11. Amelia
Ipull the surgical mask off my face as I walk toward the locker rooms. It's been a full week in one day, at least that's what it feels like. I am so tired and relieved that I've finished my last surgery for the day. Now I can grab something to eat and go and sit with Elle, see how she's doing, and spend some quality time with her.
She stays so positive through everything. She still manages to smile even though I know how much she is struggling. It breaks my heart and makes me so proud of her at the same time.
I wish she didn't have to go through any of this. It's not fair. Her little life should be spent playing outside in the sunshine, laughing with friends, not making friends with all the hospital staff because those are the only people she sees all day.
A man brushes past me and almost knocks me off my feet. I know I was lost in thought so I just mumbled a little sorry and tried to keep walking. I should pay more attention to where I'm going.
"I'm so sorry, Amelia." He says, grabbing me as though he is trying to steady me, but a little too hands-on for my liking. I push his hands away and look up to see a doctor I don't recognize -- a tall man with a dark beard and cold eyes.
I've been here long enough to know all of the doctors who work in this hospital, and he is not one of them. I know sometimes they bring in specialist surgeons for some cases, but this guy - did he just call me by my name?
"Do I know you?" I step back a little, wanting to create some space between us. He must be some arrogant new doctor; he doesn't look like a typical doctor though. I guess some doctors have kind faces and some doctors look like this - like you owe them the world because they are better than you.
"I just started this week, so maybe you don't know me."
"Mm," I reply, looking him up and down and trying to take another step away from him. There is something about him that triggers all of the warning signs in my body.
He takes a step closer to me, with no regard for personal space. "But I know all about you, Amelia. I thought maybe we could get lunch. Right now?" He chuckles.
My eyes narrow in annoyance.
Not a fucking chance buddy. Creepy as all hell weirdo guy.
"Have a good day," I say, turning away from him. I'm not in the mood for some hot-shot doctor throwing his best lines at me. Not today. I walk briskly, wanting to get away as fast as possible. My instincts are telling me something is off about him.
"Amelia. Wait." He says, jogging after me.
"Look, whoever you are, you know my name. That's awesome. Well done. But I'll be as clear as I can here. No, I don't want to go to lunch with you. Not today, not ever. There are plenty of pretty nurses who you can ask who will be more interested than I am. I have to go. I'm busy." I turn away again, and he grabs my arm forcefully. I stare down at his iron grip with a look on my face that clearly says what the fuck.
"Excuse me, what the hell do you think you are doing?" I say loudly and he shoves me into a nearby storeroom, shutting the door behind us. The suddenness of his assault leaves me a little stunned. I was not expecting something like that.
"Let me the fuck out of here." I snap pushing hard against his chest as he steps towards me. "There is no fucking way that you are a doctor. And if you are - you won't be for long behaving like this."
The dark smile on his face sends a cold shiver through my body. He isn't a doctor. There is not a chance in hell that he is a doctor, and that smile confirms it through and through.
"I suggest you do as you're told, or your father is going to die. Do you want your father to suffer because you can't follow commands?" His deep dark voice is dripping with menace and threat.
"I don't have a father." I snap, but my insides are churning with fear. What is going on? Why is he talking about my father?
He laughs again. "Amelia Ricardi." He says my name slowly, emphasizing the fact that he is fully aware of who I am. "I know you have a father. I know where he lives -- with your mother in that pretty little mansion with the white steel fencing and the row of pink and purple flowers leading up the pathway."
An image of my parents' home flashes in my mind. Shit. This is bad.
"Who the hell are you?" My heart is racing so fast I can barely hear my own thoughts. "And what do you really want? Stop messing with me and spit it out."
"It's not my name you should be worried about, but rather the man who sent me." He replies cryptically. My patience is wearing thin.
"Well, who the fuck sent you then - why don't you just hurry up and get to the point?"
"Because I have to admit that I rather like how terrified you look." He pushes his body against mine, pinning me to the wall. His hand locks around my throat and my air cuts off.
"Listen very carefully, Amelia Ricardi. Stefano Amalfi is waiting in the car outside and he politely requests a word with you. I personally suggest you accept his kind offer, come and talk to him, and then I won't have to kill your daddy. Also. I won't have to kill you. Killing such a pretty little thing would be a waste don't you think?"
He releases his grip and I gasp for air. My thoughts are racing wildly in all directions as I try to figure a way out of this situation. Stefano is here? At the hospital? I guess my calling around and coming out of hiding is what drew his attention to me. That must be how he tracked me. Ok, but I need to calm down. I knew there was a risk of this happening.
How do I get out of this though? That's all that matters for now.
