To Be Yours Again-Chapter 213 Every thought

*LORENZO*

I watch, enthralled, as Danica plays the “Raindrop” Prelude. With her eyes closed, she’s lost in the music, her face expressing every thought and feeling that Chopin evokes in the piece.

Her hair flows down her back, glinting like a raven’s wing in the light of the winter sun that streams through the window. She’s captivating. Even in that football shirt.

The notes swell and fill the room...and my heart. She loves me.

She said so.

I’ll have to get to the bottom of why she thought she’d be better off leaving. But for the moment I’ll listen and watch her play. Hearing a muffled cough from outside the room, I look up.

Mona and Jessie are poised on the threshold, listening. I wave them in....

I want to show Danica off.

This is what my girl can do.

They tiptoe into the room and stand watching Danica with the same look of amazement that I’m sure I had when I first heard her play. And they can see she doesn’t have the sheet music, she’s performing this from memory.

Yeah. This is what she does best.

Danica plays the final two bars, and the notes fade into the air...leaving us entranced. As she opens her eyes, Mona and Jessie burst into applause, as do I. She smiles shyly at them.

“Bravo, Miss Danica! That was exceptional,” I exclaim as I walk over and bend to kiss her, my lips grazing hers. When

I look up, Mona and Jessie have gone, as discreetly as they appeared.

“Thank you,” Danica whispers.

“What for?”

“Saving me. Again.”

“It is you who has saved me.”

She frowns as if she doesn’t believe me, and I sit down beside her on the piano stool.

“Trust me, Danica, you’ve saved me in ways I can’t even begin to fathom, and I don’t know what I would have done if they’d taken you.” I kiss her once more.

“But I’ve brought such trouble into your life.”

“You have done nothing of the kind. This is not your fault. For God’s sake. Never think that.”

Her lips thin for a moment, and I know she doesn’t share my point of view, but she reaches up and strokes my chin.

“And for this,” she whispers, and glances at the piano. “Thank you.” She leans up and kisses me. “Can I play some more?”

“All you want. Always. I’m going to make some calls. My flat was burgled over the weekend.”

“No!”

“I suspect it was the same two bastards who are now in the custody of the police. I think that’s how they found us. I need to talk to Dante.”

“The man I spoke to on the phone?”

“Yes. He works for me.”

“I hope they did not take much.”

I caress her face with one hand. “Nothing that can’t be replaced, unlike you.”

Dark eyes shine at me, and she leans her face into my hand. I brush my thumb over her bottom lip and ignore the fire that lights low in my belly.

Time for that later.

“I won’t be long.” I give her a swift kiss and head toward the door.

Danica launches into Louis-Claude Daquin’s piece “Le Coucou,” which I learned when doing my grade six, and the bright and breezy notes follow me out of the room.

From my study, I call Dante. Our conversation is all business. He’s handling the fallout from the burglary. Mrs. Blake and one of her assistants are at the flat clearing up, two members of the construction crew have been dispatched to repair the front door, and a locksmith will change the locks on the entry to the street.

The alarm is untouched and working fine, but we decide to change the code.

Dante is keen for me to return to town; he has documents that I need to sign.

With Danica’s assailants under arrest and in custody, there’s no reason for us to stay in Vali. When I finish with Dante, I call Tom to see how Magda and her son are faring. I tell him about the attempted kidnapping.

“Well, that’s fucking audacious,” Tom splutters. “How’s your young lady? Is she okay?”

“She’s tougher than all of us.”

“Good to hear. I think I should keep an eye on Mrs. Magda and her son for a couple of days. Until we find out what the police are going to do with those scumbags.”

“Agreed.”

“I’ll report anything suspicious.”

“Thanks.”

“You okay?”

“Peachy.”

Tom laughs. “Good to hear. Over and out.” Moments after I hang up on Tom, my phone buzzes. It’s Carla.

Damn. I told her I’d call next week.

Shit, it is next week.

I’ve lost track of time.

Sighing, I answer the phone with a terse

“Hey.”

“There you are,” she snaps. “What the hell are you playing at?”

“Hello, Carla, it’s nice to talk to you, too. Yes, thanks, I’ve had a great weekend.”

“Don’t start with your bullshit, Lorenzo. Why haven’t you called me?” Her voice cracks, and I know she’s hurt.

“I’m sorry. Events have been a little beyond my control down here. Please let me explain when I see you. I’ll be back in town tomorrow or the day after.”

“What events? The burglary?”

“Yes and no.”

“Why all this subterfuge, Enzo?” she whispers. “What’s going on?” Her voice drops lower. “I’ve missed you.” Her grief echoes through each syllable of her response.

Since she lost her brother who was also one of my close friends, I kind of have a soft spot for her.

“I’ll tell you when I see you. Please.” She sniffs, and I know she’s crying.

Fuck.

“Carla. Please.”

“You promise?”

“I promise. As soon as I’m back. I’ll come see you.”

“Okay.”

“Bye for now.” I hang up and ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach. I have no idea how she’ll react to what’s been happening here.

Yes, I do. It’s going to get ugly. I know she likes me.

I sigh once more. My life has been complicated beyond recognition by Danica, but even as the thought pops into my head, I smile.

My love.

We could head back to town tomorrow. I can see for myself the damage done to my flat.

There’s a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Mona enters. “Sir, Jessie’s prepared some lunch for you and Danica. Where would you like us to serve it?”

“In the library. Thank you, Mona.” I think the formal dining room might be a little overwhelming just for the two of us, and the breakfast room is a little dull. She likes books, so...

“If it suits you, we’ll be set up in five minutes.”

“Great.” I realize how hungry I am. A quick glance at the Georgian wall clock above the door tells me it’s two fifteen. Its steady tick reminds me of the times I waited in this office for the bollocking my father administered whenever I’d transgressed, which was often. Right now the clock says...way past lunchtime.

“Oh, Mona,” I call her back.

“Yes, sir?”

“After lunch can you go to the Hideout and retrieve all our belongings and bring them here? Put everything in my room, including the dragon night-light that’s beside the bed.”

“Will do, sir.” With a nod, she departs.