CLAIMED - Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Lorenzos eyes flickered open at the sound of rain droplets falling against his window, making soothing sounds to calm his raging heart. His head laid on something soft and he looked up to see Charles fast asleep. His hand laid against his head, as if he had stroked his hair for him to fall asleep. Charles used to do that to him when he was younger, but quickly stopped when his parents died. Lorenzo as a child had felt that he stopped, to indirectly tell him that he needed to grow up. Growing up felt like a pressure when he was young, but he accepted his responsibilities. There was simply no other choice.
Charles also used to tell him that Marco was most likely dead and to not look for him. Thinking back, he assumed it was because he wanted to save Marco from the dangerous underworld that had turned Lorenzo into a cruel beast. He did it for Marcos best, but Lorenzo felt neglected again. What made people care less about him compared to others? Even as a child, he was the one tossed into the river when it should have been Marco. He imagined that one of the reasons to him loving Bella, was that she cared about him the most. Even a little cut on his hand was a big issue for her. He liked it. The feeling of being cared for.
The thought of Bella made him whip up his head from Charles lap. He patted his pockets, not caring about the old man waking up by the sudden moment. He didn't know if he should have been angry at Charles for stopping him. Lorenzo didn't feel the object he was desperately trying to find, but when his eyes landed on his blazer on the chair, he almost ran to it. Charles rubbed his eyes, looking at the man with sorrow. He knew what he was about to do. Lorenzo pulled out the rings from his pockets and sighed loudly. He sat back in the chair and looked at the diamond rings.
«Take this as a promise between us amore. A proof of my loyalty to you and yours to me. I want the world to see you as mine. Only mine. But if it gets too much, leave one of the rings here and I will understand. I will let you fly away with your wings. But for now, Bella Khair, will you be my girlfriend officially?"
The thought made him laugh out loud. He looked animalistic to Charles who shut his eyes tightly, not wanting to see the man he considered his own son so vulnerable. Especially, since he couldn't do anything to stop it. Lorenzos thick laughter scared the walls, who wanted to shudder in fear. He looked bad, he looked like what he had when he heard of his parents death. He had laughed just like in this moment, because he didn't want to show weakness.
"Charlie, you lied" Lorenzo spoke after his laughter had died down. Charles looked up as he heard the nickname Lorenzo used to call him when he was younger. "About what son?" he asked, sitting up. It was now that Lorenzo looked at him closely. Charles had many wrinkles now, probably because of the stress and frown he always used to have. His skin was looser than it had been. The age was clearly catching up on him. "Everything" Lorenzos voice cracked, coming out lighter than he had expected it to. He coughed, speaking again; "You and father said that no one could love men like us. You were wrong. She loved me and I felt it" he continued, kissing the ring in his hands. Charles sighed as he shook his head; "I know she loved you son, but Juan always thought about the future. Not loving and caring about another person would have avoided the pain you are feeling" he explained to the young man. Lorenzo chuckled while muttering; "Too late".
"Pain happens when you care about someone"
"Why didn't you tell me, Charlie? I was a big boy, I could take it" he asked the old man, who looked away. The haunting memories flooding back in his mind. He knew that Lorenzo was referring to the incident with Marco.
"I am like his father Lorenzo. I couldn't inflict him pain" he told him desperately. The answer didn't sit well with Lorenzo though, seeing as he stood up from his chair and kicked it against the wall. "YOU WERE LIKE MY FATHER TOO" he screamed, feeling tears well up in his eyes. "HOW COULD YOU JUST TRADE ME FOR HIM?! I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS CHARLIE! I DIDN'T DO IT!" Lorenzo screamed and trashed everything he could get his hands on. He started with the beige curtains he once had found care in. The curtains that Bella had picked out of many. Charles saw as he did damage to his room that he had shared with his lover.
"I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE SON" Charles called out, trying to hold down the young man, but was unsuccessful. His old age didn't allow him to do that. Lorenzo had grown stronger than the old man who once used to carry him on his hip. Lorenzo stopped as he felt Charles hands on him. "I knew that he didn't have it in him" he whispered.
"Everyone betrayed me Charlie. You, Marco, Father, mom and now even Bella. Even God betrayed me" Lorenzos voice was strained. "I told you to tell god that my heart is pure but look. Even Bella sees me as a murderer. Did you hear what Diego said the other day? No. He told me that i wont even land in hell. THATS HOW FUCKING SHIT I AM. I AM SO FUCKING DISGUSTING CHARLIE! I HAVE THE BLOOD ON MY HANDS AND ITS STARTING TO STINK CHARLIE" Lorenzos mouth was spitting out heart wrenching feelings that he had beared too long.
