Chapter 41 Service Door
Alessia POV
The moment Alex steps out of the room I feel like all the warmth has gone with him. I shiver, hugging myself tight, and I switch on the television as a telenovela plays softly on the screen. My mind goes back to replay his last words.
“I will order a masseuse and room service for you.” He pauses. “She will come in through the service door. Her name is Sierra. Lock this door and only open it for me…”
His voice was low and firm, not leaving any chance to be disobeyed. So I listened to him and stayed in the room.
My legs were still a bit wobbly from all of today’s activities.
The alley, the goons showing up unexpected, Alex saving me and killing them. The choice he snatched from me a few minutes ago. Dios mio, what a day. I sit on the bed gingerly, trying to calm my thoughts, watching the television for lack of anything better to do and occasionally staring at the door he used to leave.
How was he able to go into warrior mode so easily, especially the way his shoulders stiffened when Lucas said it’s urgent. Sighing, I rest my head on the headboard. I am still trying and failing to calm my own body and mind.
My mind is telling me that whoever is here is not a welcome guest. And before I could go deeper into it, a soft knock echoes from the service door to interrupt my musings.
I take a deep breath and exhale.
That’s the door Alex indicated the masseuse would use.
“It must be her… Sierra,” I whisper to myself. Getting off the bed slowly, I walk to the door. Checking the peephole, I see a middle-aged auburn-haired lady wearing a white uniform with the hotel name inscribed on it, holding a trolley. While I am watching her she knocks again.
“Signorina, my name is Sierra. Signor Ferrini sent me with your dinner and your spa service. May I come in?”
Relief fills me immediately. I wanted her to introduce herself first. I open the door and step to the side, giving her a small smile.
“Yes, Sierra, you may enter.”
She rolls the trolley in with covered plates and towels, a massage kit hanging from her shoulder.
She curtsied.
“Good evening, Signora. Your food is here. Will you like to eat first while I get the massage oils ready?”
I stare into her grey eyes and I find nothing but warmth. My shoulders finally relax.
“Yes, I will. Thank you, Sierra.”
She gives me a soft smile while opening the plates. Soon the room is filled with the aroma of the various Italian delicacies laid in front of me. I am sure Alex chose all of this. They look like meals he will pick. Delicious, savoury, and expensive.
“Signorina, eat your food while it’s still hot, then come and lay on the bed for your massage. It’s been a long night, yes?”
I swallow hard and nod at her, thinking to myself, you don’t even know how close to the truth your statement is.
A very long one.
“I will arrange the oils. Enjoy your meal.” She steps towards the bed while I pick up cutlery and start eating.
After eating, the room is relaxed and everything feels quiet and calm. I am sipping my drink and about to head to the bed…
But then I hear a loud thud noise echoing from the main hall.
Me and Sierra freeze.
Sierra looks towards the door, then shrugs, continuing to arrange the towels on the bed.
“It must be some drunk tenants. The hotel is at full capacity tonight,” she whispers, although I notice fear flicker in her eyes for a moment.
I sit back down in the chair for a moment, silent, listening carefully.
Again , I hear another distinct noise, a voice raised, but it’s muffled due to the distance and soundproof walls. My stomach twists in knots.
What exactly are the men doing out there?
Why is Alex not back?
I pick up my water, draining my glass, my hands trembling as I return it to the tray. My nerves shot all of a sudden.
I hear raised voices again faintly through the walls. Not loud enough to make out what was being said, but sharp enough to make my pulse rate skyrocket.
I gulp hard, whispering loudly to myself:
“I do hope everything is okay out there.”
The masseuse pauses. It’s obvious she has been warned to be professional and do her job quietly.
“I am certain Signor Ferrini has it covered,” she answers softly. “He will keep us safe.”
Indeed, I know he will do his best to keep us safe, but that doesn’t stop my chest from filling with dread.
I get up reluctantly, taking my clothes off and leaving them in a pile on the chair. I climb the bed, laying on my stomach. She rubs hot oil on her palms and starts the massage. I try to enjoy it. Trying not to count the minutes since he left.
Again I hear angry voices this time Alex’s distinct voice mixed with a stranger’s muffled voice then they are quiet.
Eerily quiet.
Sighing, I curl my fingers around the edge of the bedsheets. Whatever it is that is going on out there, I pray he makes it out alive for all our sakes.
Sierra, that loud thud we heard what could it have been? I ask her as she works magic on my shoulders, working out all the kinks and knots.
“I heard it too, Signorina,” she replies quietly, reaching for another oil on the bedside, “but don’t worry, Signorina.”
I snort. “It’s hard not to worry.”
She sighs softly. “Signor Ferrini is not the kind of man to lose his temper easily. If someone fell, then they probably deserved it.”
My pulse speeds up at her implication.
“Someone deserved it, really?”
“Yes, Signorina. It’s a warning. He is issuing a power statement.”
I whisper, “Are you sure I shouldn’t be worried?”
She pauses for a moment, then continues the massage. “Only if he is injured.”
Fear raises its ugly head again, and I ask, “What if he is already hurt?”
She moves towards the console slowly, and I follow her with my eyes.
“Then the night just became something else entirely.”