Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 331 -

*Olivia*

The hot shower relaxed me more than I thought it would. I stepped out of the steam feeling more refreshed than I had in days. I grabbed a fresh towel and wrapped it around me.

With my thoughts centered, I pulled out the comfiest clothes I had, and I got dressed. I sat down at the vanity to blow dry my hair, staring at myself in the mirror as I did so. The sound of the dryer was deafening and perfect for me to get lost in my thoughts.

I thought deeply about my relationship with Giovanni. It had surprised me that he wasn't willing to go public with us, after all that bravado he'd shown. It made me think for a moment that he really was ashamed of me... of us. But I knew better. He wasn't that kind of man.

I regretted acting so aggressively with him. Ultimately, we both needed to be comfortable and happy in this relationship before we did anything. And if Giovani wasn't willing to, I couldn't force him, no matter how frustrating it was. Giovani had waited all this time for me. The least I could do was do the same.

I sighed, dropping my hairdryer onto the table as I moved on to my makeup. I decided to go rather simple for today, not in the mood to doll up at all. I wasn't going anywhere.

When I was done, I smiled at myself in the mirror, satisfied with my look. As I was deciding just how to confront Giovani about this when we inevitably talked later, my door burst open with a bang.

"Look who can make it up the stairs now!" Dahlia said in a sing-song voice as she burst through the door with a huge grin.

"I'm guessing you," I laughed, turning my seat to face her.

"That's right!" She laughed as she took a running start and launched herself onto my bed. The whole thing shifted with her body weight, a loud screech from the wood on the floor. She bounced on the comforter, sending a few pillows flying to the floor but I rolled my eyes.

"You still have to be careful," I warned her. "You could still pull your stitches."

"Come on," she huffed. "Don't be a worrywart. I've got two brothers and a cousin to do that for you. Could you at least sound like a young woman who just became an adult? I swear, people would think you're, like, fifty." "Rude," I stuck out my tongue, but I had no defense.

"But true," she shot back, crossing her arms.

She was right. Even when we were kids, I'd always been the most mature and sensible one, probably due to my mother's influence, if I was being honest.

"I'm the only thing that kept you guys alive," I told her, grinning as we reminisced about our childhood. "You three are the most reckless group of siblings I've ever met. You're lucky none of you died."

"It's a talent." She shrugged, leaning back on her hands. Then she shot me a sly look, "And speaking of reckless ideas....."

I frowned, wondering what she meant until it dawned on me. The look of excitement in her eyes and the way she bounced her leg quickly. I knew her like the back of my hand and I quickly caught on the bad idea in her head. "Oh, no," I immediately shook my head, putting my foot down. "Absolutely not!"

"Oh, come on," Dahlia whined, stomping her foot childishly. "We've been stuck in this house for ages! I wanna do something!"

"Last time I let you talk me into going somewhere, you almost got stabbed, and I had gelato ruined for me for the rest of my life!" I scowled, pinning her with a glare. "The answer is a hard no." "Olive," she pouted.

"Nope." I turned my head away, not letting her convince me. Not this time.

"Olive," she whined, pulling at my arm, but I shut my eyes tightly, not giving in.

"Olive...." Her voice softened, and my eyes snapped open without thinking as I glanced at her worriedly. She was holding my hand in hers, just resting it on her palm. There was a sad look in her eyes, and it took a minute to realize why. I thought maybe I was hallucinating, or just seeing things, but no, I wasn't. My hand was shaking in her palms, just the slightest bit, enough to be noticeable, and I frowned in confusion... until I realized the heavy pit of anxiety sitting in my stomach wasn't normal.

I grabbed my hand back, swallowing uncomfortably as I realized just how afraid I was. The terror and fear had become so normal to me since the incident, since Dahlia had gotten kidnapped, that I hadn't even noticed it was off. Something was wrong with me.

"Are you that scared of leaving?" Dahlia asked, quietly, a somber look on her face. I hated the way she looked at me, sympathy mixed with understanding. I didn't want it.

I wanted her to laugh, to tuck that laughter into my pocket and bring it with me on rainy days. Dahlia should always be smiling, pulling me along onto whatever scheme she happened to think of next, and no matter what happened, I would be her rock.

I was the normal one, the sensible one, the one who always knew the right thing to do, who was always calm and able to help everyone else.

I couldn't fall apart.

