Chapter 72 Encrypted message
Madison's POV
Chaos
That was the only word I could use to describe everything that had been going on.
From the event to the buzzing netizen who wouldn't stop talking about us - about me.
Let us not even talk about how private numbers spammed my call log.
It was really creepy and it was getting me worked up. I felt like my private life was no longer private.
"Still reading?"
I looked up to meet Alessandro who had his eyebrow perched up. He looked simple and ravishing.
"I have my final paper in two days, so of course." I groaned, tearing my eyes away from him.
"School stuff. Can't relate." He said, his tone mocking.
I scoffed, flipping through the page.
My mind hadn't been at ease since I met Mrs. Salvatore. To think she knew my mother had me all curious.
"Maybe you should take a break. You don't seem like you understand what you're reading." Alessandro closed my book, his hands resting on the table as he looked down at me.
How could he even tell?
I sighed, rubbing my face harshly.
"Was it about the thief scandal? I noticed you were scared."
I chuckled lightly, remembering that day, "I mean, she was looking at me. I began to wonder what I had stolen."
"It's too bad that she'd have to suffer for her husband's sins. Maria is such an angel. I felt like she was also trying to ...help us get away?" Alessandro's forehead creased in confusion.
"Yeah." I said, staring blankly at the door.
She didn't want me to be there and it was obvious. Maybe that was why she rose such alarm?
Maria Salvatore.
Alessandro spun my chair around, turning my attention to him, "Don't I owe you for successful mission?"
I wasn't in the mood.
"I guess..." I trailed off, smiling awkwardly.
He paused halfway, his face inches away from mine. His eyes roamed around my face, piercing my eyes. "Are you good, Maddie? Is this about Santiago?"
His voice was hard, his eyes cold.
"Are you feeling bad for him? Like you've betrayed him?"
My eyelashes fluttered, my mouth falling open in shock. "Huh? What are you saying?"
He pulled back, taking a step away from me. "You tell me. Since we came back from that mission, you've been ....distant. You - just - Nevermind."
He rolled his eyes, turning away.
"Alessandro!" I stood up to follow him out but Dina blocked my path, shaking her head.
"I wouldn't advice that, Child."
I sighed, watching his retreating figure. My shoulder slumped.
"Are you good?"
I looked at her, shaking my head. "I'm not, Dina. I... I think Maria Salvatore knows about my mother and she was about to tell me before Alessandro showed up, claiming me as his fianceé."
"Yeah, that has been the talk of the town." She chuckled, taking me to sit down. She left to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water.
I thanked her, downing it's content slowly.
"I don't know what to do. I really want to find my mother. Russo offered me help -"
"Rus- Don't even think about it. Don't even let the Don hear you." She said in a hushed tone. "You can tell Alessandro about her, you know right? He'll help you."
"He will? I don't know about that. Wouldn't he think I want to go with her and turn it down?" I placed the cup on the table. "Besides, I don't want her involving herself in this... this world."
"Just tell Alessandro. He cares about you." Dina smiled sheepishly, like she knew something that I didn't.
"Okay. When he comes back."
My phone pinged. It was an encrypted message. It just appeared, lasted for 10 seconds and disappeared.
~ You want to know about Helen Turner's whereabout? Meet me in 20 minutes at the alley down Darius Kitchen.
My heart drummed fast in my chest. I stood up abruptly, staring at my blank screen.
"What is it?"
I raised my eyes up to meet Dina's eyes. A small, nervous smile on my lips. "I think Maria texted me."
"Huh? How? Where?" Dina tried to peep into my phone.
"It disappeared." It sounded stupid. Dina's facial expression corroborated my thought too.
"I'm going anyway. She gave me a location." I told her, turning around to pack my books.
"You can't do that. Look, why don't we tell Alessandro or Stefan about this and then..."
"No." I shook my head immediately, holding her hands delicately. "You can't tell anyone. I'll be back before you know it. Maria is harmless."
"It could be a trap, Madison. You are Alessandro's ally and there's -"
"She wouldn't lie to me. She looked genuine. I'm running out of time." I placed the books in Dina's hand instead. "Keep it safe for me. I'll be back very soon."
"Madison! Oh goodness, children these days do not ever listen." I heard Dina groan out loud.
My phone buzzed again. Another encrypted message.
~ Hurry up. I have 30 minutes before Ivano finds out that I'm gone.
Definitely Maria.
I smiled to myself. "Hey Jero. I ... I need to pick something from Adrianne real quick. Can I drive?"
He raised his eyebrow at me. "I can drive you."
"No!" I yelled almost immediately, startling him. "Uhhh... I mean, I can drive myself. I'll be back soon. I'll keep my location on, okay?"
"Do it now." He frowned, his face serious.
I rolled my eyes, turning on my location on my mobile devices. He fiddled with his phone and then nodded at me to go, handing over the keys to me.
"Thank you." I rushed into the car, speeding off.
I couldn't wait to hear about my mother's whereabout and how to locate her. I had a lot to ask her.
Like, why she left me all alone? Why she didn't bother to come back for me?
Lots of whys.
As I approached the pathway that led to Darius Kitchen, I turned off my location and then put my phone on Do Not Disturb.
My pulse quickened as I drove through the lonely road. Darius Kitchen was a local kitchen that was situated in a local area.
Why would she choose here?
Now how was I supposed to meet her? I didn't even have a number.
Oh Madison.
I came down anyway, making my way into the shop. An old man smiled up at me from the counter.
"Hi, how may I help you?"
My eyes scanned the place, looking for a certain gold haired woman. "I... I'm looking for -"
"Maria?" He asked, his voice hushed. "Back."
Huh?
Then I followed his eyes, taking note of the direction he was asking me to follow.
"Thank you so much." I told him, walking out of the shop and towards the back.
A cool breeze blew harshly past me, making my spine straighten. A strong smell of beer and smoke lingered in the air.
My pace began to slow down. An uneasy feeling settling in my stomach.
Something didn't seem right.
I shook my head, turning around only to feel a blunt, explosive pain by the side of my head.
My body felt limp and just like that, it fell to the cold, rough ground.
"Let's get her out of here before someone finds us."