Prisioner In Your Arms

Shelsy’s mother was slowly recovering under her care. They were in her room, and while her mother was taking a bath, Shelsy prepared breakfast and brought it up to the room. They had promised to have breakfast together there. She was placing the tray with the food on the table when she heard laughter coming from the patio. As she looked out the window, she saw her father and Sondra.

Sondra was learning to ride a bicycle while her father held onto her. Seeing them like that didn’t please Shelsy. Something inside her told her that something wasn’t right. However, she dismissed the negative thoughts. Maybe she was seeing things that didn’t exist. Her father was just teaching Sondra how to ride a bike, that’s all. She repeated this to herself over and over again.

The table was next to the window, so when her mother sat down, she also heard what was going on. She noticed that her mother focused her attention on the garden.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better, Mom. I’ll stay until you recover,” Shelsy tried to distract her. The expression on her mother’s face made it clear that she wasn’t pleased with that scene either.

“Thank you, daughter. It seems like your father and your friend are getting along well.”

“Dad is teaching her how to ride a bike, that’s all.”

Her mother fell silent as she continued to observe. Her husband no longer laughed like that with her. It had been years since he had stopped doing so. This thought saddened her.

“I made a new friend, daughter. She also comes from the United States, her name is Karen. As soon as I feel better, I’ll introduce you to her. She lives in the neighboring property with her little grandson. He’s such a precious boy. His parents passed away, and she has had to take care of him. Once I feel better, we’ll go visit her. We have connected well since we’re both from there. The poor woman doesn’t know how to tell the little one that his parents won’t be coming back. Such a difficult situation for her.”

The two properties were divided by vineyards, so there was some distance between them. The two women had met during the medieval festival.

“Mother, I think it’s time I talk to you. I will talk to Dad later.”

“Is something wrong, daughter? Tell me, I’m listening.”

“I’m pregnant.”

The woman didn’t know how to react. She was happy that her daughter would soon give her a grandchild, but she wasn’t married, and she didn’t know how her husband would take the news.

“Who is the father?”

“It’s Leandro, Mom. You already know that I’ve been living at his house. Soon, I won’t be able to hide the pregnancy anymore. It’s getting more and more noticeable.”

“Your father doesn’t know that you live with Leandro. I haven’t told him. He thinks you were working.”

“After the scandal when they seized our properties, everyone found out that we were ruined. The newspapers and gossip websites made a big show out of it. So, the brands stopped hiring me. They canceled the contracts I had. You know that in that industry, our economic status defines who we are to others and the value we have in their eyes.”

“I’m sorry, daughter. Your career was going so well. Your father’s poor decisions affected us all.”

“Well, let’s not talk about that anymore. Let’s go down to the garden. It will do you good to get some sun.”

As they went out to the garden, Sondra and Roberto, Shelsy’s father, immediately fell silent. The laughter from earlier ceased.

Sondra got off the bike and approached Shelsy and her mother with a forced smile.

“Mrs. Endra, it’s great to see that you’ve improved.”

“That’s right, dear. I feel much better now. I’ll be able to pay more attention to my husband.”

Roberto felt embarrassed by his wife’s comment.

“Endra, my love, you should try not to exert yourself too much. Come, let’s sit down and enjoy some sun.”

He led her towards one of the garden benches.

Despite being fifty-eight years old, Roberto had taken good care of himself. He had always maintained his physical fitness through exercise and a healthy diet, and that hadn’t gone unnoticed by Sondra.

“It’s great that you’re learning to ride a bike. We can go on bike rides along the riverbank. There’s a beautiful path.”

“Your father insisted that I learn. He says that before I leave, I have to explore the landscape on a bike.”

“Everyone around here does it. I used to do it with my grandmother when I visited her. She didn’t like the city, let alone the United States. She said that country corrupts the minds of those who immigrate there.”

“Interesting opinion.”

In the United States, Bruno was in his office. Nicole didn’t want to see him. Sophie, Dante, and Sara had spoken to her. It’s not that she hated Bruno, she just needed time to process everything. Every time she tried to remember, she only got a terrible headache.

