Chapter 335: Words

CHAPTER 336

KATYA POV

Morning arrived far sooner than I wanted it to. Or perhaps it had never really arrived at all. I wasn’t entirely sure I’d actually slept. Every time I closed my eyes, yesterday replayed itself in fragments.

The police. Inspector Ricci. The conversation. Romeo standing in my bedroom. His hand against my cheek.

“Don’t be scared.”

“Nothing is going to happen tomorrow.” I groaned quietly into my pillow. Why… Why was that conversation the one my brain had chosen to obsess over?

Today was supposed to be about the police. About what would happen at the station. About whether Chiara and I would somehow say the wrong thing and make everything infinitely worse.

But My mind had spent the better part of the night replaying every single sentence Romeo had spoken. Not because I’d suddenly trusted him.

Far from it. But because… Nothing had happened the way I’d expected. He hadn’t threatened me. Hadn’t mocked me. Hadn’t cornered me until I felt trapped. Hadn’t reminded me that I was beneath him. Hadn’t deliberately tried to make me uncomfortable.

He’d listened and answered and as strangely frustrating as his answers had been. He’d still answered.

And somehow that bothered me more than if he’d been cruel. Because cruelty I understood. This version of Romeo I didn’t.

I rolled onto my back with an exhausted sigh before squinting toward the digital clock resting on my bedside table.

My eyes widened. “…Oh no.” 7:54. I bolted upright so quickly my blanket landed in a heap on the floor. Breakfast. Nonna hated when I skipped breakfast.

Not because she believed it was the most important meal of the day— Though she absolutely did— But because she considered eating together a family ritual.

Missing it without explanation usually resulted in her personally coming upstairs to investigate. I scrambled out of bed.

“So much for getting ready properly.” I hurried into the bathroom, barely pausing long enough to look at my reflection. My hair looked…

Acceptable. Mostly. Close enough. I grabbed my toothbrush, brushed my teeth as quickly as humanly possible, splashed cold water across my face and hurriedly patted it dry with the nearest towel.

Bathing would have to wait. It wasn’t exactly the first time I’d gone downstairs before showering. Hopefully nobody would notice.

I hurried back into my bedroom, smoothing down my oversized hoodie before instinctively glancing toward the concealed door leading into Romeo’s room.

Silence. No movement. Considering the time. He was probably already downstairs. Yesterday he’d reached breakfast before everyone else.

It seemed like the sort of habit he’d have. Always early. Always prepared. I pushed the thought away before opening my bedroom door and stepping into the hallway. The familiar scents of fresh coffee, toasted bread and baked pastries drifted from downstairs almost immediately.

My stomach reminded me rather loudly that I’d barely eaten yesterday. Maybe breakfast wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

By the time I reached the dining room, conversation was already floating softly through the open doors. I stepped inside, then paused.

Romeo wasn’t there. Nonna occupied her usual seat same with Chiara who judging by the faint shadows beneath her eyes hadn’t slept much either.

Neither of us had. Around the rest of the table sat several members of the household staff.

The head gardener. The head maid. The estate manager. Head of security. I slowed slightly. Come to think of it Hadn’t breakfast looked different yesterday?

I frowned thoughtfully. Yesterday… None of them had been here. It had only been Nonna, Romeo, Me and Chiara.

Now that I thought about it… Where had everyone else been? My gaze swept around the table once more. Had they purposely eaten elsewhere because Romeo had been present?

Did he dislike eating with staff? That didn’t seem…Actually… I had no idea what seemed like something Romeo would or wouldn’t do anymore.

Perhaps I was overthinking it. This was Nonna’s home. She decided who sat where. Not Romeo. I quietly dismissed the thought before making my way toward the table.

Nonna’s face brightened almost immediately. “Mia Cara .” A warm smile spread across her face. “I was beginning to think we’d have to send someone upstairs.”

“I almost overslept,” I admitted sheepishly as I slipped into the chair beside her. She laughed softly.

“It happens.” One of the maids immediately stepped forward, placing a fresh plate in front of me before pouring tea into my cup. The smell alone made my stomach growl.

Embarrassingly loudly. Chiara snorted. I shot her a look. She quickly hid her smile behind her coffee cup.

