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"Start by taking one step at a time," Teddy advises, his voice laced with wisdom. "And remember, you don't have to do it alone. I'm here for you, no matter what."
"Thank you," I murmur, grateful for his support. As he turns to leave I realize that I was wrong. I can't stay in the mansion tonight. The place is full of ghosts of Lulu. I make my way back to the garage and head back to the city.
* * *
The penthouse door clicks shut behind me, the sound echoing through the vast, empty space. I toss my keys onto the entryway table and walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows that dominate the living room. The city stretches before me, a sea of twinkling lights against the inky blackness of the night sky.
I sink into the plush couch, my thoughts still heavy with Teddy's words. As much as I want to move forward, it feels like there's an anchor weighing me down, chaining me to my past mistakes. I rub at the tension building in my temples, willing the restless thoughts away.
My phone buzzes on the glass coffee table, the screen lighting up with an incoming message. I glance at it and see a name flash across the display. It's a distraction I've indulged in a few times before, but not one I'm proud of. With a sigh, I pick up the device and read the text.
Hey, saw you come home. Need some company tonight?
My heart clenches, a maelstrom of emotions threatening to spill over. The temptation is real, but I know deep down that giving in will only leave me feeling emptier than before.
I press my finger against the screen, hesitating for a moment before finally deleting the message. It's not an easy decision, but it's one I have to make if I want to stay true to my feelings for Lulu. With the message gone, I'm left with the silence of my apartment and the ache that still echoes within my chest.
"Damn it," I mutter under my breath. What I wouldn't give to hear her laughter again, to see the way her eyes light up when she smiles.
Desperate for any news about Lulu or her family, I grab the remote and flick on the TV. Channel after channel, I scan the headlines, searching for even the smallest shred of information. But there's nothing - no updates, no leads, just a growing sense of helplessness that threatens to consume me.
"Where are you, Lulu?" I whisper, the words barely audible even to myself. The worry gnaws at me, gnashing its teeth against the fragile walls I've built around my heart. It's frightening, this level of vulnerability, but it's also undeniably human.
As the channels continue to cycle, I feel the weight of loneliness pressing down upon me. The room seems to shrink, the walls closing in as I'm left to confront my own thoughts and fears. Lulu, the woman who had shown me what it meant to truly love and be loved in return, was now somewhere out there facing an uncertain future.
I run a hand through my hair, frustration mounting as I come to terms with my inability to protect her. But despite the pain, there's a small part of me that holds onto hope - the same hope that I saw in Lulu's eyes when she looked at me.
"Stay safe," I murmur, my voice barely audible against the hum of the television. And as I sit there in the dark, surrounded by the flickering lights of the city, I realize that my heart will continue to beat for her, no matter how far apart we may be.
ChapterThirty-Seven
The hum of the air conditioner fills the room, doing little to cool my thoughts as I sit on the edge of the couch, cradling a cup of cold coffee. My fingers trace the rim, and I can't help but think about Giovanni. His silence since I left cuts deeper than any sharp word or heated argument ever could.
"Lucia, mi hija, please try not to worry so much," my mother says, placing her hand on my shoulder, her warm brown eyes brimming with concern. "We will find a way to end this violence."
My throat tightens, and I force a weak smile. "I know, Mami. It's just... hard." The emptiness inside me grows, consuming every ounce of hope she's trying to give me. I feel so alone in all of this.
A knock at the door steals our attention, and Javier moves to answer it. Carlos enters, his dark hair slicked back and a letter clenched in his hand. There's an urgency in his step as he approaches me.
"Lucia, we received a response from El Lobo," he announces, handing me the letter. My hands tremble as I take it, feeling the weight of its contents before even reading the words.
I'll agree to meet you, Lucia Manuel. But you will come alone and unarmed. Be ready at 10 am.
The message is short and to the point, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. I glance at the clock on the wall – only thirty minutes until this mysterious meeting.
"Where am I supposed to meet him?" I ask, handing the letter back to Carlos.
He shakes his head. "I'm not sure yet. With these things, the location usually reveals itself at the right time."
"Alright, then." I stand up, suddenly conscious of my appearance. Since arriving in Miami, I've neglected myself, my hair a tangled mess, and my clothes worn and tired. If I'm going to face El Lobo, I need to look the part of a mob princess. "I should get ready."
As I walk into the bedroom, I catch my reflection in the mirror. My eyes look hollow and tired, while the dark circles beneath them betray the sleepless nights I've had since arriving in Miami. My once-vibrant curls hang lifelessly around my face, and my once radiant complexion is now dull and pale. This isn't how I want to be remembered by Giovanni. But he made his choice, didn't he? I need to let go of that and focus on the task at hand.
Taking a deep breath, I change into a sleek black dress that hugs my petite frame. Carefully, I slip on the one pair of heels I took with me from the mansion – the only reminder of the life I left behind. They're black stilettos, the straps adorned with tiny silver studs, a subtle balance between elegance and power. They remind me of a time when I felt untouchable.
Stepping back into the main room, I sense the tension in the air as everyone looks at me with concern. "What's wrong?" I ask, trying to sound nonchalant.
"El Lobo sent a car for you," Carlos replies, his voice strained.