My baby girl is attached to a machine in the hospital room, and it is the only reason she is alive. I can't run with her because she's too weak. I can't get away without leaving her behind. There is no chance in hell that I would ever do that. I guess I only really have one option. I mean Stefano can't do anything to me inside the hospital - can he? I might be wrong about that. I am currently trapped in a storeroom with a psychopath.
I take a slow breath, trying to compose myself.
Finally, I say "Tell Stefano to meet me in the coffee shop in the foyer of the hospital. I will be there in fifteen minutes."
The brute of a man tilts his head, trying to decide if I am up to something.
"And if you aren't there in fifteen minutes?" He asks.
"Then I know - my dad dies - I die - we all die," I say angrily.
"Good. I think we understand each other. I will tell Mr. Amalfi to expect you downstairs in no more than fifteen minutes. Don't be late. He won't appreciate it."
He takes a step away from me and I breathe a sigh of relief, but the worst of it isn't over. This messenger is not the person I should be worried about. I hadn't seen Stefano in six years, and I left without a word or explanation. He is probably furious. And of course, the rumors we spread made it sound like I had met and married someone else. I know it would have hurt him. I just had no other way to get away from him and keep Elle safe.
The messenger guy pulls the storeroom door open and steps out of it. I hear his bulky footsteps walking away from me, down the hallway, to let Stefano know what I've agreed to.
I stand there for a few minutes fighting tears and deep, anxiety-filled fear. My entire body is shaking uncontrollably. I don't want to see Stefano in this state. I need to be grounded and focused. I need to look composed. But the thought of seeing him at all has my mind and body reacting in ways I simply cannot control.
I know that when I left, I was still madly in love with him. I've done my best to avoid thinking about that pain because I cannot be in love with a monster if I want my daughter to have a safe life.
I take my time in the storeroom, breathing slowly, closing my eyes, and concentrating on what I have to do. I don't need any of my colleagues seeing me like this and asking questions. This is where I work. This is the hospital my child is getting treated in. I don't want drama here. I don't want them to know that I am associated with one of the cruelest mafia bosses in the city.
Finally, I push the door open and step into the clinically bright hospital hallway with glaring white lights overhead.
I go straight to my daughter's room. I have to know that she is ok before I go and meet Stefano. They made it clear that they knew where my father was; he didn't necessarily threaten Elle, but I know Stefano. It is not beneath him to go after entire families, and he has no idea that Elle is his daughter.
I step inside her room quietly. I'm relieved that she is asleep because I really don't want her to see me like this. I stand next to her bed and lay my hand over her chest. Her breathing soothes me.
The treatment in the IV bag is about halfway. She will feel a little better after it's finished, but as always, it's only temporary relief for my baby girl.
I whisper. "I will keep you safe little one. I promise."
I bite my lower lip.
I have no choice.
I have to go.
So, I turn around and leave her room, and start heading towards the coffee shop downstairs. At least he has agreed to meet me in a public place. Somewhere I know. Not that it makes it any less dangerous, but I am delusional and attached to the idea that it keeps me at least marginally safe.
I keep my face turned down as I walk as though I am in a hurry so that no one I pass tries to draw me into a conversation. I'll get to the coffee shop. Sit down. Hear him out. Get it over with as quickly as possible and then leave.
That's my plan.
I'm terrified though.
The elevator opens on the ground floor and people flood into it as I step out.
Just around the corner is the coffee shop. I pause, take a deep breath, run my hands over my scrubs, and tuck loose strands of hair behind my ear.
Ok.
I can do this.
I've got this.
I spot Stefano as soon as I come around the corner and immediately, he spots me.
My blood runs icy cold and fire hot at the same time.
He looks gorgeous.
I hold my head up high and my shoulders back as I walk towards him. His gaze stays locked on me.
The dark close-cut stubble across his face and the scar above his left eye that wasn't there before made him look rugged and sexy.
He is wearing a black suit, without a jacket, the sleeves rolled up over his forearms and his muscles pressing against the fabric.
Stefano.
The man I was going to marry.
The father of my child.
I enter the coffee shop and feel my body begin to shake again. I clench my fists to try and hide it as I pull my chair back. Without a word, I sit down opposite him and his cold eyes pierce into me.
"Amelia. It's been so long. What a pleasure." He says with absolutely no emotion in his voice.
I stare at him, too scared to speak because I don't trust the words to come out clearly.
The scar above his eye is deep and jagged. Somehow it makes him look sexier. More dangerous, but sexier.
Even the cropped stubble of his beard might look unkept on someone else but on him it's gorgeous.
I don't want to be sitting here thinking about how gorgeous he looks.
But my heart, my body, is still so drawn to him - even after all these years.
"Cat got your tongue?" He says dryly.
I clear my throat softly and push my hands beneath the table so he can't see how stressed I am.
"Hello, Stefano," I say, sounding far more confident than I expected myself to sound.