100.
Alessandro's POV
"The tumors are spreading, Mr DeMarco and I'm afraid there's no available remedy for this. Please keep your medication on track and come for medical checkup regularly."
My fists tightened as I recalled all Doc. Amber had said at the hospital.
How worst could this get?
I feel it, I was dying slowly and the part that made me sick was that I couldn't help it.
A brave Don can't save himself from death. It's funny yet painful.
"Sando?" Someone snapped me out of my thoughts. I knew that voice. I looked up, coming back to earth.
"Yes." I replied, tossing aside the book I was reading. It was about lifestyle and whatnot. I've looked up the internet and it says one must read well to ease the thoughts of dying but did that even help me?
I guess no.
"I brought you….a cup of tea." Amelia said, beaming with a smile as she placed the teacup on the table in front of me. "The weather is cold so I thought of making you some tea."
I nodded slowly, taking a sip. Why did I feel like she needed something from me?
"Good." I said, sighing as I placed it back on the table.
"Is that all you're going to say?" She raised a brow, folding her arms defiantly. "Don't you want to talk to me? Do I bore you? Make you sick?"
I chuckled, breaking eye contact with her. She looked so cute and I'm afraid I can't help it.
"None." My voice came out cold as ice. She moved closer, placing her hands on my shoulders.
"I've been causing you so much trouble lately, Alessandro. I overheard your conversation with your sister last night, why did you shoot your father just to save me? Now, he can't walk anymore."
I gulped down more of the tea and stood up. I didn't want to say anything on this topic.
It kept reminding me how messed up things had gone for me.
"Alessandro, are you going to leave without giving me a reply? I'm….. scared, I feel like I'm a barrier between you and your father. If he doesn't want me here….then why don't you just….let me go."
I halted, turning around. She looked away when our eyes met. She was crying already, why did she break so easily?.
"You came to ask me this? Are you so eager to leave me?" I asked and everywhere fell silent, I brushed back my hair and snorted. "Right, now I understand. Maybe you don't see how much I love you? Are you so blind? Father was going to kill him if I didn't stop him and…. you're making me regret it."
"No!" She moved closer to me, holding my face in her small palms. "don't say that, Sandro. I...know you love me but I feel something is holding you back. Why does it feel so hard to show it? You always do it the tough way, can you be a gentleman?"
I scoffed, peeling her hands away from my face. "Now I think I made the wrong choice. You'd never understand me even if I took a bullet for you."
"Wait, San." She grabbed my hand before I could walk away. "I'm…. sorry for the way I spoke, I was just….just skeptical about everything. You know, I..shit I don't even know what to say. But I feel you don't want to build anything with me."
"Like?"
"A better relationship." She shrugged, "something strong but…" her shoulders slumped, "how can that even be possible when your family don't even want me?"
"How old are you, Amelia?"
Her brows scrunched up as I questioned. "What?"
"Give me an answer." I stepped closer and she gripped the nightstand to stop herself from falling asleep I inched closer.
"I'm….umm…" she swallowed, tucking some strands of her hair away. "I'm 23."
"Twenty three, uh?" I chuckled, my thumb tracing her lips. She froze at my touch, making me raise a brow. Did she get electrified?
"I'm 33, Amelia. Ten years older than you."
"Does that even matter?"
"Are you so eager to get married?" I stood straight, folding my arms as I gave her a scrutinising look.
"No," she cocked her head forward. "I'm more concerned about you, you're 33 yet you have no thoughts of settling down."
"Settling down, where?"
"I mean, getting a wife, having kids —lovely kids."
I smirked, "so you want us to get married? Is this you requesting for a ring?" I teased her.
"Uh?" She widened her brow, taking few steps backwards but she forgot there was a bed behind her. I grabbed her waist before she could fall and involuntarily, her head was now on my chest.
"Take a break, Amelia." I said, leading her to sit on the bed. She was now caged between my hands, her eyes on mine. "You need more sleep."
"I don't wanna sleep!" She argued, "why do I feel you're trying to run away from fixing this discussion up?"
"What's your preference for a partner?"
"Green eyes, tall and brooding, thin pink lips, long eyelashes, captivating cock—long and fat enough to tear my pussy."
Huh? If that was me then I had to act clueless.
"Good luck finding him, Mel darling." I said, patting her hair.
"What do you mean?!" She yelled, clenching her fists. "I know you're not slow, Sandro. You should know I'm talking about you. I...love you, even if we can't get married now, j..just give me an impression that you're not going to keep me stranded."
"You're confused, Amelia. Get a rest, okay?"
"Did I say anything stupid?"
"I'm tactless right now." I replied, feigning ignorance. Fuck I knew she was obsessed with me but she didn't know what she was getting herself into.
"Why do you keep painting yourself as an idiot?" I could see her fume, biting her lips in slight aggression.
"It's cold, I'll get you tea to ease the breeze."
"I don't want tea, Sandro." She pulled me by my wrist, drawing me closer. "I...want you…" Tick, tick, tick. The clock ticked by and slowly, her fingers slid down my pants to a place where could make her cry this evening.