The denial faded away like waves on a shoreline, and for a brief moment of clarity, I realized that this is what that was.

"I'm scared, Dolly," I admitted to her, and to myself, "of the men who are after you, of losing you or anybody else, of just walking out the front door. I can't fight them off. I don't know how to keep you safe or even myself." She nodded slowly like she had been waiting for this-for me to fall apart in her hands.

"Olive." She kneeled down in front of me, grasping my hands in hers. She looked up to me with so much care and understanding, the free-spirited best friend who loved me to pieces gazing at me like she was ready to catch me if I fell apart in front of her.

"I understand, Olive." She squeezed my hand. "I feel the same way. Some days, I'm so terrified I can't even get out of bed. Sometimes, I'm so scared to be alone-even if it's just my room-that I feel like I'm choking. I have nightmares of them coming to get me, grabbing me, or worse, Tallon or you, and torturing you in front of me."

There was a raw honesty in her eyes, a hoarse truth in her voice. She was letting me see behind the fearless bravado she always put up and into the real trauma that she'd been dealing with.

I was both honored and sad.

Her lips folded into a determined line, gazing up at me fiercely. "But I won't let them win. They don't have me locked up anymore, and I'm not going to let them have any control over my life. I'm scared, Olive, but I won't let that stop me. We're young, free adults in Italy, and we should live like it."

I felt odd as I watched the bravery shining in her eyes, like how a mother might feel as she watched her daughter stride across the graduation stage.

The courage she possessed seemed like a fire that would never go out. Even after so many people had tried to snuff it out, it only burned brighter.

That was the thing I loved the most about Dahlia.

"So I'm going out tonight," Dahlia declared stubbornly. "You can stay home if you want, or you can come with us, but I'm not going to let the fear of what might happen stop me from having a good night out."

She gave my hand one last squeeze and got to her feet, intending to leave.

I sighed, shaking my head fondly as I realized there was no winning against her. After so many years, you'd think I'd have learned, but she was always surprising me.

"Wait," I called out just as she reached the door.

She paused, looking over her shoulder with a hopeful look.

I smiled, giving up completely, "So what should I wear?"

She squealed, turning around to grab me into a tight embrace and I laughed as she attempted to smother me with a hug.

"I was thinking we'd just go out to a simple dinner, no fancy stuff. I already picked the place and I have your dress picked out already," she rambled on, excitedly. "Plus, I know you're concerned about safety so I already invited Tallon and Alessandro. They said they'd go if you go, so now everything's all set."

"You set me up," I sighed, as I realized I was once again played by my best friend.

"Maybe just a bit." She grinned sheepishly. "Plus, I got us both new dresses for tonight. Oh, let me go tell Tallon to set up the reservation! I've got to show you the dresses!"

She jumped to her feet, already flipping her phone out and dialing who I suspected was Tallon.

"She agreed! I was thinking six, six thirty?" Dahlia said to the phone, then held her hand over the speaker as she glanced at me. "What are you waiting for? Do your hair and makeup, and I'll bring the dresses over! No dilly-dallying." Honestly, who said dilly-dallying in this day and age?

But I couldn't tell her my complaints because she was already racing out of my room and down the hall. I glanced at the vanity mirror, sulking as I realized I would have to redo my hair and makeup all over again.

So much for comfortable clothing, I thought as I tugged at my soft, old T-shirt. I wasn't worried about the dress she had picked up, Dahlia had a good fashion sense, so I was sure it was going to be stunning.

But I hesitated in spending any time with Alessandro. He was already on my nerves with how he had been acting lately, blackmailing us, taking control of the organization away from Giovani, and arguing with everyone about everything.

Even his lame attempts at wooing me were shameful at best and nearing sexual harassment at this point. I wished he would just go back home or at the very least leave me alone.

We had enough problems with Alessandro digging up drama whenever he could.

I sighed, reaching for my mascara when the door burst open once more, and I dropped the tube as it clattered under the vanity.

I huffed, turning to stare at whoever had intruded but my eyes widened in surprise instead. Dahlia had returned, and she was holding a dress out for me to take. "Like it?" she said coyly.

It was gorgeous, one of the fanciest dresses I'd ever seen. "Is that really mine?" I asked in disbelief.

"Of course. You're gonna look stunning in this baby." She giggled, pushing her way through and shutting the door behind her.

Gazing at the dress she'd chosen for me, I couldn't help but agree.