Authors note: Hello everyone. While I acknowledge there are many people out there with far greater knowledge than me, I also would like to point out that this is a work of fiction. In no way is my writing meant to be a factual guide on mental illness or how to manage relationships. Again, I am grateful to MsSensualiT for her continued help to be my second sets of eyes. I hope those of you who enjoy this series continue to do so. ~ellie.
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12 Zenati Pt 33
"Okay, I have to go. You have one job now, remember?" Noah arched an eyebrow at Marcella.
"Stay with Gideon and Genesis," she said automatically. "Please don't worry. I promise I won't disappear again."
"Okay," he repeated and leaned down to kiss her forehead. He hated leaving her, but he had to go to the circle meeting with Xavier. He had lingered far longer than he should have already, and he glanced at his older brother.
"We've got this. Go do your thing," Gideon chuckled.
"Yeah, okay," he said again, knowing he sounded like a broken record. Noah made himself turn away from the table where they ate lunch to stand with Xavier. He wanted to believe Marcella meant what she said, but their history told him that as soon as he took his eyes off her for more than a minute, she would run.
"Hello, Zenati's," a beautiful smiling woman, approached the table. "Nathanael is a bit eager to see you all," she said, addressing Xavier. "Don't worry about your family. I have plans to entertain my cousins all afternoon at my home, which is where you are headed coincidentally."
"I thought the meeting was here in the hotel," Xavier frowned as Oscar walked up behind his wife.
"Nathanael is doing much better, but it's still a risk for him to come so far, so the plans changed. But you are all invited to come and make yourselves at home in our home," Oscar said.
"I'd love to spend some time with our cousins. I don't believe we have had to opportunity to talk before. Your branch of the family has declined most of our invitations to the gatherings for a while now," Ally said. She watched curiously as the two sisters frowned at each other after hearing this information but said nothing. "Shall we go?" She asked, keeping the welcoming smile on her face.
"I was hoping to see Isadore while Noah was caught in his meeting," Genesis spoke up. "I don't suppose he could meet us there?"
"He was expecting that, and my cousin Louis was hoping to talk to Gideon as well. He's a bit obsessed with big metal things that fly, and Gideon is supposed to be the expert to go to about all things mechanical flight-related," Oscar chuckled.
"I think Olivia and Marcie had wanted to see their mother this afternoon. Do you think the meeting will go for long?" Vivienne asked, knowing her husband would lose all track of time once engaged in a debate on aeroplanes of any sort.
"I'm sure we can organise something after we have a chat about everything that happened. I wasn't able to meet you properly in Darwin, Marcie, so we have a bit to talk about," Oscar said and felt Noah bristle.
"I'm sure that can wait until the meeting is over," Xavier immediately jumped in to forestall any rash words or decisions from Noah. "Looks like we are all going, so we may as well make a move," he said, trying to keep his voice light despite the waves of agitation rolling off the man beside him.
"Our security is better at the house," Oscar said quietly to Noah. "We have everyone's best interests at heart with this request."
Noah nodded, but said nothing returning to Marcella to take her hand in his before following the leaders of the Gambaro out to the waiting cars. He considered what Oscar had said as they drove to the home, which was thankfully not far away. Marcella seemed content to sit in the silence of his brooding without comment.
"You okay?" Noah asked in hushed tones as they pulled up in front of the Gambaro mansion.
"You worry too much. Go to your meeting. I will be quite fine, and I won't go anywhere without you," Marcella reassured him.
"Fuck, Marcella!" Noah pulled her to him as they climbed from the car. "Where is my bossy Kitten who would not be taking all this without a fight?"
"You want me to fight you?" she asked, blinking wide eyes at him.
"No! But the Marcella I know would not be taking this without at least telling people what she wanted to do," he sighed. "It's like you changed overnight, and I don't know what to do or how to react to you now. I love you, and that will never change. I'm just not sure how to help you now."
"I love you too," she said quietly. "You don't have to help me with anything. I'm fine. Everything is fine now. Olivia has Genesis to look after her. Jessa has her kids and the Farnese family to look after her and my mother. Well, she is finally free now that my father and uncle are facing the consequences of what they did to us. Everything is right in my world. There is no need to worry about me anymore. Not even Konrad could get through all the security you have around me now."
"That's true," he said, letting his eyes scan their surroundings, noting the security as he guided her inside the house. Noah wanted to believe her, and she seemed so sincere when she spoke. Still, this woman wasn't his kitten, she purred and snuggled against him, but she no longer had any of the spirit that helped her and her sisters survive a life of violence and trauma.
"No matter what our hosts say or offer, you stay with Gideon and Genesis at all times, okay?" Noah reminded her as they entered the foyer and found their hosts waiting for them.
"Of..." Marcella began in another attempt to reassure him but froze. Her eyes became wide, and her body stiffened before she dropped her head and moved closer to Noah as if trying to hide her face in his chest. "I need to go. I can't be here," she hissed, a sliver of the Marcella Noah knew so well coming out in her voice.
