24. Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lorenzo

The morning light filters through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room.

I stand outside Daniella’s door, my heart heavy with the weight of the previous night’s revelations. I knock softly, waiting for her to respond. When there’s no answer, I push the door open gently and step inside.

She’s sitting by the window, staring out into the garden. Her breakfast tray sits untouched on the bedside table, the food barely nibbled at. The sight of her, so distant and lost in thought, twists something deep inside me.

“Daniella,” I say softly, hoping to draw her attention.

She turns her head slightly, acknowledging my presence but not meeting my gaze. “What do you want, Lorenzo?”

“I wanted to check on you. See if you need anything.”

“I don’t need anything,” she replies flatly, her voice devoid of emotion.

I walk closer, my footsteps echoing in the silent room. “You need to eat, Daniella. You can’t keep skipping meals. It’s not good for you or the baby.”

She finally looks at me, her eyes cold and distant. “I’m fine. I’m just not hungry.”

“Daniella, please,” I plead, my voice tinged with desperation. “You have to take care of yourself. I’m worried about you.”

She stands up, her movements slow and deliberate. “Worried about me? Or worried about your child?”

“Both,” I admit, my chest tightening at her accusatory tone. “I care about you, Daniella. More than you know.”

She shakes her head, a bitter smile playing on her lips. “You’re good at saying the right things, Lorenzo. But words mean nothing to me now.”

“Then what can I do? How can I prove that I mean what I say?”

“You can’t,” she says simply, turning her back to me. “Just leave me alone.”

The finality in her words stings, but I force myself to respect her wishes. I leave the room, closing the door softly behind me. The weight of her cold shoulder is almost too much to bear. I feel powerless, unable to reach the woman I’ve come to care for so deeply.

I head to my office, needing to clear my mind and focus on something else. Renee intercepts me in the hallway, her expression one of concern.

“How is she?” she asks, falling into step beside me.

“She won’t talk to me,” I admit, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “She’s barely eating. I don’t know what to do.”

Renee sighs, her eyes filled with empathy. “Give her time, Lorenzo. She’s been through a lot. She just needs time to process everything.”

“I know, but it’s hard,” I say, my voice breaking slightly. “I hate seeing her like this.”

“She’ll come around,” Vincent says, appearing at the end of the hallway. He walks over, his usual stoic expression softening slightly. “Just give her some space. She’s strong. She’ll be all right.”

I nod, trying to take comfort in their words. But the worry gnaws at me, a constant reminder of how much I care for Daniella. I know I need to focus on business, but my mind keeps drifting back to her, to the pain in her eyes and the walls she’s built around herself.

We gather in the study to discuss the recent developments with Bruno Raineri. The deal we struck is tenuous at best and I need to make sure everything is in place to protect our interests.

“Bruno’s agreed to the terms,” Vincent says, reviewing the documents in front of him. “Free trading through their domains and reduced prices on their products.”

“Good,” I say, nodding. “We need to ensure our operations remain smooth. Massimo’s attack on the docks was a clear message. We can’t let our guard down.”

Victor joins us, his face grim. “We’ve tightened security at all our locations. But Massimo’s unpredictable. We need to be prepared for anything.”

“I know,” I say, my mind already working through the contingencies. “We’ll keep our eyes open and our defenses strong.”

As we finalize our plans, my phone buzzes with a message. It’s a notification of a meeting I have later in the day with one of our key suppliers. The timing is crucial and I can’t afford to miss it.

“I have to go meet with our supplier,” I say, standing up. “Make sure everything is in place while I’m gone.”

Vincent and Victor nod, understanding the importance of the meeting. I leave the study, my thoughts still lingering on Daniella. I need to focus on business, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to separate my personal feelings from my professional responsibilities.

The drive to the meeting is uneventful, but my mind is a whirlwind of thoughts. I keep replaying the conversation with Daniella, the hurt in her eyes, the coldness in her voice. It’s a constant ache that I can’t shake.

As I pull into the meeting location, a secluded warehouse on the outskirts of the city, I’m on high alert. Massimo’s recent actions have made me wary and I don’t trust anything to chance. My men are with me, scanning the area for any signs of trouble.

We step inside, and the supplier greets me with a nod. “Lorenzo, good to see you.”

“Likewise,” I say, extending my hand. “Let’s get down to business.”

We discuss the terms of our agreement, the supply chain and the logistics of our operations. It’s a routine meeting, but my mind is only half-present. The other half is back at the compound, with Daniella.

As we wrap up the meeting, my phone buzzes again. It’s a message from Carla, updating me on the situation at the club. Everything seems under control, but there’s a sense of unease that I can’t shake.

We step outside and that’s when it happens. A car screeches to a halt in front of the warehouse, and before I can react, gunfire erupts. My men and I dive for cover, returning fire as bullets whiz past us.

Massimo’s men are everywhere, their ambush meticulously planned. I fire back, the adrenaline pumping through my veins. The fight is intense, each shot fired with precision and purpose.

And then I feel it—a searing pain in my side. I stagger, my vision blurring as I try to stay on my feet. I press a hand to my side, feeling the warm, sticky blood seep through my fingers.

“Lorenzo!” Vincent’s voice is distant, panicked. He rushes to my side, trying to support me as I collapse to the ground.

The pain is excruciating, but it’s nothing compared to the fear that grips my heart. All I can think about is Daniella. I can’t leave her, can’t leave our child. The thought of her alone, vulnerable, is unbearable.

“Stay with me, Lorenzo,” Vincent says, his voice urgent. “We’ll get you out of here.”

My vision darkens, and the sounds of the battle fades into a distant echo. The last thing I see is Vincent’s determined face, his hands pressing against the wound in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding.

As everything goes black, one thought consumes me: I have to survive. For Daniella. For our child. I can’t leave them. I won’t.

And then there’s nothing.