Chapter 57: LVII *NOT EDITED*

Karma

Day by day I can feel myself starting to get better, Vincenzo's been amazing, he hasn't left my side neither has Hade's, Vin's always asking if I need something or if I'm okay. Iggy, Gio and Lukas come to visit once a day too, but I'm yet to speak with Stefano, he wont answer my calls or messages, I know he's angry but I just want to tell him I'm sorry and explain myself at least. I've been trying to keep myself busy, I find when I'm bored or lonely that's when I start thinking about drugs and how and where to get them, so to try and distract myself I've been training Hade's, teaching him new tricks that are probably useless but it's something to do.

I stare out to the forest in front of me and take a deep breath in, this is our morning routine. Wake up, sneak out of bed, quick shower and sit outside and play with Hades until Vincenzo wakes up. And I've come to find out that this cheeky puppy dog loves a swim in the pool and collecting sticks from the bottom of trees, he's even brought back a dead bird which made me throw up from the smell of it but I know he just wanted to give me a present, I just wish it wasn't that. Hade's drops a stick next to me and nudges my arm, so like usual I pick it up and throw it as far as I can, he leaps off of the deck and runs in the direction of the stick but something stops him in his tracks.

I sit still and stare in the direction he's staring in but I cant see anything, maybe it's just an animal. "Good morning leonessa" I hear Vincenzo's groggy voice speak from behind me. "Good morning capo" I hum in reply returning my attention to Hades who is still staring off in the distance, "What's he looking at?" Vin asks as he sits down next to me pulling me into his body. I rest my head on on his chest and shrug "I've got no idea, I can't see anything, probably an animal".

"Probably a squirrel" He laughs rubbing his hand up and down the side of my body "A fucking squirrel?" I question looking at him like he's lost his damn mind, aren't they only in America and shit? "Yeah, I used to see them all the time when I was growing up" He replies. He plants a soft kiss on my forehead before standing up and stretching his body, "I'm going to get the cook to start breakfast, come in when you can get Hades back over here". I nod my head and watch as he walks inside before turning my attention back to Hades, I wolf whistle and that seems to get his attention "Vieni Qui" 'come here' I call out and he does as he's told, finally ignoring whatever had caught his eye and making his way back.

There is one trick I've taught him Vincenzo doesn't approve of but I think it's hilarious "Go get dad" I laugh opening the door to let us in, he begins wagging his tail so hard his body moves too, got them happy feet going on, "Go on, go get dad". I watch as Hades takes off down the hallway and to the kitchen before I hear the barking begin, "Karmaaaaaa!" Vin yells as Hades continues to go off his rockers. I take my time walking to the kitchen just to piss him off, once I'm there I lean myself against the doorframe and watch as Hade's continuously barks at Vincenzo while he sits at the table waiting for his food "Silenzio" 'silence'. Hades stops barking immediately and comes to me, I give him a good head rub and bend down kissing his nose, "You're such a good boy aren't you? Yes you are, yes you are" I coo.

"Why do you keep doing that?" Vin groans leaning back in his chair, "Something fun" I reply with a chuckle. Vincenzo pats his lap, "Come on I can sit by myself now" I shyly mumble, every morning, afternoon and night he's made me sit on his lap while we eat so he knows I'm actually eating, because I may or may not have been caught feeding my food to Hades. Vincenzo pats his lap again and I know I'm not winning this fight, at least not today. As I sit down, he pulls me into his chest and nestles his face into my neck taking a deep breath, "I have some surprises for you today" His muffled voice hums, the chef places two plates in front of us and I quietly thank him before replying to vin, "And what would that be exactly?".

"I can only tell you one of them, the other one you'll have to wait and see mi amore" He teases planting soft kisses on my neck in-between words, "Well, what's the one you can tell me?" I ask watching as he pulls his face out of my neck and reaches for a fork, stabbing a piece of mango before bring it to my lips, "Open" He whispers and I do as I'm told, I bite down on the mango and hum in satisfaction at the taste, I fucking love mangos. "We're going to the beach today" He finally speaks and I'm shocked, shocked because I didn't expect that to be the surprise I thought he was going to be sneaky and pull out a therapy appointment or some shit. "The beach?" I question raising an eyebrow at him, for some reason I don't completely believe him but he nods his head as he brings a piece of watermelon to my lips next, "The beach, Iggy and Gio are coming too".

