Chapter 17

-Jianna-

"What the fuck Jianna? What is wrong with you?" I hated myself for kicking Sebastian out of my apartment. I also hated that I let Sebastian kick out James so rudely. My heart sank as the words left my mouth. I wanted to take them back, but it was already too late.

I sat on my couch, alone in the quiet of my apartment. The only sounds were the occasional car honking outside and my shallow breathing. I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd done.

I heard a knock at my door and it made me jump. Secretly hoped it was Sebastian so I could patch things out with him. It would be incredibly awkward at work tomorrow if I don't smooth this out with him.

I opened the door without checking who it was. Big mistake.

"Sebastian, I am so---" A woman and a well-built man were standing at my front door.

"Hi. Can I help you?" I asked looking at both of them.

*"Ciao Rosso,"* said the woman in black.

*Rosso?* Why did she call me that?

"I'm sorry. I think you got the wrong apartment. Can I help you find your way?" I asked them.

The man looked at the woman and said something I couldn't hear.

*"Non ricordi ancora niente?"* the woman looked puzzled. Why is she asking if I could remember?

*"Ricordati cosa? Non ti conosco nemmeno."* who are these people.

The woman looked at the man.

"Take her," she said and walked away.

The man tried to grab me and like muscle memory, I deflected his advance and kicked him in the shins. He goes down and I put a knee to his face. He rolls down the steps and lands where the woman is standing.

The woman turned around and looked at me, "There you are Rosso." I saw a glint of a smile on her face. She looked down at the man now withering on the ground. "Get up *bastardo!* You can't even handle a tiny little woman. You're a disgrace! Get up* buona a nulla!" she yelled at him and to add insult to injury, she kicked him in the gut and walked away. The man got up and limped towards the car that just came out of nowhere.

The woman got in the backseat and the limping man in the passenger side. The window in the back rolled down.

"See you around Rosso!" she waved at me through the window.

I just stood in front of my open apartment door in shock at what just happened. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know who to call. ASHLEY!

I ran into my apartment and grabbed my phone.

"Hello?" Ashley answered. It sounded like I woke her up. I looked at the time. 2:30 AM. "Shit!" I thought.

"Hello?" she asked again. "Who is this?"

"H-Hello? Ashley? I-It's Jianna." I said shakily. Calm down Jianna. Jesus!

"Jianna? What's going on?" she said sounding half asleep but also concerned.

"S-Someone just ummm someone just attacked me." I'm trying my best not to cry.

"WHAT?!? Rebecca! Wake up! We gotta go to Jianna's" I hear her say away from the phone. "Stay there! We're coming. REBECCA!"

*click*

I closed my door grabbed a knife from the kitchen and made my way to the couch. I put my knees to my chest and put the knife in front of me. I waited there for what seemed like hours then I heard rapping at the door.

"JIANNA! IT'S ASHLEY! OPEN UP!" she shrieked.

I couldn't get up. I couldn't move. I just stayed where I was.

"JIANNA! OPEN THE DOOR!" she continues knocking on the door. "Rebecca open the door, baby." I hear her say.

The doorknob rattled and the door opened. "Baby it's unlocked," Rebecca said calmly. Ashley opened the door so aggressively that I heard the knob hit the wall. "JIANNA!" she saw me on the couch. She looked at me and then the knife I was holding then Rebecca.

"OHMYGOD! Jianna! What the fuck happened?" she said calmly. "Jianna put the knife down, babe. Come on." she tried to extend her arm and grab the knife from me. I didn't want to hurt her but I'm also extremely frightened right now. All I can think about is James. I don't know why but all I want is James.

"J-James. Call...J-James." that was all I managed to say before I passed out.

**"I'M COMING BACK FOR YOU J! I PROMISE! I'LL COME BACK FOR YOU!"**

I woke up and I was in a hospital bed. I could see Ashley and Rebecca in the chairs next to me. Rebecca was in Ashley's lap nodding off.

"What the fuck just happened?" I asked groggily.

