Chapter nine

“Is Don Rossi here?” The man is shivering wet and leaking a yellow substance from his eyes, cautiously taking a step back. I was seriously cursing my option of shorts and a tank top for pj’s. His leaking eyes were scanning me and everything in the hotel. “What do you need?” Glancing around the empty foyer the man shuffles out of the elevator into the foyer.

Arturo has dismissed his security team for the night, but I was not sure if he had returned to the hotel room. The man takes a step closer; fear starts to pool into my stomach like hot lava.

“Arturo!” the man starts to frantically search the draws of each table in the loft. My screams only intensify. “Arturo!”

“Shut up bitch!” He wraps a fistful of my hair in his dirty hands. “Where does he keep his shit?” Spit was flying passed the gaps of missing teeth, the teeth that did remain was rotted. The smell of death was punching me in the face and all I could do was gag.

“Let me go.” It was a struggle to push that passed the pain erupting in my scalp. The man pulls a pocket blade from the depths of his ragged jacket, clawing at his face, I dig my nails into his leaky eyes.

“Argh!” The cold floor is a painful relief, I pull as much fresh air into my lungs before stumbling to my feet, “Arturo!” I scream with the last bit of energy I have left; fear is exhausting. The pain in my head was starting to throb erratically as the man lunged towards me again.

The lamp is shoved to the floor in his advancements towards me and I am forced to crawl through the glass to keep away from his filthy hands. Crying out against the glass piercing through my skin like a hot knife through butter. My tears blur my vision and the man smears into the blurry mess.

“Who do you think you are? To invade my home, attack my Dona. Huh? have you no common sense?” Arturo’s blurry figure appeared behind the man; his gun pressed firmly to his temple. Quickly wiping away the tears, amber eyes connect with my brown owns. A ferocious look was swirling in Arturo’s eyes. The blade clattered to the floor. “Get on your knees.” The sickening sound of bone cracking resonated as Arturo forced the man down, I shuffled as fast as possible until my back hit the cold wall. Cradling my glass filled hand against my chest, my eyes tear up again as they connect with Arturo’s, I did not want this. I was supposed to be free, somewhere traveling the exotic places of the world not dealing drugs in them.

“Recognize your Dona, remember her face because this is going to be your face of reckoning.” With all his force Arturo smashes the butt of his gun into the back of the man’s skull, his body collapses on top of itself like a pile of rotted wood.

“Fiore.” My eyes have squeezed shut, forcing myself to exist anywhere but here, wanting to be swaying among the dandelions. Unintentionally I flinch against the sudden feel of cold hands against my cheeks. “Look at me.” His voice is scary soft, it

is almost impossible to imagine it coming from Arturo, that thought alone forces me to open my eyes.

Amber eyes pierce through me, striking something and I still, my breathing calms and I settle. “Are you okay?” Pain stings my arms and I wince and look down to examine but Arturo already has my arm in his hand. “Fuck.”

Briefly turning towards the intruder, he faces me somber, “I have to break our promise for a moment, ok?” I do not know why but I nod.

Arturo pulls his phone from his sweatpants and presses a single number before spewing angry Italian in the receiver. His face was red with irritation and veins were throbbing in the side of his neck, but the entire time my injured arm is cradled in his grasp he is gentle. It makes me stare as he yells angrily in his native tongue.

“We need to leave, but I need to fix your arm first. Can you walk?” he quickly examines my foot, I’m sure there in glass stabbing me in other places but the most pain and blood was coming from my arm. But he is looking at me for an answer, “I don’t think so, everything hurts.” Something dangerous flashes in the fiery pits of his hellish eyes, he does not respond, instead picks me as gentle as he held my arm and without hesitation, we enter the elevator and descend.