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"No." The word escapes my lips, weak and raspy. "No Henry." Of all the pain I feel, his betrayal is the worst.
Ten days after the ordeal,I’m upright and awake. The physical pain has subsided to a dull ache. As my body heals, something else stirs within me. A fierce, burning anger. I've spent too many days wallowing in misery, allowing the betrayal and heartbreak to consume me. No more. I won't let this break me. I won't let them win.
If only I could convince my family that I’m stronger. Each time I try to resume my normal life, they treat me like I’m made of glass, physically and mentally. I appreciate their concern, but their constant hovering is suffocating me.
"Lana, you don’t need to run full speed into your life again," Elio chides as he catches me on my computer.
I roll my eyes. "I'm not an invalid, Elio."
"The doctor said you need rest."
"What I need is to do something useful," I snap. “I can't sit around anymore." Sitting around leaves too much room in my brain for memories.
Elio's expression softens. "I understand. But you need to take it easy."
I nod, not wanting to argue further. As he leaves, frustration bubbles up inside me. I'm healing, yes, but this forced inactivity is driving me mad. I need to occupy my mind, to feel productive again.
An idea strikes me. I grab my phone and dial our office manager.
"Carla? It's Lana D’Amato. I need you to set up a secure connection to our systems. I'm going to be working from home for a while."
There's a pause on the other end. "Are you sure, Miss D'Amato? Your brother said?—”
"I don't care what my brother said. I'm perfectly capable of handling some paperwork." Grr. I should have known Elio would make a preemptive move.
I hang up before she can protest further. It's a small victory, but it feels good to take control of something, anything.
Within hours, my laptop is set up with access to our business files. I dive in, losing myself in spreadsheets and reports. Granted, sometimes, it’s mind-numbing work, but it's exactly what I need, a distraction from the memories that threaten to overwhelm me, a way to prove to myself that I'm strong, still capable.
As I work, I can feel my strength returning, not just physically, but mentally. Each completed task is a step toward reclaiming my life, my power. They tried to break me, but they failed. I feel like I’m channeling Lazaro. Thinking of him brings a wave of sadness. After Hartley’s comments, I have to accept that Lazaro is dead, so it’s more important than ever that I keep his spirit alive by being brazen, fierce.
For a change of pace, I move my work to the sitting room which has the best light in the afternoon. I'm buried in financial reports when a commotion outside the sitting room pulls me from my work.
Voices rise, angry and urgent, and I tense, my body still on high alert after everything that's happened.
The door bursts open, and my heart nearly stops. Henry rushes in, disheveled and desperate, his eyes wild as they lock onto mine.
Before I can react, Elio storms in behind him, gun raised and aimed squarely at the back of Henry’s head. “Get the fuck out of my house. I have no problem dropping you right here.”
Henry raises his arms in surrender, but his gaze never leaves my face. "Lana, please. I just need to see that you’re okay?—"
“As you can see, she’s fine. Now get the fuck out.” Elio taps the butt of his gun against Henry’s head.
I have to hand it to Henry, he’s pretty brave to still be standing there with Elio’s gun to his head.
“I need to talk to you, Lana. Please.”
“She doesn't want to talk to you." Elio moves to Henry’s side. I think he’s a little surprised too that Henry isn’t running as fast as possible out the door.
Piper steps into the room, her gaze darting between us all. "What's going on here?"
“Henry is just leaving,” Elio says.
“Please,” Henry pleads again.
“Why would I want to talk to you? You were a part of it.” I want to roll up in a ball and hide at the memory of Henry’s hands lewdly on me while his friends laughed and egged him on. “Unless you’re trying to cover up what you did. Are you going to pretend to take my statement? Pretend to put your buddies in prison?”
“No. I wasn’t with them. I’mnotworking.”
