*Tom* Why is my sister shaking me ? Why does she sound so desperate ? And why do my head feel like it is filled with wool ? I blink my eyes open. "Calm down Emma ... where is the damn fire ?" "Oh Tom, thank god. I thought you were dead". She hugs me so fiercely that I can hardly breathe. I yawn and stretch. "Why on earth would you think that ? I am just sleeping" "Because you fucking looked dead you ass-hat". She slaps my shoulder. "Because I come here finding Nani with no food or water, your house a stinking mess and you on the couch with whiskey and a bottle of sleeping pills ... what the hell Tom, you missed the gala last night". I rub my eyes, I feel like I am still half asleep. "No what ... no, no … the gala is thursday ... it is what ? Sometime Wednesday, right ?" "Tom l.. it is friday". She stares at me like I have gone crazy. "When did you fall asleep ?" "No, stop making fun of me". I shake my head feeling nauseous. "I couldn't sleep ... that was Tuesday, I tried a cou
*Meri* I hear Lumi curse and jump out the car and I wonder what is happening. Then I see the shadow on the porch and instantly recognize Tom. Shit, Lumi is going to skin him alive. "Luca, we need to stop her". I grab the handle to open the door. "She'll hurt him". "Well, he kind of deserves it". Luca mumbles as he gets out of the car too. The porch light turns on and I see Tom standing there, head hanging and his bag beside him. He looks pale and the beard is on the way back. "You fucking asshole". Tom doesn't even lift his head as she screams at him, or when she starts hitting her fists against his chest. He just stands there taking it. "Stop Lumi, stop it". I grab her arm but she shakes me off. Her voice is shaking with anger. "Do not come here and protect him now ... he is an idiot and he deserves to suffer as much as you have". "Luca for god's sake, do something". I look at him, realizing he is frozen in place, staring at the hurricane Lumi. "Wake up and grab her". Finall
*Tom* I can't keep the smile from my face as we walk inside, Meri walking half a step in front of me, just in case Luca hasn't managed to calm Lumi down. I can't believe she forgave me and I am not sure I deserve it. Honestly Lumi has every right to be pissed at me for what I did. The relief is like a giant rock that has been lifted from my heart and spirit. I never thought I would leave London, and definitely not for Texas, but if that's what it takes to keep Meri in my life, I am happy to do so. "What happened ?" Meri asks shocked, as we walk in on a bloodbath ... or well Luca covered in blood. Luca makes a pained face. "Someone happened to smash my nose with her elbow". "I am so sorry baby, I didn't mean to ... you were not the one I wanted to hit". Lumi is fretting around him, trying to wash off the blood. "No, I was the one you wanted to hit. I am the one who deserves it". I say, feeling sorry that Luca has to suffer to protect me. Lumi snaps around staring me down in a w
4 days later *Meri* "When are you going to forgive him ?" I look at my sister as we get in the car to go into town. Tom is just inside to get my handbag, and he is of course the 'him' I am referring to, Lumi still refuses to talk to him, and it bothers me quite a lot, as I can see it hurts him. She huffs. "Who says I am going to forgive him ? I still don't get that you forgave him that quickly". "I love him, Lumi ... with all of my heart". I smile as I see Tom walk out the house, he already looks much healthier. "And he made a mistake, we all do. You forgave Luca his mistakes". "That was something entirely different". She turns on the engine to Luca's truck. I stop discussing it when the door opens and Tom slides in beside me, giving me a loving smile. "Here you go darling". "Thanks Tom". I lean in, giving him a soft kiss, ignoring my sister glaring at us. Her mood is worse than usual because Luca is currently in LA for some meetings. Tom gently takes my hand, lacing our fin
*Lumi* "Dammit Tom, you chivalrous fool". I kneel down by his side. Of course he acted like the knight in shining armour, what else could I expect from Tom ? Meri is on his other side, tears streaming down her face as she is squeezing his limp hand. "Please Tom, don't ... don't ... leave me". I lift up his shirt, seeing the blood slowly pulsing from the wound. I might not be a doctor, but this is bad, very very bad. I need to do something or I have no doubt he is going to bleed out. I spot one of the bank workers, yelling at him. "First aid kit ... now". Just as he returns a young police officer kneels down next to me. "It looks like the liver is hit, an ambulance is on the way, but we need to try and stop the bleeding". "Yeah, can you check if there is an exit wound". What help will it be if we stop the bleeding on the front, only to have him bleeding out from the back ? The officer slides his hands under him, gently feeling around. Then shaking his head. "I can't find any exi
*Meri* "He is going to be okay right ? He has to be … please say he will". I know it won't really help to beg Lumi, but I can't stop myself. I need someone to tell me that Tom won't die from me. The idea of losing him now is crushing. She kisses my temple softly, just as we pull up in front of the hospital. "He will fight with everything he has, I know that much. Tom loves you so much, and he wouldn't want to leave you like this". "Come on girls, let me get you inside and to the right waiting room". The young officer, Jacob, says. And even in my despair I can't help but notice how he smiles at Lumi. Yeah forget it kid, she is very much taken. Lumi smiles back at him, putting her arm around me for support. "Thank you, Jacob, it's very kind of you". I almost roll my eyes, damn Lumi, don't lead the poor guy on. But she doesn't even seem to notice the way he beams at her. "Oh it's nothing Lumi, just doing my duty". He hurries to open the door for us and then he hurries up to the re
*Meri* Finally, after what feels like eternity, we are allowed in to see Tom. He is finally out of surgery and it went as well as it could. Lumi seems very quiet, but she might just be feeling bad about everything that happened and I know that right now it won't help telling her that it's okay as it would probably just make it worse. I take a deep breath before walking in, knowing that it will be scary seeing him like this. My strong, vibrant Tom, pale and still, filled with all kinds of electronics keeping an eye on him. "Hi handsome". I go sit down beside him, taking his hand in mine. It's so cold and his face is almost ghostly. He looks so fragile and I am fighting the tears, reminding myself that I got to keep him, that is the most important thing. "I hear you did well in surgery.. now I just need you to wake up for me ... I miss you". Lumi sits down on the other side, looking at him with a small smile. "Yeah we need you to wake up Tom, so I can tell you how sorry I am". "L
*Lumi* I look into those warm eyes, seeing love, hope and a hint of fear ... this is Luca, my Luca and he would never ever do something like that. "I ... I … trust you. I trust you Luca". I smile spread on his lips. "Thank you baby". He breathes out slowly. "I swear by everything holy to me that nothing wrong happened ... and I am going to explain everything when we are alone, okay ?" "Okay ...". Honestly I still can't wait to hear what this is about, but I have to trust him, he is my mussu, my everything. There is a groan and then Meri softly says. "There you are. I missed you". "Where am I ?" Tom's voice is mostly a hoarse croak. "What happened ?" "You were shot, saving me from my own stupidity". I say, hurrying over to his other side. "I am so sorry Tom … also for being such a bitch towards you". He whimpers slightly as he tries to shrug. "It's okay Lumi, I deserved it ... Well maybe not getting shot but … Well let's just forget it". Luca's eyes look like they are about to