Chapter 87 Safe

Chapter 87 Safe
The silence between us is deafening. After my sudden breakdown, I can only lie in Dante's arms in silence. Not a single word has left my lips since we lie here in my bed. Just when I thought everything was going well with Dante, I fucked it up. It's like my own thoughts are sabotaging me from doing what I really want. Am I really traumatised after what happened with Paolo? I feel like I don't most of the time, but when it's time to get intimate, the memories come rushing back to me. First, it was with Antonio, and now it's also happening with Dante, too. Perhaps even though I've tried to forget everything, what happened still stays in my subconscious, never leaves my mind.

"I'm sorry," I say, fiddling with his shirt.

The way Dante grabs my hand and holds it in his still doesn't calm me down. Focusing on the present moment is a difficult task when the image of Paolo appears in my mind over and over again. Until now, Paolo was the one who almost did it to me. The others tried, but never to the point of drugging me and making me physically weak and disoriented. If it weren't for one of his sane friends, Tomasso, Paolo would've ruined me back then, leaving a much worse mental scar inside me.

"Don't say that. Tell me what's wrong. Did I do something wrong?" Dante says.

I shake my head, still avoiding Dante's gaze. My eyes water and my vision blurs as the memory constantly replays itself in my mind. The way Paolo was standing over me, his hands against my skin, the lust in his eyes. I can see it all despite the drug effects on me. Closing my eyes only makes it even clearer, more real, as if that exact night is happening right now.

"It's not you. It's Paolo. It felt like that night happened again. It was him that I saw in front of me, not you. He looked so real," I say.

As tears fall from my eyes, my grip on Dante's shirt only tightens as I remember that night in full detail. That night, Paolo was holding a party just like he always did at his house. Everyone was so drunk and high, dancing and making out everywhere they wanted. I didn't even drink anything with alcohol in it, but Paolo managed to put some drugs into my drink. Minutes later, I felt dizzy. I could barely stand on my two feet. It was like everything around me was spinning. Paolo then led me into his bedroom and laid me down on the bed.

I tried to scream, but it felt as though my whole body was paralysed. Paolo was already on top of me when Tomasso pulled him away from me. I continued to lie there, not able to move, while Tomasso beat the shit out of Paolo. The altercation happened so quickly. Not long after, Tomasso carried me out of the bedroom and drove me home. He explained everything to my father, and that was when the engagement was finally cancelled.

I wonder where Tomasso is now. After that night, he came back the next day to check on me, and we never met again. He was such a nice guy. After that night, he even ended his friendship with Paolo, despite having been friends since middle school. I'm glad a guy like him exists and was there that night to save me.

"It's okay now. I'm here. You're safe now. I won't let him near you ever again," Dante says. I sniffle, nodding slowly while I keep my head on his chest. I know he's telling the truth, not just something to calm me down, and I'm glad he said it.

"Thank you. I swear I want it, but my mind played a trick on me," I say, sniffling again as I rub my snotty nose. Dante sighs, rubbing my head softly.

"No need to explain it. I understand. I think it's better if we take things slower, don't you think? Accidentally hurting you is not something I want to happen," Dante says.

"You're right, I guess," I say with a frown.

There's no denying that I want to do it with Dante. If it weren't for that asshole Paolo, I would be in Dante's arms in a different way. Other than that, I wouldn't be crying on Dante's chest over the stupid thing Paolo did to me back then. Ugh, if only I could erase that memory- wait. Maybe just maybe all I need is a hypnosis. That would work to help me forget something, right?

"Good," Dante says.

As we lie there together, I focus my mind on Dante's presence and gentle touch. Without long, my breathing and heartbeat are in sync with Dante's. His slow breathing and steady heartbeat hypnotise me, soothing me even more. Sighing, I move closer to Dante despite the non-existent distance between us. His arms pull me even closer, holding me against his body. Without long, my body finally relaxes, and my anxiety clears up. My eyes begin to feel heavier, shutting themselves close even when I try to stay awake. The sudden jerk of my whole body wakes me up from my microsleep.

"Are you okay?" Dante asks, looking at me, and I look back at him, nodding sleepily.

"Yeah. Just a little sleepy," I say.

"Sleep. I'll stay here," Dante says.

"Okay."

I put my head over Dante's chest again, listening to his heartbeat as I feel the slow rise and fall of his chest. A loud sound wakes me up from my drowsiness. I stare at Dante and then at the door. Both of us pull ourselves to sit and listen to the commotion outside my room. There is shouting and countless gunshots coming from outside.

What's going on outside? Why are there so many gunshots? Who's outside? Are we getting attacked now? By who?

"Ale, get up," Dante says, pulling me out of bed. He then ushers me into the walk-in closet, standing in the doorway with a strict look in his eyes. This is the most serious I've seen Dante. Well, the current predicament we're in is serious. I can't believe we're actually being attacked in our own house. Who actually dares to do this?

"Stay here. Don't come out until it's safe. Call your father now," Dante says, handing me my phone. I take it from him, and before I can say anything, Dante shuts the door in my face.

Fuck. What should I do now? Right. I need to call my father first.

I dial my father's number and wait for him to pick up the call. After a few seconds, I finally hear his voice. The gunshots can still be heard from the outside. From how it sounds, no one has broken into my room just yet. I hope Dante's okay.

"Sandra? What's going on? Is that a gunshot I hear?" my father says.

"Yes. Someone broke in. I don't know who," I say.

"Hide and stay wherever you are. I'll get a backup for you," my father says.

"Okay."

I stay in the small room. Searching through my bags, I finally find the gun Antonio gave me. I check the ammunition, and it's fully loaded. I stay hidden behind the drawer, gun ready to shoot whoever walks into the room. I hope everyone is okay, and the intruder won't get to Dante and me and everyone else.