Chapter 10 Allegra
ALLEGRA
"Couldn't you have come a minute earlier?" I mutter under my breath. If I'd known I wouldn't die, no way would I have succumbed to the wiles of the devil. I sneak a glance at him and find him smiling, his expression full of satisfaction.
Then it dawns on me.
"You knew. You saw them, didn't you? You saw them coming, that's why…" That's why he kissed me.
A rage unlike anything I've ever experienced envelops my body, making all the ice melt away.
"You!" I grit my teeth, and I have to contain my anger. I'd like nothing better than to throw him overboard again, but seeing as I can barely function without the heating blanket wrapped around me, I settle for baring my teeth at him. "You deceived me."
"Did I? You were all too willing to kiss me. I must say, little tigress, you taste sweeter than I imagined." There's a smugness to him, and I wish I could wipe that stupid grin off his face.
"And you…" I sputter, suddenly out of smart retorts.
I'm having some serious brain freeze, and I don't know if it's from the cold or from his goddamn poisonous lips.
"You're vile, Enzo Agosti. And I hope your lips shrivel up and die.
Who knows where else you've put them." I make a disgusted face as I wipe my own lips with the back of my hand.
Yes, it might have been acceptable to give my first kiss to the only person available before my death. But since I'm very much alive, and might be for many years to come, I will not forgive this slight.
"Easy, cara, you might just sound jealous." He chuckles, further fueling my inner flames.
Yes, we're making fire all right, and one of us will get burned.
Not me, of course.
We're rushed to the hospital and the doctors on duty tell us we're incredibly lucky.
A little longer in the chilly water and we would have gone into dangerous hypothermia territory.
Since I'm smaller, my condition seems to be slightly worse than Enzo's.
We both get hooked up to IVs to warm up our blood, and I don't know what connections Enzo has, but we're put in a private room.
"I almost died twice because of you," I mumble, staring down at the needle sticking in my skin. I've never had an IV before, never even been rushed to an emergency room. In that regard, you could say I'm having a lot of firsts because of Enzo, all of them unpleasant.
You liked that kiss.
Yeah, maybe I did. But only when I thought I was dying. Now I'm convinced it was nothing but my inaccurate perception at the time.
"You're welcome." He has the gall to smirk at me, and I don't even think as I lunge for him. Taking my IV bag with me, I make a feeble attempt to punch him. He catches my fist in his palm, a cunning smile playing at his lips.
"Now, little tigress," he pulls me closer until our faces are millimeters apart, "you hit, I hit back." Our eyes meet for a second, the challenge clear. Then he pushes me back and ignores me.
I huff out loud. If he's going to pretend I don't exist, then I will do the same. It's not too long after that a nurse comes to remove our IVs and we are soon discharged.
Since I don't plan to spend another moment in his presence, I don't even look back as I leave, making it only to the entrance of the hospital before realizing my current reality.
I'm in a foreign country. With no money. And I don't speak the language.
"You're quick to get rid of me, aren't you?" I hear the voice I've come to dread from behind me.
I give him a fierce look and continue to walk. I've had enough of him to last me a lifetime.
"How do you plan on getting back home with no money?" he shouts at me, and I clench my fists in fury.
Well, whose fault is it that I don't have any money?
"As if you can help me. You don't have any money either." I turn around, crossing my arms over my chest and raising an eyebrow at him.
We're in the same boat right now, as ironic as that might sound. And while my own helplessness is making me panic, the fact that he is facing the same troubles is a small satisfaction.
I start to turn again when a car stops right in front of us. A man dressed in all black opens the driver's door and addresses Enzo.
"Signor Agosti," he says with a bow, opening the passenger door so he can climb in. My eyes widen a little as I watch the exchange.
"What's it going to be, little tigress? Are you going to let me give you a ride to the port, or will you stubbornly try to do it yourself, which, might I add, will not work?" he asks, an amused expression on his face.
I don't answer his taunt; instead, I climb into the car next to him.
I might be petty, but even I know when to concede defeat. I need him to get to the ferry terminal, and he knows it.
The car stops when we reach the port, and Enzo stuffs some money into my hand as I'm about to leave.
"For the ticket." I just nod, pocketing the money.
After all, it's the least he can do.
We look at each other for a second.
"I hope I never see you again."
"Ditto." He lifts two fingers to his forehead in a salute, and I hop out. I don't look back as I head straight for the ticketing booth.
