This story is so near 95k reads and that is so unbelievable! I love all you guys that have read,voted and commented <3 Please check out my other books on my profile too! This chapter was another hard chapter to write but I hope you like it,

A. Summers xo

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"No! Stop! HELP!" Angela shouted, waking Adriano up instantly.

"Angela, wake up. Angie." Adriano shook her but she didn't wake up yet. He put his hands on either side of her shoulders and shook her again, a lot rougher this time. "Wake the hell up!" he shouted, starting to panic now. She had broken out in a cold sweat and was panting for breath but her eyes were still closed until she screamed and woke herself up.

Adriano saw how her eyes had glazed over in complete horror. She was terrified for a couple of seconds until she found her bearings and realised where she was. Angela quickly scanned around the room with her eyes. They finally caught with Adriano's dark ones and she breathed out a small sigh of relief.

His hands were gripped on her shoulders as he leaned over her, his face only showing shock. He was wondering what was going on with her lately. Angela had been having a lot of nightmares over the past few nights which all resulted in Angela screaming for help and Adriano having to wake her up. He really did hate seeing her curl up into a defenceless ball before his eyes, her voice squeaky, and her body shaking. She was completely terrified and he wondered why and what was causing all of this.

"It was just another nightmare." She breathed in deeply again, trying to catch her breath. Her voice was weak and had come out just above a whisper.

"Tell me what happened." Adriano said after a few minutes, moving around in bed so he was lying beside her again. She didn't even attempt to move closer to him, not even Adriano could make her feel better right now.

"I can't really remember." She lied. She had turned on her back now to look straight up at the ceiling. All Angela could see was Derek, his hands wrapped around her neck. He was shaking her, shouting and was angry. She had to stop thinking about it but she just couldn't. It had been burned into her brain. Her eyes were like saucers, wide open, but she couldn't see the white ceiling above her, only her memories and visions of Derek. It had been weeks since Angela's last night mare about Derek but then a few days ago they had begun again.

Angela hadn't told Adriano what the dreams were about and she didn't plan on telling him either. Although she could see that he was clearly getting worried about her, she just couldn't bring herself to explaining everything to Adriano; she didn't want to have to think about it more than usual.

"Hey." He whispered to her, she didn't move until he put his hand on her shoulder. Angela turned her head to look at him and it killed her to see those dark eyes filled with concern but she couldn't do it. She couldn't tell him about her past or Derek.

"Hmm?" she asked, still a little shaky.

"Come here." He spoke softly to her, pulling her gingerly into his arms so her back was flush against his chest. "You can tell me if something's bothering right?" he asked. She was unable to speak, knowing that only lies would come out of her mouth so she nodded instead.

Angela turned around in his arms now and held onto him. He noticed how tight of a grip she had on him and how tense she felt so he reached out and stroked her hair for a little while.

"I know." She finally replied minutes later. It took her a while to fall asleep again but Adriano stayed up the whole night, wondering what the hell had gotten into Angela lately.

It would take a lot of convincing Angela to tell him what was wrong. Adriano poured his morning coffee and Angela whizzed around him making breakfast for the two of them. She had completely cut off any conversation that related back to her nightmares from last night or any other night for that matter and was beginning to get tired of Adriano trying to get some information out of her.

"It's nothing okay?" Angela said, attempting to hide her annoyance but it had strayed and gotten out in her words. Adriano had then cut it out and changed the subject but certainly wouldn't forget about it completely. He knew something was wrong, she really couldn't deny that.

"Okay." He nodded.

She placed Adriano's plate down in front of him first before grabbing hers and sitting down to eat. Angela sighed before digging in, her mind began to wonder.

"Will you be in work all day today?" Angela tried to keep her question sounding casual and not like his answer meant much but she really didn't want to be left alone today. Angela wished she would stop being so childish, there was no way Derek would ever come back, or find her. And there certainly wasn't any chance of him being able to get into Adriano's apartment and take her away, she needed to relax but none of those things made her feel at ease in the slightest.

"I usually am Angie." Adriano munched on his bacon and looked up at her now. He noticed how her expression had sunk a little and thought of an idea. "Why don't we go somewhere to eat tonight? I can take you to another one of the restaurants I own?" Her eyes lit up now and shot up from her plate to look at him.

"Really?" she asked a little excitedly.

"Sure, I'll leave work early too." Adriano put his empty plate in the sick and grabbed his coat. He walked back over to Angela and tilted her chin up to look at him before kissing her hungrily on the lips that left every part of Angela's body trembling. They took a minute for air and then Adriano kissed her forehead. "Be ready by six okay?" he whispered sweetly to her before walking confidently to the door and taking his keys from the table next to it.