Sending red roses was not an option. That would only bring back memories of her life with Leandro.

He called Sophie on the phone to find out if there was any other flower she liked.

“She loves the scent of Trachelospermum jasminoides, they are native to Asia, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. She has always said that out of all the flowers, they have the best aroma. She said that when she had her own house, she would have a garden full of them. She would plant them alongside red roses because they are not very beautiful.”

The blonde answered.

“Thank you very much.”

This gave Bruno an idea. It would be his way of apologizing for everything that had happened. Even though they would have to see the red roses that reminded her of Leandro, he didn’t mind. He knew his surprise would make her happy.

He convinced Dante and Sophie to take Nicole for the weekend. She gladly accepted. Sara pretended not to feel well to stay behind. She would be Bruno’s accomplice in preparing the surprise.

Dante took the girls to his parents’ house in the Hamptons. Nicole spent the whole weekend delighted with Danna. Seeing her play in the sand brought flashes of similar moments she had spent with Santi. Sophie ran to her when she saw her crying inconsolably.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Dante picked up Danna and carried her inside.

“I remembered my son. I remembered moments with Santi. I want my son with me.” Sophie didn’t know how to calm her down. She took her inside and gave her one of the medications the doctor had prescribed in case of a crisis.

Nicole slept throughout the afternoon. The next day, after breakfast, they returned to the mansion. Bruno was waiting for them at the entrance. Dante had already briefed him on what had happened. He approached to open the car door and help Nicole out, then quickly placed a blindfold over her eyes.

“Bruno, I’m not in the mood for this, please.”

“Shhhh, I promise it will be a moment. Just let me guide you.”

He took her hand and led her to the backyard. A delightful aroma filled her nostrils.

“What is that scent? It seems familiar. It’s exquisite.”

At that moment, Bruno removed the blindfold, and she was amazed. There were hundreds of red roses planted, and she noticed the small white flowers planted among them. She approached and realized that the magnificent aroma was coming from them.

“Now I remember. They are Trachelospermum jasminoides. How did you find out?”

Bruno turned to Sophie, who was smiling. Nicole thanked her with a gesture. She was happy to see it all. Bruno was satisfied.

Dante whispered in Sophie’s ear.

“When we decide where to settle down permanently, I’ll make an even more beautiful garden for you.”

Sophie smiled before kissing him. Dante had become quite the romantic.

In Italy, Leandro received a call from Sergio. He cursed not having the necessary equipment at that moment to trace the call.

“Soon.”

“Son, I need your help.”

“Well, well, the formidable Sergio De Santis asking for help.”

“I’m still your father, after all. I need you to deposit a large sum of money for me to sustain myself for a while. They’ve taken everything from me.”

“That’s what you deserve. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. I’m being watched, and I would get into trouble if I did.”

Leandro lied. The truth was he didn’t want to help him. It was only fair that he paid for everything he had done.

“What surprises life gives us. My own son refuses to help me. Everything you have, you owe to me.”

“That’s not true. I have what I have because I’ve worked for it. You only gave me a place in your company to take care of your interests. You paid me like any other employee. In part, I thank you for that. Thanks to that, I’ve been able to move forward.”

“You’re a bad son. I hope you don’t regret not helping your father.”

He said before hanging up the call.

After that, Sergio threw away the cheap cell phone he had used. He couldn’t risk his son going to the authorities and being traced. He had realized perfectly well that his son was not on his side.

He had made a list where he numbered his enemies, in the order he wanted to make them disappear.

Deborah Smith.

Santi Leone.

Nicole Williams.

Bruno Leone.

Gío Rossano.

Noah Williams.

Emma Williams.

René Leone.

Mara Leone.

Rina Jones.

He planned to leave Rina for last. He wanted her to suffer the deaths of the others. He wanted her to see the consequences of her disdain. Dante was not on his list; he didn’t consider that boy relevant. Each one would experience the death of their loved ones before dying. Sergio smiled macabrely.

Thinking about it brought him great satisfaction. He had always heard that when you think of what you desire as if it were already done, it is granted, and he desired it, he desired it greatly.