I had to bite the inside of my cheeks to keep myself from crying. He remembered. He remembered the last sunrise we saw together, as a couple irrevocably in love with each other. It was heartwarming to know he hadn’t forgotten—to know I wasn’t the only one who held on to the memories of that day.
With Dante’s arm around my shoulder, his body against mine, we watched the sun rise at the far corners of the horizon. The yellows, oranges, and pinks painted the sky like a canvas as if God Himself was creating this resplendent image just for us. Even though it was autumn, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was the beginning of a beautiful day, and once again I was sharing it with the man I loved. The man I had always loved. The way my heart swelled inside my chest, my gut filled with equal parts hope and uncertainty, I knew I had to do everything in my power to save the people I loved.
Years ago, I was naïve to think I had made the right decision to leave, to keep Dante from the truth. I thought I was protecting him, protecting us. But I was wrong. I was so incredibly wrong. The only thing I did was to make us targets. And that was why we were all here, in the middle of a war. A war which would have happened whether I had stayed or not. I only realized that now. No matter what decision I made, this was inevitable. But if I had done it differently, maybe we would have been stronger together. Dante and I. Maybe then we would have been able to protect what was ours. Unfortunately, that was no longer an option.
He placed his hand under my chin, lifting my face so we could look into each other’s eyes.
“I remember it as if it was yesterday. The last morning we spent together.”
I swallowed hard with tears in my eyes and a dagger in my heart.
“That morning you said the sunrise is one of the most amazing things to witness. Do you know what I did the entire time you stared out this exact window?”
I blinked, a tear finally slipping down my cheek. He wiped it away with the back of his hand. “I stared at you, thinking that you were so wrong, because the most amazing sight, for me, was you. And that I’d spend every goddamn morning sitting here while you stared at the sunrise, allowing me to stare at you.” He placed a soft kiss on my lips. “You are my sunrise, Layla. You always were, and you always will be. Nothing can change that.”
My heart broke. Everything inside me shattered into a million pieces. Not just because of his words, but because of the way he looked at me. His eyes spoke volumes. The windows to his soul showed me so many things. Sadness. Regret. Pain. Heartbreak. And unconditional love.
I wrapped my arm around his neck and pulled him down, kissing him. With lips so soft, and a kiss so unyielding, I poured my everything into that one kiss. That one final kiss.
Tears freely rolled down my face, the saltiness invading our kiss. But I only pulled him closer, kissing him harder, desperate to show him what I couldn’t say…
That I loved him.
I loved him so much it hurt. I loved him more than any sunrise, more than any memory. I loved him enough to let myself wither away in the darkness that was slowly swallowing me whole. And I loved him enough to protect him from the same fate.
I broke the kiss and wrapped both arms around his neck, hugging him so damn tight. I never wanted to let go. And by the way he hugged me back, I knew he felt it too—the need to hold on. He wasn’t going to let me go. Not now. Not ever. So I needed to make the decision for him. And by the way my body ached, my insides becoming more and more agitated, I knew I was running out of time. My body was running out of time.
“Thank you,” I said softly. “This means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
“I love you, Layla. That hasn’t changed. That won’t ever change.”
I smiled. “And I love you too.” I bit my bottom lip, fighting the sorrow that spread through bone and marrow.I love you more than life itself.
He placed a soft kiss on my lips, his tongue gently coaxing me to open for him. And I did. But only for a few seconds. Even though I would have loved nothing more than to surrender and let him take control of my body once more, the craving was stronger. My stomach pulled tighter and tighter, the cramping growing more intense, more painful. I needed to get out of here.
Dante stared back out the window. “I hate saying his name, but it surprises me that we haven’t heard from Matteo or his father yet. I’m sure he already knows you’re here.”
Because he knows I’ll come back.
Dante looked at me. “I wish you would tell me. The more I know, the better I can protect you.”
More agitation, more cramps. I tightened my arms around my waist and let out a soft, involuntary moan.
“Are you okay?” His eyes widened with concern.
“I’m fine. I’m just hungry.”
He cocked a brow. “Please tell me you mean that in a sexual way because then I’ve got everything to sate your appetite.”
I chuckled. “No. I mean I’m hungry…for food.”
“Seriously? I have this huge beef right here to—”
“For the love of God, please don’t finish that sentence. It would be so wrong.”
We both laughed, and then he helped me up to my feet.
“I need to take a shower. Would you mind getting us something to eat? My stomach grumbling is quite embarrassing.”