Page 16 of Alessia
“I’ve put undercover guards in Miss Davis’s life to make sure she stays safe.”
Gratitude swells in my chest. That’s why Elio is my righthand man, he always knows what to do without me asking.
“Don’t tear up. You’ll ruin your make up and seeing as the Dons are coming in today you need to look flawless.”
That helps to snap my mask back into place. Enough with the feelings for now. Those need to wait until another time, place or maybe even another millennium.
5
Harper
Last night was a nightmare. I wish I could look back on it and feel head over heels and butterflies and all that stuff but instead I feel like somebody punched me in the gut. I drag myself out of bed, not even bothering to look in the mirror. It’s my day off from work so I decide to be a couch potato today and wallow in self-pity.
I make myself coffee, grab my book off the table and make myself comfortable on the couch. Breakfast can wait. I start reading but the story can’t seem to hold my grip, after an hour I give up. My mind wanders off to last night and I hate it. I never want to see, hear or think about Alessia fucking DiSanti ever again. Maybe some fresh air will do me some good. I put on my sneakers and a vest, grab my keys and leave the apartment. I stroll through the neighborhood and smile at the kids playing on the street or the old people talking on the corners. This part of town is such a community; Everybody knows who’s who and there’s a kind of security in that.
I keep walking, lost in my own head until I find myself standing in front of the hospital. I look up at the building to the roof. The roof where I met Alessia yesterday.
My phone dings and I take it out of my pocket.
Alessia:
Don't do this...
Fuck her. I don’t want to see her or talk to her. I ignore the text and I need to put my mind on something else, I bet there’s a department where I can make myself useful. So, I walk into the hospital ready to go to work. I take the main elevator to the basement and walk through the hallway to the dressing room. I stop dead in my tracks when I spot Elio down the hall.What the hell is he doing here?I stomp up to him, getting angrier with every step. When I’m close, I shove him hard against his back and make him stumble.
“What the hell!” He whips around with a hand at his hip.
My eyes go wide. He straightens and looks at me with anger and pity. I don’t want his anger and I sure as hell don’t want his pity! I want him to come at me; I shove him again. His back now connects with the wall. I start slamming my fists into his chest and he just lets me. He doesn’t react. He doesn’t even defend himself.
When my punches lose their strength, Elio puts his arms around me and holds onto me tightly. I scream into his jacket. When my voice falters he lets me go and I take a step back.
“Are you okay there, little spitfire?” He asks.
I look up at him. Of course I’m not okay. I tried to beat the shit out of him. Emphasis on tried.
“No, I’m not and your bitch of a boss is the problem!”
“I get that, she drives me crazy as well, but she has her reasons.”
“Yeah, it would be great if she filled me in on those as well instead of kissing me senseless and then telling me she can’t tell me shit unless I’m her girlfriend. I’ve only known her for a day!” I’m yelling at him now.
Elio looks behind me and I turn around.
There she is.
