Chapter 12 Friend or Foe (2)
Alessia’s POV
As I sit with my legs folded, a yawn escapes my mouth. Exhaustion bears down on me hard, and I feel as if I haven’t slept in days.
Oh Dios, why me? As I ponder over all the things that have happened in the last 24 hrs, I hear my name, and I freeze. Someone is calling my name and running up the stairs. The sound of the feet grows louder as it reaches the first floor and moves towards the rooms.
My heart starts beating erratic in my chest.
Who is it?
Should I hide?
Or stay where I am?
I cannot decide, and my wrists are still bound so tightly. I move my legs to the ground and get off the bed, looking around the room for a good hiding spot and finding none.
Oh Dios, I make a quick decision to hide behind the wall next to the room door.
I don’t recognize the voice. It is not Alex.
“Where is Alex?” I whisper as I hear a loud crash.
A door is opened not far from mine, and it makes me leap, nearly losing my footing and falling on the ground. I look around the room, but there is nothing I can use to defend myself, plus I can’t even hold anything with my wrists bound.
Drat that Alex.
I curse under my breath, remaining in my hiding place, pressing myself flat against the wall. Maybe if I stay hidden, he will not notice me.
I hear another crash, and this time it’s my door. He slams it so hard an art frame falls down and breaks into pieces. I flinch at the sound.
Oh Dios, protect me.
“Alessia!” the man calls, breathless from running up the stairs.
I remain behind the wall, pressing myself further in, my whole body trembling with fear. He enters into my room and walks around the bed. His eyes are looking everywhere.I cannot trust him; he is a stranger to me.
“Alessia!” he calls my name again, this time around a bit softer. He walks to the bathroom door and knocks, hears no response.
Before I can decide if I should show myself or remain hiding, I hear another pair of footsteps coming in, and Alex’s frame appears.
I sigh in relief, seeing a face that I recognize.
“Stop shouting .” Alex’s tone is cold and impatient. He enters the room with Andre at his side. He turns around and finds me immediately. His jaw clenches as he notices how well I have hidden behind the door. Alex grabs the door and closes it softly, pulling me out from my hiding place.
“Are you satisfied? Will you stop shouting now?” he asks the man called Luca. I look at him. He is about Alex's height but his features are fair as opposed to Alex's dark features .
Luca turns to him, anger filling his voice as his eyes fall on my bound wrists.
“Alex, come on, those are too tight! She is bruising!”
“She will be fine,” Alex mutters, dismissing Luca’s concerns. He moves me towards the bed and sits me on it gently.
“Really, Alex?” Luca explodes, his anger rising like a tidal wave. “You shouldn’t treat her this way. Unbind her, please.”
Alex’s lips stretch into a thin smile, and he mutters, “Luca, this does not concern you.”
“I am like a brother to you. I won’t steer you wrong, Alex,” his voice softens for a moment. “Release her.”
Andre clears his throat. “Alexander, this is wrong. She is innocent until proven otherwise.”
I keep my eyes down as they discuss me as if I am not in the room.
I don’t want to beg him; I also don’t want to cry, but the pain in my wrists is getting worse every second that passes. I blink back my tears furiously.
I can feel Alex’s eyes on me, and I raise my head to meet his.
“It’s okay. I will unbind her,” he says, walking towards me and sitting on the bed. He removes a small knife from his pocket, and my heart races. I move away from him.
“Alex, don’t wound her!”
Luca warns, his voice sharp.
Alex looks at him and then slices the binds quickly.
I rub my wrists together, I hiss in pain as air touches my bruised skin.
Luca comes towards me, raising my hands to check my wounds. His fingers brush over my wrists softly with a tenderness I did not expect .
“Alex, look at what you have done to a harmless little woman.”
“Luca, that’s enough,” Alex growls, his voice low.
Andre steps forward, looking at Alex.
“He is right, Alex. You could have handled this differently. This is cruel.”
Alex’s jaw flexes, but he doesn’t meet Andre’s eyes. He looks at the carpet like a child that feels guilty but won’t admit it.
If I wasn’t in so much pain, I would find it amusing.
“Lucia will get the first aid box and attend to her wounds,” Andre says, turning to go.
“I will fetch her now, and she will be with you shortly.”
I hold my wrists close to my chest, looking down, not wanting them to see the pain in my eyes. Luca stays by my side, protecting me. He fixes his friend with a glare.
“Alex, do not do this again, or else I swear on all I hold dear you will-”
“I will what?” Alex snaps, moving to the single chair and sitting down.
“This is my casa.My prisoner.My rules.”
“She is not a criminal! You should not torture her!” Luca shouts back, his hand forming tight fists at his side.
“Stop arguing, the two of you,” Andre barks, walking back into the room. Both men glare at each other but say nothing.
“Lucia is on her way up, Alessia. Excuse the grouchy bears,” Andre tells me softly, and I give him a small smile. “Thank you, Andre.”
He nods his head and settles into the chair opposite Alex, while Luca remains seated on the bed near me.
The room is silent, everyone is lost in their own thoughts, my heart is struggling to return to normal as a loud shrill sound interrupts the silence.
Ring ring ring.
Alex’s phone continues to buzz loudly in his jacket. We all stare at him, waiting for him to pick up. He reaches into his pocket, his expression blank.
As he looks at the screen, his jaw tightens, and my heart sinks. I know that look. Another problem !
What is it now?
No one says a word as we continue to watch him. He stares at the phone for a few minutes and mutters one word that sums it all. It’s definitely not a courtesy call, and as his thumb hovers over the answer button, he whispers one word
“Minchia !”