Chapter 38 Life and Death
Chapter 38 Life and Death
I walked into the hall, my chest heavy from all I had just said and my mind wandering back to how Dante must be faring “He’ll be doing fine—I know he will, I’m just a girl he toyed with” I mumbled under my breath as I made my way past the counter and straight for my room.
“Welcome miss Thompson” I heard from behind, but I didn’t care, I muttered a little ‘thank you’ taking up the keycard and placing it for an entry. I needed to sleep, maybe it’ll help me forget about him, for the mean time.
I took off my shoes as quickly as I could and went into the bathroom for a hot bath. Letting the water wash my skin felt heavenly. I slipped into my robe and leaped onto the bed, clutching onto one of the pillows, I smiled, but his face shone right in my face.
“No, no, no” I tossed and turned to no avail, I couldn’t sleep “is he okay? How’s his hand? What’s happening?!” I kept thinking, chewing on my nails, fidgeting and turning until my phone rung. I looked at it—an unknown caller. A smile formed on my lips, it might just be him, then I paused, hesitation creeped in, what if he’s the one who called, that just means that I’ve been waiting for his call. But then, it might be urgent.
“Oh fck it!” I exclaimed as I took up the call “Hello—who is this?”
“Miss Lily” the low feminine voice quivered as she spoke, it sounded familiar “It’s Casperall” she added, I held the phone to my ear some more.
“Cas—what happened?” I exclaimed, getting out of bed. There was a bit of sobbing. What’s happening? Is he destroying things at the mansion? Or worse? Trying to kill them?
“What happened?!” I asked again as the sobbing continued
“Miss Lily—he has refused to go to the doctor and worse—he has more than those wounds on his body—there’s a gun shot wound on his abdomen and he’s bleeding” my breath hitched. Suddenly, I remembered what Claire had said about him being a target, I rushed out to the closet, grabbing a set of jogger pants and a shirt with the phone next to my ear.
“So what’s happening now? Have you called a doctor?” I asked as I closed my door, her voice quivered through the phone. It was so unlikely to have her cry and wail on the phone, especially to me.
“He’s refused to see a doctor—he’s really adamant about it, we’ve done all that we can, he doesn’t budge” she continued. I rushed through down the stairs and past the counter, placing the keycard in my bag and heading outside when I bumped into a figure. I quickly pulled back.
“So sorry” I mumbled, not looking at his face but down at the things that fell, I tried to pick them up when I noticed a picture that looked weird.
“No—thanks, no need to help me” I stared down at the picture and then back at him and then muttered a little “I’m so sorry” before running out and waving down a cab.
“Please go faster sir” I said to the driver as I clasped my hands together in prayer. I and Dante may have had our differences but if something happens to him, I might just totally lose it. So I clutched onto my phone as the driver pressed onto the accelerator.
Hang on Dante—I’m on my way
“What happened?” I asked the moment I stepped foot in the house, moving past the guards as quickly as I could, my slippers feeling sloppy. Casperall came from behind, her face pale with worry. I placed my hands on her shoulders as I let her narrate the events.
“He’s in his room—he won’t let anyone take a look at him” she complained. I walked over to his room with worry and anger. Was he going to make me come all the way here to beg him to see a doctor like he’s some child.
“Open this door Dante!” I yelled the moment I stood right outside his room, knocking angrily as I tried to make him listen. He wasn’t going to die—at least not on my watch.
“Dante Moretti—open this damn door!” I yelled angrily, knocking even harder when the door creeped open, there was a man in white, his hands on the door.
“Can you reduce the banging sis?” He asked with a low tone, letting the door open “It’s hurting my ears and I can’t work” he complained.
“Caleb!” I exclaimed, a smile on my lips “What are you doing here?” I muttered as I noticed a bandaged Dante sit up comfortably on the pillow.
“Amorino?” He asked, suprise in his tone as he tried to stand. Caleb rushed to his aid, helping him up
“Will it kill you to stay still? I just did that” he said, referring to the bandage around his body. I stared at everyone, I looked back to Casperall who had a light smile on her face, making me question what had just happened.
