The Slave of Pleasure

Rachel

Deciding to return to Italy was not something I did lightly. After hours of doubts and confused thoughts, I finally faced the truth: there was no other option. Vincenzo was risking everything to protect me, and I couldn't keep running away. I had to face her face Veronica. No matter how hard it was, I would fight to put an end to this story.

Nancy watched me as I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands clasped in my lap. My head was down, but I could feel her curious, restless eyes. She didn't say anything, just waited. Nancy always had this ability to let me think without interfering, but at the same time, her presence was a constant that gave me strength.

"I'm going back to Italy," I finally declared, my voice low but full of determination.

Nancy tilted her head to the side and smiled, a smile that mixed surprise and approval.

"I thought it would take longer for you to decide," she said lightly. "But honestly, I'm relieved." You know I'll support you no matter what, right?

I nodded, a small smile appearing on my face despite my nervousness. It was good to know that even in the midst of all this, I had someone by my side.

Nancy stood up and clapped her hands, as if she was excited to face the chaos.

"So, what are we waiting for? Let's pack our things and get this soap opera over with!"

Her infectious energy was exactly what I needed to get my feet off the ground. I slowly stood up and began gathering the clothes that were scattered around the room. Each folded item felt like a step closer to the decision I had made.

As I put my belongings in my suitcase, my mind wandered. What would I tell the police? Would they believe me? What about Veronica? I knew she wasn't a woman who accepted challenges without fighting back, and that scared the hell out of me. But the idea of Vincenzo facing all this alone was even more unbearable.

"Hey, what's going on in that head of yours?" - Nancy asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"Just... thinking about what we're going to face when we get there."

Nancy raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of confidence and nonchalance.

"Don't worry, Rachel. If anyone can handle this, it's you. And, well... I'll be there to make sure you don't go crazy in the process."

I laughed, a light sound that seemed to ease some of the tension in my chest.

"Thanks, Nancy. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She smiled, but didn't say anything. She just continued to organize her own things, filling her suitcase with an absurd combination of clothes and... objects that I'd rather not even try to identify.

After a while, my mother appeared in the bedroom doorway. She looked at me, then at Nancy, and then at the open suitcases on the bed.

"Are you guys going out again?" she asked, trying to sound casual, but there was concern in her voice.

I sighed, stopping what I was doing to look at her.

"Yes, Mom." I... need to go back to Italy.

She frowned, clearly confused and a little scared.

"But why? I thought you came home to get away from all this."

"I thought you could, but it's not that simple," I explained. "There are things I need to take care of. People I need to help."

My mother looked like she was about to protest, but Nancy intervened, as always, with her ability to ease the tension.

"Don't worry, ma'am. I'll be there to make sure nothing happens to your daughter. And besides, I'm great at handling complicated situations." My mother gave her an uncertain look, but eventually nodded slowly.

"Just... please be careful."

"I promise, Mom," I replied, crossing the short distance between us to hug her.

She held me tightly, as if she wanted to commit that moment to memory. After a few seconds, she let go and gave me a small smile. "It's okay." You two know what you're getting into, right?

Nancy and I exchanged a look, and I realized that, despite her nonchalance, she knew exactly how dangerous the situation could be.

"Kind of,” she admitted, winking at my mother. "But that's part of the fun."

My mother sighed and shook her head, clearly exasperated, but she ended up smiling.

We went back to packing our things, the atmosphere in the room vacillating between the lightness of Nancy's jokes and the heaviness of my thoughts. When we finally closed our bags, Nancy threw herself on the bed with an exaggerated sigh. "There! Now all that's left is to grab our passports and run to the airport."

"It's not that simple," I murmured, sitting down next to her.

"It never is," she agreed. "But that's why we're going together, right? To face whatever comes our way."

I nodded, feeling a little stronger thanks to her confidence.

That night, before we left for the airport, I spent a few moments alone in my room, looking out the window. The city lights were shining brightly. om stars, and I wondered if I was truly ready for what was to come.

But deep down, I knew I had no choice. Vincenzo needed me. And as scary as it was, I was determined to fight for him and the future I wanted with him.

With that resolve firmly in my heart, I took a deep breath, grabbed my suitcase, and prepared to face the unknown.

I took a deep breath as I zipped up my suitcase, feeling a strange calm begin to wash over me. For months, I had lived with a constant weight on my shoulders, as if every decision I made could trigger an even greater disaster. But now, as I prepared to return to Italy, something inside me had changed.

I was still nervous, of course. This was no ordinary situation. Vincenzo was dealing with the police and Veronica at the same time, and I knew this would not be resolved easily. But for the first time, I was not consumed by fear. Instead, I was determined. I knew I had a role to play, and I would do whatever it took to help Vincenzo.

"Ready to save your favorite mobster?" Nancy asked, her voice full of humor as she slung her bag over her shoulder.

I laughed, a light sound that seemed to lighten the mood in the room.

"You never miss a chance to be dramatic, do you?"

"It's my special talent," she replied with a smile.

As we walked down the stairs, I felt my mother's watchful gaze. She seemed calmer than before, but there was still concern in her eyes.

"Are you sure about this, Rachel?" she asked as we approached the door.

I paused for a moment, gripping the doorknob.

"Yes, Mom. This time, I know exactly what I'm doing."

And it was true. Vincenzo and I had been through a lot. Our relationship was complicated, full of ups and downs, secrets and revelations that tested our limits. But deep down, I knew what we had was real. He was risking himself for me, putting his life on the line to try to make amends for the past. The least I could do was reciprocate.

"I'm proud of you," my mother said, her voice soft but thick with emotion. "Just...take care of yourself, okay?"

I nodded, hugging her tightly before leaving.

Outside, the cool night air greeted me, and I felt a strange sense of freedom. Nancy, beside me, seemed as carefree as ever, but I knew she was watching.

"You're calmer, you know?" she commented as we walked toward the car.

"I'm determined. I think that's what's making the difference."

She smiled, putting the key in the ignition.

"Decision is everything, Rachel. And I'm sure you'll rock it."

As the car pulled away from the house, I began to mentally run through everything we needed to do. Contact the authorities, gather evidence, figure out exactly what was going on with Vincenzo and Veronica. The list was long, but oddly enough, it didn't scare me.

I knew it wouldn't be easy. There would be risks, dangers, and moments when I would probably feel overwhelmed. But most of all, there was hope. Hope that in the end, Vincenzo and I could overcome this.

And this time, I was determined to fight for both of us.