Chapter 58: Chapter Fifty Eight

*Gabriela*

Brittney was murdered.

By whom no one knew. But from what I overheard between Enzo and his grandfather, it seemed to have been an inside job. They just weren’t for sure who put the hit out on her. From her diary I wouldn’t be surprised if it had been one of the other men she tried to swindle and trap.

The hospital was being investigated and it was concerning that Enzo had been the last person to see her alive. All the doctors and nurses were being interrogated and the surveillance was being requested.

“This isn’t good, Tesoro. I think you should head back to the house.” Giovanni gravely whispers, his arms crossed and looking at his grandson with as much worry as I felt.

He was already shaking his head. “That would look like I’m running away and make me look guilty for something I didn’t do. They’ll see me on the camera footage. It’s best I stay and cooperate with them. Besides, I’m not leaving here without Gabby.”

As soon as the police showed up Maria had taken Dom back to the house. Enzo wasn’t taking any chances with his life. If wind caught that Dom was here and he went all over the news with this new predicament my father will be here within hours to get me. None of us could have that. And I wasn’t sure on what had happened to Benny.

No one has mentioned of him. It was concerning that he was still walking around freely after what he had tried to do to me. But hopefully once the cops showed up he was smart enough to get the hell out of here and left town altogether.

I couldn’t say I felt saddened that Brittney was dead. But I didn’t feel glad either. Even though she dug her own grave, no one should have gone out like that. I couldn’t help but think how long she suffered with no air in her lungs before her body gave out. At least it wasn’t a more gruesome death.

No, what broke my heart was the unborn child. They didn’t get the chance to live or to have their own life. It just wasn’t meant to be for them. Maybe it was a good thing though. To only be brought into this world because of money and greed. Would she have even loved that child? Or would they have grown up into a world where there was no love from their mother?

All these thoughts keep running into my head. I couldn’t imagine not loving my own child. But then again I wouldn’t have gotten pregnant by some random person just to get a big paycheck either and raised that child as if they didn’t matter or existed.

“Hey, are you okay?” Enzo’s voice broke through all my dark thoughts as he leaned down close to me with furrowed brows.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired from all the excitement. I just don’t know what to think or how to feel with all this.” I admit truthfully.

“You shouldn’t have to worry about any of this. Get some rest, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

As much as everything was worrying me, I couldn’t help the droop of my eyes as if I had been waiting for him to say those words. But while I drift off to sleep my last thought was how much I was afraid that he wasn’t going to be here when I wake back up.

***

When I opened my eyes the room was partially in darkness as night had fallen and a small light against the wall was softly glowing. The television was on but the sound was turned down way low where I could barely hear what they were saying.

Slight panic goes through me when I don’t see Enzo in the room. In fact, I was all alone. Quickly sitting up I go to get out of bed and start searching for him, afraid that the authorities decided to arrest him after all. But I barely stand up when the door opens and he walks right in.

His eyes widen when he sees me standing there in nothing but the hospital gown. “Hey, what are you doing getting up?”

He rushes over to me, quickly setting down the cup he was holding on the tray that was next to me. Gently grabbing my shoulders he guides me back to the bed.

“I woke up and you weren’t here. You said you would be here.” I begin to ramble as he places the covers back over me.

“I’m sorry. I just went out really quick to get some ice chips. I didn’t think you would have woken up when I was gone. It was only a few minutes.” He sits down on the bed next to me and takes my hand.

“How do you feel?”

“Better. But I want to go home. What happened with…” I nod my head towards the down, not really wanting to mention it.

“They saw the footage. Talked to me for my statement of what happened and that I saw another person heading to her room. They confirmed that someone else went inside after me and before the nurse who found her dead. They’re still investigating. But for now, I’m okay to leave. I just hope the news doesn’t get wind of this. We can’t have outsiders know about us. Not before we figure out what to do from here.”

“Do I really have to keep staying here? I can recover at home.” I nearly beg, just wanting to be somewhere familiar and away from all these strangers.

“Actually, I talked to the doctor about that. With what happened to someone we know I don’t feel comfortable you being in the same place. I don’t know if that same person is still around. Nonno is trying to do some of his own investigating.”

I look at him closely. There was something he wasn’t telling me. Something that had to do with the death of Brittney and what was really going on. My heart speeds up just a little because I had a horrible suspicion of what that something was.

“So, I’ll be able to go home then?” I ask, deciding to wait to ask the real question that I wanted to know.

“Against the doctor’s wishes, but yes, we’re going home first thing in the morning. So, for now you should get some more sleep. I had to argue with him because he wants to keep observations for your concussion. I had to go through a long lecture of what I need to look out for and what to do should you show any signs.”

He looked just a bit annoyed remembering that conversation. But I honestly felt fine and a lot better. I don’t think there was anything to worry about. But I don’t say this and follow his instructions instead. I was still tired, and I wasn’t sure if it was the ordeal of what had happened or because being in the hospital just made a person feel that way.

Maybe everything just hadn’t quite hit me yet. Or maybe because of what I just went through and the person who caused all this mess had just died, and I couldn’t bring myself to actually care for any of it. I just wanted to go home and forget any of this even happened at all. I’m sorry that she died. But I couldn’t help thinking as I laid there that she could never bother us again.

I didn’t have to worry that she might come after us later in the future and maybe I should feel shitty for thinking that, but I didn’t. She was a horrible human being that only thought about herself and didn’t care who she had hurt in the process of getting what she wanted. Maybe the world was better off for having someone like that be around.

Or maybe I was just damn exhausted and was thinking all kinds of random thoughts right now. So, I mentally shake them all off.

“Okay.” Was all I say as I lean my head back against my pillow and start closing my eyes.

I feel him press his lips against my forehead as he whispers, “I love you.”

Making my heart take flight every time he speaks those words to me, I say in return, “I love you too.”