"I'll see you." Angela called.

"I know you will." Adriano winked, turning around as he spoke and then opened the door and left, shutting it behind him.

*****

"So nightmares huh?" Mike asked Adriano.

"Yeah, it's weird right?" Adriano had begun confiding in Mike a couple of minutes ago. He had told him he was worried about Angela and her behaviour over the last couple of days. "She hasn't stopped being so god damn jumpy either, like she's nervous, or waiting for something to happen or something... It's not just yesterday, it's since last week." Mike remembered when he took her out last week and clicked his fingers at the memory.

"You know, when I was out with her last week we bumped into an old friend of hers."

"Yeah? Go on?" Adriano motioned with his hand, listening very carefully for what his brother's next words would be.

"And she was like, so hot- but that's not the point." Mike said quickly, causing Adriano to roll his eyes but Mike soon spoke again. "She was hugging Angela and things got a little emotional between them. The friend was saying somethin' like I'm sorry I couldn't help you. And Angela was all like 'you done everything you could'. She told Angela she was sorry she couldn't go with her but go where? I didn't understand a thing they were saying but I didn't Angela afterward because as soon as she said goodbye she got really tense or something, she was lost in her thoughts at dinner." Mike looked at Adriano and noticed he was in deep thought. A million things were running through his brain after Mike had spoken and everything he said had only made him even more curious now.

"What do you think it could be Mike?" Adriano was getting frustrated with all of his ideas running around in his head.

"I don't know." Mike gave Adriano a grim look. "What would she need help with?" Adriano thought for a moment about the few conversations he had with Angela about her past and before she came here.

"I know she didn't have a lot of money when she lived her, she was working three jobs. Maybe it's that."

"So what the hell was she doing in Canada then?" This was the first time he had heard of any of this information.

"I think she went through a bad breakup and moved out there for some time to think."

"She told you that?" Mike raised an eyebrow, wondering what that might have to do with all of this.

"Well no actually..." Adriano remembered all of those times he had said things like that to her and she had never given him an exact or straight answer, just partially agreed with what he was saying. "I- that's what I got from what she told me."

"That must be why her friend said she couldn't go with her then." Mike said with finality but it had solved nothing.

"She seems to me like she had a great family life. She got along well with them and I don't think she was lying when she said that."

"Why did she break up with her boyfriend?" Mike asked, something ticking away in his mind. Adriano just shrugged.

"Well-"

"Adriano! Mike! What the hell are you guys doing? We have to go, let's get back to work." They both heard Franco called before he entered the room.

******

The sound of the door slamming shut behind Adriano made Angela jump and tur her head quickly. She sighed aloud in relief at the sight of him walking towards her. She stood up and met him half way. As soon as he reached her he placed his hands gently on her back and brought her close, kissing her passionately.

He had been bending down so they were both at eye level and he rested his forehead on hers as they caught their breath. Their stare between each other was personal and powerful with neither saying a word for a moment or two.

"Maybe we should just stay here for the night. I can't think of plenty of things to do to pass the time." He whispered, his hands trailing down her back suggestively, causing her to giggle a little and kiss him on the cheek. She quickly pulled away then.

"No, I'm starving. Let me just grab my coat." She was feeling a lot better than she did this morning and had forgotten all about Derek. She knew Adriano would protect her and she had nothing to worry about right now. Going out would maybe make her feel better, she needed to try anyway. After finding her coat she walked back to Adriano and linked her arm in his, snuggling up close as they walked outside the apartment and into the elevator but not without two guards of course.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll have to wait and see." Adriano wiggled his eyebrows, in a good mood now because she had seemed to be a lot less nervous and a lot more comfortable since he left her for work this morning. She chuckled loudly and soon enough they were making their way to another of Adriano's restaurants.

It took them a little longer to get these but eventually after parking the car and walking a little while, they were standing outside of a greasy burger joint in the middle of the city. This side of the city had been a little more familiar to Angela and she could almost recall seeing this place last year when she used to live in New York.

Adriano squeezed her hand, catching her attention again as she was staring up at the sign in a daydream.

"Everything okay?" he asked when she turned her head to look at him.

"Yeah- yeah I'm fine." She nodded. They made their way in and with the wave of a hand to a fry cook over the counter, Adriano had caught all of the staffs attention quickly. It was different this time, he was different. He seemed to be a lot more relaxed in this place and way friendlier with the staff.

