Enzo remains in the room, watching the doctor's every move.
The process is pretty swift and not as painful as I imagined.
"Continue to keep the area clean," the doctor advises as he leaves, stopping outside the door to have a few more words with Enzo.
I'm already sleepy, even though I woke up a couple of hours ago. I head back to the bed, asleep the moment my head hits the pillow.
"It can't be…"My mouth drops open at Enzo's words. Surely not…
"You've been out of it for a good portion of the time," he points out, but I'm still in shock.
Because if what he's saying is true, then… I look again at the date, stunned.
My wedding was supposed to be yesterday.
I missed the wedding.
"You don't understand…" I start, but I can't even find the words to explain what will happen to me because of this. And Lia, is she even still alive?
"Shh, little tigress. Everything will be okay. I'll take you back to your parents and explain everything. They'll know it's not your fault. Besides, they should be happy their daughter is alive, right?"
I shake my head. He doesn't get it… doesn't realize what will happen to me. The mere fact that I've been alone with a man…
"Trust me," he continues, using his finger to lift my chin up so I'm looking him in the eyes. "I know your parents, and they will believe what I tell them."
I want to protest, to tell him that it won't matter, but he seems so sure of himself that even I have a moment's doubt. Is it possible that he's right?
For the first time, I decide to put my trust in him. Because, really, what's the alternative?
We leave at first light, and instead of going to the port, we go to the airport where a private jet awaits us. In less than half an hour, we're landing back home. A black car stops at the landing strip, and we are welcomed inside.
Maybe Enzo is someone important, and maybe he can convince my parents. We don't really talk as we drive toward my village, but every second we get closer, I can't help but feel a void in my stomach—like I know I'm going toward the execution block.
"Don't worry. I have it all under control," Enzo reassures me once more, and I just nod.
Stopping in front of my house, the guards take one look at me and Enzo and communicate something through their comms.
The anxiety is killing me as we're given the green light to go inside. We don't make it past the main yard before my father and mother are running outside.
"M…" The word doesn't even come out of my mouth as my mother slaps me, the force of it thrusting me backward. I close my eyes and wait for the rest to come, since I know what to expect. But it doesn't.
"You don't hit her," Enzo's stern voice surprises me, but not as much as the look of awe on my parents' faces.
"You…" my father sputters, his hand immediately going to the gun he keeps in the waistband of his pants.
"I don't think you want to do that," Enzo comments arrogantly, and I whip my head around to give him a look.
Is this how he planned to help me explain the situation to my parents?
"You don't know what you've done, stupid girl!" my mother yells at me, her body language telling me she'd like nothing better than to drag me by my hair and beat me until I can't standup. I see the contempt in her eyes, and I know exactly what it means. Once Enzo's gone, I'm dead.
"We had to give your sister to Franzè. Your sister!" She emphasizes the word as if I don't know what my sister means to them. "My sweet Chiara! And it's all your fault!" She charges toward me again.
I can't even muster the fear anymore. Now that I have confirmation of what awaits me, it's only a matter of when. If this affected Chiara, then there will be hell to pay—by me.
"Did I not make myself clear?" Enzo steps from behind, placing his body in front of me so that he's shielding me from any potential attack. "You don't touch her. You don't yell at her. Are we clear?"
"And who do you think you are to tell me what to do? You think you have any influence around here?" my mother says smugly, but Enzo shrugs, seemingly unbothered.
