by Serena Light
Shaking her head, Serafina walked into the dining room and found a tray of chocolate croissants placed on the table. Grabbing one, she pushed open the swinging door of the kitchen and grabbed a plate from one of the cupboards before putting the croissant into the microwave and turning on the coffee machine.
Looking out the window, she saw how everything was covered in snow, her mother's garden white rather than filled with usual vibrant colors. She didn't see anyone outside and realized everyone was gone to work.
Grabbing her breakfast, Serafina made her way into the lounge, staring out the large one wall window and munched on the chocolate-filled croissant with her coffee.
Alessio pushed open the side door which led into the kitchen, the day's groceries in his arms. Struggling with the weight, he put it all on the center counter before shaking off the snow from his clothes. One by one, he emptied all the bags, putting everything in its place, ensuring to dispose of anything unwanted.
Since he resigned as Serafina's bodyguard, Salvatore had asked how he would feel being assigned to his parents. Alessio didn't mind, he liked them and they were very welcoming people. Salvatore had told his parents that Alessio would help his mother with the house, which majorly consisted of cleaning and cooking, but in reality, he was there to ensure their safety, despite each of them having at least 2 guards with them at all times.
But he didn't mind, he enjoyed the mundane act of cleaning and cooking, it made him feel...productive.
Every morning, he would come in at 7 a.m. and make breakfast for Mr. and Mrs. Regnante who both left for work at 9. He then cleaned the house, leaving the upstairs rooms alone before he went and bought the necessary groceries, like now.
Removing his coat, he exited the kitchen and entered the dining room, walking through the archway as his eyebrows knitted in confusion to see a plate and coffee mug placed on the table. Hanging his coat and scarf on the hook in the entrance foyer, he grabbed the dishes, looking around him for any more.
"I could have sworn I cleaned everything," He muttered to himself, scratching at the back of his head in confusion before returning to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
Serafina came bounding down the stairs, her hair tied into a messy fishtail braid as she went to grab her plates, surprised to see them gone.
"They were here," Serafina looked around in search for them. Walking towards the dining room, wondering if she had left them there, bumping into the chair and causing it to drag as she winced at the noise. "Did I put them in the kitchen?"
Pushing open the swinging door, she stepped in, looking around her and walking forward, freezing when she felt the barrel of a cold gun placed against her nape.
"Don't. Move," The voice threatened, Serafina's eyes widening at the recognition of the voice.
"Alessio?" She turned around, surprised to see him standing in her parent's kitchen, looking at her with momentary confusion before straightening.
"Oh," He moved away, his eyes hard before he put away his gun. "I was not aware you would be here, ma'am,"
"What are you doing here?" Serafina exclaimed, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest to see him in the last place she would have imagined.
Alessio didn't respond as he walked towards the shelf where her mother kept all her cookbooks. Picking one, he flipped it open, looking through the pages.
"Alessio, I've been looking for you," She walked to him, placing a hand on his shoulder as he pulled away from her, trying to create as much distance between them as he possibly could. "I wanted to apologize,"
Serafina swallowed thickly as he refused to acknowledge her and took out various ingredients from the fridge.
"I went to your house and I tried calling you, but I deleted your number and couldn't remember it and then I saw you with Tatiana and I wanted to talk to you but you left and I tried following, but-"
"-I don't care," Alessio finally spoke, those simple three words having Serafina feel like she'd been punched in the stomach, knocking the air out of her lungs as her mouth ran dry.
"Alessio," She tried again, her voice hardly above a whisper. "I'm sorry. I was wrong for treating you like I did. I was just so angry at your brother and mine and I took it out in the person who didn't know any more than I did-"
"Okay, you're forgiven," He stated monotonously, clearly not meaning it as he began cutting vegetables. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make lunch."
"You don't mean that," She shook her head. "You haven't forgiven me,"
"And why should I?" He demanded, slamming the knife onto the counter as she winced back. "Huh? Give me one good reason as to why I should forgive you,"
"I-I..." Serafina stammered at a loss for words.
