96.
Amelia's POV
I turned to look at Alessandro, my whole body trembling. What was happening?
Were we getting robbed or something? Wait, were they Alessandro's business rivals?
"Calm down, Amelia. I know how to handle this." He assured, looking into my eyes full of fear.
"W...what?" My lips shook as I saw some men dressed in black alight from the van, they were coming close, gun in their hands. "Don't tell me you're going there alone. I'll come with you."
He sighed, placing his hands on my shoulders. "Amelia, this isn't the time to argue. These men are dangerous and they're after me, so you shouldn't interfere. Just remain in the car and don't step out!"
"They have guns with them, what should I possibly do when one of them shoots you?" I asked, my voice breaking. I was really scared. What if something bad happens to him?
"You just have to trust me on this. Don't leave the car and you'll be safe. I'll take care of them."
"No, Alessandro." I shook my head, grabbing his arm as he was about to step out. "I'm... I'm scared."
"They're close." He remarked, slipping his gun out. "You don't have to be scared when I'm here, okay? If you want to be safe then you shouldn't try to step a foot outside this car. You don't have anything to protect yourself. I'll leave now." He gave me a peck on the forehead but my tears wouldn't stop flowing as I watched him leave.
I was so skeptical about his safety. Shouldn't he call for backup?
As soon as Alessandro left, I could hear guns firing in the air, groans, painful cries and all of these heightened the tension that welled up inside of me.
How could he handle all of these men all alone? There were more than ten of them if not more.
God.
The commotion outside continued and I continued praying in my mind. Nothing should happen to Alessandro or I might just run insane.
I couldn't afford to lose him now, not when I had fallen in love with him and he held a precious place in my heart.
I closed my eyes as I buried my face in my palms. Lord, Alessandro has to be safe.
I heard a familiar voice scream from outside and I snapped my head up. My heart dropped to my stomach when I saw Alessandro, grabbing his side.
He had been shot!
I got down from the car without thinking twice. Alessandro had been injured, how could I sit and watch him die!
My goodness! My knees turned to rubber when I saw Alessandro bleeding. He tried to stop the blood by holding unto his wounded side but it didn't help at all.
I ran to where he was and knelt beside him. My heart shattered to pieces when I saw the deep wound.
He looked up, his right hand crawling up my face. "I told you not to….to step down. Why did you disobey?!" He yelled, his veins rising in anger.
I couldn't believe he could still get angry even at this point. It wasn't a paper cut but a fucking bullet in his skin and he doesn't even give a fuck about it?
"You should be worried about yourself at this point and not me, you fool!" I screamed as I cried profusely, my lips trembling.
"Get the lady!" I heard a loud voice order, making me gasp. I turned around as someone tried to grab my arm. Then I quickly picked up a pocket knife lying on the ground.
"Don't you dare try to touch me!" I warned, threatening to stab him but he only chuckled.
I sliced the object through his skin when he made to touch me, making him fall to the ground, groaning.
The gun he was holding slipped away but when I bent down to pick it, it got kicked away by some fellow.
I looked up with a gasp. It was the man who ordered the other guy to take me away.
There were only two guys left now cause Alessandro had killed the other gang members. I glanced at Alessandro who was still groaning in pain as he struggled to defend me.
"I've heard a lot about you, kitten." The guy who seems to be the head of the gang said as he moved closer to me. The smirk on his face spelt doom and in an attempt to defend myself, I pointed the gun at him ready to stab him at any wrong move.
"Stay away from...from her!" Alessandro growled, struggling to get up but the gang leader only kicked him away.
"Sandro!" I screamed as I watched him hit his wounded side on the ground after being tossed away.
"Not so fast!" I was grabbed by the guy in front of me and when I tried to snatch myself away from him, he hit me with the edge of his gun and I fainted in his arms.
*****
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a dark room and just when I was trying to get a clue about where I was, someone switched on the lights.
My eyes lit up in shock. It was Alessandro's father! He must have ordered those men to kidnap me and obviously they weren't after Alessandro but me!
"Y…you." I stammered, wondering if I was dreaming or not. "what do you want from me?" I asked as I was almost yelling.
He didn't reply me, he only chuckled and sat on the chair opposite me. There was a chessboard in front of him and seeing him playing this game now made me scoff.
"What impression are you trying to give? That you can still do better after I defeated you last time?" My words dripped with mockery and I could see his forehead creased in sheer anger.
Nevertheless, he kept quiet but I could see it clearly that he was only fighting to keep his sanity.
"Just pray nothing happens to Alessandro or I'd make sure I send you to your grave!" I seethed, gritting my teeth in anger. A pang of guilt struck my heart and regret washed over me.
Why did I always bring bad luck? Now Alessandro had been hurt because of me?
But…..the real question was why did his father kidnap me?
He raised the pawn in his hand, the corner of his lips rising into a smirk.
"Just like this pawn, you are just a bait— a means to an end."
My mind throbbed with curiosity. Why did everyone see me this way? Was I really a pushover?
"Maybe you should be worried about yourself and not Alessandro, he would heal from those wounds but I will cause you wounds that would never heal on this earth but in heaven."