Riccardo's POV/
'There is nothing to tell,' her words kept echoing in my ears. She is right though, there is nothing left to tell and remember. I shouldn't be like this. I went to the bathroom and washed my face along with this thought.
'Is there anything I shouldn't tell her?' I looked in the mirror and I realized something. 'If hurting her means making you miserable, I'll have a second thought,' she wouldn't do that.
'Are you sure?' the voice in my mind asked.
'I'm sure. This will ruin her life too,' tears formed in my eyes blurring my vision. 'she doesn't want to remember the life she destroyed,' I wiped the drop that escaped and washed my face. Later, I went downstairs since Ms. Nancy has already made breakfast.
"What took you so long?" her eyes moved with every step I took.
"Nothing," I shook my head.
"Why did you cry?" she looked into my eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked the question I wanted to avoid for the rest of my life.
"I'm fine," I kissed her cheeks in an attempt to make her change the topic.
"Is everything okay? Did you fight with Regina?"
"We're fine . . ." I lowered my head," I guess," I took my seat.
"This isn't about Regina, right?" she cupped my cheeks.
"I'm fine," I held her hand planting a kiss on it. "Don't worry."
"Don't hold everything to yourself, Darling. Talk to me, or anyone. Just don't carry it to yourself," I gave her a nod and she proceeded to put food on my plate. At the same time, my phone rang. I excused myself and picked it up.
***O.T.P***
"I'm listening,"
"We got the CCTV records of Catalina,"
"I'll be there," I hung up putting my coat on. Nanny looked at me confused. "I need to go," I kissed her head and left without hearing her. I lastly hopped in my car and went to the station.
When I got there Santiago welcomed me holding some files in his hands. His face was kind of off meaning either his information is bad or useless.
"Morning," he said even though he intended to tell me whatever he had got. "I don't think you will like this one," he gave me the files.
"Why not?" I opened my office and sat on my chair.
"Gonzalez was never at that club," he closed his eyes as he told me the bad news.
"What?!" I frowned turning to him. "Does this mean that he lied?"
"Yeah, he lied."
"What are you waiting for then? Bring him here!"
"I don't think we can do that," he hesitantly said.
"And why is that?!"
"He left Sicily right after the investigation. No one knows where he is. The next file has everything about his wife," he pointed at the files that I'm holding. I flipped the page and found a photo of a woman along with every detail about her. As I was looking over her files, I found something interesting.
"She doesn't have a job and her family is not filthy rich." He nodded, "and she got €150,000 deposit last month—"
"Before Gonzalez was caught by Eliana Álvarez Cassidy," he completed it for me.
"That bitch!" I tightened my fist on the paper. "Does that mean that we didn't find him? He was sent by her for destruction." I poked my cheek with my tongue.
"I guess so."
"Let's bring her then. I'm sure she has something to say about this." I stood up from my chair.
"And what made you think she will tell us?"
"At least we can do our job without interruption," I took my gun. "Let's go," he grabbed my arm as I tried to pass him.
"Calm down, Riccardo. Do you seriously think that you can keep her for more than six hours?"
"I'm not gonna sit and wait for her to escape!" I yanked my hand harshly.
"All I'm saying is we need a plan. Don't be blinded by your hate, Detective." He actually has a point.
"Do you have any plan?" he sighed. "Call me when you have it. I need to leave," I was about to go again but he held my arm making me groan.
"Are you going to her? Riccardo—"
"I want to relax," with that, I left. I have to set my mind free. So I went to my car and started driving to my safe place.
After four hours of driving, I finally arrived at my destination. It was 5:45 pm, so the sun was already setting. The wind blew on my skin as I sensed all my tension being released from my body. The sound of the water was like classical music that made me experience heaven. I was in my bare foot to perceive the roughness of the sand. I sighed loudly as I experienced a sense of relief. I sat on the sand and closed my eyes wanting to freeze this moment forever. But it was impossible since there were a lot of people here. I scanned the beach until my eyes landed on a girl who was hugging her knees. Her back was exposed even though it was cold. I thought she might forget to bring something to wear, so I slowly approached her putting my jacket on her back. She got off her knees and faced me. 'Thank you, God. My day can't be any better.' I said to myself.