"You treated me like absolute shit, used me as your fuck toy, only came to me when you wanted me to fuck you, but other than that, you treated me like I didn't bloody exist! I loved you for 2 years and you knew, and you played me like a fiddle for your entertainment and never once thought about how you were hurting me. You hate my brother, you hate your own brother – my friend, and now you come here asking for my forgiveness?" He asked in disbelief. "Hell will freeze before I forgive you, Regnante."
"Alessio, I was wrong," She swallowed thickly. "Okay? I was wrong, please I-"
"-I'm done with you Serafina," Alessio shook his head, going back to cutting the vegetables on the board. "Please leave me alone; I'm very content with where I am going in life,"
"As a housemaid? With Tatiana?" Serafina couldn't help but taunt him.
"At least I don't have to throw my life for a self-destructive reckless girl as a housekeeper. The people I've been assigned to are the nicest people I have ever met, and the girl I've been spending time with is the living embodiment of an angel who is capable of returning any feelings I might have for her." Alessio pointed the knife in her direction. "So, yes, I'm content."
Inhaling deeply, Serafina swallowed the lump in her throat, fidgeting with the hem of her sweatshirt as she contemplated telling him the next thing.
"Alessio..." She trailed, the man cutting the vegetables, meeting her call with a deaf ear. "I had a pregnancy test done,"
Instantly he cursed, having cut his finger at the words as blood flowed from the wound. Running over to him, she wanted to help with the bleeding finger he'd thrust under a stream of cold water.
"Are you okay?" She asked in concern gasping when he grabbed her shoulder and held her at arms-length.
"What did you just say?" His eyes were clouded with worry and underlying fear. "You had what done?"
"A pregnancy test," Serafina muttered, moving away as he went and took out the first aid kit, wrapping his finger in a bandage. "The day you resigned, we...well, we were unprotected and I was late and got worried and got a pregnancy test done..."
"And?" He prompted, Alessio's heart falling to his stomach as he tasted bile at the back of his throat.
"Well...it was negative." She swallowed; looking down as Alessio's shoulders sagged, and he couldn't understand whether it was with relief or sadness that she wasn't pregnant. "I even went to the clinic and got the same result."
"Good for you," He stated in a cold tone, Serafina wincing at the way he spoke to her. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to get done."
She stood uncertainly, watching how tense Alessio's shoulders had gotten as he chopped the carrot with professional precision before gathering it in a sieve to wash them. Exhaling heavily, Serafina left the kitchen.
Hearing the swinging of the door, he braced the edge of the sink, his heart feeling like it was withering all over again. Rubbing his neck, Alessio felt as if though someone was choking him, but it was just his body fighting against him. Tears gathered in his eyes and he hastily wiped at them, having promised himself he was done crying over the girl who never cared for him.
But he did.
No matter what he told himself, he would always care for her, she would always be in his heart. Always.
"What's wrong?" Serafina's parents ask
ed her as they all sat together, eating the lunch Alessio had so masterfully prepared for them.
"Nothing," She shook her head, trying to swallow the bite.
"You've been awfully quiet," Arcangelo noted, taking a sip of the water. "You know you can talk to us, right?"
"I know, but-" Her words froze when Alessio stepped out, asking if they needed anything.
"No, thank you, Alessio," Her mother smiled at him. "It's delicious, come and join us, you must be hungry,"
"No, thank you, Mrs. Regnante, I've already eaten," He smiled at her in response, Serafina noticing how well her parents treated him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll clear the driveway."
"Don't trouble yourself with that, son," Arcangelo looked back at him with a chuckle. "Just relax a bit,"
"It's alright, no trouble at all, sir," He assured before walking out the dining room and towards the entrance foyer where he pulled on his coat and walked out the front door.
