Chapter 98
Alessandro's POV
I found the switch but found out it was broken. Quickly, I slipped my phone out of my pocket, turning on the flashlight.
I rushed to Amelia's side. She wasn't breathing. My heart stopped beating in my chest when my hands fell on her body which had turned cold.
I looked at my own father who was lying in his own pool of blood, he didn't die as my bullet hit the wrong place — his leg.
I targeted his heart at first, how come I missed it? Wait, did I really mean it? Father would have been dead by now if the bullet hadn't his leg but his heart.
My heart banged with guilt as I saw him groan on the floor. Somehow I regretted ever having the thoughts of killing him but what could I have possibly done?
He would never change his mind about killing Amelia and in as much as I loved to keep my father I wanted her alive too.
I turned my face away from him and my eyes were now on Amelia. There wasn't any sign that the bullet had hit her but why wasn't she breathing?
"Amelia? Amelia?" I kept calling her name but there was no response from her. Did she faint?
My eyes flickered towards father, he was still groaning on the floor and I knew he didn't have any strength to fight back.
He had a problem with his right leg in the first place and that was where I had shot. He was bleeding profusely and I wanted to get him medical attention but Amelia needed one too.
Who was my priority? My father or Amelia?
I shook the thoughts off my mind. His men would come for him later but who would come for Amelia if I abandoned her and attended to my father?
I came to a bitter conclusion in my mind; Amelia would always come first then why other thing next. I scooped her in my arms and stopped at the door, taking a brief look at my father.
Sorry, dad. I just have to do this. I sighed, before leaving the dark dungeon.
Minutes later, I arrived at my mansion and as I carried Amelia to the clinic, my knees became weak and were almost giving in.
I took a step, two next and another. Slowly, I approached the clinic but the more I progressed the more my pain increased.
The side where I had been shot throbbed with severe pain and I could barely take it.
"Capo!" Gianni gasped when he saw me. I was bleeding already, the bandage was soaked with my blood. "do you think this is right? You're bleeding!"
I looked up at him, struggling to keep my eyes open. "do you care to give me an helping hand? Don't just….just stand there and nag."
He shook his head, biting his lower lip as he stared at me. I knew I looked so pathetic right now but did he have to make it seem obvious?
I was a fool, I know it b...but I need help.
In no time, the nurses came and wheeled Amelia in on the spreader while Gianni helped me to the clinic.
~~~~~
"One day you're going to kill yourself." I woke up to Gianni's tantrums. I winced as I tried to stand up but a sharp pain hit me by my side and I just had to lay back on the bed.
"How do you feel right now?" Gianni asked me, his words dripping with sarcasm.
"That shouldn't be a question, man." I groaned, rubbing my forehead to ease the headache that wouldn't let me think straight. "I feel pain." I replied after a hiss.
"Impressive!" Gianni nodded, clapping. I rolled my eyes at him. Did he hit his head or something? I mentioned being in pain, how was that impressive?
"You're drunk, Gianni. Get some sleep." I waved him away, clicking my tongue in annoyance.
"I thought you should be happy after the whole ruckus. You didn't listen to me earlier and now you're back, looking like a shadow of your former self. You don't look good this way."
I let out a deep sigh, how was I going to explain to this fool? Well, I was a fool too. Two fools, how were we supposed to understand eachother.
But I was the better fool. Yhr one who shot his father to save a woman.
Why did I keep feeling bad about that?
"It was urgent, Gianni." I began, "did you possibly expect me to sit back and watch father kill Amelia?" I asked, letting out a scoff as I gulped down nothing.
"What do you think your father would do after this? Pat your back and say "well-done, good son"?"
"Look, Gianni. I've heard enough, okay? Maybe you should get a drink or something to calm your nerves cause I don't get why you're getting worked up over what's supposed to be my problem?" I shrugged and he raised a brow.
"Really?"
"Really."
The both of us kept quiet; Gianni was staring awkwardly at me while I just frowned at him like he was going nuts or something.
"This is me trying to protect a brother, Alessandro." Gianni said, his voice taking a think tone now. I scoffed, looking away.
I knew he was going to begin his stories now and I wasn't ready to listen. Why did he behave like my father? He never understands me.
And…. speaking about father. Was he okay now? God, what have I done?
"I have vowed to always protect you, it's my job and I don't plan to turn away after so many years we've spent together."
I shook my head, raising a finger. "now you don't sound professional."
"I'm not joking, Alessandro." He was almost yelling and I just kept quiet, watching him ramble.
"Even though I ended up as your right-hand man, we've always being friends. I remember when you used to bring food to me on that hill where I lived with my grandma." He stood, walking towards the window now. "I…." He paused, shoving the curtains aside. "I used to wonder why you liked me, you blew away the loneliness that had always dwelt within me. You stood for me like a brother should do."
"Why do I feel this is going to take long?" I cut in, he turned around folding his arms.
"What do you think should be my reaction whenever you're in danger? How do you think I'd feel when you hurt yourself?"
"Wow." I grinned, "why did you keep this side of you for so many years, Anni?"
Gianni moved closer, his eyes fixed on me. He stopped walking when he was only few steps away.
"Don't make yourself a target to the enemy, Alessandro. The Vincenzo's are…. devils."
"So what should I do? Kill Amelia as my father wants?" I raised a brow at him, "are you for real?"
"I don't know." He sighed, I knew he was getting tired of me. "Don't stray, do what's best and that would keep your head on your neck." With that, he walked away, leaving me to make sense out of what he had said.