The chef he had initially waved at came over to their booth as soon as they sat down near the back. Angela thought it had a good view of the small restaurant, you could see all of the customers and staff going on about their night, all busy and chatty.

"Hey Ad, how's it goin'?" The man had a very strong New York accent, strong than Mike's or Adriano's. He reached out and shook a smiling Adriano's hand before turning to look at Angela now. "And who's this pretty little thing?"

"This is Angela." Adriano wrapped his arm around her and squeezed her close to him before loosening his grip again. "Angela- This is my dear friend Scott."

"Hi Scott." Angel said shyly.

"Hi Angela. Well, I better get going back to work, the boss is a real spaz when he sees people not working." Scott joked, rolling his eyes and causing the pair to laugh as he walked away.

"You know, you seem to like the staff here more." Angela said, resting her chin on hand as she looked up at him sitting beside her.

"I love this place." Adriano smiled widely to himself, like he was in his element. His happiness was contagious and soon enough Angela was grinning along with him.

"I can tell." Angela giggled, he thought she looked so cute sitting there, and was happy she had cheered up a little.

"Well... let's order then." He rubbed his hands together and smiled goofily at her.

Scott brought their food to them personally and sat for a little while to chat. She learned that they got to know each other in their late teens and have been friends since. Adriano hooked him up with this job when he took over the business and Scott couldn't ever thank him enough for that. Scott was definitely a charmer, Angela could tell. Adriano had told him to back off a couple times but it wasn't in a serious way. Scott left them alone again and they picked out their desserts.

"This food is so amazing, I swear, if you keep bringing me out I'm going to gain so many pounds." Angela said through a mouthful of ice cream.

"I'm glad you like it." He placed his hand on her thigh and continued eating.

It was then she spotted him, she just knew it had to be him. The night had been going so good until right now, this split second. Angela wasn't quite sure to believe her eyes, only seeing the back of his head as he sat at the counter but as soon as he turned his head a little to look at the person next to him she almost leapt out of her seat.

The air had left her lungs all at once, a blanket of turbulence and disbelief felt like it was smothering her. She dropped her spoon and stiffened, wondering what would happen if he had turned his head just a few centimetres more to see her staring at him. But Derek was chatting away, not really changing his facial expression as he listened to the person he had come with, oblivious to Angela's presence. She wanted it to stay that way but how the hell was she supposed to get out now without being noticed.

Angela couldn't cause a scene but her balling hands and instant paleness had caught Adriano's eye and gone was the smiling and carefree man from a minute ago. His eyes instantly glazed over in complete panic and worry, was she alright?

"Angie?" He asked, his tone had unleashed only the emotions he felt right then. He was careful when he placed both his hands over one of hers. He could tell she was trying to take deep breaths, she had the signs of someone about to hyperventilate but from what? "Angie." He called her again quietly but her hand began to shake under his now and she was unable to stop it.

"We need to go. We need to go now." Angela said in a warning tone but Adriano was still confused.

"What? No-"

"Adriano, please let me go. I need to get out of here quickly."

"Angie tell me what's wrong?"

"I need to go!" she said a little louder now, tears pricking her eyes. Her whole body was shaking now and she felt like she was going to have a panic attack if she didn't get away soon.

"Okay, let me just grab our things."

"Adriano please." Angela was crying now and she couldn't stop herself. He knew this was serious, he knew that whatever it was that was bothering her was making her panic and he needed to take her away now.

He swiftly took up their things and kept her close to him as he walked briskly out of the restaurant. She had her head buried in his chest and lifted it as soon as they got out and he stopped after a taking a few steps outside.

"What the hell's wrong Angela?" Adriano needed to know what was causing her strange behaviour.

"We need to just go already!" she was in convulsions now and began walking in the direction of the car, not even waiting for him. Angela needed to just get away. Adriano eventually caught up with her and caught her arm.

"Tell me what's wrong?" he urged gently but she struggled against his grip on her. She tried to get loose and wipe her tears away but figured it was no use and looked up at him with her big grey eyes that had turned puffy and were filled with tears. They both didn't say another word. Adriano took her into a warm embrace, trying to calm her down. "Shh, you're alright." He said soothingly to her but it didn't help.

She had saw Derek, right here, in New York. Both the man and the place she had been trying her best to get away from. She felt like she was planted right back in the middle of everything now, her terrible memories filled the darkness when she closed her eyes, every single thing came flooding back and she had no control on stopping any of it.