Honoured with love

Sixteen years of age...

Seven months pregnant...

"Hello?" My Celeste answers in a hushed tone.

I know it is risky to call her but I need to tell her the truth.

"Mio caro." The words come out in a pained manner. "I'm sorry,"

What is wrong Gio?" She asks concerned.

There is nothing but silence between us as she waits for me to answer.

"We are leaving the country," I mumble filled with shame.

"No. Are you serious?"

"Si, Papa said it is the only way to keep me out of jail."

"But. But.. What about our daughter? I thought you promised to take care of everything." Turmoil laced her precious voice.

"I failed. I am sorry." I growl over the phone.

"I will return for you both," I pledged.

"When Gio? In a month, a year?"

"I don't know." Anger surrounds me and I punch a hole in my bedroom wall.

Pain radiates around my knuckles causing me to spit lines of Italian curse words.

"My mother is becoming unbearable. She comes in to check on me every ten minutes. If she could, she would chain me to my bed like a prisoner. I don't know how long I can live like this." She breaks down crying over the phone.

"Merda! Celeste, you have to be strong. We NEED you to be strong." I start to pace the room trying to calm my nerves down.

Fuck it. I think to myself. I end our call and walk out of my room, out the front door and straight towards Celeste. I knock on the front door pounding away impatiently waiting for someone to open it. When the door jerks open I walk into the house, straight towards Celestes room with Mrs Maddison hot on my heels pulling at my top, tearing it as I force myself to carry on walking to where my princess lays in her dungeon of a room.

"Celeste!" I roar.

"Vanessa call the police. 111 now!" Mrs Madsison demands.

"Stop! You good for nothing loser." She continues to pull on my clothes.

Celeste runs down the stairs with her hand on her belly and her eyes filled with tears. The sight of her knocks the wind out of me. She is more beautiful then I could ever imagine. My eyes have starved for weeks without being able to feast on her. She's been locked away from big bad ol' me.

As she gets closer I take her by the hand and carefully lead her out of the house as fast as I can. We quickly walk towards my house, crashing through the front door. I double lock it knowing Mrs Maddison will send her husband over to retrieve my precious Celeste once he returns home.

"Gio." Mama calls out as she comes racing out of the kitchen to see what the commotion is.

Her eyes land on Celeste, travelling down to her swelling belly. "Oh, Tesoro mio." Mama gasps with love. She rushes towards us and hugs Celeste, embracing her with love.

"Gio.." She scowls at me.

"Mama...." I place my hand over my child.

Mama sighs. "Go." She motions towards my room. "You don't have long." She looks through the peephole of the door and shakes her head.

I lead my precious Celeste to my room and lock the door. She walks over to the window and looks out towards the street, shivering with fear. I pick up my leather jacket that's been thrown over my desk chair and wrap it around her. She turns to face me, she clasps my hand with hers and places it over her swelling belly that houses our baby.

She clasps my hand in hers and places it over her swelling belly.

"Ti amore figlia mia," I say with pride.

"I love you, my daughter." I translate, gazing into Celeste's eyes.

"I want you to name our daughter." She places a hand on the side of my face, stroking her thumb along my heated skin.

"The honour should be yours."

"I want her to know that her papa named her and it had great meaning to him." A faint smile graces her face.

I lean in and cover her mouth with

mine, wrapping my arms around her, pouring all my untold emotions into our kiss. Her arms snake around my neck, pulling me in closer. A husky

vibrates off my chest. Content

There is a loud rapture of knocks at the front door.

"Open up! Celeste, it's time to go NOW!" Her father bellows.

We break our kiss and a light sob erupts from my Sweet Celeste.

"Shhhhh.." I say comforting her.

"Gio. I, I don't want to go back there." Unshed tears threaten to fall down the side of her beautiful face.

"I don't want you to go either Tesoro." I rest my head against hers. "I wish I was more of a man. I don't deserve you." I mumble feeling like my heart is being torn to shreds.

"Gio." My papa calls out from the other side of the door. "Gio, son. It's time for Celeste to return home." I hear him sigh.

I take my beloved by the hand and

lead her back towards her creator. A

1.n

father would never allow the heinous actions her mother protrudes upon her to happen to his beloved daughter. I feel sick, disgusted with anger as I slowly watch her step forward. Unexpectedly her mother appears wrapping her hand violently around her arm and yanks her out the door.

"Get your FILTHY HANDS OFF HER!" I roar as I stalk towards her.

"Gio!" My father calls out.

I come to a halt, my chest vigorously rising and falling, my hands clenched into fists, and I'm prepared to take on the damn world. I growl like a wolf desperately wanting to rip her head off. "She belongs to me." I sneer.

"Gio, son." My papa places his hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.

"MINE!" I roar. "MY BELOVED... MY BABY!"

"Ha!" Mrs Maddison snickers.

"She is legally mine till she is eighteen. You're three years too early boy!" She scowls at me.

Celeste cries out as she tries to break free from her mother, struggling against her vice-like grip.

"Gio.." She sobs. "Gio, I love you."

A loud slap fills the room as her mother's hand lands across her face. "Foolish child! What do you know about love?" She titters?

My Celeste cradles her stinging face in the palm of her hand with her eyes heavy on mine.

"She will NEVER belong to you," I say without breaking eye contact.

"Dr, don't you think you should get your child under control before he hurts himself." Mr Maddison grumbles. "This has gone on long enough." He says impatiently.

"Don't tell me how to handle my

son," Papa says calmly. "I think it's best you should put all your time and energy into your wife. Give her a few lessons on how NOT to handle your pregnant daughter." He taunts.

Mr Maddison abruptly turns and walks out of the house. I stand there seething as I watch their figures vanish into the darkness.

I turn to face my papa and mama.

Words ached to leave my mouth and when I opened it to talk. The only thing that came out was a soul-crushing howl that filled the entire house.