CHAPTER THREE

TESSA

“Looking for this?”

My palms immediately felt sweaty. My legs threatening to give up against my weight. The shock overshadowing every sense of reason.

Those eyes, as unique and captivating as they were, terrified me. The thought of how someone can take a life and still act alright was horrific. But with the way he looked at me and held my missing ID in his hands, everything instantly made sense.

He knew I was the one there last night. I must have mistakenly dropped it when trying to escape and the worst part is that he has found me.

I dreaded what was to come. I'd witnessed something I shouldn't have. And now he's here to silence me too. What about my life? No no this wasn't meant to happen.

I tried to look away but his gaze held mine, drowning me in those orbs. It felt like the whole world was on pause. It felt like an eternity whereas it was barely a minute.

“Mr. Vitale, I wasn't expecting you today,” a voice said, breaking the atmosphere between us. It was the hospital's director. His walking stick clicked lightly on the tiles as he approached us, extending his hand in greeting to the man from last night who he referred to as ‘Mr. Vitale.’The director asked, bowing slightly in respect.

Who was this man? And why was the director himself treating him like he owned the world. He didn’t look above thirty-five with his well-built physique and yet he commanded so much respect.

“Mr. Romano. I see your health is fine,” he curtly replied, ignoring the director's hands.

“Oh yes. It's all thanks to you. I barely have anything to worry about ever since your generous donation to the new foundation,” the director said. The wrinkled lines on his cheekbone forming into a smile.

“I'm glad to hear that,” he said, shifting his gaze back to me.

The Director tried to mask the awkwardness by letting out a slight chuckle. “To what do we owe this pleasant visit from you?”

“Nothing. I decided to pay my fiancé a surprise visit. Anything wrong with that?” His tone was calm and collected.

The director stared at him and then looked at me as if I'd just grown a second head. “Fiancée?” The director echoed, confusion clear in his voice. And then it hit me.

Me? His Fiancée?

“No no. I think there's a mix up here. We're not…I mean… I… I'm not his Fiancée,” I stammered trying to sound convincing but it came out more like I was defensive.

What games was he trying to play here. Fiancée? Since when?

The director looked confused, his expression doing a terrible job at masking it.

I felt warm hands draped around my shoulders and before I could protest, the hands moved down to my waist, pulling me impossibly closer.

“She's a little shy about it,” Mr. Vitale said, his voice was smooth as if this was all normal. I felt the steady rise and fall of his chest, so calm while I was falling apart.

The director chuckled, though it sounded awkward. “Ah, young love. It's always good to see. You picked a good one Mr. Vitale. Miss Hartley is one of our best nurses notwithstanding the short time she has been with us.”

Mr. Vitale's eyes didn't leave mine. “I know,” he replied.

I swallowed hard, my heart thudding painfully. My eyes screamed at him to stop, but he just gave me a small smile, tightening his grip.

“I'll leave you two to catch up. I appreciate your generosity Mr. Vitale,” the director said once more, giving a slight bow before stepping back.

Mr. Vitale leaned down, his lips close to my ear, his breath warm and minty. “We need to talk. Don't make a scene,” he whispered, guiding me forward as his hands remained on my waist.

The sane thing to do would have been to yell for help. To call attention to myself but something in me knew that even doing that wouldn't save me. No one looked our way, the staff around all avoided his gaze like they feared him too.

“Let me go!,” I said, pulling away and putting a much needed space between us. His brows furrowed, clearly unpleasant at my actions.

Just then, four men all dressed in black came forward but halted when Mr. Vitale raised his hand at them.

He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into a room. I could barely keep up. Each step he took, I had to take twice as much to catch up. “Can you slow down a bit!”

The door shut with a loud thud and he finally let go to my arm. It hurt badly and I knew it'd leave a bruise but I ignored it. That was the least of my worries at this point.

I was alone in one of the consultation rooms with a murderer that just strode into this hospital without any fear like he owned the world.

I backed away from him, “What do you want from me?” My voice trembled.

“Tessa Hartley.” The way my name rolled off his tongue sent shivers down my spine. It was dangerous and alluring at the same time. Just like a siren calling out to you in the midst of deadly waters.

I tried to steady my breath. I couldn't let him see how scared I was. He took a step closer and I instinctively took one back. “Last night…”

“I…I didn't see anything…I… I swear I didn't say anything…,” my heart raced.

“So you admit you were there,” a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. “Who sent you?”

“No…noone…”

“I need a name!”

I shook my head frantically. He looked angry and displeased but it was all gone in a second. “Who do you work for? I hate repeating myself.”

“I was lost! I lost my way and that's how I got there,” I try to explain.

“Last time. Who do you work for?” He pulled out a gun, aiming it directly at my head. I felt all air leave my lungs immediately at the sight of the gun. I shut my eyes tightly awaiting the sound that would claim my life. My trembling hands raised up in surrender. Small whimpering sounds escaped my lips.

Ten seconds and nothing. And then I felt a hand on my face, tucking a few strands of hair behind my ears, it's fingers tracing my jawline. I slowly peeled my eyes open to see him focused on me. “It would be a shame to put a bullet in your skull,” he said. The gun I saw earlier was no longer in his hands but I could see it tucked away in his back pocket.

I didn't fully understand what he said before he spoke again. “You shouldn't have been there last night,” his eyes got darker, his voice cold.

“I didn't see anything,” I tried to assure.

“Oh but you saw just enough. Enough to have dozens of families out for your head.”

What?

“You're too beautiful to be killed,” he said while coming closer, like a predator cornering its prey. “The only way you can survive is with me.”

“I don't understand,” I managed to get out amidst the chaos I felt inside.

He pulled out a picture from his suit jacket, handing it to me. I froze at the spot, eyes wide like they would fall out of their sockets at any moment. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the picture in my hands. It was a picture of my mum, my sister Ella and my little brother Jason at a restaurant. It looked like it was taken by someone across the street.

“How did you get this!” I said, almost yelling. My eyes shooting up to meet his.

“It took me less than five hours to find you and your family. Guess how many more people already know this. Both you and your family are in danger.”

“No no. Please, I beg you. Don't hurt them. They don't know anything about last night. I didn’t say anything. I didn't tell a soul.”

“I won't.” He said. “I won't hurt them and I'll make sure no one dares to touch them,” instant relief flooded my chest at his statement. “But on one condition,” he continued.

“What is it?” I said, eager to know how I can protect my family even if it meant making a deal with the devil.

His hands lifted my chin up. “Be mine.”

“Excuse me?” I asked, clearly confused, what he meant.

“Be mine and live. That's what I'm offering.”

“You can't be serious.”

“Do I look like I'm joking?” he said, seriousness etched on his face.

“Yours? I'm not some toy you can just possess!” I said, getting furious and pushing his hands away.

“Cazzo bambina,” he said, running his hands through his well laid down hair. “You're much more than a fucking toy. You're my woman.”

“I'm not yours! And stop putting possessions. I don't belong to you so watch your language.”

Who the hell does he think he is to say I'm his!

I pushed past him, trying to get away from him and the insane offer he just made.

My hand rested on the door knob but paused for a minute when he spoke.

“What better option do you have? Without me both you and your entire family are as good as dead,” he said calmly while adjusting his cufflinks and turning to face me.

“I'll go to the police,” I said. Wrong choice to tell him, yes, but I wasn't thinking straight.

But the next thing that followed was even more shocking. He laughed.

He fucking laughed!