Chapter 13
One second, he was holding me and the next, his entire body went limp in my arms.
“Dante?” My voice barely came out, laced with confusion and panic. He was heavy, too heavy his weight nearly knocking me off balance. My knees buckled slightly as I struggled to keep him upright.
“Dante!” I tried again, my arms instinctively tightening around him.
There was no response.
I stumbled backward as his head dipped against my shoulder, his breath was warm but uneven.
Shit.
Gathering every ounce of strength I had, I shifted my hold and half–dragging and pushing him toward the bed. The moment his body hit the mattress, his head rolled to the side.
My chest heaved as I stood up, brushing damp strands of hair away from my face. My brows furrowed. He was passed out on my bed.
The first thought which crossed my mind was he must be drunk.
I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. It wouldn’t surprise me. Men like Dante drowned their demons in whiskey and violence. It had to be that.
But then i felt something warm, wet and sticky on my fingures. My breath caught in my throte, as i looked at my fingers, covered in thick crimson blood.
My stomach dropped.
Oh God.
My gaze snapped back to him, my heart hammering in my chest.
I rushed forward, my hands were shaking as I grabbed his shoulders and turned him onto his stomach. The back of his white shirt was covered in blood.
I called for the house maid Mrs Milly and immeditaly i heard the door to my room burst open again as she hurried inside. Her eyes darted between me and Dante, her expression shifting from confusion to`alarm in an instant.
“Oh my god, Miss Elara! Why are you in a towel and–w–what happened to the young master?”
I could barely form words, my chest rising and falling rapidly.
“I don’t know, Milly! He just w–walked in and collapsed in my arms. He’s bleeding so much!” My voice was shaky “We need to take him to a hospital!”
Milly took one look at Dante’s unconscious form and hurried forward. “Please, calm down, Miss Elara. And put some clothes on first.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she cut me off. “I’ll call the doctor.” With that, she turned and rushed out of the room.
I took deep, uneven breaths, forcing myself to move. I yanked open the dresser, grabbing the first clothes I could find, slipping them on quickly before rushing back to Dante’s side.
Moments later, Milly returned, phone in hand. “Miss Elara, Doctor Camillo wants to speak with you.”
I snatched the phone from her, my fingers trembling. “Hello?”
A deep voice responded immediately. “Miss Elara, I’m on my way. Can you check what’s causing Mr. Dante to bleed?”
My throat was dry, but I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “O–okay, wait, I’ll check.”
I turned to Milly. “Bring me a pair of scissors.”
She hurried out of the room and returned within seconds, placing them in my shaking hands. I passed the phone to her before turning my attention back to Dante.
Taking a deep breath, I carefully cut open his shirt, peeling away the blood–soaked fabric.
The second I saw it, my heart stopped.
A large piece of broken glass was embedded deep in his side.
Milly gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth. “Oh dear Lord….*
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10:02 AM
Chapter 13
The doctor’s voice crackled through the phone. “Hello? Is anyone there?”
Milly quickly spoke, her voice slightly unsteady. “Doctor, a large piece of glass has pierced Young Master’s back. That’s what’s causing the bleeding!
There was a beat of silence.
Then, Doctor Camillo’s voice came back, sharp “Listen carefully. You CANNOT pull it out. If the glass is deep, removing it the wrong way could cause more damage and severe blood loss. Apply pressure around the wound, but don’t touch the glass. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
I felt the color drain from my face.
Milly rushed to the dresser, grabbing fresh towels and kneeling beside me. “Here, Miss Elara. Use this!”
I took one from her hands and pressed it firmly against his side, just below the embedded glass. Blood soaked through instantly, but I kept the pressure steady.
Dante’s head twitched slightly. A small groan left his lips.
My breath caught. “Dante?”
Nothing.
swallowed down the lump of fear in my throat and tightened my grip on the towel.
Seconds passed into minutes.
Then the roar of an engine was heard near the masion as by head snapped toward milly.
She practically sprinted toward the door, throwing it open just as Doctor Camillo and two men in white coats stormed in.
The doctor took one glance at Dante’s condition and cursed. “Shit.”
One of his men pushed past me, opening a black medical kit, while the other immediately assessed Dante’s breathing.
Doctor Camillo turned to me, his voice urgent. “Miss step back.”
I hesitated but slowly pulled my hands away, my fingers sticky and coated in red.
4
I watched, my heart hammering in my chest, as the doctor and his team worked swiftly. Injecting something into his arm. Checking his pulse. Cleaning around the wound.
“Doctor Camillo is a Mafia doctor. He has treated much worse wounds than this on the Young Master’s body. So I am sure he will be fine, don’t worry,” Milly said, her voice calm despite the chaos.
Was I worried? maybe yes.
But why? I don’t know.
I looked down at Dante’s pale face. My hand was still covered in his blood I could still feel.
Why was my chest tightening every time I glance at his blood–soaked shirt?
Wasn’t this my perfect chance to get away from him?
He was vulnerable and Wounded.
I could run.
He wouldn’t be able to stop me.
I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening against my lap as I stared at the man who had turned my life into a nightmare.
Dante Romano.
My enemy. My kidnapper. The man who walked into my world, tore it apart, and claimed me like I was his to own.
I should leave.
1 should escape.
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