"Your promises mean nothing Lorenzo. You were a murderer. You are a murderer and you will always be a murderer"
"I am so sorry son. Your father would be ashamed of me, but I didn't know any better. I had to follow up with the legacy and you seemed like the right Moretti. Son!-" Lorenzo didn't care to hear the shitty apology as he strolled in the hallway of his mansion. The mansion who also missed the presence of Bella. "Its only us now, mansion" he whispered, finding humor in his sorrow. He chuckled, even though his eyes were brimming with tears.
"And I knew when you didn't say anything. It was when you slept, and I used my sweet time drinking you in. The scar over your eye whispered tales so hard to hear that I shut my ears. Your eyes showing the betrayal and hurt you have faced. Your pearl like tongue in a scowl because of the hurtful words you have uttered to yourself. Your lips cry Renzo, I have tasted the tears on them. You may not let them tell me themselves, but I hear things from the guys babe. I have understood your heart as if it is mine"
His legs lead him to the room that had been occupied by Bellas clothes. It smelt like her, like strawberries and mint. He held on to one of her clothing pieces as he smelt it. He wanted to cry at seeing his own state, but he didn't. He couldn't.
"You have been my savior Renzo. I couldn't forget you even if I tried. I have never loved someone as much as I have you. My heart and my soul belong to you. I have you as mine, as much as you have me. I will never stop loving you"
Lorenzo smiled at the memory as he started walking to his office. He opened the cupboard and held on to the pictures he had of Bella. Every picture from the first time he saw her to the last. He looked at the photo Bella had taken of him when he made a kissy face, trying to imitate her pose. He chuckled at that; the photo made it more real. He looked at the knife in the cupboard that he had hid from Bella. He knew that she didn't like having weapons around him. His hand ached for the feeling of the knife in his hand and he stretched out his hand to hold it. It felt nice. «Ti ho regalato il mio cuore- I gave you my heart» he whispered, kissing the picture of her sleeping.
"I just told you that I love you and you...you just...you don't like me back"
Bellas voice was interrupting his thoughts. It felt as if she was taunting him and laughing at him alongside her brother, happy that she had hurt him. Had that been her plan all along? Make him fall in love and then leave him? He shook his head at the thought. She wouldn't do that to him. He knew her heart. She was as pure as it came, but why did she leave him then? She to know his heart and his heart had explained everything to hers!
"I hope that happiness finds itself lurking in the alleys of your stone-cold heart"
What did that even mean? Why did she talk in riddles? She wanted him to feel like this. Completely and utterly confused. She left him in a trace she knew that he couldn't get out of. She wanted to torture him. The thoughts that surrounded Lorenzo was dangerous and deadly. His mind couldn't bear the thought of Bella being away from him. Heck, he had stalked her for years! How could he just erase her like that? She was inked on his heart.
The realization set on to him. He was all alone. Lorenzos eyes darkened as he thought of the betrayal he had endured. Memories and pictures of Bella exploded his mind, but he saw red. She had betrayed him. She was like everyone else in his life. A liar. A fucking liar.
"What if I betray you?" she spoke after a while, lacing our fingers together. She was afraid, I could feel it. It made me irritated to think that she still would think that about me. I would never hurt her.
"I will cut off all my fingers that has held on to your hand" I told her seriously, feeling her tighten her grip around my hand and setting it in her lap. My heart warmed at the thought of her saving me from myself.
He looked at his finger that was bearing her ring and the knife in his other hand. He smiled evilly as sat on the chair and placed his hand on his desk. He parted his fingers and looked at the forefinger that was shivering. His hand was fucking trembling. He held the knife in his other hand tightly and pointed it on his forefinger. The finger she had put a ring on to claim him as hers. He didn't spare a moment to overthink the situation and sliced his finger off. It did take strength to cut through it, but the adrenalin that was pumping in his veins made him numb. He sliced it through several times, watching blood pour out by each time. He put a random cloth in his mouth and screamed into it to not let anyone hear him. He grunted and sweat as the pain entered his body, making him forget about his lover. Even if she was the reason for him doing it, he didn't want to think about it like that. He was doing this to not think about her and it was helping. He liked to think that he could move on. It didn't take many more slices and grunts before his finger completely detached from his hand and the ring fell on the ground, breaking his already broken heart.
"Come and save me from myself Bella, please come", he whispered to himself before throwing the knife across the office.
"BELLAAAA" he screamed out loudly on top of his lungs, hearing the old man rush out of the room screaming for his son; "LORENZO".