"Serafina, can you please tell us what happened between you and Salvatore?" Her mother redirected her attention. "Please, I can't stand to see you two so estranged,"
Serafina pushed her plate away, having lost her appetite. Tears welled up as she pressed her palms against her eyes, trying hard to remain strong.
"He...He had Paolo killed," Serafina choked out, her parents staring at her in concern. "He had Niccolo shoot my Paolo,"
Arcangelo and Rosalie sat in silence, both of them watching their daughter weep over her dead husband. Swallowing, Rosalie watched her husband rub their daughter's back in a comforting gesture.
"Do you know why?" Arcangelo asked her gently, Serafina sniffling as she looked up, pushing her hair out of her face.
"I don't know," She shook her head, hugging herself. "I don't know why Salvatore would do that,"
"Did you ask?" Rosalie looked at her daughter gently, knowing they were treading on thin ice.
"Did I-" Serafina looked at her parents with confused and teary eyes, not understanding why they were so calm. "No, no I didn't ask."
"You should have," Arcangelo stated as his wife nodded in confirmation.
"Wha-why are you two so calm?" She stumbled up from her chair, her heart sinking in her stomach as she noticed the look her parents passed each other.
"Well, because Serafina, sweetheart," Her mother and father stood from their seats, their daughter backing away from them, her mind telling her to run. "Because we think Salvatore did it for your betterment,"
"No," She gasped, shaking her head. "No, not you two, no, no, no,"
Alessio shoveled away the snow from their driveway, wedging the equipment in the snow as he leaned against it, wiping the sweat that beaded his forehead. His gaze turned towards the door when he heard yelling from inside, and just then Serafina came stumbling out, yelling and screaming, her eyes wide and bloodshot. Her parents followed her out, talking in a much calmer tone.
Turning his gaze away, he knew he wasn't supposed to listen, but his eyebrows furrowed in confusion when he saw a red dot against the white, his eyes following when it moved across the garden and landed on Serafina's chest.
A gasp stuck in his throat when he realized what it was.
"BATTLE READY!" He yelled, all the guards stationed around the house ducking as Alessio hurtled himself towards the Regnante's, all of them looking at him in confusion when he pushed at Arcangelo's chest, sending both him and Rosalie toppling back and he covered Serafina, both him and her falling back with a gasp.
"Sniper on the roof!" Alessio groaned at the impact, his breathing coming out in wheezing pants, panic and fear enveloping his senses while four guards covered them, two more running towards where the shot had come from.
Everyone glanced around in concern, Arcangelo pushing Rosalie towards the safety of their house as he walked over to the fallen figure of Alessio and his daughter. Grabbing hold of his arm, he tried pulling the man up, resulting in a pained cry from him as he instantly let him go in fear.
"Alessio?" Serafina spoke weakly, her trembling fingers cupping his face, seeing how he had his eyes shut tightly, turning pale with sweat beading his forehead.
"Are you alright?" He gritted out through his erratic breathing.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," She rushed out, watching as two men helped Alessio up, gasping when she saw the blood blossoming on the front of his shirt, the man groaning as he pressed down on it.
"Russo! Call an ambulance!" Arcangelo commanded before turning towards his wife. "Rosalie grab the first aid kit," She nodded and ran inside to do as told.
"Apply pressure here, baby," Serafina's father grabbed hold of her idle hands and pressed them on the bleeding wound under his own.
"Alessio," Serafina's voice shook and the tears blurring her vision, pulling her hand out beneath her father's palms and cupping his face. "What have you done?"
"Protected you," Alessio groaned with tears welling in his eyes as the blood making his clothes cling to him, the chill even more unbearable. "Fuck, it hurts," He moaned, shaking due to the pain that flowed through him like the blood in his veins.
"Y-you weren't supposed to," Serafina choked out, pressing down on his wound, four men covering them with their guns outstretched. Looking down at his stomach, she saw how he clenched it, his breath coming out in shuddering whispers as he leaned his head against the house. "Where is the ambulance?" She screamed at the men in panic, watching how the blood wouldn't stop.
