Chapter 80 Hiring an Assassin
The sticky, warm sensation of blood still lingered on my fingertips as I turned to look at Santos, taking a moment to process what he'd said.
His face was twisted with rage, his eyes full of resentment.
Brian let out a scornful laugh. "So you're saying this is all Bella's fault?"
Santos swallowed hard. If he answered "yes," Brian would definitely teach him a lesson!
I turned my head and said, "Cole."
Cole bent slightly toward me. "At your service."
I glanced at Santos. "Make him shut up."
"Yes!"
Cole walked over and landed a clean punch on Santos's face. The crisp sound of impact exploded in the deathly silent corridor.
Santos's head snapped to the side, blood immediately seeping from the corner of his mouth. Cole didn't give him a chance to react, grabbing his collar and slamming him hard against the wall. "Know your place. You have no right to speak to Ms. Sorelli like that!"
Adrian added, "Good dogs know when to keep their mouths shut."
Veins bulged at Santos's temple as he swung his fist back in fury, only to be easily subdued by Cole.
He shot a sideways glance at Alfred, who stood rigidly guarding the operating room entrance. "Alfred! Mr. Valeri is still lying in the operating room, yet you let others humiliate his subordinate. You don't deserve to be Mr. Valeri's most important assistant!"
Brian laughed. "He doesn't deserve it? And you do?"
Just then, Alfred's phone rang. He answered, said a few words, then the usually stoic Alfred turned and walked toward Santos and Cole.
Cole watched him warily. Alfred, seemingly oblivious to Cole's hostility, grabbed Santos by the collar and yanked him away, twisting Santos's arm. A crisp crack—the bone dislocated.
Santos's scream had barely left his throat when Alfred stuffed his mouth with a small iron ball covered in spikes, like a sea urchin—a torture device typically used only on enemies or official members who had made serious mistakes.
Alfred let go, and Santos collapsed to the floor, curling up in agony, his face as white as paper.
"My apologies that our internal matters have troubled you." Alfred turned to Brian and me. "I'll discipline him."
Brian snorted but didn't make things difficult for him, only warning, "If he dares say one more bad word about Bella, I'll make sure he shuts up permanently."
Just then, the sound of something heavy being dragged across the floor came from the other end of the corridor.
Two Soldati under Alfred's command dragged over two semi-conscious assassins, leaving several dark red bloodstains on the floor.
"After preliminary interrogation, we know who hired them," Alfred said.
One Soldato slapped one of the assassins on the head. The man opened his mouth, blood foam sliding down the corner of his lips, and said unclearly, "It was a young lady from the Gambino family."
Santos's head shot up, his face full of disbelief.
"Is her name Amelia?" I couldn't think of anyone else besides Amelia.
And Amelia's appearance on Whisperwind Isle clearly wasn't just to create a chance encounter!
The assassin was forced to his knees, head pressed to the ground. "We don't know for sure. The job was anonymous. We were told to kill Isabella for three million dollars, and if we destroyed Isabella's body, another two million."
"Damn it!" Brian pointed at the two assassins. "These two are mine."
Alfred nodded compliantly. The assassins had targeted me, and he'd already gotten what he needed from the interrogation—no need to hold onto them.
Brian had someone take the two assassins away. He was eager to deal with this matter and looked at me hesitantly.
I shook my head. "Brian, I'm waiting here until Lucas comes out."
For once, Brian didn't object. He just told Cole and Adrian to take good care of me, then hurried out of the hospital.
I don't know how long passed before the red light above the operating room finally went out.
The doctor came out, removed his mask, and said in a relaxed tone, "The surgery was successful. The bullet has been removed and didn't hit any vital organs. With proper rest and recovery, he'll be fine. Fortunately, the bleeding was stopped in time. May I ask what medication you used on him?"
My taut nerves suddenly relaxed. Without answering the doctor's question, my attention was completely drawn to Lucas on the gurney.
He had IV tubes attached to him, his brow slightly furrowed. Without his usual coldness, he looked somewhat vulnerable.
I watched him for a while, then left before he woke up.
My feelings were complicated.
I had already decided to have nothing more to do with him in this lifetime, but he had taken a bullet for me. Now there was no way to say who owed whom more.
Perhaps we were destined to be entangled for the rest of our lives.
The next day, I went to the hospital to visit Lucas.
It was the same private hospital as last time, but on a higher floor, in a more spacious and comfortable private room.
Alfred was guarding the door. He looked happy to see me. "Mrs. Valeri, good morning."
I paused mid-step. "Alfred, Lucas, and I are already divorced."
Alfred scratched his head. "I'm used to it. Hard to change the habit right away."
"How is Lucas?" I asked.
"Mr. Valeri's condition isn't great. He's particularly weak." Alfred said somewhat uncomfortably. He quickly pulled the door open. "Please go in."
I walked into the room and found Lucas sleeping. I instinctively lightened my steps.
Sunlight slanted in through the blinds, casting dappled light and shadow across the pale bedding. Lucas's brow was slightly furrowed, as if disturbed by the sunlight. I adjusted the blinds to narrow the gaps, then walked to the bedside and touched his hand that was receiving the IV.
Generally, the hand with the IV needle would be colder. I hesitated for a moment, then held Lucas's hand in both of mine, using my body heat to warm him.
Lucas's fingers curled in my palm. His eyelashes fluttered lightly, and I quickly placed his hand back under the covers.
He slowly opened his eyes. My reflection appeared in his dark pupils. His furrowed brow relaxed, and his voice was slightly hoarse. "You came."
"We were husband and wife once, after all. And you were injured saving me. If I didn't come, I'd seem too cold," I said.
Lucas's just-relaxed brow furrowed again, then, as if thinking of something, he said, "Don't pay attention to what Santos said. I've already ordered him expelled from Starstream City."
Just expelling him from the Northern District wasn't enough. Letting him wander outside the Northern District might lead to him seeking revenge on me, so Lucas simply drove Santos out of Starstream City altogether.
I knew Lucas did this for me.
But I felt confused. Was he doing all this because he loved me, or because he considered me his possession and wouldn't allow others to damage it?
Lucas propped himself up to sit, pulling at his wound. He let out a muffled groan.
I snapped back to reality, my gaze falling on his pajama top with only three buttons fastened. Through the open collar, I could see a large area of bandages. The wound I had inflicted on him had already scabbed over, and the newly grown pink skin was very thin, particularly noticeable against his honey-colored chest.
"I'm turning into a mummy." Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on Lucas's forehead. He made a joke, but I couldn't laugh.
"About the assassins' employer, Alfred already told me." Before Lucas could finish, there was a commotion at the door, and a sharp, familiar female voice was demanding to see Lucas.
Lucas clicked his tongue in annoyance.
I suddenly wanted to tease him and asked mockingly, "Do you need me to leave?"
Lucas glared at me irritably, grabbed my hand, and called out loudly for Alfred to let her in.
The hospital room door was pushed open forcefully.
Amelia rushed in. "Lucas, you have to believe me—those assassins have nothing to do with me!"