Chapter 107
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But Nico wasn’t here this time. And that only made the fear worse. She pressed the pillow harder against her ears, trying to block out the rising crescendo of the storm. It felt like the world outside was breaking apart, and she was trapped in the middle of it, helpless and alone.
The thunder roared again, rattling the windows, and Amber’s body shook Her heart raced, her skin felt clammy, and her mind spun out of control. She hated how powerless she felt–how something as elemental as a storm could unravel her so completely.
She buried her face deeper into the pillow, her body trembling uncontrollably now.
“Goddammit,” she whispered, her voice muffled by the quilt. She pulled it lighter around her, as though cocooning herself in its warmth could protect her from the storm. But no amount of fabric could shield her from the terror that gripped her heart.
“God! It’s raining,” Chiara lamented as they arrived at the marketplace, dodging puddles while the wind whipped around them. The once serene skies had given way to a chaotic downpour. The bustling marketplace, lined with high–end designer shops, was now a scene of hurried shoppers seeking shelter under awnings and doorways. Rain fell harder by the minute, soaking the cobblestones until they gleamed under the oppressive
gray sky.
Luca had made a quick decision. He’d take Nico to the children’s store to get his sandals before they headed home, while the ladies continued their shopping. But as they stepped inside the shop, the rain escalated into a torrent, the sound of it drumming against the windows. The wind began to howl, the kind of gale that sent pedestrians scrambling for cover. Luca glanced outside, frowning.
The storm was intensifying.
“Papa, can we go back home now? Please?” Nico tugged at Luca’s hand, his small voice trembling with anxiety. His dark, wide eyes darted nervously to the window where the rain had begun to blur the world outside. Luca bent down to reassure him, his voice calm and steady.
“Don’t worry, Nico. It’s just a thunderstorm. It’ll pass.” He gave the boy a gentle smile, standing up and guiding him toward the row of children’s shoes. “Come on, let’s get your sandals, then we’ll go home.”
But even as Luca spoke, the storm grew fiercer. Lightning flashed outside, lighting the sky in sharp bursts. Thunder rumbled ominously overhead, shaking the very air around them. Nico froze, his small hand tightening around Luca’s. His bottom lip quivered, his earlier curiosity
about shoes forgotten.
“Papa, please,” Nico begged, his voice rising. “Please, let’s go home. I want Mummy.” His face was pale now, his eyes wide with fear. The storm had turned his usually playful, carefree demeanor into one of raw, palpable anxiety. Luca paused, noticing just how shaken Nico was.
“Tesoro,” Luca said softly, crouching down to his son’s level. “You’re safeith me. It’s just a little rain, nothing to worry about. I promise.”
But Nico wasn’t convinced. He was trembling, visibly agitated now. His lite fists clenched at the hem of his shirt as another deafening crack of thunder echoed through the shop. The store owner threw Luca a conceed glance, as if wondering why this father couldn’t calm his distressed child. Luca sighed inwardly, trying to maintain his composure.
“I want my Mummy,” Nico cried out, his voice breaking, Luca opened his mouth to reassure him again, but what Nico said next stopped him
cold.
“Mummy gets really scared when the sky lights,” Nico whispered, his voice wavering as if he was sharing a secret too big for his young heart. “Please, Papa. We have to go home. She’s probably scared right now, without me. When there’s lightning, she hides. She hides under the bed or in the closet and cries. I don’t want Mummy to cry, Papa. Please…please, (t’s go home to her,”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
