Cara’s POV
I woke up to the familiar sound of painful grunts. Or should I say I never really slept? Tossing over, I switched on the bedside lamp.
Adonis’s brows were pulled down, cold sweat all over his face as he lay stiffly.
He was having sleep paralysis again, and this was the third time in three days.
Ever since that night…
I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve tried talking to him, but I’ll be better off speaking to a fish than Adonis. I’ve tried reaching out to Luca and Cecelia, but Luca’s line hasn’t been going through. I’m guessing he’s still recovering, and that’s justified. Reaching out to Nadia and Dimitri crossed my mind, but I didn’t want them to worry.
His grunts increased, and I softly shook him awake.
“Adonis. Adonis wake up.” As usual, he didn’t, and I tried the second time, more forcefully. “Adonis, wake up!”
His eyes flung open, his chest moving up and down in rapid pants as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. I took his hand in mine, rubbing it in comfort.
“It’s fine. I’m here.”
“Cara?”
“Yes, I’m here,” I reassured, and he pulled me in for a tight hug.
What exactly happened that day? What could have made a man so strong become this emotionally affected? What were the nightmares about?
Yesterday he said that word again.
“I’m sorry, babbo.”
Babbo
I asked around in hopes that knowing what it meant would cure my curiosity.
Father.
This was about his father again. I knew Adonis’s father was a sensitive topic, but he wasn’t this affected before. Whatever happened that night must have triggered this reaction.
I pulled away when I felt his heartbeat stabilize, my hand moving to caress his cheek.
“Adonis you’ve got to tell me what this is about. Maybe I can help you.”
As he had always done, his body stiffened, and he pulled out of my hold. Standing up to head to his study.
“Go back to bed. I have work to do.”
I got up and ran towards the exit, standing in his way.
“No. I won’t let you leave.”
He walked up to me with a blank expression
“Let me through Cara.”
“No!” I strongly refused. “I won’t let you. You’d go bury yourself in work again and not come out till late. Nothing will change from you avoiding it, Adonis. Aren’t you tired of going through the same cycle?”
Adonis avoided my eyes, and I went to him.
Locking an arm around his waist as I softly placed my other hand on his chest, right above his heart.
“We might have started on the wrong foot. Honestly, I still don’t like or trust you. But I want to be there for you. For now at least. Talk to me, Adonis. Let me be there for you.”
He gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing before meeting my gaze with his vulnerable ones.
“You want to help me?” He questioned.
I gave a small smile in reply, and he dipped his head to give me a small kiss.
“Then help me forget.”
And then he proceeded to make love to me as he had always done since that night.
Nothing changed. I decided if I was going to help him, sex wasn’t the answer like he believed.
I needed to see Luca.
****
“Hey, you!” I called.
The guard looked around and then pointed at himself to be sure he was the one.
“Yes, you. Do you see any other person around? Come over here.” I ordered, and he walked up to me, a nervous look on his face.
It made me smile. If measured, I’m sure he’ll be at least four inches taller than me, but still, I made him weary of himself. I guess I owed it all to being married to their boss.
“I haven’t seen you around before. Who are you?”
“Oh, I was recently hired.”
I nodded. That explains it then.
“Do you need my help? I was told your trainer wouldn’t be coming until tomorrow.” He asked, and I waved him off.
“I need you to take me to Luca’s home.”
His eyes bulged out of their socket.
“Boss Romano?”
My face scrunched up in amusement. Was that what everyone here called him?
“Yeah. Luca.”
“But I heard he wasn’t to be disturbed. He’s recovering from the previous mission.”
“And as the lovely wife of his friend, I’d like to visit him. Now, lead the way.”
Honestly, I’d have preferred to go there myself, but I didn’t know how to. Luca’s home wasn’t located on the estate, and from the times he’s mentioned it during our conversations, it seemed he lived in a penthouse in the city.
I just didn’t know which.
The guard hesitated. “Does Capo Adonis know about this?”
I regarded him with cognizance.
“Are you insinuating that I’m hiding things from my husband? Or that he doesn’t trust me?”
“No, ma’am. I just… “he stumbled over his words at my accusatory tone.
I held up my arm to silence him.
“If you want to confirm, be my guest. He’s in his study.”
The guy took an unconscious step back.
Obviously, I knew he wasn’t going to check. Everyone knew how sensitive Adonis had been these last few days, and no one wanted to be on the receiving end, so it was better to avoid him. The guard cleared his throat, rephrasing his words.
“I apologize, ma’am. Give me a minute to find a replacement, and we can be on our way.
I smiled discretely. “What is your name?”
“Davis ma’am.”
I nodded like I was in deep thought. “Good choice, Davis. You do that and meet me in the garage in five. Don’t keep me waiting.”
And then I turned with a triumphant smile on my face. Giving myself a mental pat on the head for not cowering back in fear.