A/N

Hey loves, It has been a while since I've posted here, I know, but I have been working on several bonus chapters, new stories, and more! So, this is the first bonus chapter that will be here for free!

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***

• MAKUA •

The sound of the ocean waves brushing against the shore filled the air, a peaceful melody in stark contrast to the chaos in my mind. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the villa, casting a golden hue across the sleek marble floors. The air smelled of saltwater and freedom—an intoxicating blend that wrapped itself around me as I stood at the edge of the balcony.

I let out a slow breath, my fingers gripping the cool metal railing as I looked out at the endless blue horizon. Below, a growing number of people splashed in the water, laughing and swimming, carefree. I missed that—being able to go near the ocean without a creeping sense of dread. It was strange how quickly everything had changed, how one moment could turn your entire life upside down.

"Why are you up so early?" Damian's voice was low and rough with sleep, but his hands were warm and familiar as they wrapped around my waist. He placed soft kisses on my collarbone, and a small smile tugged at my lips.

"I needed to clear my head," I admitted, my hand rubbing his forearm in soothing circles. "I couldn't sleep after how you kept me up last night."

He chuckled softly, but his body tensed behind me. "More nightmares?" His words were gentle, but I knew he wasn't fooled by my attempt to lighten the mood.

"Yeah."

He turned me in his arms, his hands coming up to cradle my cheeks. His eyes searched mine, "You know I'm not going to let anything happen to you," he said, his voice serious. "Not ever again."

"I know," I whispered, giving him a small, grateful smile. "I just wish my brain would get the memo because my heart is convinced."

I expected him to smile, maybe even tease me, but instead, his eyes held a sadness that made my chest ache. "We should consider what Dario suggested," he said softly. "A therapist could help. I can arrange for them to come here. You don't have to leave the house."

"No therapists," I deadpanned, pulling away from his embrace and walking back into the villa. His footsteps echoed behind me, his anxiety palpable.

We had been good, or at least, I had pretended we were. It had been three days since we arrived at this beachfront villa—the getaway he'd organized, hoping it would help me heal. He believed a change of scenery would make everything better. But it hadn't.

The nightmares had started at the hospital, right after I came out of the coma. They were vivid, terrifying, and unrelenting. I never told him the full extent because I knew he'd witnessed the worst of it.

At night, I would wait for Damian to fall asleep post-sex, watching him drift off while I dreaded my own. I was too scared of waking up screaming or reliving that horrible moment when I almost died. I needed him to believe I was okay, that I was healed. But it was getting harder to pretend when I was barely holding on to my sanity with restless nights and forced calm during the day.

"Dolcezza, we need to work something out," Damian called from behind me, his voice strained.

I spun around, my heart pounding in my chest as frustration spilled over. "Do not call me that! Just stop!" My voice was sharp, and the nickname, usually sweet, now felt like manipulation. "Don't bring up these endearing names when you want me to do what you want. Just stop!"

He froze, his hands raised as if surrendering. "You're shouting," he said quietly. "That's a good sign. You need to let your emotions out, Makua. You can't keep pretending you're fine."

"I am fine!" I screamed, the words ripped from my throat. "I'm perfect! I'm not the first person to be dunked in freezing water to die. It comes with the package of dating a dangerous man, right? It's the choice I made. I faced the consequences and survived. I lost a part of myself, but it's what I signed up for. You warned me, and I still said yes. So no, I don't need help. I need you to support me and convince yourself that I'm fine."

His jaw clenched, eyes darkening with emotion. "Makua, I love you too much to pretend everything is fine when I know it's not. I can't act delusional when it will only hurt you more."

"All you've ever done is hurt me," I blurted, my voice trembling. "Indirectly or directly—it's always you."
The silence that followed was suffocating. My words hung in the air, heavy and unforgiving. Damian's expression shifted, his features hardening. My breath caught as I realized what I'd just said.

"Damian," I whispered, "I didn't mean—"
He raised a hand, shaking his head. "No, you're right. It's my fault." His voice was quiet, the weight of his guilt palpable.

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. "I didn't mean it like that," I said, stepping toward him. "I just... I'm scared, Damian. I don't know how to handle this. I'm trying, I swear I'm trying, but it's hard."

He stared at me for a long moment, the tension in his body slowly easing. His hands found mine, pulling me closer until our foreheads pressed together. "We'll figure this out," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. "I'm not going anywhere. And you don't have to do this alone."

Tears welled in my eyes, and I nodded, leaning into his touch. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust that things would get better, but the nightmares still haunted me. And the truth was, I wasn't sure if they would ever stop.

But for now, standing in the warmth of his arms, I let myself hope.

***

Months later

My lungs screamed for air. Clawing, at my throat, my blocked nostrils for any sign of it. Numbness slithered over my skin, the frigid water piercing into my body and spiking every facet of it.

My hands, feet, and mouth were tied and the metal chair sunk to the bottom of the pool. Slivers of red danced in the water, emanating from my body. I needed to fight, to scream for help but I could barely keep my eyes open anymore.

