5. Piper

5

PIPER

I wake before the sun, as I do every morning, dreading the day ahead. The house is still, quiet, and I savor these fleeting moments of peace before the storm begins. Carefully, I slip out of bed, trying not to disturb Gabriel's slumbering form beside me.

I make my way to the kitchen, flicking on the lights and squinting as my eyes adjust. The kitchen shows no signs of Gabriel's volatile temper from the night before. I push down the familiar pang of anxiety and set to work preparing breakfast.

As I crack eggs into a bowl, my mind drifts to the unexpected encounter with Elio yesterday. Seeing him again after all these years stirred up a whirlwind of emotions I thought I had long buried. The anger, the hurt, the love—it all comes rushing back. I grip the edge of the counter as grief overwhelms me. Grief at what I could have had if Elio had fulfilled his promise to me.

Why did I have to run into him? My life was challenging enough without the contrast between Elio's romantic, gentle ways and Gabriel's mercurial moods. I remind myself that Elio changed his mind. He'd arranged to send me away. There was nothing romantic about that.

I take a deep breath and force myself to focus. I need to get breakfast ready before Gabriel and Elysse wake up. Displeasing him is not an option. As I whisk the eggs, I feel a familiar ache in my chest. My daughter deserves so much better than this life of walking on eggshells, never knowing when Gabriel's temper will erupt.

But what choice do I have? I'm trapped, both by my own fears and the threats Gabriel has made. The thought of him hurting Elysse makes my stomach twist in knots. I can't risk it, no matter how much I long to break free.

With a heavy heart I live with daily, I continue my morning routine, preparing Gabriel's plate and keeping an ear out for any sign of movement upstairs. The day is just beginning, but I already feel exhausted.

I'm setting the plate on the table when I hear his heavy footsteps descending the stairs. Bracing myself, I turn around to face him.

"Good morning, darling," he says, his voice uncharacteristically soft. He crosses the room and presses a kiss to my cheek, causing me to flinch involuntarily.

"Gabriel," I reply cautiously, searching his face for any sign of the rage that consumed him last night. "Breakfast is ready."

"Wonderful." He sits at the table. "Thank you, Piper."

I stand there, bewildered. It's not that he's never like this. When I met him, he was kind and calm. But four years of marriage have taught me not to trust it. This sudden change in demeanor unsettles me more than his previous outburst.

Elysse pads into the kitchen, her small face etched with trepidation. She glances warily at Gabriel, then looks at me. My heart aches at the fear in her eyes. This is no way for a child to live.

"Good morning, Ely," Gabriel says, flashing Elysse a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "Come, sit and have your breakfast."

Elysse hesitates, then slowly moves to take her seat, never taking her eyes off him. I watch the exchange, my own unease growing by the second. What game is Gabriel playing at?

"Piper, why don't you join us?" Gabriel gestures to the empty chair beside him. "I'd like us to have a nice family breakfast together."

I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry. A nice family breakfast. That's my assignment. I tense, knowing any small thing will cause me to fail in Gabriel's eyes. Only he knows what a "nice family breakfast" means, and I can't read his mind to know which tiny detail I'll miss that will set him off.

I set Elysse's breakfast in front of her. "I'll need to make more. I only made enough for you and Elysse."

Gabriel's expression darkens for the briefest of moments, and I brace myself for the explosion. But then it's gone, replaced by that unsettling veneer of calmness.

"Get your coffee and sit with us," he says, patting the chair.

Reluctantly, I pull out the chair and lower myself into it, my body tense and ready to spring into action at the first sign of trouble.

As Gabriel reaches over to squeeze my hand, I fight the urge to recoil. The unease I feel is palpable. Whatever game Gabriel is playing, I know it can't be good.

I sit stiffly at the table. Elysse picks at her food.

Finally, Gabriel finishes his meal and stands, giving me a patronizing pat on the shoulder. "That was delicious, dear. Thank you." He turns to Elysse, his expression hardening slightly. "Be good today. I'll be back this evening."

With that, he strides out of the kitchen, leaving Elysse and me in an uneasy silence.

As soon as I hear the front door shut, Elysse turns to me. "He was nice today."

I nod, wanting her to feel good about this change in his behavior. But she knows as I do that it won't last.

Her eyes are intent, like she's building up courage. "Sometimes I wish we didn't have to live with him."

Me too, sweetie . "We're a family."

Her expression drops, and I know I've disappointed her. How long before that turns to resentment? I'm failing my daughter.

I pull her into a tight hug, and her arms tighten around me. For now, I can only offer her the comfort of my embrace, hoping against hope that one day, I'll find the strength to truly protect her.

"I bet my real daddy would be nicer."

I close my eyes as Elio flitters back into my mind. I think back to eight years ago. I had been so young, so naive, when I first fell for Elio. His charm, his passion, his unwavering devotion—it had all swept me off my feet. We'd talked of a future together, of defying the odds and building a life despite the stigma of his family's criminal ties.

But then, the unthinkable happened. I discovered I was pregnant, and my world came crashing down. Elio's father, the Don of the D'Amato Mafia, had other plans for his son. He offered my parents a substantial sum of money to take me and leave town, far away from his son's reach. Faced with the threat of losing everything, my parents had no choice but to accept. I'd prayed that Elio would stop his father, that he'd come and find me. But in the end, he hadn't done either because he didn't want to. It was one thing when it was just me he was committing to. A baby, fatherhood, apparently wasn't something he'd wanted.

"Who is he? Why isn't he here?"

This isn't the first time she's asked about her father. I don't want to lie, but neither can I tell her the truth.

"He couldn't be, sweetie." That is true, sort of. He made a choice. We have to live with it.

When I saw Elio yesterday, he didn't ask me about Elysse. Then again, I wasn't with him very long. Not long enough for him to ask about her. Will I run into him again? Will he ask me about her? The idea of his taking an interest in her now fills me with dread. But why would he want her now when he hadn't wanted her before?

It occurs to me that as much as I resent Elio, he gave me the one bright light in my life. For that I'll always be grateful.

Once she finishes her breakfast and gets dressed, we step outside into the cool morning air. Elysse walks beside me, her small hand nestled in mine. I can't help but marvel at how quickly she's grown. It feels like just yesterday she was a tiny baby, completely dependent on me. Now, she's a vibrant, curious child, wise beyond her years.

When we reach her school, I give her a hug and wish her a good day. I watch her skip into the school until she disappears. Then I make my way back home.

I freeze, my heart pounding as I catch sight of the sleek black car parked in our driveway. There's no reason to believe that it's Elio's, yet he's the one who comes to mind. But how would he know where I live? So maybe it's a colleague of Gabriel's.

As I make my way up the walk, the door of the vehicle opens and a man steps out. Elio. My breath catches, partly in panic and partly at the sight of the man I'd loved so deeply.

He smiles when he sees me. There's no stopping the reaction to his devastating good looks. His dark hair is styled impeccably, and his piercing gaze sweeps over me, sending a shiver down my spine.

Elio's presence is commanding, almost overwhelming, as he walks toward me. He moves with a graceful, predatory confidence. He is as gorgeous and captivating as he was back then.

Memories of our passionate, ill-fated romance come rushing back. Despite the years that have passed, his pull on me is as strong as ever. Conflicting emotions swirl within me, bitter resentment and yearning for the love he once promised. I force myself to remember that Elio was the one who shattered my heart, who let his family tear us apart.

"Piper." His lips curve into a devastating smile that draws me in even as I try to fight against it. I'm as powerless now as I'd been when I'd met him.