To Be Yours Again-Chapter 205 The courage

*LORENZO*

When I enter the kitchen, it’s crowded and humming with the early morning banter of some of the staff, Jenkins among them.

Seeing me, they all stand as one, a frankly feudal display of deference, which I find irritating. But I let it go. “Good morning, all. Please. Sit. Enjoy your breakfast.”

There are various pleasant mutterings of “Don Lorenzo.”

During its heyday, this Mansion would have employed well over three hundred and fifty staff, but now we manage with twelve full-time and about twenty part-time employees.

We also have eight tenant farmers, whom I met on my recent trip. They raise livestock and various arable crops across ten thousand acres. All organic. Thanks to my father.

By the tradition the outdoor and household staff eat at separate sittings. At this moment the assistant estate managers, the gamekeeper, assistant gamekeeper, and the gardeners are enjoying Jessie’s cooked breakfast. I note that mine is the only plate with French toast.

“I hear you’ve had a break-in, sir,” Jenkins says. “Sadly, yes. It’s a massive pain in the arse.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Where’s Mike?”

“Dentist this morning. He says he’ll be in around eleven.”

I bite into my breakfast. The melt-in-the-mouth goodness of Jessie’s French toast takes me back to my childhood.

Today it’s apple with cinnamon.

“It’s nice to have you here, Sir,” Mona says. “I hope you don’t have to rush back to town.”

“Police just arrived. I’ll find out a bit later.”

“I’ve let Mrs. Blake know about the burglary. She and Alice can pop round from the house to your flat and clear up.”

“Thanks. I’ll ask Dante to liaise with her.”

“Are you enjoying the Hideout?”

I give her a swift grin. “Very much. Thank you. It’s very comfortable.”

“I hear you had a successful day yesterday.”

“It was fun. Thank you again, Jenkins.”

He gives me a nod, and Mona smiles. “That reminds me,” she says. “There were two very unsavory characters who came calling for you yesterday.”

“What?” She has my immediate attention, and everyone else’s in the room. She pales.

“They were asking after you. I told them to get lost, sir.”

“Unsavory?”

“Rough-looking, sir. Aggressive. They looked like thugs, I think. Anyway...”

“Fuck!”

Danica!

************

Danica pulls the brush through her hair. It’s finally dry enough. She switches off the hair dryer, feeling ill at ease and wondering if she heard something. But it’s only the sound of the crashing waves in the cove below. She stands staring out the window down at the sea.

Lorenzo gave her the sea.

She smiles remembering her antics on the beach. The rain is easing off. Perhaps they could go for another walk on the shore today. And back to that pub for lunch. That was a good day. Every day here with him has been a good day.

From downstairs she hears the scrape of furniture on the wooden floor and hushed male voices.

What?

Has Lorenzo brought someone back to the house?

“Fuck!” Someone grates in a strangled whisper.

That voice! Fear and adrenaline sweep through her body as she stands frozen in the bedroom.

It’s Julio. He’s found her.

************

*LORENZO*

I tear down the lane, clattering over the cattle grid and pushing the Jag to go faster. I have to get back to the house. I’m finding it hard to breathe. My anxiety is a weight pressing on my chest.

Danica.

Why did I leave her at the house? If something has happened to her...I will never forgive myself.

My brain works feverishly.

Is it them? The bastards who was out for revenge?

They’ve been doing a good job hiding from the men I sent after them.

I feel sick to my stomach. How the hell did they find us? How? Maybe they were the fuckers who burgled my flat. They found information on my family’s estate and estate. And now they’re here. Asking questions. The fucking nerve of them, coming to my house. I grip the steering wheel.

Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

If they locate her at the Hideout...I’ll never see her again.

My panic mushrooms.

She’ll be dragged into a horrific underworld, and I’ll never be able to find her.

No. Fuck. No.

I swerve down the lane toward the Hideout, spraying gravel into the hedgerows.

***********

Danica’s heart is pounding, her pulse thumping in her ears even as the blood drains from her head. The room spins once, twice, and her legs start to shake.

She’s in her worst nightmare.

The bedroom door is open, and she hears their whispers downstairs. How did they get in? A creak on the stair galvanizes her into action. She sprints into the bathroom and quietly shuts the door. With shaking, clammy hands, she locks it behind her while she gasps for air.

How did they find her?

How?

She’s dizzy with fear. Feeling powerless, she quickly scans the room looking for something to use to defend herself.

Anything. His razor? Her toothbrush? She picks up both and slips them into her back pocket.

But the drawers are empty...there’s nothing there.

All she can do is hide. She can only hope that the door will hold until Lorenzo returns.

No. Lorenzo!

He is no match for them. He is one man...and they are two. They will harm him. Tears well in her eyes, and she sinks to the floor as her legs give out under her. She leans against the door as human ballast in case they try to break it down.

“I heard something.” It’s Julio. He’s in the bedroom.

“Check that door.”

“You in here, you fucking bitch?”The other man, his friend calls out, and rattles the bathroom door, testing the handle.

Danica puts her fist in her mouth to stop from screaming, and tears trickle down her cheeks. Her body starts shaking. Her terror is overwhelming. And she pants, taking in shallow breaths. She’s never felt so frightened.

She’s completely helpless. She doesn’t know how to fight, and there’s no escape from this room. And, she has no way to warn Lorenzo.

“Come out!” Julio’s voice makes her jump. It’s inches from her ear on the other side of the door. “It will only be worse for you if we have to break the door down.”

Danica screws her eyes up tight and stifles her sobs. Suddenly there’s a horrific thud, like a sack of grain falling to the floor, followed by loud cursing, and Danica is jolted backward.

He’s trying to break down the door. But it holds. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Danica stands and puts her foot against the door, silently cursing that she’s not wearing shoes and socks. Her feet grip the limestone floor, and she presses her full weight against the door in the hope that it might help hold him back.

“When I get in there, I’m going to kill you. You fucking bitch. I must kill you even if it’s the last thing I do. No one humiliates like that. No one says no to me.”

He slams into the door again.

And Danica knows it’s only a matter of time. She sucks in a sob as her despair takes hold. She never found the courage to tell Lorenzo she loves him.