"Really?" I ask still not believing him, "Pinky promise leonessa" He reply's holding out his pinky, I wrap my pinky around his and squeeze "No funny business?" I ask one more time just to be sure "No funny business, just fun memories to make". We finish our food and make our way to the bedroom to get ready, I watch as Vincenzo packs a couple of bags for the trip, once he finishes zipping up the last bag he turns to me and stares, "What?" I question looking myself up down "Aren't you going to get changed?" He laughs, I look down to my oversized pyjama pants before looking back up to him, "Why? Don't think I look sexy?" I joke striking pose for him. "You always look sexy mi amore" He smirks making his way towards me, he stops inches away from me before trailing his finger down my chest to my stomach "But, I don't think these are beach attire" He hums hooking his finger under the waistband of my pants.

I look up from his finger to his face to see he's staring at me intensely, slowly we lean into each other, his lips connecting to mine but it's disrupted by loud banging on the bedroom door "GET READY BITCHES WERE GOING TO THE BEACH" Iggy's voice screams from the other side, "We will have to finish this later" He teases slowly licking my bottom lip before pulling away "Get changed and meet us in the kitchen" He orders turning me around to face the closet and smacking my ass as before leaving the room to deal with Iggy and Gio. I look over all the clothing in this closet but can't decide what to wear, maybe I should just go in my pyjamas. And then something catches my eye, a red bikini I've never seen before. I stare at it for a few seconds before I pull it off the rack and hold the top up to my chest, it looks like it would fit, good enough I guess. So I put it on and chuck a pair of shorts on, one of Vincenzo's shirts and some plain sandals before making my way outside of the room and towards the kitchen.

When I open my bedroom door Hades is sitting there waiting patiently, "Bestest boy" I coo while patting his head, he loves head rubs and little massages on his ears. I stand up after showing Hades with love and walk to the kitchen, the boys are in full conversation basically screaming over each other trying to get everything organised. "WHERE ARE THE SNACKS?" Iggy yells throwing his arms up, "THEY'RE IN THE BAG, UNDER THE COOL PACKS!" Vincenzo yells back, "NO THEY'RE NOT!" Iggy replies clearly frustrated, "THEY'RE UNDER THE COOL PACKS YOU DICKHEAD" Gio pipes in. "If yous are gonna act like this all day I'm gonna stay here" I speak when there's finally a moment of silence, Gio storms over to Iggy and moves the cool packs out of the way before pointing his finger into the bag, "THEYRE FUCKING THERE YOU DONKEY".

Iggy seems to calm down, a smile gracing his face when his eyes see the snacks, indeed packed in the bag "Oh there they are" He laughs. Vincenzo and Gio both roll their eyes before turning to me, "You ready sis?" Gio asks throwing his arm over my shoulders, "You know, it still sounds weird when you call me that" I laugh "Trust me it's weird for me too, never thought this big dumbass would settle down, but look what you did to him, he's pussy whipped" He jokes turning his attention back to Vincenzo, "No I'm not" Vin huffs folding his arms over his chest. "Can Hades come?" I ask vin, "No, we don't even know if he will like it". I frown and look down at Hades who's sitting next to me "He loves the pool, the beach is basically the same thing" I argue "Fine" Vincenzo huffs and a whip noise comes from Iggy's direction "Told you, pussy whipped!" Gio laughs as he walks over to the bags picking them up "Well, lets go!" Iggy yells before running towards the garage.

I stand and watch as Iggy and Gio fight each other trying to see who gets to the car first, Vincenzo walks over to me and takes my hand in his "Ready?" He questions, "ready" I nod. We pile into the car and begin our journey, I've got no idea what beach were going too or how far away it is but I'm excited I think. Vincenzo is driving, I'm passenger and Gio and Iggy are in the backseat with Hades. The longer the drive the more nauseous I get, I still throw up occasionally the medication doesn't stop it completely, at least that's what the doctor told me. "I need air" I groan leaning forward and turning on the air conditioning facing all of them towards me, the cold air hits my face and the nausea calms down slightly "You all good?" Gio asks his voice concerned.

"Yeah just feel sick" I reply leaning closer to the aircon, "Maybe you're pregnant" Iggy jokes earning a laugh from Gio and Vincenzo. "Shut the fuck up" I hiss looking over my shoulder to them, "It's just the withdrawal shit" I reply facing the aircon again

After another hour of driving we finally arrive the sign reads "Scilla, Calabria" I look out the car window and am instantly met with the most beautiful water I've ever seen in my life, a mixture of aqua and turquoise, the sand looks soft and bright, the scenery around the beach is gorgeous too, a mixture of old buildings mixed in with more modern buildings and large cliff faces full of luscious greenery, it's perfection. Gio and Iggy get out first, Hades bursts through the both of them and heads straight for the water. I watch as both Iggy and Gio chase after him like little kids. "You ready?" Vin asks as he turns off the car, I nod my head and open my door, the smell of salt water and market food hitting me instantly, like I said before, perfection.