"Are you stalking me, Detective?" she rested her chin on her hand
"Keep on dreaming."
"Cause one day you will make it true," she winked at me. "Seriously, what is going on? You told me to sleep last night, and now you're giving me your jacket. Are you in love with me?" She narrowed her eyes.
"I see that you are waiting for someone. Is it your toy or your fiancé?" I pointed at two glasses of wine. Her smile dropped as her eyes went in the direction I pointed.
"Ah, non of them. I took myself out until you decided to join," she looked up at me squeezing her eyes.
"Sorry, I thought you—"
"You thought wrong," she scrunched her nose. I couldn't say anything. She removed the jacket from her back and gave it to me. "I want you to give me warmth, not your jacket," I yanked it from her hand and was about to leave. But an idea came up to me and sat beside her.
"What did you do to Gonzalez?" I looked at her.
"Why are you asking me that?" she sipped her wine.
"He was with you before you sent him to me. And now he had vanished."
"That sounds like your problem." She looked at the sea. I realized that she was still cold so I gave her my jacket. She silently wore it.
"Did you seriously tell Regina?" I tried to break the silence.
"About what?" she tasted the wine inside her mouth as she looked into my eyes.
"You know what I'm talking about."
"I know. I just don't want to remember it," she gulped her wine.
"Look, Eliana. What happened between us was just a mistake. You can't use it as a weapon against me," she took the bottle and started drinking it like it was water.
"A mistake," she scoffed. "It was a mistake. Plus why are you so afraid to tell her? I mean it was before you met. . ." she looked at me. "her," she finished it.
"She can't take it. She is so insecure and—"
"I don't care," she looked away and there was a moment of silence between us as she was busy drinking her wine. I felt uneasy seeing her like that. Maybe I took it too far this time.
"It's getting late, I think we should go," I tried to stand but she pinned me down and straddled me between her legs. Her eyes were about to close and I could smell the alcohol she just took.
"It. . . M. . .Mis" she slurred the words.
"Eliana, you're drunk," I tried to escape from her. But she grabbed my collar and pulled me into her. Our lips were centimeters apart. I looked into her teary eyes. Before I knew it, her lips were on mine. I couldn't process what is happening. I didn't respond to the kiss but her lips never stopped moving. I know this is wrong, I know I should push her but all my strength left my body. She finally broke the kiss after biting my lower lip.
"This is a mistake too," she got off me and walked away stumbling. I watched her back not knowing what to do. She suddenly tripped and fell on the sand. I run towards her and she wasn't moving.
"Eliana, Eliana. . ." I tapped her cheeks as I rest her head on my other hand. She didn't respond but made herself comfortable on my hand and fell asleep. I smiled at her and carried her to the lounge. The receptionist gave me a warm smile.
"What can I help you with?"
"Is there any room?" Eliana wrapped her hands around my neck trying to sleep peacefully.
"You are lucky. There is only one room left," she clicked something on her computer before giving me a key. I thanked her and took Eliana to the room.
When I finally reached the room, I carefully laid her on the bed and pulled the blanket over her. I then sat beside her and watched her face. She looks so peaceful and innocent while sleeping. Her lips pouted and she snuggled into her arms like a baby in her mother's womb. I slowly moved my hands wanting to touch her. As soon as I was about to touch her face, her phone rang. I took it out trying my best not to wake her up. I saw the caller ID and it was Edoardo. I quickly declined and text him that she was sleeping in a hotel since it was late. He just said goodnight thinking that she texted him.
'This is a mistake too,' her words kept repeating in my ears.
"This too," I said before smashing my lips on her. She unconsciously kissed me back. This is so wrong, but at the same time so good. I slowly hovered above her and deepen our kiss. As I was kissing her, images from the past kept playing inside my head. Her laugh kept ringing in my ears. I immediately pushed her away breathing heavily. I wiped my lips thinking that I will eventually wipe this kiss. I was about to leave however, her voice stopped me.
"I. . . E. . . Edoardo," Right, it was always about him. I stormed out of the room.
*End of Riccardo's POV
"D. . . Don't. . . Leave," she mumbled.