Life is a difficult game. You can win it only by retaining your birthright to be a person.

A.    P. J. Abdul Kalam

Willow Kinsella's POV

The following morning after a sleepless night I found him outside stacking up the hay in the barn. I was dead-set to confront him to ask him what went wrong last night why he suddenly acting cold and distant from me after having sex.

I approached him with a determined stride from my boots. I would not let this get away not after he has given me a valid reason for doing that unacceptable behavior.

"Can we talk?" I asked without preamble.

I heard him stiffened as he took a deep breath and continue to stack the hays. "I'm busy, Willow."

That's it. I thought vehemently. I already lost my patience with him and walk in front of him so he could face me. "That's bullshit!" I hissed softly, in case some other cowboy might hear us. "I want to know why you bothered to seduce me last night and then regret the whole thing after."

Something flashed in his eyes something dark and dangerous as he glared at me ardently. "Do you think I regret what happened last night?"

"Did you not?" I retort back, looking sideways there might be someone at a hearing distance with us. The last thing I want is for the people working on the ranch to know about what happened last night.

"No!" He whispered back angrily. "I didn't regret what happened last night, damn it!"

I blinked I didn't see that one coming but was very happy at his admission. "Then why...?"

"Because you're better off without me, that's why." He repeated this thing just like last night. "You need a man that will take good care of you and I am not that man, Willow. You deserve better."

"What the hell..."

Our heated argument interrupted momentarily when a metallic grey Range Rover pulled into the driveway of the ranch. This kind of car wasn't a normal sight for our small town of St. Petersburg, North Carolina. Whoever is inside the car is the real deal.

I saw a man wearing an expensive suit with a pair of sunglasses slid out of the driver's seat while looking around the place as if making sure he got the right place he's looking for and then I saw a beautiful lady coming out of the passenger's side. They were ridiculously out of place in here with their fancy look.

Neon and I started to come closer to the driveway to get a better view of the newcomer when I heard the man beside me cursed loud and clear. I looked at him sharply but his focus remain on the newcomer.

The dark-haired woman caught the sight of us—or rather—the sight of Neon and her beautiful dark green eyes misted with tears. "Enzo!"

Who?

The woman run towards the waiting hands Neon and hugged her tightly. I have never seen such a look of happiness on his face since I met him. So this was the woman in his dream before? His girlfriend maybe? Suddenly I felt the uncalled feeling of jealousy. He had sex with me last night when a girl was waiting for him.

"Laila." Neon said as he drew back the woman in his arms, looking at her as if making sure she's here. "How did you know that I was here?"

"Leila said that you are here so we came to pick you up." The woman named Laila informed him with a shaky smile while the man with him walks towards us. "Believe me she wants to personally fetch you but she's in Sicily at the moment and we're New York so it's been decided that we're going to be the one to bring you back to Sicily. Thank goodness you are all right, Enzo."

I suddenly feel lost and out of place with my ranch. It seems that Neon realized my confusion. "Willow, I'd like you to meet my cousin Laila and her husband Nikos." He looked at his cousin with a smile. "Cousin, this is Willow Kinsella the girl who found me in the forest severely wounded."

I was about to extend my hand in Laila's direction when she surprise me by giving me a friendly hug. "Thank you for taking good care of our Enzo. Our family owes you a lot."

I shook my head while my throat was clogged with emotion. "It's nothing..."

When she drew back from our embrace she glared at her cousin Neon—nope, that's not his name I corrected myself silently. His real name is Enzo. "It was bad of you not to give us a call and tell us that you're truly fine. Do you know that Patri worried about you so much since you've gone missing?"

He rolled his eyes. "I lost my memories."

"What?" Laila's mouth hung open.

"No way!" Her intimidating husband stated as if he couldn't believe or he thought that Neon...Enzo, I mean was only messing with them. From the look on this man, he's clearly an ultra-rich man and so this woman who happens to be Enzo's cousin. Clearly, Enzo came from a wealthy family it's not surprising since he probably owned the helicopter he's riding when he had his accident.

"It's the truth. I only regain my memory last night."

Upon mentioning it, I couldn't help but give him a questioning look. So that's the reason for his sudden change and this bastard didn't bother to tell me that.

The man named Nikos with a pair of light blue eyes shook his dark head in amusement. "Wow, I didn't see that one coming. I thought you just run away."

