Chapter 35 Lost her
Alessandro's POV
She was gone.
That was enough to jerk me up from the bed this morning.
I looked around the room, searching for her little self. Her side of the bed looked untouched or rather, unlaid.
If that was a word.
A soft sigh left my lips when my eyes settled on her later on. Apparently, she had slept on the chair at the balcony. She greeted me but that was just it. She wouldn't say anything to me or further any conversation.
Her replies were curt and they left me wanting her to say more.
I didn't like how her silence was making me feel so worked up.
"What time do we leave? Today is the third day." Madison asked, packing her hair up as she stared at herself in the mirror.
I glanced at her briefly and then at my phone.
"Are you mad at me?" I couldn't help but ask as I glared at the text message from the pilot.
She scoffed. "Why would that matter? I'm just your pet anyway."
I bit my lips, staring at her silently. Yeah, I figured the shift in her attitude. Hell, I knew what I said the previous night and in as much as I didn't flinch when I said it, it was the total opposite.
Inside, my chest burned after I had let those words slip out of my mouth. It took everything in me not to walk back there and clear up the air.
I just didn't want her to think in the wrong direction - of me; of us. I could never treat her right and she needed to know that.
I wasn't a good person and I didn't think I was good enough for her to want something from me. Something ...deep.
"My pilot is sick." I lied, texting him that we would leave tomorrow as I had something to do. His text earlier was him telling me the jet was ready.
"Oh." She pouted. "I'd be at the balcony then." She pointed, walking up to the nightstand. I placed my hand on hers, curling it around her wrist. "I just need my phone." She looked at me, her eyes soulless.
Fuck, no.
I was the only one allowed to have that look. She was usually the bright eyed, bubbly one who lit up the room with her presence and million dollar question. Not to talk of her melodious voice.
"Scratch that. We're seeing Florida." I stood up, not leaving her wrist. I pulled her close to me, her other hand landing on my chest for support.
"We're... We're going outside? Like outside this hotel? Me and you?" Those bright honey eyes were back. Her eyes lit up like I had just offered her candy.
She seemed to have forgotten her little anger. Now, that was my Madison.
"Lets go before I change my mind." I intertwined our fingers together, leading her out of the room.
"Is this some kind of sick joke?" She covered her face with her free hand when we entered the elevator.
"Maybe you'd confirm when we get to this park I have in mind." I told her, looking straight ahead.
I could feel the heat from her cheek. She must've been blushing hard.
"andiamo" I stepped out of the elevator, waiting for her.
"andiamo?" She raised her eyebrow at me, confused.
I pinched my nose, cussing myself for using Italian. "Shit" I held the elevator from closing, using my other hand to pull her out.
"Sorry, I didn't understand that." She laughed nervously.
"It meant, let's go." I explained, lacing our fingers together.
I couldn't risk letting her slip out of my side. Not by chance.
"Are you trying to make me feel better?" She asked when we had gotten into the car. I had cars and houses wherever I did business.
The reason we stayed in a hotel was because the house was under renovation.
"You know I don't do that, Raven." I smirked at her, not wanting to admit.
"Hmmm" She shrugged, her hands dropping to my thigh. "I don't believe you though."
I bit back my smile, facing the road to distract myself from furthering conversations with her. I felt she'd see through my lies if I continued to talk or entertain her.
"Don?" She called out to me, softly.
I knew it was another of her million dollar questions. I wasn't complaining though.
I asked for it anyway.
"If you have so much money then why'd you pay for one room?"
I swallowed hard. I didn't know what to say.
"You'd say it's for me to entertain you but nothing would've changed if we had separate rooms." She added.
"I didn't want us to stay in separate rooms." I said truthfully. "Besides, you needed me. I thought you said I made you feel safe?"
Her lips curled up into a soft, tender smile. "So it's safe the Don cared about my safety."
"Its my duty."
"That's nice of you." The way she looked at me - like I was some fucking saviour who had rescued her from something. Like I was her knight in a shinning armour.
But I wasn't. I was far from it.
She wasn't going to make me feel otherwise.
"Your perception of me is -"
Her index fingers found my lips immediately, cutting me off as she made a soft "Shhh" sound.
I stared into her eyes. It pulled me in little by little. I was drowning in them when the car jerked, pushing her body into mine.
"I'm sorry, Don." The driver apologized immediately, looking at us
I would've snapped at him if I wasn't so concerned about Madison. Her hair covered her face.
"Are you okay?" I looked at her face. I knew my chest were hard and her body was the opposite - soft and tender.
"Yeah!" She smiled up at me, arranging her hair.
I cupped her cheek, leaning forward. She didn't move back or flinch as she held my gaze, her eyes anticipating as it flamed up with - want.
She wanted me just as I wanted her.
My lips pressed against hers softly before I could stop myself. Her eyes were shut, her lips puckered out. She wanted more and so did I.
But i couldn't give it to her.
"I am not a nice person, Raven. You should run." I told her, my words soft.
"I try to but I end up coming back." Her thumb grazed my cheek.
I jerked back, pulling away from her burning touch. If she spoke to me like that, looked at me like that and touched me like that -
I was afraid she was building another monster.
"Looks like we're here." I pressed my lips into a thin line, going down first.
I needed to breathe for a while.
She joined me down and we made our way to where the games were. I paid and watched her play, smiling and laughing like she had no damn problems.
Apparently, she didn't have any.
Only looking at her was enough for me. It made my heart light. Then I figured out -
Her smile gave me a fresh breath of life.
Fuck.
I turned away, answering my phone call. I had tried to ignore it thrice but it seemed as though it was urgent.
After I was done with the call, I turned back only to find Madison gone.
Merda.
"Where's she?" I asked the only guard that stepped out with me. He raised his eyebrow at me in confusion, telling me all I needed to know.
He wasn't paying attention to her.
"Idiota." I spat, pushing through the crowd of persons as I looked for a certain black haired, 5 foot 8 inches girl.
I should never have turned my back. Fuck, I should've put my phone of DND (Do Not Disturb)
My blood already boiled from impatience as every girl with black hair I spun, turned out to be someone different.
I had lost her.
My head spun. My thoughts scattered. My breath ragged as I tried to find a rhythm.
I caught another jet black hair but she wasn't alone, the large hand wrapped around her shoulder possessively. Without thinking, I pulled her only to meet a different face.
"Madison." I called, turning round at a spot. My eyes were beginning to feel dizzy until I heard her sweet voice.
"Alessandro!" And then she crashed into me, wrapping her hands around my torso.
My breathing steadied bit by bit as I clutched my hands around her, tightly.
"Fucking hell, Raven. I turn my back away for a split second and you were gone?" I brushed my hand down her head.
She finally pulled away, pointing at someone. "He was helping me find you."
My whole spine ran cold and stiff when my eyes landed on the familiar ones.
"Alessandro Bianchi." He growled.
"Russo Vladimir." I hid Madison behind my back, eyeing him.
He was the leader of North Coast Mafia. My biggest rival.
A dirty smirk appeared on his lips as he looked at Madison.
"How much would you sell this one?"