Chapter 32

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Hey everyone! So here is a new chapter for you all from the cliffhanger last time! I know, I know. I'm evil, so here you go. Forgive me? Also, today I found out my dog Jordy has cancer. He doesn't have very long and he has been there through everything with me. He was there when I found out about my illness, he has been there through all the tears, laughs, surgeries, hospitilazations and it absolutely kills me that I can't help. I don't go to church, but prayers would be welcome. He is my baby and I feel like a piece of me is dying with him. Thank you all for reading and I hope you like this chapter. It does have some swearing so young viewers beware! Enjoy, my loves. XX, Love, Hannah <3

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CHAPTER 32: Giovanni checked his watch again, his heart beating a dull throb in his chest that made his throat tight.

She was late.

She was late.

She was late to their wedding.

He kept repeating it to himself as it didn't really register. Nicholas was a steady presence beside him, but it did nothing to calm the nerves in his stomach that made him feel like his knees were going to give out. Where was she? He should have expected this. A woman such as Natalie could never really want him with his past and all that he has done and just who he is in general.

"She should have been here by now." He whispered hoarsely to Nicholas.

The other man bowed his head and clapped him on the shoulder.

"I'm sure she is just running late. Don't worry about it. She loves you." He whispered.

Giovanni clenched his jaw. He should have known, but it still didn't make the ache in his chest any better and it still hurt just as bad-if not worse. He swallowed hard and finally gave into the nervousness swirling relentlessly within him.

He stepped down off of the altar and made his way down the aisle, his stride eating up the floor as the floral scent of the flowers hit him, but the smell did nothing to calm him, just made him even more nauseous. He knew Nicholas was following him and he resisted the urge to growl with frustration. The doors swung open and he began making his way to the room Natalie was supposed to be getting ready in. His hands fisted at his side as he walked and took the stairs two at a time, hoping to get rid of Nicholas easily because he didn't want his friend to see what it would do to him if Natalie did leave him. But, Nicholas was more than ready to take the challenge and easily kept up with him which Giovanni should've expected.

At the top of the stairs, Nicholas spun Giovanni to face him and he couldn't hold back his snarl as his friend stared at him with cool and calm eyes that had seen just as much horrid images as Giovanni had. They had been together for years, and Nicholas was the brother that he never had and he was grateful for him but at this moment all he wanted to do was put a hole through something and since Nicholas was closest he didn't want that to be him. Nicholas spoke to him in a low and calm voice that set Giovanni's teeth on edge.

"You cannot get so upset. She may just be running a little bit late. It's her wedding day." Giovanni scoffed and scrubbed a hand down his face.

"You know that Natalie wouldn't be late to this so why the hell would she be late? She probably realized that I am just a cold son of a bitch and that she deserves better!" He all but shouted, his voice almost animalistic in the growl resounding through his chest. Most men would've flinched back, but Nicholas stood his ground which if Giovanni wasn't in emotional turmoil at that moment he would have found commendable, but right now all he could think about that even the love of his life didn't want him-couldn't accept him and that hurt like a real and complete bitch.

Nicholas's face hardened.

"Do you really think that Natalie would choose to leave you now after everything you both have been through and all that has happened? You should give her more credit than that. At the most I am sure she is just nervous, but I am telling you, friend, that woman loves you and she wants to be with you. She would not leave you now. Natalie isn't that type of woman and you should know that." Nicholas said, his eyes flashing.

Giovanni gazed back at his friend, until-with a sigh- he broke the stare and scrubbed his palm over his face and jaw.

He looked back at his longtime friend, unable to help, but show his vulnerability that he was feeling right now.

"I cannot lose her, Nicholas. I cannot have her hate me, or not want to be with me. Ana-Marie is your 'one' and I know that if I had a heart it would be filled all for Natalie, because she is my 'one'. She is it for me, but what if she doesn't want to be the one for me, to have me be her 'one'? I don't think I could handle that." He said softly.

Nicholas nodded.

"She is your one, brother. I know that and I know that she knows that as well. She loves you, as I know you love her. Don't assume things until you have room to assume them." He said.

Giovanni sighed, nodded.

"Thank you." Giovanni said, the words feeling foreign on his tongue. He was not used to having to say thanks or sorry, but ever since Natalie came into his life he had been saying them a lot more and if he was truly honest with himself it was nice feeling as if he could say them more, it made him feel more human then monster. They turned and began walking to where Natalie's room was. There were large windows at the end of the hallway, showing the beautiful night that waited outside.

The sun was fading from the sky, leaving brilliant, bright, beautiful colors in its wake and then soon yielded to the dark exotic charcoal of night.

Giovanni allowed himself to stop outside her door and by the window so he could take in deep gulps of air, the nerves a reaching a fever pitch in his chest. He didn't know what he would find on the other side of that door.

