"Come for me," I said. "Let me see you."
He came with a cry, body clenching around me, and the sensation pushed me over the edge too. I buried myself deep and let go, both of us shaking through it together.
Afterward, I pulled out carefully and gathered him close. We lay there tangled together, both of us coming down, both processing what we'd just shared.
"Two months until trial," Valentino said quietly.
"Two months."
"And then whatever happens, happens."
"And we face it together."
"Together." He held me tighter. "I'm terrified, Luca. Of the verdict. Of prison. Of being separated from you."
"I'm terrified too. But I'm also grateful." I kissed his forehead. "Grateful that we have each other. That we built something real. That no matter what verdict comes, I get to love you."
"Even if we're separated?"
"Even then. Love doesn't stop because of distance or prison walls. It just... adapts. We'll adapt."
"Promise?"
"I promise. Whatever comes, we survive it. Together."
We fell asleep like that, holding each other close. Both scared of what the next two months would bring. Both terrified of the trial, the verdict, the potential separation.
But also both certain of one thing: we'd face it together.
CHAPTER 15: VALENTINO
SIX MONTHS.
SIXmonths since our arrest, and tomorrow the trial began.
I stood in the kitchen chopping vegetables while Luca worked on the sauce. We'd decided to cook dinner together—something normal, something domestic. One last quiet evening before everything changed.
"Hand me the basil?" Luca asked.
I passed it to him and watched as he added it to the pan. His movements were precise, controlled. The persona performing even in our kitchen, trying to stay calm.
"We're going to be okay," I said, though I wasn't sure who I was trying to convince.
"We are." He stirred the sauce. "No matter what verdict comes, we face it together."
"Together," I agreed.
We ate at the dining table, both of us quiet. The food was good but I barely tasted it. All I could think about was tomorrow—the courthouse, the jury, the prosecution laying out their case against us.
"I love you," Luca said suddenly.
I looked up. "I love you too."
"Whatever happens in court, that doesn't change. You know that, right?"
"I know." I reached for his hand. "We survive this. Whatever form it takes."
After dinner, we cleaned up together and went to bed early. Neither of us slept much. We just held each other in the darkness, both trying to find peace before the storm.
