chaos makes the muse.
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VINCENZO
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After I made Valentina food, she slept for easily 10 hours. She must've been so exhausted; I feel so bad for her.
If I could, I'd just move her in with me. So I could be there for her every day, for every single one of these moments, where she clearly just needs someone.
I'm glad I can be that someone, at least sometimes. It's clear that she struggles asking people for help, but I'll make her get used to it. I'm not going anywhere.
She was sat on the couch, nursing Alejandro, as I tidied up some leftover mess. I kneeled down to grab a bib from under the couch, but it was stuck under a box; making the box pull out with it.
"What's this?" I hummed, glancing up at her, as I held the box in my hands.
Her eyes strayed away from Alejandro, onto the box in my hands. The lighthearted smile on her face faded, a more somber look taking its place. Shit.
"I'm sor-" I started, before she shook her head.
"It's okay. You...you can look inside." She spoke quietly, gently laying the now sleeping Alejandro down onto his little playmat.
Valentina eased off of the couch, getting down to sit on the floor in front of me.
I pulled open the lid of the box, setting it aside. It was filled with...pictures. Of her, and Alejandro. He looked newborn.
"These are..." I trailed off, picking up one of the pictures that struck my eye.
She looked so tired there. Not the sleep kind of tired; her eyes were dull, sad. She was practically screaming for help.
"They're from the first month after the birth." She spoke up, holding one of the other pictures. "I...my mental health plummeted after the birth. It was really hard."
My eyebrows creased in worry, my heart feeling like it was going to burst from the pain I felt for her. "Well...you...your parents were here at least, right?"
A beat of silence, I saw the look in her eyes change. So her parents weren't here. God. She was all alone, she had no one to help her when she needed it the most.
"They were...out of town. I didn't- I couldn't disturb their trip. They don't travel often." She explained, still staring at the picture.
My hand landed on her leg, gently rubbing and comforting her, encouraging her to continue.
"It was genuinely the worst time in my life. I was at an all-time low, with a newborn. As much as I wanted to rot in bed and just wait for death; I had a life I was responsible for. So everyday...I just picked myself back up." She spoke, her eyes fluttering a few times.
I could see her fingers anxiously touching the corner of the picture. It broke my heart, seeing her this...distressed. And to think of how she had to go through all that alone. I was speechless.
"It was hard. For a while. Actually, that day you and I met, was the first time I had been out on my own will." She smiled slightly, before grimacing over the memory of how we met.
My lips tilted into a smile of their own, as I gently squeezed her leg, "I...shit, I can't even imagine how hard it must've been for you. Especially being alone. I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
She shrugged, setting the pictures down, "It- it was. But...I had to do it, for Alejandro. If not me, then who?"
I stared at her sadly, my heart felt heavy even imagining all the things she has had to go through alone. If only there was a way to turn back time and save her from all of that. I would take her pain tenfold, if it meant she was at ease.
"I'm here now." I whispered, pulling her into a tight hug, my face buried in her hair, "I'm here."
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After we talked some more, and cleaned the rest of her apartment, I decided that I'd treat Valentina and Alejandro for a lunch out. It's the least I can do; she refuses to let me spend money on her. Stubborn woman.
She looked as beautiful as ever, though. Her brown hair was pulled into one of those gorgeous messy buns she does so effortlessly, her pretty face was bare of make-up, and she was wearing comfortable, warm clothes.
When she's like this; in her natural state, I think it's the most beautiful thing ever. She's just...herself.
Not that I'd have any problem with it, if she wanted to get dolled up every day. She looks gorgeous no matter what.
"So...Enzo..." Valentina trailed off, one of her hands resting on the stroller that Alejandro was in. I saw her do that often; it was kind of like her way of making sure he's still there, I suppose.
Mimicking her, a small smile lifted my lips, "So...Valentina..."
She rolled her beautiful eyes, before speaking up, "What exactly is your job?"
Shit. Well, I have told her she could google me whenever she wants to.
"Business." I answered, my hand resting on top of her free hand, "...sort of. You could find all this out just by googling my name, you know that, right?"
"Hm." She hummed, looking down at our hands, "Who says I haven't already? Maybe I just want to see if the internet is lying or not."
Huh?
She's bluffing. Has to be. No way she googled and saw what I actually do, and still decide to let me in her and her son's life, right? That would be crazy.
But she looks so serious. No way she knows.
She knows.
"You...uh..." I cleared my throat; she had truly caught me off-guard. "You've...googled me? You actually know what I do?"
She shook her head, "Well...I didn't actually google you." But?
"But...my...my dad. He knows you." She admitted, still looking down at our hands. "I...to be honest, when you took me to your house, I figured you have to be filthy rich. And there's not many types of filthy rich people that just walk around without security."
I was stunned. What does she know? How does her father know me?
"I know you're confused." She nodded timidly, taking a deep breath. "My dad. He...he messed with the wrong crowds when he was younger and got dragged into...the life of crime. That's where he met my mom, aswell."
By now, my eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets. Then it made sense. Her last name is Morales. Her father must be Diego Morales. He's practically a legend. One of the only mafia men who actually made it out of the business.
"Holy. Shit." I mumbled out, gently squeezing her hand. "This- goddamn. How did I not make that connection before?"
She chuckled, shaking her head, "Yeah, I kind of expected you to realize."
After a few beats of silence, she spoke up again, "I'll tell you the same thing I told my father, when I found out about his past...work."
"I will still see you. I will let you see Alejandro. But I want nothing to do with it. Absolutely nothing. The second I get dragged into it, you won't see us again, okay?" She spoke sternly, but god, she looked so cute like that.
"Of course." I smiled, admiring her. She impressed me. "I promise you, cross my heart, you two will never have any kind of involvement in my work life. I would never do that to you two, you mean too much to me."
She nodded, visibly relaxing a little. Who knows how long this had been weighing on her mind, poor girl.
As I was about so speak up again, my phone interrupted me. I saw Romeo's name flash across the screen with a text message, and knew it was work related.
I cursed under my breath, these guys really can't let me have anything, huh?
"Something wrong?" Valentina frowned, tilting her head.
My eyebrows furrowed, as I let out a small sigh. I felt so guilty about having to leave her, but I know everything will go to hell if I don't go and fix this.
"I am so, so sorry, bella. It's work. They need me." I explained, gently squeezing her hand. "I promise, I'm not trying to get away. If they could manage without me, I'd stay."
"I understand." She nodded, offering me a smile, but I could tell she was a little disappointed. I am too.
"I'll make it up to you." I promised, getting up to kiss her on the forehead, before fishing out my wallet. I threw a few bills on the table, "This should cover the food, and this..." I handed her more, "Should be enough for you to go treat yourself to new nails, or clothes."
Her eyes widened, "Enzo I- I can't expect you to..."
"Shh." I hushed, kissing her forehead again, "It's my pleasure. Go treat yourself, and Alejandro. And when I'm done with work, I'll take you on a date to make it up to you." I grinned, walking away before she had a chance to react.
You'll be mine, Valentina.
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TO BE CONTINUED ...
ehmm it totally hasn't been almost a month since the last upload wdym..
i'm getting my motivation back tho y'all imma ACTUALLY update again soon.
if i'm REALLY motivated, one more upload tomorrow. and if not, then probably after christmas!!