I reached for a slice of toasted bread. Before I could take a bite, Nonna spoke again. “How are you feeling today, cara?” I looked toward her.

“I’m fine.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. Nor was it entirely true. She studied my face for a second longer before nodding gently. “I’m glad.”

Afterwards, only the soft sounds of breakfast filled the room. Cutlery against porcelain. Quiet conversation. Someone pouring coffee. It almost felt normal until Nonna spoke again.

“What happened yesterday?” The piece of toast stopped halfway to my mouth.

“…Yesterday?”

“Mm.” She buttered another slice of bread without looking up.

“You and Romeo.”

Everything inside me froze.

Right. She’d seen him ask me to follow him out of the garden. I’d completely forgotten. My mind scrambled for something believable. Anything. Instinctively, I glanced toward Chiara.

She was already looking at me. Her eyes widened ever so slightly. Help. She looked just as helpless. Fantastic.

I forced myself to look back at Nonna before the silence became suspicious. “Oh…” I cleared my throat.

“He just…” Think. Think. “…asked for my help with something.” The words sounded painfully weak the moment they left my mouth.

Nonna finally looked up. One elegant eyebrow lifted.

“Help?”

“…Yes.”

“With what?”

Oh no. I hadn’t thought that far. My brain offered absolutely nothing. Not one useful idea. Not a single believable explanation.

So Instead of answering… I did the only thing I could think of. I shoved an entirely unnecessary bite of toasted bread into my mouth. Far too much bread.

Instant regret. Now I couldn’t speak even if I wanted to. I smiled awkwardly while chewing. Nonna regarded me with open curiosity.

But To my immense relief… She chuckled. “I suppose you’ll tell me another time.” I nodded far too enthusiastically. Absolutely. Another time.

Preferably never. The conversation drifted elsewhere. I silently thanked every possible force in the universe.

—

A little while later… Breakfast finally ended. Staff gradually excused themselves one after another. Nonna remained behind, already discussing something with the estate manager. Chiara caught my eye from across the room.

Ready?

I nodded. Together we quietly slipped out of the dining room. Neither of us spoke until we were halfway across the entrance hall.

Only then did Chiara exhale. “…That was close.”

“You think?”

“You looked like you were about to choke on your own breakfast.”

“I almost did.”

She laughed quietly.

The sound disappeared almost as quickly as it came. Reality settled back between us. Her expression became serious again.

“Katya…”

“Hm?” She hesitated for only a second. “Have you thought of a plan?” I frowned. “For what?” She stared at me.

“…The police station.” Everything inside me sank. Right. Today. I’d somehow managed to forget.

No… Not forget. Avoid thinking about it. I stopped walking altogether. Without saying a word, I reached over and grabbed Chiara’s hand before continuing toward the staircase.

“Katya?” I didn’t answer. I simply kept walking. Up one flight. Then another. Through the hallway. Straight toward my bedroom. Chiara allowed herself to be dragged the entire way before finally protesting.

“As flattering as this dramatic kidnapping is…” She looked down at our joined hands. “…I still don’t know why you’re dragging me. We reached my bedroom door and I pushed it open as She followed me inside.

The moment the door clicked shut behind us, Chiara folded her arms. “I don’t have my phone.” She counted off one finger.

“I don’t have my car.” Another finger. “And unless you’ve secretly learned how to teleport overnight…” She sighed dramatically. “…we really do need a plan if we’re getting to that police station today, Katya.”

Only then did I slowly release her hand. Because for the first time since waking up… Reality had finally caught up with me.

Romeo had promised me nothing would happen today. He’d looked me straight in the eyes and said, I give you my word. A part of me wanted to believe him.

Another part reminded me exactly who had spoken those words.

Romeo Salvatore.

The man who had spent months making me fear him. The man I still wasn’t sure I understood. Trust didn’t appear overnight simply because someone made a promise.

Not after everything that had happened. I swallowed quietly. I hadn’t even told Chiara about what Romeo had said.

What if I repeated his promise… and nothing happened? What if I gave her hope only for both of us to be disappointed?

No.

Until I saw those words become reality, they would remain exactly that. Words. I looked at Chiara, who was still waiting for an answer.

Morning had arrived. The police were expecting us. We had no phone. No car. And, despite everything Romeo had said… I still had absolutely no idea how we were supposed to get to the station.