Chapter 14

This gif reminded me of Giovanni, dark but so beautiful. Like a flame-Natalie is drawn to him! Thanks for reading. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Anyways-I will stop talking. Enjoy!!

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CHAPTER 14: Giovanni shot up from his chair, spun around and punched the wall closest to him. Instantly pain exploded, but he reveled in it, because this way he could at least focus on the pain rather than the rage coursing through him. Natalie swayed with the dizziness that had suddenly made its presence known, but pushed herself up, gasping next to Giovanni to spin him around and cradle his injured hand within her own.

"Are you stupid?!" she shouted at him.

He merely growled at her and tried to take his throbbing hand back.

She finally released him, eyes narrowed.

"Tell us now. Enough of the fucking cryptic comments. Who are you talking about?" Giovanni asked the wide-eyed, pale face of Natalie's mother. Rebecca swallowed nervously and opened her mouth to begin the story. Giovanni sat next to Natalie and he saw that she was nervous, but trying to hide it.

He wished he could kiss those worries away, but banished the thought as her mother began speaking.

"He was nice at first. Caring, really. He bought me flowers, chocolate. Then...he got...weird. He wouldn't let me talk to any friends. Made me quit my job. He started to get abusive, too. Mentally, and physically. I was going to break it off, but then I...found out I was pregnant with you." Her mother whispered and Natalie stilled, the blood and color draining from her face within the blink of an eye. "He told me I would be out on the streets if I left him. He was your father, baby." Rebecca whispered. Natalie took in a sharp breath, paling even more if possible.

Hearing the actual words, she thought it would be better-She was wrong.

So wrong.

She couldn't even describe the feeling that pulsed through her as her mother continued.

"So...I stayed with him. A couple weeks after you were born I noticed how obsessed he got with you. He told you how pretty you were-which at the time I didn't think it was wrong, but then things escalated quickly. One night after I got home from work I found him and he had fed you pills in your formula-tried to kill you and then himself, but I got home early that night and found you both. I called the police and they arrested him and you were in the hospital for a little while. When you were discharged from the hospital-I ran. I took us both far, far away. Soon after, though I began getting phone calls. He always said that once you were of age, you were...his," Rebecca swallowed hard. Giovanni shoved the urge to snarl away with force.

"That one day he would finish what he did. You have to understand that I took the money, because I was trying to make sure he didn't find you. Then, I-"A sob cut her off from finishing. Natalie's mother took in a breath and tried to speak past the tears choking her.

"I tried to be the best mother, possible, but look at how that turned out. I started drinking and I started doing drugs, because I felt bad that I had done that to you. That I had stayed when I should've left even though I was pregnant with you. You almost died because of ME! Then, when I got the money from the m-mafia, I thought that I would be able to pay them back and keep your father off our trail at the same time, but I got fired from my job soon after and things just went downhill after that. So, just before the night came where his-"She nodded towards Giovanni, "Men came. I got a call and it was from your father. He said it was time for you to pay your dues. So, finally. I figured that the mafia could protect you better than I could. I'm so sorry baby." She whispered and began sobbing.

Natalie sat stunned, not able to move, not able to speak. Her own father was trying to kill her. What was she supposed to feel with that great big revelation?

She barely noticed how tense and angry Giovanni was by the time Rebecca had finished, but she didn't have the mind from the shock she felt to try and calm him.

Surprisingly, Natalie didn't begin to cry. It was almost as if a hollow feeling had carved itself inside of her chest. Ice formed and she knew she couldn't let the ice thaw because if she did she would most likely end up a blubbering, sobbing mess.

"Why does he want me dead?" she whispered and Rebecca shook her head.

"I don't know. I wish I did." She said sadly.

"Please." Rebecca begged, her eyes again pleading.

"Please forgive me. I haven't drank or used drugs since you left. I'm trying to get better baby." She said and Natalie swallowed hard, clenched her jaw.

The emotion she saw in her mother's eyes was just... too much.

"Please...I just...I just need some time." Rebecca's face fell, but she nodded and stood. Giovanni stood, too.

As they were leaving, though, Rebecca spun around.

"Please. I'm staying at this hotel," She pulled out a card and laid it on the table.

"The number is on the back. I love you baby." She said, her eyes filling with tears.

Natalie looked away and stood as Giovanni walked her mother out. Her own flesh and blood wanted her dead. She was set to marry someone she didn't agree to marry that her mother practically sold her to. She could somewhat understand her mother's thinking, but she still should have told her before making such a drastic decision on her life without consulting her about it. Natalie walked into the bathroom and wet a rag as Giovanni returned.

He stared at her, neither of them saying a word before Natalie broke it with a simple

"Sit." Surprisingly, he did so.

Natalie sat next to him and took her hand, cradled it in her own and slowly began to dab at his knuckles. It was quiet in the room and she was grateful for that, but part of her wanted him to say something so she wasn't left to her ravenous thoughts. Finally, he made the decision for her and spoke as she began to bandage his hand.

"Are you okay, mi amour?" he asked quietly.

She let out a laugh that sounded bitter and as cold as she felt in her chest before she stood up and threw the bloodied towel away as she finished bandaging up his hand.

"How would you feel after news like that?! Not fucking good." She said.

Anger flared in Giovanni's eyes at her tone as he too, stood.

He clenched his fists down at his sides as he watched her pace around the room.

"Do something!" he shouted and she spun to him, her eyes narrowed and anger burning brightly within her.

"Take it out on me! Scream, cry, hit! ANYTHING!!!"

She scoffed and shook her head.

"Why not!?" he growled and she hated that all she wanted to do was fall into his arms and let it out so she let the anger she felt burn brighter.

"Because, I am NOT LIKE YOU! I don't enjoy other people's pain!" She shouted.

He flinched, his jaw clenching.

"That was a low blow." He said in a low voice and she immediately felt sorry for hurting him.

She felt the urge to cry grow stronger so she spun away from him, away from his gaze and threw her hands up in the air.

"So what are you going to do now?!" she asked.

"What do you mean?" he asked, sounding genuinely confused.

"Are you going to kill me now? Or are you going to kick me out so my father-" she spat the word as if the word burned her tongue, "can finish the job?" she snarled.

He grabbed her by the arms and spun her to face him, his fury bright in his blue gaze.

"Why would I DO THAT?!" He asked and was surprised by how animal-like his voice sounded.

Her teeth clenched as she stared up at him, her chest rising and falling.

"Because all you want is a wife and someone to hold your children. This is too much to do for something you don't even want!!!" She yelled.

His brows furrowed.

"I do want you!! I want you too much!!" He said and she scoffed and pushed him away from her.

"Prove it!!!"

She turned away from him, letting out a humorless laugh under her breath and she began making her way towards the door and away from Giovanni, not expecting him to do or say anything.

Suddenly, before she could take a step she was spun around and pinned to the wall.

Before a second thought could enter her mind, Giovanni's mouth was on her own...

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Finally!!!!! Ahh! I hope you liked this chapter. Keep tuned for more to come! Thanks soo much for reading. I can't thank you enough. Vote. Comment. Follow. XX :)