Chapter 67 The Vow
Serena's POV
I had nearly forgotten all about him. The events of the past few hours had clouded my mind.
But somehow, his text still sent shivers down my spine.
And the last time he texted me while I was in the air? Well, it's not something I would like to remember.
But I slowly tapped the message to open it up, reading it slowly.
“I hope you enjoyed your time in Peru.”
I read it again, and again. I couldn't tell why reading it infuriated me the way it did.
After all I've been through, it still has the audacity to ask me this.
I began pouring out my anger in my reply, calling it out for predicting shit for me and being the cause behind them, I even went as far calling him out for the attacks.
But just before I could send it, I had a second thought and erased it all, deciding to just reply with a simple, fine.
Few seconds later, it replied. “Watching you have to leave your aunty after just meeting her. And let's not talk about your mother.”
I wasn't even surprised again, I wasn't shocked it knew all that.
“What do you want? Have you not done enough?” I texted back.
It replied instantly. “I warned you not to board the jet, you didn't listen. I'm just here to sympathize with you.”
I texted back immediately. “Keep your sympathy, I don't need it. Fuck off already.”
A full minute passed without it replying, so I tossed my phone down and went back to sulking.
Another minute passed before my phone buzzed again. I picked it up and stared at the screen blankly.
“Whenever you need me, you know where to find me.”
Dante's POV
I had left where Serena was a while back and now sitting alone in the closest room to the cockpit.
Nico had been in the cockpit all along with the pilots.
I didn't feel like being around anyone again as I felt slightly guilty for what Serena was feeling.
I knew I showed little to no sympathy for what she was going through earlier, but that was cause of everything going on in my head back then.
I had to risk my life twice and all these while still having to worry about what was going on back at home.
It didn't help that Nico still held more news, I couldn't possibly take it back then and now? I just have to wait and see it for myself.
She should understand, and if she can't, then I don't need to be bothered, I said to myself as I got up.
I decided to go check on Vanessa. I knew we didn't get what we came all the way here for, but there's still a lot more we can do with her alive, than dead.
I made the short walk over to the infirmary. It was at the tail end of the jet, meaning I had to pass by the room Serena was in.
As I stopped in, she jerked up from where she was laying, but laid back when she noticed it was me without saying a word.
I walked through the room quickly, not looking her way again as I passed.
I stepped into the infirmary where three nurses were hanging around Vanessa. She was wide awake but laying still.
“How are you feeling?” I asked sharply as I reached where she laid.
It took her about a full minute to reply. “I've been better,” she muttered.
“Sounds like you are healing pretty quick,” I chimed in.
“If what I feel is healing, then I'm pretty fucked,” she replied, drawing a laugh from me.
She laughed too and when it died down, she looked serious again. “Since you got here, we haven't had the time to talk,” she said softly.
I got the point immediately and gestured towards the nurses. “Excuse us for a moment,” I said firmly.
They nodded and all stepped out, one after another. Then I took a step closer to her with my hands in my pocket.
“What do you want to talk about, Mrs. Marceti?” I asked as I pulled the chair by her side and sat down.
A full minute passed before she finally replied. “It's about my daughter, Serena,” she said.
I nodded my head, feeling I knew where this was heading towards already. “What about her,” I asked nonetheless.
She fell silent again, like she was arranging the words.
Then she finally replied. “Did she actually shoot Marco in the head?” She asked.
I smiled. “Yeah, she did.”
“Wow,” she muttered, staring at the ceiling like something new was there. “I never saw her to be the type,” she added.
I shrugged even though I knew she couldn't see it. “Being in affliction can change a person,” I muttered gently.
“You think it's for the good?” She asked.
I didn't know whether she meant to ask that or she was just being sarcastic.
And when she didn't say anything again, I decided to answer. “I believe she's learning fast,” I replied calmly.
She nodded, still staring at the ceiling. “And why did you save her?” She asked.
I leaned back on the chair casually. This was one of the questions I expected. “It was a mutually beneficial agreement,” I replied.
She coughed, causing me to sit straight before she calmed down. “Maria told me about that,” she said dryly. “But I want to know the real reason,” she added.
I nodded my head absently. “Nothing much, just decided to do so,” I replied shortly.
“Dante, I am Serena's mother, I think I deserve to know why you saved my daughter,” she said curtly.
I took a deep breath. “Marco supplied drugs to my casinos and hence was our relationship. He invited me to the wedding which I came pretty late, just in time to see everything,” I paused.
“And?” She cut in.
I nodded my head, deciding to tell her everything. “From where I was standing, I spotted the signs in the way she was twitching and looking around. I had a feeling she was going to do something and when I caught her hand movement, I went to where I expected her to be. And that's where I caught her,” I explained.
“Okay, but that's not what I wanted to hear. I want to hear why you saved her, not why,” she asked, not letting it drop.
I took a deep breath. “I saw something in her at that moment. I saw something in her eyes and I needed to see more,” I replied honestly.
“And how's that working out for you?” She asked in a tone that sounded more mocking than anything else.
I laughed, feeling she was referring to all the trouble that has come since then. “It's an adventure,” I replied with a smile.
She laughed, then tried to turn fully to me.
“Hey, take it easy on your leg,” I called out.
“I'm fine,” she said firmly as she turned.
“Dante,” she called out when she finally turned.
“Yeah?” I replied.
“I need a favour from you,” she started.
“Go on,” I replied.
“No. First, you must promise me that you'll do it,” she said quietly.
I smiled but it faded the moment I caught the look in her eyes.