Chapter 60 DAMN EVERYTHING.
\~~~RAINA.
I stared at the wall clock for what felt like the hundredth time and then shook my head slowly.
It was 11:17 p.m.
It was unlike Luciano to arrive this late. Very unlike him. He was a man of routine, and control. If he was not home by ten, he probably wasn’t coming home again.
It was not even like he would place a call through if he was spending the night out or even the whole month.
He does whatever he likes, that shithead.
I had been waiting in our room for over an hour, pacing, sitting, standing, and sitting again. When the silence became too unbearable, I finally gave up and walked into the living room. I turned on the television, more for noise than interest, and sank into the couch.
Two hours ago, that person had called again.
My chest tightened just thinking about it.
“This is a lot,” I had said, my voice barely steady. “And it requires effort. You know that. Can you give me till tomorrow? And… what exactly is this file about?”
“When you are ready,” they replied calmly, “you will know.”
Then the line went dead.
I picked up my phone again, turning it over in my hands.
Should I just call him?
The thought annoyed me immediately.
No. He would probably get all smug and high, thinking I had missed him or that I was worried. I hissed softly and dropped the phone back onto the couch.
Even though I was waiting for him, I still didn’t know what I would say when he finally walked in.
Would I tell him the truth?
Or would I keep lying?
I needed to come to a conclusion this minute.
With a tired sigh, I finally stood up.
‘Whatever.’ I reached for the remote to turn off the TV…
But then, the door suddenly pushed open.
I startled, my heart leaping, and Luciano walked in.
I exhaled in relief, already opening my mouth to speak when Viktor’s voice cut through the room.
“You should listen to me. You always act too tough.”
My brows knitted together in confusion.
“What… what is going on?” I asked, moving closer.
Viktor and Gabriel followed Luciano inside, their expressions tight. But the moment my eyes dropped to Luciano, my breath left me in a sharp gasp.
His shirt was soaked with blood.
“What happened?!” I rushed forward instinctively.
“Why are you still up?” Luciano asked calmly, like nothing was wrong.
Like he wasn’t bleeding.
One hand pressed lightly against his stomach, and my own stomach twisted painfully in response.
“What happened?” I asked again, my voice shaking.
“You should go to bed,” he said, brushing past me.
“Luciano!” I shouted.
He didn’t stop.
I spun around to face Viktor and Gabriel. “What happened to him?!”
Viktor rubbed his forehead, muttering a curse under his breath.
“I asked a question!” I snapped.
“H… he sustained an injury,” Gabriel said carefully.
“I can see that,” I shot back. “How did it happen? Was there an accident?”
“He was stabbed,” Viktor said bluntly.
My hand flew to my mouth.
“Stabbed? Oh my God!” My voice broke. “How…?”
“It seems deep,” he added, “but he is refusing to go to the hospital.”
I stared at them in disbelief. “And you just let him?!”
“You are acting like you don’t know him, madam,” Gabriel sighed.
“I will talk to him,” I said firmly.
“He won’t listen,” Gabriel replied. “He hates hospitals.”
“And you think this is better?!” I yelled, tears finally spilling. “Just letting him bleed out?!”
I didn’t wait for an answer. I turned around and ran upstairs.
By the time I reached the room, Luciano was already shirtless. A towel was pressed against his side, now stained red. He sat on the edge of the bed like this was just another night.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
“Don’t mind me,” he said calmly. “Go to sleep.”
There was not a single trace of pain on his face.
“You should be in a hospital,” I said. “You are bleeding badly.”
“I am fine,” he replied. “I can handle this.”
“Fine is everything you are not! You cannot handle this!”
“Fuck,” he snapped suddenly. “Can you just go to sleep and stop being a nuisance tonight?”
I froze.
A nuisance?
Anger rushed through me, hot and sharp.
How could I be worried about a man who clearly didn’t care whether he lived or died?
“Fine!” I shouted. “Die from blood loss for all I care. Or infection. That is your problem!”
“Goodnight, Talia,” he said flatly.
“Asshole!” I hissed, marching to my side of the bed.
I climbed under the duvet and pulled it over my head, covering myself completely. I lay there, stiff and angry, my chest rising too fast.
What an idiot.
Is it fun being in pain that much?
How could he not even show that he is hurt?
Stupid.
I lay there for what seemed like eternity, even though it was probably only seconds that had passed, or minutes.
I opened my eyes gently, my thoughts screaming.
Damn him. Damn everything.
Suddenly, I threw the duvet off and sat up.
“Fuck it,” I muttered.
I got out of bed and stormed out of the room. I rushed down to the kitchen and grabbed the first aid box from the cabinet, my hands shaking.
I opened it and checked if everything I knew I could need was intact, bandages, antiseptic, gauze…
Yeah, this will do.
I grabbed everything I could.
When I returned to the room, I dropped the box on the table with a loud thud.
Luciano looked up sharply. “What are you doing?”
“Listen,” I said, stepping toward him, “You better let me have my way right now, or I will take advantage of that wound and kill you myself. Tonight.”
He stared at me for a long second.
Then, surprisingly, he smirked.
“You are threatening me now?”
“Yes,” I said through clenched teeth. “So, stay still.”