I was terrified watching Brooke have a gun to her head by her own hand. I felt hurt and scared that she would not listen to me. She did and I am so happy she did. I do not even know why I am feeling this way towards her but I do and it feels like this is how it is supposed to be.

I am slowly starting to feel myself falling for Brooke even though she lied and has secrets that she does not want anyone to know. I am falling for her and I do not know if I am supposed to be scared or happy.

We have kissed two times and both those times I have wanted more of her and I know that I will never be able to have any other woman without feeling guilty or thinking about Brooke.

I like her and I know she has feelings for me but she needs time to heal before we do more things in a romantic way. I will be with her every step of the way through her healing process.

I take a deep breath in before sliding the glass doors open and walk out into the cool early October air.

I sit down next to Brooke with our thighs touching. "So you wanted to throw it in their faces that you tried to commit suicide," I scoff while watching the rippling waves of the pool.

"I had no intention of doing that on the way down but hearing the laughing and not knowing what I just tried to do pissed me off," she says taking a sip of her coffee. I look at her trying to see if what she said was a lie but I just see the honesty in her eyes.

The next question I have makes me take a breath of air before I ask. "Have you really tried to take your life before?"

She takes a minute to glance at me before letting out a breath of air. "Yes, I tried to end my life 5 times in total before today," she tells me with disappointment and honesty shining in her blue eyes.

"When were the other times?" I find myself asking.

"Once on Christmas when I was 13. Another time was when I was 15 and I was in his clutches," when she said his I felt myself growing tense because how could that bastard do that to her? "Once right after I escaped him. Then this past January on New Year's eve and the last time was over the summer when I was in Italy with my friends for summer break."

"When you say him you mean...." I stop myself from saying the bastard's name because of my anger and I do not know what reaction Brooke will have. She will probably close herself off and I want her to open up to me.

"Yes, Declan Blue Diaz," she says his name with so much hate, sadness, anger, and Venum. I know that there is a lot she went through with him.

I want to know what happened but I also do not want to push her to open up to me if she does not feel comfortable doing it.

"What did he do to you?" I hesitantly ask.

She tenses once I ask and I immediately regret asking but she answers it and her words break my heart.

"A lot. A lot that would fuck an innocent soul like mine," she whispers.

I want to wrap my arms around her and comfort her and say everything is all right but her words make me frozen in sadness for her and anger for the bastard that made her into the cold-hearted person she is today.

I stand up and hand out my hand out to her. "Let's go somewhere," I say. She slowly takes my hand and I help pull her up from the concrete steps.

We walk hand in hand into the garage and when we reach my range rover I help her in before going over to my side. I drive out of the garage and don't the long driveway.

"Why are we leaving when we are supposed to stay here until it is safe?" Brooke asks after adjusting in her seat.

I glance at her before turning my gaze to the rose. "I think that we can both use a moment to ourselves away from the judgy eyes," I tell her.

In the corner of my eyes, I notice her studying me before turning her eyes out the window.

We drive in silence until she breaks it. "I want to listen to music," she says more to herself than to me. She clicks on the radio until a song that she likes starts playing.

She nods her head to the beat of the song before turning the volume up and she begins singing.

Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh shake you off of me

Three-three, three hundred and sixty-five

Since the day he kissed me goodbye

And it all fell through, ooh, ooh-ooh

I cried about it every day

T-t-t-toss and turn every night

You coulda been the love of my life, all, all mine

Baby, I blame you

I look at her surprised. She has an amazing voice. I honestly thought she would be like Sam who can not sing the right notes in a song if he was at gunpoint but she can sing.

If you cared how I care, we'd be together

And I told you last year, it's now or never

Sometimes on late nights, I drink about it

But I don't wanna think about it

You called then I called, delete your number

You stole my sunshine, my fuckin' summеr

Sometimes on late nights, I drink about it

But I don't wanna think about it

She glances at me at the corner of her eye and her brow goes up. She turns down the song before turning her body to face me.

"What thought I could not sing?" she asked amusedly.

"I-I do not know but you have a lovely voice," did I just stumble over my words?

"Did Mason Morelli just stutter over his words," she asks with her hand over her heart in mock shock.

"Stop," I grumble fixing my gaze to the road.

"Fine but I want to know if you can sing?" she asks nudging my arm.

"Not as good as you and prefer not to sing in front of people," I tell her.

"Understandable I feel the same way," she tells me. "So where are we going?" she asks.

"To the cliffs," I tell her she looks at me with confusion.

"Cliffs?" she questions.

I smirk at her puzzled look. "You will see."

We drive in silence for a few minutes before she talks. "Let's play 20 questions," she poses.

"Okay," I say turning down a dirt road.

"What is your favorite color?" she asks after thinking.

"Black," I answer without hesitation.

"Why do mafia men always choose black," she grumbles.

I ignore her comment. "What about yours?" I ask glancing at her.

"It changes but the colors that I find the most relatable to are purple, blue, and pink but a navy blue, dark purple, and a light baby pink," she answers.

"Wow those are specific," I say.

"Yeah, I know but I think they are pretty and not everyone likes a good navy blue or plum purple," she says with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Okay, what is your favorite place you have been?" I ask.

She smiles at some memory she has. "Venice, Italy. I love it there if I have to choose anywhere to live I think I would want it to be there. How about you?" she asks.

"I have many but I would have to say Venice, Italy too," I say with a smile remembering my family that lives there and the time that we stayed with Nonno and Nanna. (Grandpa, Grandma)

She smiles at me before looking out the window to the forest. "Hobbies?" she asks.

"I like to play the guitar and piano. I also enjoy playing soccer and my grandmother taught me how to cook," I tell her. "What about you got any hobbies?"

"Yes, I do," she says with a smile. "I used to figure skate and I loved it but I have not been on the ice for a few years. I also used to dance specifically ballet."

We can continue going back and forth with questions and I learned her favorite ice cream is strawberry, she does not have a favorite tv show or movie because, and I quote 'there are too many fucking shows and movies that I can not pick only one'.

I stop on a cliff overlooking the island. Her mouth is agape at the view and I smile at her reaction. I get out and go around to her side and help her out.

"This is so beautiful," beams looking at the ocean in view and trees surrounding the city.

"I know," I laughed.

"How did you find this?" she asks sitting on the ground after I place a blanket down.

"One night about a year ago I was driving around after a fight in one of my clubs. I was trying to stop myself from yelling at Will because he was the one fighting another man over a woman who used both of them," I tell her.

"Typical," she grunts.

I ignore her comment and continue. "I turned down the road leading to this view thinking it was going to be a dead-end until I saw this beautiful view and stopped driving to look. I got out of my car and it felt calming and relaxing so every time since then I felt frustrated or stressed I would come here."

"Well if you do not mind I may need this view to help me when I get pissed," she tells me while stretching out on her back and staring at the sky.

I lay down next to her and look up at the sky. "That sounds good as long as we keep it between the both of us," I tell her.

She laughs holding out her pinky. "I promise," she says with a grin.

"Good," I say crossing our pinky's. I slowly bring her pinky to my mouth and kiss it. A light blush covers her cheeks.

She looks back up to the darkening sky while I interlace our hands. I rest our hands in between our bodies and look up to the sky.

I feel at peace being here with her. I am slowly falling for this woman and I do not think I can stop myself. I do not think I want to stop.

I want to stay like this forever. I want us to be together and I think I am willing to try to be a man for her. She is a broken woman who needs help to heal and I want to be there for her. I will be here for her even if she pushes me away I will always be by her side.

Hopefully, till death do us part.