12. Adriana

Chapter twelve

Adriana

I grimace at the familiar smell of hospitals. It makes me sick.

Daniel got to us just in time to drive Alessandro to the hospital. His eyes are still shut but he's alive.

I haven't been this happy in a long time. Hearing the doctor say he would be alright made my heart leap.

I had been crying all the way here. I hate to admit it but I was really scared when he closed his eyes and stopped talking to me. I thought I had lost him. I wouldn't have forgiven Father if I had.

I stare at the curve of his lips, his untrimmed hair and his chiseled jaws. He still manages to look damn perfect right now.

I trace my fingers on the tattoo on his arm. It's written in Italian.

" Niente dura per sempre (Nothing lasts forever)," I whisper, trailing my fingers on every letter. I lace my other fingers with his.

"You must be Adriana," a feminine voice says from behind me as the room's door opens.

I turn to see who it is. A female replica of Alessandro. "I'm his mother."

I gasp, standing to my feet. She has beautiful, long brown hair styled in a sleek bun. Her eyes are just as gray as his. She smiles at me.

"Oh… sorry, I didn't realize you were his mother."

"Oh, tesoro (darling), it's fine. I should be thanking you," she says with a hug as she kisses me on both cheeks. I soak in her sweet smell. Vanilla.

She is dressed in a red slim-fit dress with black heels. It's almost too hard to believe she is actually his mother.

"It's so nice to finally meet you…" I say.

"Ginerva. I never knew Manny had such a beautiful daughter. Alessandro is really lucky to have you." She takes my hand and squeezes gently.

I let go of Alessandro and make way for her to sit beside him on the bed. She stares at him and tucks some strands of his hair away from his face.

"Mi bambino (My child)." His mother kisses him on the forehead and holds his hand.

"Thank you so much, Adriana. Daniel told me it was because of you he could save him."

"He would have done the same for me."

I wrap my arms around myself. My eyes hurt from lack of sleep. I stayed awake all night to watch him.

"You should get some rest now. I'll take over from here."

I want to tell her I'd rather stay here and be with him than go back to my father. But I don't; I nod instead. "Thank you, Ginerva."

"I'll tell him you were here," she says.

I unwrap my arms with a low sigh. She smiles at me once more as I turn to leave the room. Every part of me doesn't want to go.

I walk out of the room with my eyes fixed on the tiled floors before I do something stupid and talk myself into staying.

What we have isn't real anyway. I shouldn't care this much. But… I do. I do so damn much. And the thought of losing him felt like the worst pain ever.

Get over it, Adriana!

"Adriana?" Someone calls just as I step out of the room. I raise my head to see who it is.

"Daniel." He introduces himself for the first time.

He walks closer to me. "You're leaving already?"

His hair is in a low bun. He has a pretty face that's almost distracting.

"Alessandro's mom is here," I reply.

His eyes look tired. "Do you have any place to go? I could drop you off."

I shake my head in response. "No, it's fine. I'll find my way."

"Are you sure? Alessandro would want me to keep you safe," he says, concerned. He tucks his fingers into his pocket.

"I can take care of myself. You should get some rest."

He clenches his jaws and nods. He grabs a pen and a piece of paper from the small table between the seats in the hallway and scribbles something down.

"Be careful and call me if you need anything," he says, handing the small piece of paper to me.

I grab it and see his name and number written on it.

"You sound just like Alessandro." I smile, leaving him on the spot.

I walk out of the hospital, welcoming the cool morning air.

Knowing what I need to do next, I stop a cab. I never knew Father could be so cruel.

"Where, miss?" the driver asks.

I open the back door and slide in the back seat.

"Canal Street."

He looks at me through the rearview mirror and nods.

I take out my phone from my pocket as he begins to drive. Beatrice has replied to my text. She's home with Father. Just what I need.

I get out of the cab, and stare at the black gate in front of me as he zooms off. It has been the same ever since I was little.

Beatrice opens the gate for me just in time. I had texted her earlier that I was coming over to the house.

Her face is full of worry as she approaches me and pulls me into a hug.

The guards are standing in their positions, fully armed.

"I need to do this, Beatrice," I whisper in her ears. She squeezes me tighter.

"Please be careful. Gabriele is here."

I force a smile, rehearsing the words in my head.

We walk to the front door. Gabriele is standing right there. His green shirt is neatly tucked in his black pants.

"Beatrice," he says as she walks over to plant a kiss on his lips.

"Adriana," he nods.

"Lovely to see you again, Gabriele," I smile.

I let out a deep sigh as I stare at the front door. I haven't stood up to Father in a long time now.

I stare at Beatrice for a moment before moving closer to the door. I unlock it before she tries to talk me out of it and stroll into the living room.

Father is by the bar with a glass in his hand. My eyes turn to the clock. It's only nine o'clock in the morning and he's already drunk.

