain.

"Leave my daughter alone!" My mom shrieks.

"Shut up you bitch." The one on the ground groans. He's in my reach so I kick him hard in the face. "Ahh!"

"Somebody help us," My mom screams.

The one on the ground pulls out his gun and stands up shakily. "I said shut up." He puts the gun on my head.

"Let her go. Take me but please let her go," Mom says.

He turns the gun towards her. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

It happens so fast. I hear sirens. I hear a gunshot. My ears are ringing. My mom falls on the ground. Blood is oozing out of her.

"Mom!"

The who shot her tries to run away but he is hurt. The others run away. I can't let him getaway. I look at my mom.

She is on the ground with her eyes wide open, not moving.

I run after the man and grab him by the hair throwing him down. The fun falls away. I hit him. I hit him again.

Someone pulls me away. It's the police. They are near my mom. They are touching her.

I want to yell but I can't. I try and I fail. I feel my head getting heavier. I see a policeman talking to me but I don't hear anything.

Black dots are everywhere.

It's all black. All darkness.

"Someone called the cops I guess. But no one came to help," I sniff still sagged against Christian. "I testified against him in court. Before leaving he threatened me and my dad, that he would find us and kill us once he gets out."

"Baby.." Christian squeezes my shoulder.

"My dad died three years later. Matteo has been in jail for about 6 years now but it was supposed to be fifteen years."

"You were just seventeen when this happened?" He asks.

I nod my head yes.

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

I shrug, "I'm sure he recognized me. He'll come after me."

"We won't let him. Do you understand? We won't." He pulls me in a hug and Lorenzo stands up.

"Now we know where Matteo has been for the last seven years," Lorenzo mutters.

"We have to do something quickly," Christian says.

I say against him. My eyelids dropping.

"Yes but right now rest sounds good for Victoria," Lorenzo answers looking at my state.

Christian pulls back, "Ready to do go bed?"

I mumble a 'yes' and he stands up pulling me up with him. I stumble.

"You need me to carry you?" He asks.

"No, it's fine. I'll walk."

We exit the office hand in hand and enter the room.

"I'm scared, Christian," For him. For me. For us.

"I'm here for you. You don't have to be scared." He chastely kisses my lips.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Who will protect you?" I ask.

"I can take care of myself." He gives me a shy smile. "You don't have to worry about me."

"Nothing can stop me from worrying about you," I mumble.

He smiles again. "Let's get ready for bed."

Just for tonight we pretend everything is alright and sleep Tangled in each other's arms.

Finally, I'm home.

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