CHAPTER 33: THE AFTER

Natalia couldn’t stop pacing. She trembled with fear, as her restless feet moved from one end of the lounge to the other.

"You really need to stop worrying so much. What good is it going to do your friend? Why don’t you relax and drink some whiskey to calm your nerves?" Daniela said in an irritated tone.

She was already so upset Luciano had insisted on going to find the stupid girl himself.

Yes she was absolutely stupid. Because who the hell walked around aimlessly, in a place she knew nothing about?

Now they all had to suffer for her stupidity.

She curled her well manicured fingers around her glass of whiskey, as she took a fat sip from it.

"It’s dark. Valentina doesn’t like the dark. She must be so scared," her words stumbled all over each other.

Aurora rolled her eyes from the position she sat down in.

Natalia was starting to get on her last nerves.

Heck, everyone was. The world didn’t need to stop spinning because one girl had disappeared.

"So annoying," she muttered under her breath.

"She is afraid of the dark huh?" Daniela tapped on the glass, forming a sinister rhythm.

"She is," Natalia continued spilling. "I’m afraid that she’ll be hiding somewhere at the moment in fear, and they won’t be able to find her. What if she passes out? She gets panic attacks that affect her breath."

"Hmmm interesting. Tell me more about her fears." Daniela encouraged her.

She opened her mouth to speak, when the sound of footsteps cut her off.

The windows swept open, and Elio with Marcello walked in.

"Elio?" Natalia called out, as she dashed towards him. "Where is Valentina, Elio? Have you seen Valentina?" She held his hand.

"Natty, Valentina is fine. She has been found."

Daniela paused in time, before she could hiss out loud.

Somewhere deep down, she had hoped the rain carried the girl to a far away place, where she never had to hear, see, or deal with her again.

Unfortunately, wishes weren’t horses.

"Thank God!" Natalia breathed out, and let go of his hand. "Thank God she has been found." She repeated, wiping the tears off her face, as she clutched her chest.

"Yeah," Elio walked to the bar, and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. He returned beside Marcello with the bottle. "Want some?" He asked after taking a swig directly from it.

"It might be my last anyway," he replied, accepting the bottle from him.

"Two idiots!" Aurora spat out. "Why did you sneak her out in the first place?" She questioned them.

"Don’t start Ro," Elio warned.

"They have no brains. No wonder they’re friends. Do you see how I sneaked Natalia out without any complications? Next time, learn from me," Daniela mocked.

"For once Daniela, just shut up, okay?" Elio’s lips curled into a snarl.

She sneered. "Why should I? You’re the reason why my man had to go out there searching for that attention seeking whore. I’m really getting sick and tired of your bull–"

"When can I see her?" Natalia’s voice rose high enough, drowning Daniela’s.

"This stupid bitch!" Daniela screamed in her mind.

She hated being cut off. Especially by some airhead she was only using to learn more about Valentina.

Every second she spent without knowing what Luciano was doing was already annoying enough. Now she had to put up with all of these people she didn’t even like.

"So annoying!" She scoffed loud enough for everyone to hear.

Elio ignored her, and responded to Natalia alone. "The doctor is currently attending to her. I’m certain you’ll see her soon," he reassured her.

"And where is Luciano? Is it not enough that he found her. Why does he still need to stick around? This is bullshit!" Daniela rambled in annoyance.

The doors opened again, and Luciano, in the company of Vittorio and Salvatore, walked into the room.

Daniela jumped to her feet immediately. "Babe, I’ve been waiting for you!" She hurried to him, and hugged him.

Luciano allowed her to hug him. He had dried himself up, and changed into fresh clothes.

The scent of the sea was gone, and with it, Valentina’s scent.

It was time to come out of fantasy land, and face reality.

"Could you at least send a guard next time? That girl is so not worth all of the stress," she said as she took a step back.

"Daniela, she almost died. Could you at least give her some sympathy?"

She frowned, and scrunched her nose. "Everyone already has so much sympathy to give her. I don’t need to give her anymore. I only want to take care of you." She held his hands, and dragged him to one of the chaise lounges.

Luciano allowed her. Even though every fiber of him would rather be in the room with Valentina, ensuring she was still breathing fine, he decided to do the mature thing, and choose duty.

"There you go," she smiled, as she successfully got him to sit. "See that, everyone? Can the American bitch take care of a man like this? They’re too cold to do that," she laughed.

"I’m too sober for this," Salvatore said, as he walked over to the bar, and grabbed a bottle of tequila.

By the time he returned, he blinked twice. "I thought I just saw Marcello, and Elio?"

"They went out through the door. Are they going to see Valentina? Can I please come with them?" Natalia spoke up.

Vittorio’s gaze moved to her. He read her distress.

She cared a lot. Her heart was very big. It almost made his heart stir.

Aurora, who was already looking at him, froze when she saw his gaze move to Natalia.

He never looked at people. He barely did that. But he was sneakily looking at Natalia.

And was that pity she saw in his eyes?

"No way!" She thought in distress.

Although she had no dog in the fight, if there was even a tiny possibility that Vittorio was interested in the friend, then she was going to pick a side quicker than time travelled.

"The doctor has asked that your friend rests. But if you insist, I’ll have someone bring you to her. It’s good for her to see someone familiar when she wakes up," Luciano said.

Natalia let the tears rip out of her eyes. "Thank you so much, Mr Luciano. Thank you for bringing my friend back. I’m so sorry for any trouble we’ve caused you. It won’t happen again, I promise," she said through heavy tears.

"This is so pathetic. The girl is fine, for heaven’s sake! What are the tears for? Ugh, so dramatic!" Daniela hissed, as she arranged herself properly on Luciano’s lap.

Disgust at how hard hearted she could be crept up on Luciano, but he brushed it aside.

He wasn’t marrying her for her heart. There were more important things to worry about.

"Should I take her to the room, Luce?" Salvatore questioned.

Before Luciano could answer, Vittorio stepped forward. "Finish your drink, amico. I’ll take her."

Natalia’s gaze whipped towards him, and as her heart skipped a beat, Aurora’s heart tightened—so did her fist.