"Hey, you. Don't move. Let me call the nurse." said Ashley trying to wake Rebecca so she could get up. Rebecca grumbled something and went back to sleep.

I tried getting up but I felt like my head was about to explode. I tried to lie back down but I was suddenly hit with a wave of nausea that I just grabbed the nearest thing, which luckily was an emesis bowl, and barfed. After I was done, I felt like I could breathe.

The nurse walked in and she took the emesis bowl from me and gave me a barf bag instead.

"Just in case another episode comes." the nurse said. "Do you need me to ask the doctor to order you some anti-nausea medication? It'll make you sleepy though."

"I think I'm ok. It feels like a one-time thing." I said still tasting the bile in my throat. "When am I getting discharged? I need to go to work." I tried getting up.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Lie back down please." the nurse said pushing my shoulder so I would lie back down. No argument here. I lie back down and turned to my side. "Let me call the doctor so he can talk to you."

She leaves and closes the door. Ashley and Rebecca come back in. Behind them is the last person I wanted to see.

"Why didn't you call me?" Sebastian asked as he got to my bedside and took my hand. "I had to hear it from Ashley."

I looked at Ashley and she just shrugged. "I texted him to let him know that you and I wouldn't be in today. He's my direct supervisor Jianna. I'm sorry."

"It's ok," I said weakly.

"Do you remember what happened? Do you remember anything?" he asked me. "The assholes waited until we left to attack you. I could've prevented this." He squeezed the bridge of his nose. "This is my fault. I could've protected you."

"It's not your fault Sebastian. If I remember correctly, I told you to leave." I said unemotionally.

"You did. I did," he whispered back at me. "But it's my job to protect you even when you tell me not to."

"Sebastian," I said in the most gentle tone I could muster.

"You almost died, Jianna. I could've prevented it," he said through clenched teeth.

"No, you couldn't have." I sighed. "If you were there then you would be dead too."

That shut him up.

"Knock, knock. Ms. Spencer? Are you decent? My name is Dr. Schwartz. May I come in?" said the man behind the door.

"Yes. Come in." I said.

He comes in with his clipboard in tow. He has a kind face, except he looks exhausted.

"Hello, Ms. Spencer. I'm Dr. Schwartz. I'm the one who treated you when you were admitted."

"Hi. How are you? Thank you for taking care of me." I asked politely.

"I'm doing fine. And you're very welcome. Now tell me how you feel." he replied.

"I feel ok. My head hurts a little." I rubbed the top of my head.

"Were you hit with something in the head when these people attacked you?" he said shining a flashlight in my eyes. I flinched. "I'm just testing for any light sensitivity or ocular damage. Sorry for the bright light.

"It's ok. Ummm... I don't think so. I was able to fight them back strangely enough." I said, remembering bits and pieces of what happened.

"Well, I still want to make sure there's no brain damage or anything. I'm ordering a CT scan and a more comprehensive blood panel and then I'll discharge you. Sounds like a plan?" he finished.

"Whatever you say doc. Just as long as I get to leave before dinner." I said sarcastically.

He chuckled, "I'll go ahead and order these. We'll get you out of here in a jiff." He turns around to leave but pauses. "There was someone that was here earlier. When you were unconscious. He seemed extremely worried about you. I just wanted to make sure I updated him too. He said he'd want to know as soon as you wake up but I've been too busy and I don't see him so it slipped my mind. I'll make sure to send him your way if I or my nurses see him." with that, he turned around and left.

Sebastian looked at me. His gaze was intense and I could feel the tension radiating from him. His expression revealed a war of emotions going on inside him. The air felt heavy with anger but also sadness, and I wondered what he was struggling to resolve at that moment.

"I want you to come home. I want you to come back to my place." he looked at me with desperation. It's the only way I can protect you."

"I don't need your protection, Sebastian. Please. I need to figure things out on my own for now." I don't feel like arguing with him right now.

"No. You're coming home with me. End of discussion." then he stood up and left.