"You're going to be okay, kid," Arcangelo reassured giving him a determined look. "Just hang in there little longer,"
And Alessio looked at him in desperation, wanting to believe him with all his heart, but he felt it. He felt there was something horribly wrong and he was scared. He was terrified as this time the tears spring forth with fear.
"Fuck," Alessio whimpered, his fingers trembling and his grip loosening on consciousness as he grabbed hold of Serafina's wrist, squeezing. "Mom is going to kill me," He exhaled, his grip going slack and leaving a trail of blood on her skin as he rested his head back, his eyes falling to a close.
Chapter XXIX: Waiting Room
Her fingers trembled and her leg kept bouncing up and down, Serafina felt utterly out of control as her breathing came in hard pants, her hands smeared in blood with a streak running down her cheek. Letting out a ragged breath, she wiped at the tears that fell, her stomach churning with her throat dry like a desert, worry consuming her mind as to how Alessio was doing.
She feared the ambulance was too late because by the time they had arrived, Alessio had passed out and his breathing shallowed to being almost non-existent.
He was wounded, for protecting her.
She didn't know where her parents were; as a matter of fact, she did not know where anyone was. Looking around her surroundings, she found herself seated in the waiting room, unfamiliar faces around her, none of them seeing the turmoil going on inside her, and none of them knowing why the other was here.
"Where is he?" Someone's voice demanded in panic followed by the patter of footsteps.
Looking up, she saw Alessio's brother, Niccolo run across the floor, his eyes wide and his face ashen, her own brother following after him.
"Where is he?" He asked again, looking around hopelessly.
"Sir, who may you be looking for?" A nurse approached, talking to him calmly as Niccolo gripped at his hair, his breathing labored and his thoughts muddled, worry evident across his features.
"My brother," He choked out, looking at the nurse in desperation. "My baby brother, Alessio. He was shot. How is he?"
"Alessio Romano?" She looked down at the clipboard in her hand as he nodded, constantly shuffling on his feet, much too restless to stay still. "He is currently in the operation theatre. Yes, he was shot by a-"
"-High precision sniper rifle with centerfire cartridge, yes, yes, I know that. But how is he?" Niccolo cut her off, running his clammy hands down the front of his slacks.
"I cannot say, sir," The nurse informed slowly. "He is still in operation,"
>
"Fuck, Salvatore, talk to her!" Niccolo whimpered, moving away with his head clutched in his hands, unable to think straight.
Serafina watched her twin take a step forward, looking at the nurse with his ice-blue eyes as she swallowed thickly.
"How badly is he injured, and what are the odds?" Salvatore asked her calmly, the woman looking suddenly uncomfortable.
"Well...The bullet shot him in the abdomen and left an exit wound as well..." She informed lowly, freezing when Niccolo hissed at the words, tears welling in his eyes. "And...the doctors are trying their best-"
"-Give me numbers,"
"30% chance he'll survive this." She blurted, shrieking when Niccolo let out a roar of anguish, punching the concrete wall before him in his anger.
"Leave," Salvatore commanded as she instantly ran the other way.
Serafina watched her twin go over to the older Romano, placing a hand against his chest as he spoke into his ear, the other man bracing himself against the wall and shaking his head, his shoulders shaking as he covered his eyes with one hand.
Inhaling deeply, Niccolo pushed himself away from the wall, away from Salvatore and turned in the room, scrubbing at his face before his pale blue eyes caught sight of her, and just like that the fear and worry morphed into a raw rage.
"You bitch!" His voice ricocheted through the waiting room, people moving away when he suddenly advanced towards her, his teeth bared and his face red, a vein pulsating in his neck as his eyes held only contempt and murderous rage in them.
Frightened, Serafina stumbled up from her chair, moving away before her brother intercepted Niccolo's way, him and Alberto holding him back as he clawed at the air, seemingly wanting to grab her.
"You killed him!" He yelled at her, Serafina taking a frightened step back. "You killed him! You killed him!"