CHAPTER TWO : BETRAYAL

Rosa's POV

I peer through the murky grey blinds of his hospital room. I don't know why I'm hiding; it's not like he can see me. He's asleep, the machines around him working hard to keep him alive. The cut on his head is bandaged, and the doctor managed to stop the bleeding from the stabbing. If I wasn't there to control the amount of blood he lost, he'd be dead right now.

I study his face, noticing how peaceful and innocent he appears when sleeping. His chest rises and falls steadily, and I don't know why, but I feel relieved. Relieved to see him breathing normally again. I don't even know this man. Matteo.

That's what his name is; I overheard the nurse mentioning it to a doctor previously. Apparently he isn't a stranger to a hospital bed. I can't help but stand there a little longer than I should; I feel drawn to his aura.

Why do I care? Because I saved his life? He could have been anyone.

I blow out the breath I'm holding, exhaustion washing over my body. My phone begins to buzz inside my pocket, and I pull it out, smiling at the screen. I answer the call and lift the phone to my ear.

"Hey, Leonardo."

"Hey baby, are you done with the police yet? I can't believe you saved some guy's life." He chuckles in disbelief on the other end. And I could sense something odd about his reaction.

I was questioned by the police multiple times, repeating over and over again everything that I saw. I nibble on my bottom lip as I continue to watch Matteo.

"Yeah, I know, it's crazy. I miss you." I say softly, the sound of his voice causing me to crave his presence.

"Do you want me to come and get you? I can drive you home this time."

I shake my head, remembering how we'd both been drinking at the restaurant a few hours ago. Neither of us is in a fit state to drive, especially not after last night. One person almost dying in front of me is enough to last me a lifetime.

"I'll get a taxi. I still feel a little tipsy." I chuckle quietly, reaching up to caress the heart-shaped pendant on my necklace. It was a gift from Leonardo for our first anniversary. He'd taken me to a restaurant downtown before we took a walk along the beach.

That's where he gave me the necklace; I love it. My fingers trail over the smooth chain, and I smile, a warm, fuzzy feeling settling inside my stomach.

"Do you want to come over and stay at mine?" I can hear the suggestive tone in his voice, and I grin, biting

"Sure. I'll see you soon." He said, "I'll be thinking about you."

With that, he ends the call. I put my phone back into my pocket and run a hand over my face, taking one last look at Matteo.

Do I leave a note for when he wakes up? I shake my head, feeling like an idiot.

"You don't even know him, Rosa; get a grip." I mutter, tearing myself away from his window. I walk away before being stopped in my tracks by a figure standing in front of me.

I almost collide into their chest, and I pause, blinking. He's tall, very tall. I glance up and make eye contact with a pair of dark, intense ones. He's older, possibly in his forties, with creases around his eyes and mouth. Despite his age, he has thick dark hair, swept back into a short ponytail.

His stare is fixated on me, head slightly tilted as he studies me. I take a step back, noticing how his posture and stance scream authority.

Is this a friend of Matteo's? Maybe his father?

"I'm sorry," I mutter an apology and step around him, his strong cologne wafting around me. It's too strong, and I grimace, the scent giving me the start of a headache.

"Are you the girl who saved Matteo?" He sounded serious and passionate.

I pause, blinking several times before turning back around. He speaks with a heavier accent than Matteo, but it's almost identical. I can't help but notice he's dressed in all black, gripping onto a leather jacket identical to his son's.

"Yes, I am. I'm Rosa." I say quietly, glancing over his shoulder to take another look at Rhett. He's still sleeping soundly.

The man holds his hand out towards me, his skin smooth and tanned. I blink in surprise before clasping his hand with mine. His grip is firm, and he has a strong handshake.

"Thank you, Rosa; you saved his life." I shake my head, shrugging off his words.

"Anyone would have done the same. Anyway, I best get going." I say quietly, my gaze dropping to the floor. I don't know what it is; I couldn't hold eye contact with him.

His stare unnerved me. He drops my hand and takes a step back, ending the conversation between us.

I take that as my cue to leave.

*****

I went straight to fill Leonardo in on what happened earlier on. As I arrived at his apartment, my mind was overshadowed with the thought that once I see him, he'll pull me between his legs, wrap his arms around me, and I'll immediately settle my head against his chest, hearing the sound of his breathing calming my nerves down.

And he will say, "You're so strong, Nora. I'm glad you weren't hurt. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. Next time I'm walking you straight to your door." His words are firm and serious.

And I'll definitely give him a small smile in response and sigh.

As I approached the steel door of Leonardo's room, I overheard a familiar voice coming from the inside.

"Hmm!" A soft moan, "Fuck me harder!"

"I fuck your wet pussy, no mercy, bitch!" Leonardo's deep voice pierced through her ears from the inside.

Then it stopped for a minute. "You could have seen who the person is if you hadn't been with me last night!" A feminine voice uttered and burst into hysterical laughter.

"You are right, baby; I intentionally pretended I'm in bad condition to drive her home so I can see you." Leonardo said his voice can't be mistaken for a stranger in his own room.

At first I hesitated before I gripped the door handle; I wanted to hear everything they had to say. "Are you sure she won't come here today? I mean right now?" The person asked, and the voice became clearer to me; it was certain I knew the person.

"She's hooked up in the hospital with her new patient; she can't come!" Leonardo declared, and they shared a good loud laugh together.

Without further wasting of time, I busted into the room, and the first person I glanced at was Julia Robert, my best friend, on top of my fiancee, riding him while naked.

"Leonardo!" I screamed at the top of my voice. "You're fucking my best friend!" I asserted confidently, with my cranky voice.

But Julia felt no shame; INSTEAD, she stood up, took a towel, and wrapped it in her bed, the same towel I usually used whenever I came to visit Leonardo. She was used to the environment; this didn't just start.

"I and Leonardo here love each other!" She dropped the bombshell. "Now you've seen what your eyes wanted to see, right!" She was so calm and relaxed with what she did.

"You are my best friend; I tell you all my secrets!" I spoke, welling tears streaming down my eyes. Leonardo remained silent; instead, he approached the window, lit his cigarette, and pretended like nothing happened. "You should have told me you were coming!"

I couldn't withstand the filthy scene before, so I stormed out of his room, headed straight to the main entrance, entered my car, and sped off from there and never looked back. When I'm far away from his house. I stepped on the brake.

"I don't love you; my whole heart is for Julia. We've been dating for a while now!' Leonardo's words never left my mind; at that moment I was going crazy.

"I killed your damn father!" Leonardo uttered sternly.

I couldn't stop the scenes from coming back until my eyes turned blurry and I fell to the seat of my car, hitting my head on the leathered chair. Slowly darkness enveloped my eyes, and everything went blank.