“What’s going on?” I turned to her as she placed her hands in front of her, the smile still vivid on her lips. There was something off. “What’s happening? Cas?!” I yelled almost moved to anger. There was no way she played a prank call on me, that wouldn’t be something adults do to other adults.
“I knew you couldn’t be apart from him—and you’d be miserable, maybe just a little without him, I mean, look at the bags under your eyes” she explained. I stared at her with widened eyes. She just cost me an emotional rollercoaster, I thought Dante would die and he was shot.
“You put her up to this?” I asked him angrily, almost losing my temper, he didn’t answer, just a candid stare.
“He didn’t know I called you—I actually wouldn’t last a day without you miss Lily” she said, rushing to embrace me, I placed my hand between us.
“You called me here and it’s all a joke?” I paused, heaving a heavy breath “Why would you even do that?!” The anger in my voice heightened “I had a long day at work—” I looked at my phone “It’s already eleven pm and thought it wise to call me from a stressful time after work and for what?”
“Please don’t attack her” he groaned. I turned to him, Caleb stood by his side and he seemed to struggle to move. My anger quickly melted when I saw the blood on his hand. The bandages still hadn’t stopped the bleeding.
“Think about yourself first—you’re still bleeding” I rushed to his side as Caleb placed a hand on my shoulder.
“He’ll be fine—I already made necessary arrangements, he’s fine, really” I lowered my gaze as I let out a sigh of relief, holding onto his hand. “I’ll be taking my leave now” he added, heading for the door. Casperall followed right behind him, showing him the way out.
“How did you reach out to my brother so quickly?” I asked as let go of his hand, clearing my throat and wiping the tears on my face with the back of my hand as I looked away. He wasn’t meant to see me break down for his sake.
“We’ve been in touch ever since we met at the hospital and so I called him to come here instead of going to the hospital” he paused, took a deep breath “It’s dangerous for me to be there right now” he added. I turned back to look at him.
“That means what Claire said was true” I blurted out, quickly throwing my palm over my mouth to muffle my words but it was too late. He held onto my wrist.
“What did she tell you?” He asked with a stern expression on his face. I hesitated and then exhaled heavily, turning to him.
“She said that you’re a target and you’ve been considered weak—I actually don’t understand what that means but is that why you refused to go to the hospital?”
“I don’t know why she’s dragging you into this—it’ll be fine Amorino, it’s okay”
“It’s not okay—you held a knife for my sake, you’ve gotten injured because of me and you can’t even go to the hospital, it’s all my fault—that’s why we should be apart”
“Is that your reason? Because of me?” He cupped my face in his hand “You’re all that I need Amorino—not the status or the title or anything, I’ve come to love you so much and nothing can make me stop loving you—you’re everything that I need” a tear trickled down my cheek, his soft baritone and melted my defenses and I let my face get caressed by his skin.
“But I’m so inexperienced—I’m new to it all”
“It doesn’t matter Amorino, I can teach you everything you want to know, I’m here for you so please don’t go” he pleaded, I let his eyes look down at my lips and then back at me “I love you” he muttered as he pressed his lips onto mine, my insides having a familiar fire ignite, I wanted to continue so hard but this—this is a path I must take.
I pulled away “I’m relieved that you’re fine—but I have to go” I let go of his hand before he tried to pull “Lily—ple—please don’t g—” but his eyes closed. I guess he was strong enough to fight off the sleeping pill Caleb had hinted to have given him.
“Goodnight my love” I mumbled as I sat in the back of the car heading back to my hotel room, I needed the rest as well.
The moment I opened the door to my room, I had a sniff of a funny smell—it smelt wrong, burnt “what is that?” I mumbled under my breath as I took out my slippers and headed in. It was a red light coming from the room—a blaze. I rushed to the door, trying to pry it open. The door didn’t budge.
“What the—”
“Someone help—there’s a fire!” I yelled at the top of my lungs feeling the smoke seep into my nostrils “Please—he—help” I coughed.
Is this how I lose it all? My life—my love?