Chapter 146 Accident

Chapter 146 Accident
Carlino's POV

As I took step after step, I felt the weight in my chest growing heavier. It was so crushing that every movement felt like I was climbing a mountain. When I finally got back to the hotel room, I noticed the package of food Aiden had left on the nightstand beside my bed. I stared at the food, and it seemed to stare right back at me.

Dropping onto the mattress, I fixed my gaze on the ceiling. I wasn't looking at anything in particular. My eyes remained locked on a single spot while my thoughts spiraled elsewhere.

I needed to take my pills tonight. I needed to sleep. I needed to forget this pain, even if it was only for a few hours.

I rushed to my bag and rummaged through it, searching for the medicine. I couldn't find it. Frustrated, I emptied the contents onto the floor, scattering clothes everywhere, but it still wasn't there. Then I unzipped the second compartment. There it was. Lying there quietly.

I picked up the bottle and swallowed a higher dosage than the doctor had prescribed. I just... I just wanted to get rid of this fucking pain that had latched onto my chest like a parasite.

After taking the pills, I lay back on the bed. Within minutes, a wave of relaxation washed over me. My eyes drifted back to the ceiling. My body felt numb. My eyelids grew heavier and heavier until keeping them open became impossible. So I embraced it. I embraced the darkness. I embraced the numbness that felt far too good.

\~~~

Warmth brushed against my face. A bright light streamed through my closed eyelids, forcing a frustrated groan from me. I rolled over to the other side of the bed and lay still, breathing quietly. A bitter taste coated my tongue. Too bitter. It was enough to force my eyes open.

I blinked at the room now flooded with sunlight and slowly sat up, resting against the headboard. Reaching for the glass of water on the nightstand, I took a long drink before closing my eyes again.

I was just about to lie back down when frantic knocking erupted at my door. At first, I ignored it. But the knocking didn't stop. Who the fuck is that? Already irritated, I got out of bed and marched toward the door. What the fuck? Didn't you notice I wasn't ready to open it?

I yanked the door open. Aiden stood there, breathing hard.

"Bro, what the fuck?" he blurted out. "You're still sleeping? Have you forgotten we have a flight to catch by nine?"

My stomach dropped. I had completely forgotten. Forgotten that I was leaving.

"Carlino..." His voice softened as though he was about to cry. "It's already eight."

"Give me a few minutes. I'll get dressed now."

"We have a meeting at three, man. We can't miss this flight," he pleaded.

"I said give me a few minutes, Aiden," I warned through gritted teeth.

He nodded immediately. "Okay. Just... be quick."

I stared at him like the nuisance he was until he finally walked away. Heading into the bathroom, I took a quick shower before changing into casual clothes, a pair of jeans and a hoodie. I pulled a face cap over my head, hiding my eyes from the world.

After grabbing my small travel bag, I gathered the rest of my belongings and tossed the remaining pills from yesterday into the dustbin.

As I walked out of the room, the thoughts started creeping back into my head. I'll probably never see my girls again. Maybe I would. But the chances were close to zero. A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I left the hotel. Outside, I found Aiden leaning against the car while talking on the phone.

"You're an incredible personal assistant," I teased.

"Oh, I know I am," he replied with a smirk before ending the call.

"Let's go."

We got into the car and drove off. A few minutes later, we stopped at a supermarket because Aiden wanted to buy a bottle of water. While he was inside, I stood beside the car watching the traffic pass by.

Then I saw it. A sleek black sedan car. From the distance, it looked painfully familiar. My chest tightened. There was no way I could mistake it. It belonged to Lina.

Instinctively, I slipped back into my own car, hoping she wouldn't notice me. The moment I shut the door, a loud screech tore through the air.

My head snapped up. A vehicle had flipped over on the road. My heart stopped. It was Lina's car. She... she had an acci—accident.

My heartbeat slammed against my ribs. It felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over me. I couldn't breathe. I didn't even realize I was running until my legs carried me across the road.

By the time I reached the wreckage, a crowd had already gathered around it. The vehicle was upside down. I rushed to the driver's side. Lina was unconscious. Blood covered her face. Blood soaked her hair. Her head looked badly injured.

"No, no, no..."

I grabbed the door handle and tried to pull it open, but it wouldn't budge. Without thinking, I drove my elbow through the shattered window, reached inside, and unlocked the door.

The second it swung open, Lina's body slipped out and hit the ground. Her hair was drenched in blood. Her face was covered in it too. I immediately gathered her into my arms and sprinted toward my car. Carefully placing her in the back seat, I slammed the door shut.

I turned around to find Aiden just emerging from the supermarket. "What the fuck?" His eyes widened, like his eyes were going to budge out of his eye socket. "Whose blood is that?"

"Lina's. She was in an accident."

"What?"

"I need to get her to a hospital. She's lost too much blood. Give me the keys. I'm driving."

Without hesitation, he tossed them to me, I caught the key mid-air. Within seconds, we were speeding toward the nearest hospital.

The moment we arrived, I rushed her inside. A doctor spotted us almost immediately and called for a stretcher. I laid her down as nurses wheeled her toward the ICU.

Then came the waiting.

I couldn't sit. Couldn't breathe properly. Couldn't even think straight. I just paced. Back and forth. How the fuck did that happen?

I turned sharply toward Aiden. "Aiden, go back there to that intersection and find the fucker who hit her. I want information within an hour."

"Carlino, we have a meeting at three. You already got her to the hospital. We should—"

I snapped. Grabbing him by the collar, I slammed him against the wall. "Don't test my fucking patience, Aiden." His eyes widened. "Don't forget," I growled, "I'm still your boss, and you're just an employee. Do what you're fucking told. My patience is wearing thin."

"I-I can't breathe," he choked out, desperately tapping my iron grip.

Only then did I realize how hard I was gripping him. Slowly, I released him. Taking a step back, I ran a hand through my hair, my expression dark. "Find out who did this." Without another word, I turned my back on him.