AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She blinked. The gravity of my words seemed to hit her, and her shoulders slumped in reluctant defeat.
As I grappled with the pain and sadness, I wondered whether there was a future for us. Would we be able to build a relationship? Griselda's voice interrupted my thoughts, breaking through the heavy silence.
"What happens now?" she asked with resignation.
Taking a deep breath, I gathered my resolve and looked at her earnestly.
"I want you to stay with me for the time being," I said, my voice gentle but firm.
"What?" she exclaimed with incredulity evident in her eyes. "What about my job, my mom, my friends?"
I explained, "We'll sort everything out. You can call your mom and your friends and come up with an excuse. As for your job, you were suspended. There is no need for you to worry about it."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Will I no longer have my privacy?” she demanded.
I softened. "I'm sorry, it's just... I'm trying to look out for you, Griselda," Putting as much sincerity into my voice as possible, I implored, "It's the best way to keep you safe."
She sighed with reluctant acceptance. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
Chapter 14
Griselda
RelieffloodedmeasEmilio permitted me to make the necessary calls.
My trembling fingers tapped on the screen of my phone as I dialed my mother's number, my heartbeat echoing in my ears as I waited for her to pick up.
"Hey, Mom," I greeted when she picked up, attempting to pretend as if nothing was wrong. "I wanted to let you know that I've decided to go on a little holiday to clear my mind. So, I won't be able to make our usual meetups for a while."
There was a pregnant pause on the other end, a beat of silence that felt like an eternity. I could almost envision the concern furrowing on her brow, hear it in the slight catch of her breath.
"Is everything alright, sweetie?" she inquired, her worry palpable even through the phone.
"Yes, Mom, I'm okay," I reassured her, my voice a conscious attempt to sound composed. "I just need some time for myself to clear my head. You know, the situation at work, maybe considering my next steps." My excuse came in handy.
My mind raced back to the moment at my mother's house when I mentioned the name 'Fiore.' She tried to keep her reaction subtle, but it was distinct, a flicker of recognition and unease. Did she somehow know about their mafia affiliations? How could she? It was a question I couldn't voice, not with Emilio right there.
"Alright, just be careful and take care of yourself," she implored.
Emilio, during the conversation, remained a silent observer. I could sense his watchful gaze and feel his concern for me, but I didn’t want to see it. It was because of him I was in this situation after all.
Next was Avery. The phone rang a few times before she answered. "Hey, Griselda. Everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine," I replied, attempting to mask the tremor in my voice. "I decided to take a break after what happened at work. You know, since I'm already suspended, I might as well enjoy a little downtime."
Avery's skepticism was evident. “Are you sure everything is alright?”
“Yeah. I just got back from visiting my mom, and I told her what happened with my boss and Carmella. We spoke for a while, and I decided to clear my head.” I quickly repeated the same excuse.
"Alright, if you say so. Just promise me you'll have some fun too. Send me tons of pictures!"
"I promise," I chuckled in an attempt to ease her worry. "I'll keep you updated. Take care, Ave."
"You too, Griselda. Love you." I echoed the sentiment before ending the call. Tears prick behind my eyes.
After ending the calls, I looked up to see Emilio's steady gaze on me. I wanted to be angry at him, to let frustration consume me, but there was something in his eyes that kept my emotions in check. Was it empathy? Regret? I couldn’t tell.