I take in my surroundings as Vincenzo gets the bags out of the car, I loop my arm in his and we walk to the sand finding the perfect spot to sit, it doesn't take long before we find it, far enough away from the main street so it's quiet but close enough if I want to get something to eat from a shop or stall.

"do you want to swim?" he asks taking his shirt off, I get lost in a trance looking at how the sunshine hits his muscular body and tattoos, boy would I like to lick every damn inch of his... , "Leonessa?" He questions snapping me back to reality "Uh..." I trail off looking to the water, now were here I've gotta admit the thought of swimming in the ocean with all the sea life freaks me out, "Is it scary?" I ask slowly taking off my shoes before getting to my feet, he laughs and shakes his head "No, I promise it's not". I take off my shirt and place it on top of my towel before moving to my shorts "A sharks not going to bite me is it?" I ask sheepishly, I feel like an idiot now. This time it seems like Vincenzo's in a trance, I let my shorts drop to the ground and use my foot to move them onto my towel as well, "Well? Is a shark gonna bite me or not?" I ask again, I need a damn answer.

"Uhhh, uhhh.... No, no sharks I promise mi amore" He finally answers as he sticks his hand into his swim shorts to readjust himself, "What? Do I look silly?" I question knowing damn well I don't. "No, you look divine" He smirks before grabbing my hand and dragging me towards the waters edge. Before I can tell him to slow down or stop my feet and calves are met with cool water, and one very happy Hades, It's going to be alright, it's going to be alright I keep reminding myself. Slowly Vincenzo convinces me to go deeper and deeper into the water until I'm waist deep, I look back to shore and see Hades rolling in something, something dead I assume "See it's okay isn't it?" Vin asks letting go of my hand before diving under the water, "You scared of the beach?" Gio questions looking at me odd, I shrug my shoulders "Never been, just nervous I think".

"Oh yeah I forgot about that" Iggy sighs rubbing the back of his neck, "But it's all good, I get to experience it now" I laugh trying to lift the mood. "Oh shit" I hear Vin groan, I look to where he's looking and see Hades getting into our food bag, "I'll be back, HADES, GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!" He yells while making his way back to the shore. Slowly and slowly the boys convince me to go deeper into the water, it's now almost at my boobs, which technically means a shark could eat me in this much water. Gio try's to show off by doing a handstand under water, halfway through his stunt something touches my leg but I try and put my mind at ease, maybe it was a fish or something but whatever it is touches me again and sends me into panic mode, I'm gonna be eaten by a motherfucking shark.

"SOMETHING TOUCHED ME" I scream jumping onto the closest person next to me which happens to be Iggy, I climb his body like a fucking tree and wrap myself around him so whatever it is can fuck with him and not me "What do you mean, what do you mean?" Iggy panics looking at me and all i want to do is cry and maybe throw up, "I don't know what the fuck it was but it fucking touched me" I scream again, Vincenzo seems to panic when I scream, I can see him trying to run back over to us through the shallow water, "It's probably a fish or crab" Gio laughs at us as he wipes the salt water off of his face. Whatever it is must circling us because the next thing I know Iggy starts screaming too "OH MY FUCKING GOD IT TOUCHED ME TOO!!", He screams, he goes to attempt to run away but a mixture of me still clinging onto him like a koala bear, the sand under the water and the small current and waves makes him fall sending both of us into the water, with whatever creature now able to eat us both.

I go to the surface and try to stand up but I'm lifted out of the water and pulled into Vincenzo's embrace "I almost died Vin!!" I yell more at him than to him wrapping my legs around his waist, "You almost died? I almost died!" Iggy yells looking around to see what it was. Vincenzo sighs and lowers me back into the water "What are you doing? Sacrificing me?" I exclaim, he laughs and goes under the water, coming back up with a large clump of seaweed "Sacrificing you to the seaweed gods?" He once again laughs at us, I can feel my face go bright red, Iggy's face is red too.

"I didn't know it was that alrighty?" I smile trying to play it off like nothing happened, "Should I kill it? You know just in-case it tries to drag you out to sea?" He smirks still holding it in his hands, "You're an asshole" I mumble under my breath, he drops the seaweed and chuckles pulling me into his embrace and wrapping his arms around me like a safety blanket "I told you I'd protect you"