Page 57 of Alessia
18 - Alessia
One week ago…
WHERE IS SHE?” I scream across the venue. The music stops playing and people stop to look in my direction. Harper is gone, that asshole took her from me and I will burn the world to find her.
Lorenzo tries to calm me and Elio is already talking on the phone, barking out orders to whoever is on the other end of the line. Don Manchini walks over to me.
“What is going on?” His voice hushed as if he is trying to keep the drama to a minimum.
“Harper is missing.” Lorenzo answers.
“It’s not like she just wandered off Lorenzo, Gianni took her.” I huff.
“Gianni? Like Gianni Bianchi?” Manchini asks.
“Yes. Do you know him?” My tone is hopeful.
“Only by reputation, that man is a ghost. I’ve been searching for him for years.”
“Did you find anything useful?”
“Onlylittle breadcrumbs, the man is untraceable. Every lead I’ve had over the past decade is a dead end. He only lets me find what he wants me to find.”
I let my head hang and tears start to fall freely. It doesn’t matter who sees them anymore. It feels like my heart is shattered. How the hell am I going to find her if even Manchini doesn’t know where Gianni might be hiding.
“Elio, take me home.” Is all I say before I stand and walk towards the exit. I feel defeated and numb.
Back home I tear the dress from my body and fill the bath. The warm water envelops me, but the coldness is settled deep in my bones. I slip under the water in the hopes of drowning out the pain in my chest. It’s unbearable. I don’t know where to start looking for her, I don’t even know if she’s still alive. The stillness of the water helps me clear my mind; all I hear is the rush of blood in my ears.
My lungs start to burn from the lack of oxygen.
Just a little longer.
The pressure starts to build.
My body starts to resist my will to stay under but I fight it. Stars dance behind my eyelids.
Just a little longer.
All of a sudden, I feel hands grip me by my shoulders and they haul me out of the water.
“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING ALESSIA!” Elio yells at me.
“Just leave me the fuck alone!” I yell back.
