Chapter 20 Alone
Serena's POV
It's so bright, where am I? Heaven? Everything feels so warm and soft. I guess this is the afterlife they spoke about.
My eyes fluttered open slowly, but the light stung my already watery eyes. I squeezed them shut again, lifting a hand to block them from the wicked lights. "So bright," I muttered out loud.
I peeked around bit by bit. Where I was had white walls, beeping machines, that particular smell of drugs that hit so hard. "Heaven looks, and smells a lot like a hospital," I wondered aloud.
My head turned to the left and I caught the sight of a man sitting not too far from where I laid. I couldn't tell who he was at first cause his head was resting on the table and he looked to be asleep as his body rose and fell calmly.
I peered closer and the figure took shape in my eyes. Those huge shoulders and large hands. Then that particular styled hair, Dante. He was fast asleep though. My heart skipped for a split second. "Dante in heaven? When did he die?"
But the heavy drug smell came back stronger, smelled so much like antiseptics. That particular hospital stench. I looked around one more time, and sure enough, I wasn't in heaven.
The room had IV stands and monitors that kept beeping softly. I traced one of the lines coming from the machine and realized I was hooked to one too. I was really in the hospital.
I closed my eyes, trying to gather my thoughts together and remember how I got here. I thought hard but nothing came back, then pieces of memory flashed before me. The attack, the guns, the men. The fight between those creeps and I, my small pocket knife I always kept on.
I pushed harder. Then I remembered Valentina, I remembered dragging her to hide. Then... the blow. The one that sent me falling.
The right side of my face stung and I lifted my hand to feel it, tracing what felt like a scar on my cheek. That's going to stink.
Tiny fragments came flooding back, but these ones were different. They felt distant, like I was hearing them from afar. I saw no faces, just their voices and sounds. And it came with a throbbing headache.
I heard the sound of a gunshot followed by Dante's voice cursing some vile sounding words in Italian. He sounded really angry.
Then I heard his voice again, suddenly soft and close to my ear. "Hold on, piccola. We'll get you some help."
I couldn't tell what exactly was happening but it all seemed like I was moving, then I heard another small voice in the midst of all the loud muffled voices. It was still his, whispering to me. "I never should've used you as bait."
Bait? My stomach twisted, then the headache grew worse, now hammering my head.
"Arghh," I groaned aloud, rubbing my head as it felt so heavy.
I heard Dante stirring from beside me and I turned, only to catch his head snapping up. His eyes met mine for a brief second before rushing over to my side. "Serena? You're awake."
"Yeah," I croaked out as my head still hurt.
He grabbed my hand with one hand while the other one checked my forehead, then my arms, like he was examining me or something. "You okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Tell me."
"I'm fine, Dante. Just feeling sore."
He didn't stop though. He lifted the blanket gently and scanned my legs, pressing my sides carefully. "Any pain? Head? Gut?" He asked then turned my face gently to look at the place that stung me earlier.
"Dante, stop. I'm fine," I said again.
"This still looks bad," he continued, staring at my face.
"Yeah, it hurts slightly but feels like it's healing, I'll be fine," I replied again.
Dante exhaled deeply then sat down on the edge of the bed before rubbing his head with his hands. "You scared the shit out of me."
"What happened?" I asked, trying to sit up.
Dante stretched out his hands to stop me. "No, you need to rest."
"I'm fine, Dante," I said again, pulling myself up slightly and he raised the pillow just enough for me to lean on while I sat up. "Thank you," I offered and he nodded in response.
He looked away, shaking his head slightly and running a hand over his hair, actually messing it up this time. "I'm sorry. Should never have dragged you into this mess."
"What mess, Dante?" I asked.
"Everything that happened."
"What happened, Dante?" I asked again, needing to know in detail.
He nodded. "The Romanos were the ones that attacked at first while the guys you took down were Marco's men. After you blacked out, we cleaned up everything and got you here as fast as we could. We had you cleaned up, and checked for concussion."
I touched my head, just now noticing the bandage around the top of my head. "And the others?"
"They've been handled." He replied, squeezing my hand softly. "I'll never let anyone touch you again. I promise."
"I can take care of myself," I replied.
Dante smiled. "Yes, you can. You did great yesterday, but see where it got you."
Ouch. I managed a weak smile at that. "Hey! Are you mocking me now?"
Dante laughed softly. "No way. You killed those bastards and saved Valentina. That's badass, piccola."
I shrugged, but inside I was melting fast. "Had to."
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. "Rest up, Piccola."
"Wait—the bait thing. What was that?"
He tensed up and pulled back slowly. "How did you—"
"Tell me," I cut in.
He sighed. "Fine. Nico rushed you out 'cause I told him to. We got an intel that the Romanos and Marco's guys teamed up. We needed to confirm this by drawing them out, and that's where you came in."
Wow. I actually felt hurt. "So you used me as bait? Without telling me?"
"Thought it'd be quick. Safe," he explained in a heavy voice. "But it was stupid, risky."
I sank back, feeling hurt. "Yeah. It was."
He stood up and adjusted his jacket. "From now on, you're my little secret. No more risks."
I looked up, not wanting to say a word. I just nodded.
"Rest up. I'll check back later," I heard him say before I heard his footsteps leaving and the door closing behind him.
I exhaled slowly, feeling tears threatening behind my eyes. I was still a toy to him, nothing more. Just someone he could use to satisfy himself when he needed and throw around at his will.
I was at the brink of tears when I heard a soft groan from beside me. I wasn't alone.