| Don't Know What's At Stake

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐀

I sucked in a breath when we arrived at the large, black iron gates of the Bologna estate. Everything still looked exactly the same. Nothing had changed. The only difference was the last time I saw this place the gardens were painted with a rainbow of colors, spring in full bloom. Now the gardens were covered with all the shades of autumn, the men working in the gardens raking the dead leaves together.

We came to a stop, and I stared out the window.

Daniel shifted next to me. "You okay?"

"I didn't think I'd ever see this place again."

I felt his fingertips softly brushing against my shoulder. "He can't hurt you here, Layla."

"You have it so wrong." I turned to look at him, my heart breaking more and more. "It's not me I'm worried about him hurting, Daniel."

"Then who? Me? I'm a big boy, Layla. I can take care of myself."

I shook my head, a single tear slipping down my cheek. "It's not—"