"Look at who we have here. The prodigal daughter finally returns." He has a big white shirt on with fitted black pants.

"I know it was you, Papa," I say, walking closer to him.

He takes a sip of his drink, keeping his eyes on me.

"Why would you do that to him, Papa? You had a fucking deal." My voice is louder now. I can't hold myself any longer from yelling at him.

"I have no idea what you're saying, Adriana."

I scoff, shaking my head in disappointment. "Why did Yuri show up at his house and try to kill him? Answer me!"

"I said I have no fucking idea what you're talking about," he yells. Then smashes the glass on the floor.

"Tell me you didn't order them to follow us? To kill Alessandro after he had agreed to help you."

Father closes the gap between us and grips my jaw tightly. He squeezes harder and harder until it hurts.

"Father," Beatrice calls.

"Learn how to talk to me and when to keep your mouth shut."

I don't recognize him anymore. He releases my jaw sharply.

"I wish it was you. I wish my mother was still here, and you had died instead."

He slaps me hard in the face.

Beatrice gasps, watching the impact. My cheek stings with pain. I hold back my tears.

"Ungrateful brat," he growls.

"I'm going to tell him—everyone—that it was you. You tried to kill Alessandro even though you made a deal!"

I run out of the living room to my room. Beatrice follows behind me as I slam the door shut.

"I despise him! I fucking despise him so much." I pace the room with my blood boiling in anger. I scream at the top of my lungs.

"Calm down, Adriana. Listen to me."

"You don't know how it feels, Beatrice. You have no fucking idea." I point to her.

"You think I don't?" She raises her voice to match my yells.

"You don't. You're just his little pawn. His perfect daughter."

Beatrice stares at me with tears forming in her eyes. I want to take my words back. I'm such a fucking idiot.

"Beatrice," I say calmly.

"Don't." She pauses. "You think I'm okay being here? You think I want any of this? Every night I cry myself to sleep thinking about you and Mother. I've sacrificed so much for you and Father. I'm such a fool."

She walks out of my room hurriedly, slamming the door shut.

I try to run after her but I'm stopped by my father's men by the door. They grip my arm and push me back into my room.

Fuck no.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"Teaching you a lesson, Adriana." My father shows himself by the door.

"Lock her up," he commands.

"No! No! Papa, no!" I scream. I struggle to set myself free from their tight grip. But they are much stronger than I am.

I hear the lock click twice as I run to the door. It's locked. I pull harder. It's fucking locked.

"Let me out of here!" I grip the knob tighter, pulling harder to free myself.

"Let me the fuck out of here!"

No one answers.

"Father, please. Beatrice," I scream. "Somebody help!" I choke on my tears, falling miserably to the ground.

"Let me out of here," I cry. I crawl to the dressing table and scatter my things on it, tossing them aggressively to the floor.

"Arghhhh!" I take my shoes and smash on the mirror.

I ignore my ringing phone and smash it on the ground. I hate him. I scream as I further smash my dressing mirror with my shoe. A couple of glass shards fall to the table, while others fall to the ground.

"I'll fucking kill myself." I take a large-sized shard and slit both my wrists, screaming. Blood gushes from the wounds.

I hear my father yelling outside. He is yelling at Beatrice.

I fall to the ground, surrounded by my own blood. My eyes flutter as I slowly lose consciousness.

"Aless-" I murmur as I fall asleep.

I see my mother standing in front of me. It's a blurry image. She isn't the only one holding me. I hear faint screams but I don't see anyone anymore. I give in to the pull and shut my eyes. I am so much calmer now.

***

"Ah!" I groan. My head hurts badly. It stings even more as I try to move.

"Adriana."

I blink my eyes open. I can't see clearly but I can recognize that voice. It's Beatrice.

"Beatrice?" I squeeze my eyes shut and try to open them again. I see her this time. Her eyebrows are curled inward as she stares at me. Her eyes are full of worry.

"You scared me, Adriana," she whispers. Her hair is in a mess. I try to move my arms but I feel restricted by excruciating pain.

"Ouch!" I moan.

"Don't move."

I look at my arms. My wrists are wrapped in bandages. A needle is inserted in my arm.

"Where am I?" I ask, looking around.

"The hospital. You tried to kill yourself."

I turn to see two of my father's men by the door. I swallow hard, almost hating that I survived.

"I don't want to go back there, Beatrice. I hate him."

Beatrice sighs heavily, turning to glance at the men by the door. She bends closer, takes some hair across my face and tucks the strands behind my ear.

I recall how much I messed up and said nasty things to her.

"I'm so sorry, Beatrice. I didn't mean those words." A teardrop slides down toward my ear. Beatrice wipes it off with the tip of her finger.

"I'm not letting you go back there," she whispers to me.

Father's eyes meet mine as he stands in front of the door. His face is drawn together in a frown. I turn to the other side, tears rolling down my cheeks.

Alessandro isn't saving me this time.