Chapter 8 - THE KISS HE WAS AFRAID TO TAKE
The first snow of December arrived while Chloe was learning how to sleep without checking the locks.
She had moved into a secure apartment arranged through the victim advocacy program.
Sarah visited often.
Special Agent Carter helped coordinate safety planning.
And Lorenzo respected the one boundary Chloe had made unmistakably clear.
He was not allowed to decide where she lived.
He hadn't argued.
He hadn't offered to buy her a penthouse.
He hadn't insisted his mansion was safer.
Instead, he had asked whether she needed anything.
Chloe told him she needed time.
He gave it to her.
Three weeks passed.
During that time, investigators continued examining the North Star accounts.
Gabriel Marchesi disappeared from Chicago.
Aaron Miller was placed on administrative leave while the corruption investigation expanded.
Sofia began receiving specialized trauma treatment.
And Chloe started seeing a counselor named Dr. Helen Ward.
Their first sessions were difficult.
Chloe hated talking about the past.
She hated remembering how many times she had apologized for things Aaron had done.
Most of all, she hated realizing how thoroughly he had taught her to distrust herself.
One afternoon, Dr. Ward asked a question that stayed with her.
“What would you choose if you weren't afraid of making someone angry?”
Chloe didn't know.
She thought about it all evening.
Then she picked up her phone.
And called Lorenzo.
He answered on the second ring.
“Chloe?”
“Are you busy?”
“Not anymore.”
She smiled.
“That's not an answer.”
“Then yes. But whatever it is can wait.”
Chloe looked at the snow gathering on her windowsill.
“Would you like to have dinner?”
Silence.
Then Lorenzo said, “With you?”
She laughed.
“No, with the mayor. Of course with me.”
“I'd like that.”
“There's a place near my apartment.”
“Send me the address.”
She hesitated.
“And Lorenzo?”
“Yes?”
“No bodyguards sitting at the next table.”
He chuckled.
“Understood.”
They met at a small Italian restaurant with red-checkered tablecloths and candles in old wine bottles.
Lorenzo arrived wearing a dark sweater and jeans.
Chloe almost didn't recognize him.
“You look normal.”
He glanced down.
“That's disappointing.”
She laughed.
“I mean you look like someone who buys groceries.”
“I've purchased groceries.”
“When?”
He thought about it.
“Possibly 2018.”
Chloe burst out laughing.
The waitress approached.
For the next two hours, they talked about ordinary things.
Books.
Music.
Terrible childhood haircuts.
The time Lorenzo accidentally drove his father's vintage car into a garage wall.
The summer Chloe worked at an ice cream shop and accidentally gave a customer twelve scoops instead of two.
They laughed until Chloe's cheeks hurt.
And for a while, neither mentioned Aaron, Gabriel, or the investigation.
After dinner, they walked through the snow.
The city glowed around them.
At a quiet intersection, Chloe stopped.
“Lorenzo.”
He turned.
“Yes?”
“Why haven't you tried to kiss me?”
He looked genuinely surprised.
“Because I wasn't sure you wanted me to.”
She studied his face.
“And if I do?”
He stepped closer.
“Then I'd ask if you're sure.”
Chloe smiled.
“I'm sure.”
He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.
Then he kissed her.
It was soft.
Careful.
Nothing like the possessive kisses Aaron used to demand after an argument.
Lorenzo didn't hold her in place.
He didn't pull her closer until she moved toward him.
And when she rested her hands against his chest, he kissed her again.
For the first time in years, Chloe experienced affection without fear.
When they separated, Lorenzo rested his forehead lightly against hers.
“I've wanted to do that for weeks.”
She laughed.
“You hide it well.”
“Not as well as I thought.”
They stood beneath the falling snow.
Then Chloe grew serious.
“I need you to understand something.”
“Tell me.”
“I can't be somebody's possession again.”
Lorenzo's expression softened.
“You won't be.”
“I need my own work. My own friends. My own decisions.”
“You should have all of those things.”
“And I need you to tell me the truth, even when it's ugly.”
He nodded.
“I can do that.”
Chloe searched his face.
“Can you?”
Lorenzo hesitated.
Then he said, “There's something I haven't told you.”
Her stomach tightened.
“What?”
“My father wasn't simply a businessman.”
“I know.”
“He built parts of our company through organized crime. Smuggling, extortion, illegal gambling.”
Chloe remained silent.
“When I took over, I shut down some operations. Others were harder to dismantle. And I made compromises I'm not proud of.”
She looked at him.
“Have you hurt people?”
Lorenzo didn't look away.
“Yes.”
The honesty frightened her.
But she had asked for the truth.
He continued.
“I won't ask you to pretend otherwise.”
Chloe took a slow breath.
“Then if we're going to have anything real, you need to keep changing.”
“I know.”
“Not for me.”
He nodded.
“For myself.”
She smiled faintly.
“Good.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then his phone vibrated.
Matteo.
Lorenzo answered.
His expression changed immediately.
“What happened?”
Chloe watched him.
A long silence followed.
Then Lorenzo whispered, “No.”
He ended the call.
“Lorenzo?”
He looked at her.
“Gabriel's been found.”
“Where?”
“In our father's old house.”
Chloe waited.
May you like
Lorenzo swallowed.
“And he says he has Sofia.”
