Elsa
“Elsa, can you hear me?”
I opened my eyes groggily and see Gabrielle sitting next to me. Had I passed out?
“Where’s Marcello? What’s the time?”
“It’s nearly noon. Marcello left,” Gabrielle replies.
My head is spinning, and I feel nauseous. Everything hurt.
“Take me to him right now! I need some clothes!” I cry, wrapping myself in the sheets.
Gabrielle sends me a curious look, gets up, and goes to the closet.
“I ordered for some casual clothes incase you needed them, ” he says.
I jump up and sprint toward the closet. I don’t care what I wear. I grabbed a white tracksuit, and a while later I am in the bathroom, frantically trying to put it on. I glance at the mirror and yesterday’s makeup on my face. I said I didn’t care how I looked, but that would be too much. I wipe the makeup off and go back to the bedroom, where Gabrielle is still waiting.
The motorboat is too slow, despite ripping through the waves at maximum speed.
Nearly an hour later, I see the hull of the yacht in the distance. We are going to take the yacht? Good. Maybe i will be able to clear my mind on the boat.
“Finally,” I breath, jumping to my feet.
I don’t wait until we are moored-I skip to the deck of the yacht immediately. I run, looking everywhere, opening all doors, but Marcello was nowhere to be seen.
Resigned and crying, I collapse onto the sofa in the lounge. I am drowning in tears, and my throat feels so tight I can’t breathe.
“An hour ago the helicopter took him to the airport,” Gabrielle says, sitting next to me. “He’s got a lot of work now.”
“Does he know I’m here?” I ask.
“I don’t think so. He left his cell phone in the room. I couldn’t call him. Besides, there are some places where he can’t take his phone.”
“What am I to do now, Gabrielle?”
“I don’t know, Elsa. I have never been in such a situation. We just have to wait for him to call.”
“I need to go back,” I say, getting up.
“To your home?
“No, to the estate. I will wait for him there. May I? ”
I send Gabrielle a wide-eyed stare, waiting for his permission. I might not even be allowed in his home anymore. Maybe he has chased me away.
“Of course.”
I sleep through most of the journey, with the help of sedatives. When we enter the driveway, I feel like I am returning home.
I enter the house and reach my bedroom, slipping into my bed and quickly falling asleep.
The subsequent days were identical. Some days I spend in bed. Others, I went to the farm. Zia tries making me eat, but it is no use. I just can’t have anything. I wander around the house, looking for something-anything-that would prove Marcello is there.
Gabrielle gave me a phone saying that Marcello told him to give be one that night of the party. He was already planning to send me away. I finally have my freedom but it doesnt feel good at all.
I callef Rita and told her everything that happened, leaving out the details of my captor, how i got here and how everything has gone including last night in Rome, and how he had finally let me go but i am still undecided since i don’t know where he is and i am really worried about him.
She assures me that i have been feeding on drugs since i reached here. She reminded me of how everyone is still looking for me. That she is finding it so hard to keep quiet.
She tries speaking sense into my delusional head but its too late to set me straight. I am kinda scared of going home and facing Rosa.
And if that wasn’t enough, all local tabloids and websites published the photo from the banquet-the one in which the Marcello kissed me on the seafront. They are all captioned: “Who Is the Sicilian Potentate’s Mysterious New Companion?” Most articles also mentioned my dance skills.
Days pass, and I feel it is about time to go back home.
The next morning, I am woken by the sound of the alarm clock. I drink a cup of cocoa, which I find on the night table, and turn on my phone. Today’s the day, I think. A while later, Dominico opens the door and sends me a sad smile.
“Your ride is ready.” He sits down on the edge of the bed. “I’ll miss you,” he says, taking my hand. I squeeze it, feeling my eyes welling with tears.
“I know. Me too.”
“Everyone will miss you, Signorina. Especially the estate staff. You have been such a good company at the farm. Don’t go without saying good bye to Elvira,” Dominico says.
“I will remember to do that if she’s still in the house. I won’t manage to go if I go over to the estate,” I respond with a sad smile.
“I’ll go check if everything’s ready,” Dominico says, getting up.
I stay in bed, staring dumbly at my phone, scrolling through the apps. I settle on some news app and listen to what’s going on in the world. I get bored and go to the bathroom.
“The head of the Sicilian Mafia was shot in Naples. The young Italian was widely considered one of the most dangerous…” I storm out of the bathroom, back to the phone. The screen is showing a montage of scenes from the place of the incident-including two body bags and a black SUV. A hot, scalding feeling behind my sternum comes next. I can’t breathe. Then, a sharp pain, like someone stabbing my heart with a knife. I try screaming but don’t manage even a croak. I fall to the floor, unconscious.