'I am dying', I thought. 'This... this is the end of me'

"Makua."

I blinked, my vision replacing the cold, blue water for the man who sat across from me. He had that soft smile that I appreciated whenever my mind wandered. Though reassuring, they held the same concern that everyone carried.

"Sorry," I said, "you were saying?"

"I was asking how you're feeling now, Makua," Hyun said, scribbling quickly onto his pad. "But I think it triggered some sort of recollection — Tell me what you saw."

I smiled, blinking back the memory. "I want to, trust me I do, but... talking about it, just..."

"Gives more life to what you're trying to forget?"

"Exactly."

He stopped his scribbling then and dropped the notepad. We stared at one another for a few comfortable minutes. "Then let's talk about something else, your music for instance, how it's helped you cope."

Yes, music.

There was so much to cover, but I started from the good parts. Months after my birthday, past the new year, and even Easter, my career hadn't been the same — in a good way, I might add. It turned out that the general public found a soft spot for my music after finding out I'd nearly died on my birthday. The tabloids wouldn't shut up about it, and mainstream media even picked it up and blasted it on every news program that mattered.

A terrorist attack, they called it. A crazy man who'd been obsessed with me had strapped himself to a bomb and walked into my birthday party. April, the new PR manager, had gotten herself a raise for that one. It was solid.

So many people had died from it, including my dear label mate, Kaden. But the person I cared about the most, was Mirko. Only pieces of him had been recovered, and the scene the police had captured and provided to us was brutal... the dreams that haunted me stirred up at the sight of it.

But on the good side of things, my album dropped and everyone loved it. I added more songs relating to the ordeal, songs I'd rather be private but needed to share to get my emotions out there.

Music wasn't the thing that kept me completely sane. It was Damian — and his family.

Damian had spent every waking day searching and hunting down Kaden; cuddling me in his arms when my nightmares got ahead of me and just being so supportive.

He and Dario had proposed the idea of therapy when it'd become unbearable. I'd started lashing out, crying uncontrollably, and getting manic. All my public appearances were halted or rescheduled due to it, I couldn't let this pain, this traumatic experience hinder one of the factors that kept me together.

"So in other words, it's been good." I said.

Hyun smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "Anything else you'd like to add before the session is over?"

I blinked back at him, my mind shrieking with all the problems I could list off that caused my brain to be unsettled but instead of speaking, I forced a smile and said, "No, I'm fine."

He paused at the last word before scribbling down on his notepad vigorously. By the end of the session, he'd given me a short list of meds to take for my anxiety and sleep deprivation.

Once I stepped out of the room, I was met by Damian and Dario, who both jumped from their seats.

"How was it?" they both asked eagerly.

"Not entirely terrible." I said, "he is good."

Dario smirked, "Not to big up myself too much but I told you, we only hire the best at this hospital."

Damian and I rolled our eyes at him on cue earning a chuckle from him.

The door to the office creaked open then and Dr. Wu peeked out, his eyes running over us all until it settled on Dario. "You can come in now." With that he retreated. Damian and I shared a look before staring down at Dario's sheepish frame.

He ignored us and dramatically pulled on the lapels on his lab coat, strutting towards the door. "Well, I guess I'll see you both later, do not wait for me."

When he entered, I turned to Damian, "What's that about?"

"Apparently, Dario has the hots for the therapist." he said, smiling at my gaping mouth.

"Wait they're like–"

"I think so, at least that's the only bit of gossip I've been able to get out of anyone here." he laughed, moving closer to me and holding my chin between his fingers, "How was it really? I was a bit worried that it was brief."

I slipped my arms around his waist, drawing closer and resting my head on his chest. His heartbeat was quick and erratic. "Brief is good, brief means progress... I felt relaxed talking with him. He didn't push for too much and I think I can see myself opening up during the next session."

"Next session, huh?" He drew my chin up so I could meet his eyes, "That is progress, I'm proud of you." he leaned in, pressing his soft lips against mine. Before I could get lost in it and ravage his lips in the psych lobby, he pulled away. "Let's go home."

I smiled, I was so tempted to say something cheesy like 'My home is wherever you are'  but I bit down on my lip, I didn't need to get all emotional right now. Not yet. Any form of emotion right now was tied to the incident and this was the first time in months that I felt like things would be okay again. Maybe better than before.

"Sure, but let's go get my pills first, I have quite the list."

Damian's eyes widened as he looked through it, "Wow."

"Yeah, so let's get my prescription then we can go home and," I nudged his side as we walked to the elevator, "you're cooking dinner tonight, I miss your cooking."

He chuckled, kissing my cheek and pressing the button for the elevator. "Your wish is my command, Dolcezza."

***

NEXT BONUS CHAPTER:

BONUS CHAPTER #2: LOVE RICOCHET
(EARLY ACCESS ON PATREON & INKITT)