"Runaway?" Enzo repeated in confusion. "Why will you think that?"

Nikos gave him a knowing smile. "You know a family trait of the Fiorenzas, running away when the situation gets sticky for them to handle." And then he gave his wife a meaningful look. "Like the certain someone, I know that running away in the dead of the night to go home when she learns that her sister is back."

A pink stain spread through the beautiful woman's cheeks. "Nikos!"

I cleared my throat and they were all in my direction. "Maybe we should continue this discussion inside the house. Please come in."

They were all followed me inside the house up to the living room. I saw Ne—Enzo's cousin look around the minimalist living of our house. Sofas, a wooden coffee table, and a plasma TV on the wall above the fireplace, and light lamps on the inside. She must think this was not what she expected to see when she got here.

"Coffee?" I asked when Laila and her husband sat on the sofa.

Enzo's cousin wrinkled her nose. "None for me, thank you."

I saw Albert coming out from the kitchen and gave a warning hiss to the strangers in the living room. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Laila moved closer to her husband and grip the sleeves of his suit. I gave my dog a warning look. "Albert!"

"German Shepherd?" Nikos asked me while giving his wife an amused look.

"How old?"

"Five," I answered giving Albert an affectionate tap in the head. "He lives here with me."

"Do you live here alone?"

"Albert is with me," I answered with a smile while he gave his wife's cousin a deliberate look that earn a scowl from him. "Does that count?"

Neon...I mean, Enzo rolled his eyes at them. "In case you are wondering if it's safe for her to live here alone. Let me tell you that she has a shotgun and won't hesitate to shoot anyone who trespasses on her property."

The look on their faces was priceless I would have laughed if I didn't feel the heat spread through my face at his announcement.

"I will just get my things so we can go now." He announced suddenly that made my heart constricted with unexplainable pain.

Nikos nodded in agreement. "Good. We were given strict instruction by Cesare himself to bring you back to Sicily as soon as possible."

I heard him sigh deeply before running towards the stairs. When I was felt alone with his family I also excuse myself and went after him. I found him in his temporary bedroom while the door was open I saw him packing his things in the bag we bought at the fair when we went to town the other day.

I leaned myself in the doorway while folding my arms in the middle of my chest watching him pack his things. "So you're memory came back last night?"

I heard him took a breath again upon hearing my voice. Damn it, didn't I serve an explanation or something here? "Yes."

"So that's the reason why you suddenly spouted nonsense after what happened between us in bed?" I demanded trying to calm myself. The last thing I want was to lose my composure here when we're about to part ways in a few moments.

"Yes, damn it!" He suddenly turn around to face me, I was shocked to see the rage in his eyes. "Because I just abruptly remember who I am and how messy is my life. The last thing I want is to drag you into my chaotic life. As I said, you deserve better than I am only willing to offer you."

"But I want to be part of your life."

He shook his head slightly while there was a sad smile on his face. "I cannot give you what you deserve I am not the man you used to know. I am way different from that man."

"So what's the right name then?" I queried, ignoring the pain in my heart. "Enzo is it?"

He nodded giving a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He extended his hand in my direction. "Enzo Fiorenza, a special force in the Italian army."

My mouth hung open at his announcement. "You're serving the army?"

He grimaced. "Currently on leave since acquiring this leg injury from an explosion on my last tour but I will be back once the doctor gives me a go signal that's why I am not the man for you. You need a man who takes good care of you not giving you anxiety also wondering if he will be back safe from his dangerous mission."

"Can't you just quit altogether?"

He shook his dark head regrettably. "This is my life."

This was probably the worst rejection a woman get. But I won't shed tears in front of him I need to be brave I will get over this soon. This is just another heartache I've been here before.

He zipped his bag carefully and stare at me. "I know we don't use protection last night and I assure you that nothing to worry about but if you ever find yourself..."

"Don't worry, I'll inform you." I finished for him with a courageous smile.

"As cheesy as it sounds but thank you for everything." I just managed to nod in his direction and watch him walk away coming down in the living room where his family patiently waiting for him so they could bring him home where he truly belongs.

Before they ride back on the Range Rover his cousin, Laila pushed something in my hand I notice that it was a calling card. "Thank you for what you did for our dear Enzo, if you need anything do not hesitate to give us a call. I will be glad to help and return the favor."

With that, my eyes were blurred with tears as I watched them drove away from the ranch.