Bound By Power

25

Julian didn’t resist, burying his face in Enzo’s shoulder as a few more tears escaped. “It hurts, Enzo,” he muttered, his voice muffled. “How am I supposed to keep it together when he’s here? Every time I look at him, it’s like a punch to my chest.”

Enzo tightened his grip, his tone firm yet comforting. “We’ll get through this, Julie. I’m here for you.” He pulled back slightly to look into Julian’s tear-filled eyes. “We’ll avoid him as much as we can, okay? I won’t let him hurt you again.”

Julian sniffled, managing a weak smile at his brother’s determination. “Thanks, Enzo,” he said softly, his voice hoarse.

The room fell quiet, the only sound being the faint rustle of leaves from the garden outside. The soft afternoon sunlight illuminated the warmth between the two brothers as Enzo squeezed Julian’s shoulder, silently vowing to protect him no matter what
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The quiet hum of the evening was interrupted by a soft knock on Julian’s bedroom door. “Julie, Mom’s calling for dinner,” came the small, sweet voice of Mia, the youngest member of the Moretti family. Her 8-year-old frame barely reached the door handle, but her tone carried all the authority of someone on an important mission.

“Mia, I’m coming in a minute,” Julian called back, his voice slightly strained. He glanced at the scattered books and notebooks on his desk before running a hand through his messy hair. Mia’s footsteps quickly faded down the hall.

Taking a deep breath, Julian stood, his nerves already building. Dinner had become a battle of endurance ever since he returned. He braced himself as he headed toward the dining room.

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The Dining Room

The warm, golden light from the chandelier bathed the room in a cozy glow. The long dining table was set with steaming bowls of pasta, freshly baked bread, and a pitcher of lemonade, the aroma filling the air. Julian entered hesitantly, his heart sinking the moment his eyes landed on Lorenzo.

There he was, seated comfortably, his dark hair perfectly tousled and his sharp features illuminated under the soft light. Lorenzo was casually chatting with Julian’s father, his charming smile making its usual rounds. The sound of his voice, deep and smooth, made Julian’s chest tighten.

“Aww, Julie, come fast! I’ve been waiting for you!” Mia’s cheerful voice broke the tension, her big eyes lighting up as she waved him over.

The room grew quiet for a brief moment, and Julian felt the weight of everyone’s gaze on him. But it was Lorenzo’s stare that sent chills racing down his spine. He avoided meeting it, his hands curling into fists at his sides.

Julian forced a nod, his lips curving into a faint, awkward smile, and took the seat Mia had saved for him—unfortunately, right across from Lorenzo.

---

The clinking of utensils filled the silence as everyone started eating, but Julian could barely touch his plate. His appetite was nonexistent under the heat of Lorenzo’s occasional glances. Each time their eyes almost met, Julian’s heart skipped, and he quickly looked away, pretending to focus on cutting his bread or taking small sips of lemonade.

Across the table, Lorenzo smirked slightly, leaning back in his chair as he spoke, his tone casual but teasing. “Well, it was really fun in Sicily, wasn’t it, Julian?”

Julian’s head snapped up at the mention of his name. He met Lorenzo’s gaze briefly, but it was too much. His stomach flipped, and he quickly nodded, not even registering the actual context of the question. “Y-yeah,” he mumbled before looking back down at his plate, his face burning.