Chapter 73 Making New Bonds
Serena's POV
I nearly ran down the remaining flight of stairs as our eyes met each other. With everything else that had happened, I had nearly forgotten how warm her eyes were.
She looked pretty strong from what I could see, and wasn't leaning on any stick or anything like that.
She looked happy and had that warm look in her eyes that pulled me in instantly.
I rushed down the steps, pushing past the crowd of men and running into her, capturing her in a hug.
“Oh wow, take it easy, Serena,” Valentina exclaimed as I hugged her tightly.
“It feels like it's been ages,” I muttered into her as she was slightly taller than me.
“Yes, my child. But you are hurting me,” she managed to say and I quickly jumped back, realizing just then that I had been squeezing her ribs.
“I'm so sorry, I forgot. Silly me,” I exclaimed as she reached out and grabbed my hand.
“It looks like someone missed me,” Valentina teased as she pulled me back to herself.
“Maybe,” I smirked as I put my hands around her gently this time around.
“How was your trip?” She asked as we began walking towards where Dante and his men were now.
“It was… eventful, that is to say the least,” I replied with a smile.
“A trip with Dante barely lacks excitement,” Valentina leaned down and whispered to me, pulling a chuckle from me.
“Tell me about it,” I said dramatically as we both laughed.
It's funny how she went from hating me to respecting me, and now? Now we are more like mother and daughter.
That reminds me. “Valentina, I've got to show you someone,” I said quickly, pulling her by the arm as I looked around for where my mother had been taken to. But I didn't spot her.
“If it's the woman on the stretcher,” Valentina started as she probably noticed my confusion. “Then she was wheeled into an ambulance straight from her and taken to one of Dante's hospitals,” she explained.
“Oh,” I replied absently.
“Yeah, arrangements were made before you guys landed, was told she needed just minor touches. What about her anyway?” Valentina asked.
“Oh nothing,” I replied, deciding to keep it as a surprise for now. “I just want you to meet her,” I added.
She raised a brow down at me. “Okay, if you say so,” she replied in a way I knew she wasn't convinced one bit. “We could go see her later in the day after you've showered, rested and eaten,” she added.
I nodded. “Yeah, we will,” I replied.
I had also forgotten that it was just the early hours of the morning and I hadn't slept all night.
We walked together into the small building and met up with Dante and his men.
“Let's go home,” Dante said to me directly as I reached where he was.
I simply nodded in response.
“Nico, you'll pick some men and go after Vanessa,” he said as he turned to Nico's direction. “You’ll take her to the safe house,” he added.
“No,” I cut in immediately, drawing in everyone's attention as their heads turned to me.
“No?” Dante asked skeptically.
“I mean, I want to do it. Like, I want to take her to the safe house,” I reaffirmed.
“How so?” Dante asked. “You don't even know any of the safe houses and you aren't allowed to go alone,” he added.
I wanted to show my displeasure at being treated like a child, but Valentina cut in before I could.
“I can go with her,” Valentina said.
“Wait wait wait. What's going on here?” Dante asked while shaking his head. “Look, I have a lot to deal with already, I can't be having this conversation,” he replied and turned to leave.
“They can come with me,” Nico said all of a sudden, taking probably all of us there by surprise.
“Really? You are in on this?” Dante asked as he too looked surprised.
Nico shrugged. “She wants to and I don't see any reason why she can't. I mean, she deserves it anyway,” he replied.
And that oddly felt pretty warm coming from him. He was the last person I expected that from at this moment.
“Wow,” Dante exclaimed.
“Valentina can tag along too. I don't need men to deliver her to the safe house, the less, the better,” Nico added.
Then again, I couldn't help but feel suspicious about the whole arrangement. I mean, why was he being so nice to me?
“Whatever, I need a break,” Dante replied and waved his hand in the air as he walked off.
I joined as did every other person but I kept itching to ask Nico what all that was about.
The chance didn't present itself and I found myself in the back seat of Dante's newest car on the ride back home.
We arrived not long afterwards and the penthouse hadn't changed the slightest while we were gone.
A part of me had expected to find it blown up or something, but pretty happy that's not the case.
We alighted the vehicles casually and Dante stayed back talking to some of the men there while I headed straight in with Valentina.
“Welcome, Mrs. Moretti,” the guard at the door greeted me as I entered. The same one I had flipped out on the other day.
I ignored his greeting though, partly because I was still angry with him. But also because of that name.
I hated it that they still referred to me with his name. I hated the fact that I still belonged to his family. Hearing that name reminds me of my past, it reminds me of all the reasons I did what I did to put myself in this situation.
“It's going to be fine,” Valentina said, pulling me from my thoughts.
I looked up to her and she was already smiling down at me. She then put a hand around my neck and drew me in.
It just felt like she knew what I had in mind and there was no need to say anything.
“Just go in and have a shower, change into something nice and your food will be brought to your room,” she whispered to me.
I nodded and peeled myself away from her and into the elevator.
I stood at the other end and just before the doors closed, Valentina flashed me a small grin and I smiled too.
Somewhere inside of me, I just had this feeling that Valentina had a huge role to play in my life, whether now or later.
I guess I just have to wait and see.