Chapter 7

Gianna.

Run.

The word echoed in my head louder than the pounding of my heart.

For a moment I just stood there, staring at the open doorway of the changing room, my hands clutching the overlapping of the wedding dress as if my body refused to believe what had just happened.

Did he really mean it?

Behind me, I could still feel Stefano’s eyes on me. He was going to change his mind if I didn’t take action.

“Run, piccola… run!”

My body moved before my mind could catch up.

I bolted, my legs weak but unyielding.

The boutique door burst open as I pushed through it, the bell above it clanging wildly. Cold air slapped against my face and I stumbled onto the sidewalk, nearly tripping over the hem of the dress.

People turned, some even stared, but I didn’t give two fucks about it.

Freedom was only a few steps away.

I ran toward the street, my lungs burning, my vision blurring as cars sped past. My heart hammered so violently against my ribs that I thought it might burst out of my chest.

But one thing I didn’t stop doing was looking over my shoulder. Wasn’t it surprising that Stefano’s men didn't come after me?

Well, like I said I didn’t give a fuck!

A car horn blared.

“Hey! Watch it!” someone shouted.

Another horn screamed as I staggered into the road, waving my arms desperately.

“Taxi! Please…”

A black sedan screeched to a stop inches from me. The driver leaned out the window, furious.

“Get out of the road, lady!”

My chest rose and fell as panic swallowed me whole. Cars began honking from behind him, their angry sounds echoing through the street. My head spun as I backed away, the world tilting dangerously beneath my feet.

Think, Gianna. Think, this wasn’t the time to be dumb.

Then…

“Gianna!”

My head snapped toward the voice.

A car had pulled over near the curb a few feet away. The window rolled down, and the moment I saw the familiar face behind the wheel, a sob nearly tore from my throat.

“Javier?”

Relief washed over me so fast my knees almost buckled.

“Get in!” he urged.

I didn’t hesitate.

Gathering the overlapping of the dress in my hands, I rushed to the car and threw myself into the passenger seat, slamming the door shut behind me.

The moment the lock clicked, my body sagged into the seat like the strings holding me together had snapped.

“Oh my God…” I whispered breathlessly.

Javier reached over and gently squeezed my shoulder.

“Relax, Gianna. You’re safe now.”

Safe. That was exactly the word that felt like a warm blanket wrapping around my trembling body.

He grabbed a bottle of water from the console and handed it to me.

“Drink.”

My hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped it, but I twisted the cap off and gulped the water down desperately, the cool liquid soothing my dry throat.

“How…” I swallowed, my voice barely steady. “How did you find me?”

“Did Papa send you?”

Well, I hoped it had been my father.

Javier gave me a small smile as he pulled the car back onto the road.

“Don’t worry about that right now,” he said calmly. “All that matters is you’re safe with me.”

I looked at him, studying the familiar line of his jaw, the same gentle eyes that had once made my heart flutter.

My fiancé, my lover, the man I trusted more than anyone.

A shaky breath escaped my lips as I leaned back against the seat.

“I knew you’d come,” I murmured.

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he turned the wheel sharply at the next intersection.

I frowned, glancing out the window.

“That’s not the way home.”

Javier kept his eyes on the road.

“We’re not going home yet.”

My stomach twisted.

“What do you mean?”

“Stefano and his men will be looking for you,” he explained smoothly. “Your house will be the first place they check. We’ll stay at a hotel tonight until things calm down.”

That made a lot of sense. Why didn’t I even think of safety first? Well, I was too exhausted to get my thoughts straight.

Still, a strange unease crept into my chest.

I shifted in my seat, suddenly aware of a strange warmth spreading through my body.

My fingers tightened around the empty bottle.

“Javier…”

My voice came out weak.

“Yes?”

“I feel…” I swallowed hard as the road outside began to blur. “…strange.”

My stomach churned violently.

A wave of nausea rolled through me, making my head spin.

“What’s happening to me?”

Javier’s voice remained calm.

“Relax,” he said softly. “You’ve been through a lot today.”

But the dizziness worsened.

The streetlights outside smeared into streaks of yellow and white as my vision swam.

Something wasn’t right.

“Javier…” I whispered, gripping the seat. “I don’t feel…”

“Shh,” he murmured. “Just relax.”

The car slowed to a stop.

When I forced my heavy eyelids open, I saw the bright lights of a hotel entrance.

Javier stepped out and walked around to my side of the car. The door opened and strong arms slid beneath me as the world tilted dangerously.

“Easy,” he said.

My head lolled weakly against his shoulder as he carried me inside.

The lobby lights felt so bright that I had to squeeze my eyes shut.

I could barely keep my eyes open as he swiped a card at a door down the hallway.

The soft click of the lock echoed in my ears, and then we were inside.

He carried me to the couch and gently laid me down.

My body felt like it didn’t belong to me anymore. It felt like I was sharing my body with ten hefty people. I felt like screaming, but I couldn’t even find my voice anymore.

Through the haze clouding my mind, I saw him turn toward the bed.

Someone was sitting there… a tall still figure who was watching me intently.

“I brought her,” Javier said quietly.

A deep voice answered from the shadows.

“Good.”

Something about that voice made a chill crawl down my spine.

“You did well,” the man continued. “You can leave now.”

Javier nodded and turned toward the door.

“Javier…” I whispered weakly, my trembling hand rubbing my forehead.

He stopped and slowly turned back to look at me.

For a moment, his expression softened, then a small grin spread across his face.

“I’m sorry, Gianna,” he said quietly.

My heart dropped, and all the hope and trust I had vanished into thin air.

What the hell was going on?

“I had to do this.”

The door closed behind him.

Silence engulfed me except for the pounding of my heartbeat… then footsteps began to approach.

The man from the bed walked toward me, his presence made me want to disappear, it had a heavy and uncomfortable weight on me.

I tried to move, but I couldn’t.

He crouched beside the couch and gently cupped my face in his hand.

“Papa?” A tear tore from my eye, trailing down my cheeks.

“Poor thing,” he murmured.

My blurred vision struggled to focus on his face.

“I’ll make sure to deal with him for putting you through so much.” He continued.

Who the hell are you?

That was what I tried to say but it was as though my lips were stitched.

The last thing I felt was his fingers brushing against my temple.

Then the darkness of unconsciousness swallowed me whole.