The sound of screeching tires alerts me to his departure, and for the first time, I breathe out in relief.
Or not.
The next ferry leaves in two hours. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. The clock in the waiting room tells me it's almost morning, and the sun is about to rise.
Lord, what am I going to do?
I'm doomed. I know it. I may not have died in the sea, but my luck will run out.
For a brief moment, I contemplate running away. What if I just don't go home?
But I can't. Not only do I have nowhere else to go, but I know Lia will be the one to pay if I don't return. I'd rather take the punishment myself than have anything happen to her.
Sighing, I try to take my mind off it. Either my parents or Franzè is going to make sure I'm put in my place. Now, as to what that entails…
I shake my head, forcing myself to put those thoughts aside. It won't do any good to dwell on the inevitable.
And then there's Enzo—that goddamn devil who proved to me why the world isn't a safe place for a girl like me. He'd sought to take advantage of me at every turn. That I got away with my virtue intact is astounding, all things considered.
There had been a moment, when he'd cut the shirt off my body, that I'd feared the worst. I acted foolishly, but I defended myself the only way I knew how—by taking control of my own death.
I get angrier the more I think about him and the mess he dragged me into. Better to kick him out of my head too. It's not like we're ever going to see each other again.
The waiting room is an enclosed space near the docks, and I can see the boats from my seat. I'm getting sleepy, but I don't trust myself to wake up in time for the ferry, so I force my eyes open.
I start watching the people come and go, and soon, an hour has already passed.
Suddenly, I flinch awake, and blinking twice, I will my eyes to stay open.
No! I fell asleep.
Turning toward the clock, I breathe a sigh of relief when I see that my ferry hasn't departed. I stand up and stretch, ready to go to the docks.
Just then, four men in black suits enter the room. All of them are wearing dark sunglasses, which is odd considering the sun's not fully out yet. I shrug and start to move past them.
I'm passing by when one of them grabs my arm, thrusting me back forcefully.
"You're sure it's her?" one man asks, taking off his glasses and perusing me from head to toe.
"Yes. She was the one shooting at us." He nods at the others, and they quickly grab my hands.
I start struggling and kicking my legs around, hoping to hit them and make them let me go.
"Little bitch." A palm connects with my cheek, and I reel back, my vision swimming.
It's them…the people who were after Enzo.
"Take her. She might be of use later." He turns his back, leaving two men behind to drag me out.
"I'm calling dibs," the brute holding onto my arm says, turning his face toward me, a grin that shows rotten teeth making me recoil in disgust.
Dear God!
A fear unlike any I've felt before settles deep in my bones.
I won't let them!
Pushing against the man holding me, I use my legs to kick at the other. Tears are running down my cheeks as I use all my remaining energy to fight. Exhaustion, hunger, and sickness are all converging to hold me back, my body sapped of all strength.
One sudden movement and I'm kicked to the ground, my head bumping into a chair.
There's someone else in the room, and he's fighting the two men, seemingly winning.
"Come, little tigress," a familiar voice says, helping me to my feet. I blink rapidly, trying to regain focus, and Enzo is peering down at me, his expression full of worry.
"Are you okay?" he asks, tugging me closer to his body and letting me lean on him.
Why did he come back?
Not that I'm complaining, given that he just saved me. But why is he here?
I give a tight nod, and he purses his lips. His hand reaches out to touch my forehead lightly, and I whimper in pain.
"You hit your head pretty badly," he notes, and he moves to carry me in his arms.
"I'm fine. I can walk." He seems to want to argue but just shakes his head, taking my hand and leading me out of the waiting room.
The sun is coming up, the sky a combination of red and purple.
"Where are we going?"
"To my car," he says, pointing to the street where the car is waiting.
I move sluggishly, and I don't know if it's from the hit I took earlier or if I'm just at my breaking point.
We get to the car in no time, but as I'm about to get inside, I see one of the men from before running toward us, gun raised, his aim clear.
Maybe later, when I'm able to reflect more clearly, I'll regret this. Maybe I'll even look back and wonder how this one sudden decision changed the entire course of my life.
But right at this moment, I'm not thinking. I'm just acting. My mouth opens on a warning, and my body pushes against his, the last of my strength used up.
The pain doesn't come immediately. In fact, I feel quite numb as I try to blink some clarity into my eyes.
Enzo is cradling my body in his lap, and I have the vague impression that we're in a moving car.
"Why?" his voice is broken as he asks.
But I can't answer.
I can only fade away.