Would she just be running late and greet with him a smile, then give him a lecture about seeing her before the wedding in her dress that he was sure she looked beautiful in? Or would her gown be laying on the bed with a simple note saying she despised him and couldn't have a monster as her husband that she had finally come to her senses and was beyond sickened by even the thought of him. His head gave a dull throb, a sign of a bad headache with all the relentless thoughts spearing his mind and the stress that came with them. Nicholas patted him on the shoulder, a silent encouragement to which Giovanni took in a deep breath. Whatever he found on the other side of that door he would deal with.

Right?

With one last draw of oxygen into his lungs, Giovanni swung the door open and stormed inside.

"Natalie? Natalie?" He called out, only to receive no answer.

He looked on the bed, found it made and his eyes scanned over the bedspread and pillows to see if there was that dreaded piece of paper folded there that would no doubt break his heart. He let out a sigh of relief when he found no sight of that, so where could she possibly be? He turned and found the dresser with a large mirror attached, different makeup and hair products, a bottle of perfume on the edge, the lid slightly off. He smiled slightly as he ran a light fingertip over her things. The room smelled of her, vibrated with her presence and he felt relief swamp him, but it was short lived as he looked down after feeling something under his shoe.

He stepped back and found the bouquet she would be holding to walk down the aisle tattered on the floor, velvety soft petals littering the floor. His face paled as ice flooded his veins and dread settled in his gut. On the pristine white carpet were large splatters of blood, it wasn't a lot, but Giovanni felt his world tip and dim at the edge until he felt he would pass out. Nicholas was by his side in an instant, helping him balance himself as his whole world began to give out.

He spun around and ran into the bathroom just in time to empty the contents of his stomach. His throat burned as he heaved, matching the burn and ache that settled in his chest. He gasped in air and slumped on the cool marble, resting his cheek against the edge of the toilet. He had seen countless murders, murdered before and seen ten times the blood that he saw out there, but to feel-to know that it was Natalie's, his loves blood, made him feel like he had never seen a speck of blood before.

The ground tipped even though he was already sitting slumped on the floor next to the large claw-foot bathtub that he knew Natalie loved.

Distantly, he heard Nicholas shouting off orders into his phone and he knew that he should get up and help, but it felt as if he was frozen to the spot, the ice forming in his chest holding him, freezing him into his place. He looked up as a new form entered the doorway to Natalie's room and found Rebecca, Natalie's mom taking in the sight before her. Giovanni watched as her face paled and her hands began to tremble as she looked at the scene before her.

Their gazes latched and Rebecca's eyes flared and she squared her shoulders, tipped up her chin to stroll through the room, her head held high as she came straight for Giovanni. He watched her come as if in a dream-like state, seeing but not really seeing or knowing that she was in front of him. She got into the bathroom and he swallowed hard.

Her lips thinned and she bent down.

"What are you doing?! You need to do something!" she hissed.

Giovanni didn't reply, his eyes focusing on the crimson stains on the carpet a few feet away. Rebecca let out a low growl and gripped his shoulders, and then for the second time in his life-slapped him in the face. The harsh sting snapped Giovanni back and he blinked his blurry vision as a red-faced Rebecca shook his shoulders.

"You listen to me. You are Giovanni Amaro and you need to buck up. Natalie doesn't have a lot of time and you need to grow some fucking balls and figure out what happened and where she is. I want you to get up, pull yourself together and find my fucking daughter!" she snarled.

Giovanni shook his head to clear it, and nodded slowly. Rebecca inspected his face, her lips drawn tight. She nodded once and released him. Giovanni sucked in a breath of air and willed himself to become the man he never wanted to be.

This time he would become the monster he knew, and he would do it to find Natalie and then he would lock up the beast inside of him so that he could live his life with Natalie as he wished. He pushed off the cool floor, and squared his shoulders, nodded once towards Rebecca and then moved around her to go back into the room where Nicholas stood growling orders into the phone as more of his security and guards filed into the room.

"LISTEN UP!" he snarled and welcomed the ice that formed in his chest, welcomed the fire of anger that burned and boiled his blood as he realized someone had what was his, that someone dared to take Natalie, his mi amour, away from him.

"I want all of your attention on finding my future wife. I do not care who you have to kill or what you have to do, but you find my future wife no matter what! You leave no stone unturned. YOU FIND HER OR YOU SUFFER MY WRATH. FIND HER!!!!" He roared.

Everyone immediately got to work, some with excited eyes and some with pale faces.

"Let's go look at the security tapes and the check-in guest book." Giovanni said lowly to Nicholas.

The man nodded and began walking out.

Giovanni spared one last glance at Natalie's mother. They stared at each other for a moment, an unspoken conversation through their gazes.

Giovanni nodded once stiffly, turned and strode out the room.

He was going to find her. He had to. As he walked, his heart gave a sharp throb of new pain at the thought of spending a life without her.

"I'm coming, mi amour, I'm coming." ...

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Ahh! I hope you like this chapter! What do you think will happen next? The suspense! I hope you liked this chapter and with each read, comment, and/or vote it makes me so happy and I cant thank you enough. I love you all! Keep tuned for what will happen next. VOTE. COMMENT. FOLLOW. SHARE. Pray for Jordy<3 XX, Love, Hannah