recognize the opportunity when it arrives.”
Today, two 9mm bullets delivered that opportunity.
Now I know for sure… Alessandro Lastrantonio must die.
27
Bella
“Alessandro…”
His name falls from my lips and I feel like I’m going to pass out.
Time has stopped and my heart sits in the middle of my throat. I can’t believe what I am seeing.
The room is some kind of makeshift hospital room. Alessandro is lying in a hospital bed, a sheet pulled up to his hips, his shirtless chest bandaged.
Dazed, I walk over to him. When his name falls from my lips again, he smiles up at me weakly. His lips are pale and sweat beads on his brow.
“Bella…” His voice is hoarse.
I go to him and bury my face into the warmth of his neck, taking comfort in the rapid thump of his pulse against my cheek.
He’s alive and I feel weak with relief.
My hands slide to his jaw as I find his lips with mine and kiss him.
“You’re alive,” I sob. “How is this possible?”
He takes my face in his big hands and looks at me with so much affection my heart restarts. Last night it died, today it is reborn with Alessandro’s kiss.
“Oh, Bella…” he sighs as he seals his mouth over mine. When he moans, I drink it in with his kiss, savoring the feel of his lips moving so sensually and lovingly against mine.
He’s alive and his kiss is the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.
But my happiness is quickly chased off by a sudden rush of anger. I pull away, and his grunt of pain barely registers through the collision of anger and relief in my mind.
I look at him, my heart breaking when it should be celebrating.
“You let me think you were dead!”
“I know, cara mia, and I’m sorry. I tried to get to you sooner, but there were complications. I had to have more surgery.” He bites back pain. “Please believe me, Bella. I asked for you. I needed you. But once the decision was made, things needed to happen before you were told.”
“The decision?” I swipe my tears with the back of my hands. “What decision?”
He reaches for me. “To start over.”
I frown at him. “What does that even mean?”
“I want us to go away. This is our chance for freedom, Bella.”
My head spins. There is so much to take in. “You want to run away?”
“I want a new life for us. I don’t want to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life. I know it’s asking a lot of you.” He winces with pain. “I want out. And I want you to come with me. That’s why when I woke up in the hospital, I spoke with Cristian and he helped set the plan in motion while I underwent surgery. I wanted you to be told right away. But then I needed more surgery. When I came out of it, I insisted you be told.”
Cristian steps forward.
“He’s telling you the truth. The moment he decided he wanted out, we had to move quickly and quietly. We couldn’t risk the media or anyone finding out. And then he fell ill again… I’ll be honest, Bella, there were many hours during the night when I didn’t know if he’d make it. Thankfully, the second surgery stopped the bleeding, and the doctors assure me he is now out of danger. But it’s imperative we let the world believe he is dead.”
My mind scrambles. “That’s why you dragged me through the crowd of paparazzi this morning. You wanted them to see me.”
“Yes.” He looks apologetic. “I’m sorry. I hated doing it. But they need to believe Alessandro is dead.”
I nod. I get it. I don’t like it, but I understand why he did it.
Alessandro reaches for my hand again. “I asked Cristian to get you. I needed to let you know I was alive.”
“When the decision was made, we organized his transfer to this building. It’s one he owns, you see, so it makes it possible to carry out the plan in complete secrecy. He will recuperate here,” Cristian adds. “Once he’s well enough to fly, we’ll get him out of the country.”
Alessandro squeezes my hand. “And I want you to come with me, Bella. This is our chance to start over. My chance to give you the life you want. The life you deserve.”
He’s asking me to give up my life.
To leave everyone and everything behind.
Two months ago, I wouldn’t even contemplate it.
But now I know I would move to outer space