Elsa
I sit next to Papà and start to pray for Marcello. I am so scared, I don’t know what else to do other than hold papa’s hands and pray. I remember the many attempts that have been made on Marcello’s life from the day I met him. ai am sure there are other incidents that he never told me about. He survived all of them by God’s grace but I don’t know about this time.
Why would he go to face Federico just like that? What if something bad happens to him? I don’t even want to think about it.
Be be alright.
My heart feels so wounded like it has been stabbed. I nearly lost my father an hour ago. I have only met him for only one day. I can’t lose him already. If I had not stood my ground back then, she could have killed him.
I stare at the readings on the life support machines. He is still alive. He is going to live. But what about Marcello?
Our wedding is next weekend. What if he is killed? I won’t live my wedding day. I won’t have forever with the man I love like we promised each other that night when he proposed on the beach of roses. All my dreams will be shuttered.
I will have to go back home with Papà and live the darkest phase of my life.
I shake my head, refusing to believe my thoughts.
He is alright. He is definitely alive. My man is a fighter. He has survived all those times, why would he die when we finally have all we have right now?
By it has been over an hour and I haven’t heard from Gabrielle who was supposed to be here at least thirty minutes ago. Tears begin to well in my eyes, and I can’t help but let them roll down my cheeks.
What if Gabrielle also got into trouble?
No.
I can’t break down. Everything is going to be alright. Right?
Another hour of uneasiness passes, and the chair I am sitting on seems to be on fire. I get up and walk to the door. There is only one soldier. The other two have taken away the fake nurse after proving that she is a worker at this hospital. She is going to be thoroughly interrogated regarding who could have sent her. The nurse is the least of my concerns right now.
“Have you received any information from Marcello or any of soldiers that went with him?” I ask him, the desperation readable in my voice.
“No, ma’am. We haven’t heard anything from them. Please try to be more patient,” he responds.
I take in a deep breath.
The soldiers are not communicating. That means the soldiers have been killed too. Why else wouldn’t they be communicating? They are a team.
My head feels like it is going to explode. I walk back into the room, feeling utterly helpless.
This was all too good to be true. How could I have my father back and then marry the love of my life all in a short period of time. That is too much luck for one person. Fate is not on my side.
I sit back next to Papà and just cry out all the emotions I have been holding inside. I don’t feel any bit of hope that Marcello is fine. How am I supposed to live after this? Federico won’t stop at killing Marcello. He is also going to hunt for me and kill my father the second time.
I get my phone and contemplate on calling Zio. I would explain to him about papà and ask him to come over as soon as possible. Papà and I would be fine, but what about Marcello?
The door clicks open and Gabrielle walks in. I dash to him and fall into his embrace. I have never felt so happy to see Gabrielle like I feel right now. He holds me in the hug and pats my back.
“I am sorry, I am late. I had to a lot to do before coming here,” he says.
“Have you heard from Marcello? Is he alright?” I ask eagerly.
“Marcello is here at the hospital,” he responds.
My mind goes blank.
“He has been admitted. He has been shot and is currently unconscious. He is in the ICU,” he adds.
Hot tears start rolling down my cheeks once again.
Oh God!
“Where exactly is he? I want to see him. Please take me there,” I huskily ask.
“Calm down, Elsa. You can’t see him now. He is in the ICU. You will to wait for about an hour or so,” he responds, his voice soft and full of concern.
I take a step back and that is when I notice blood all over his white shirt.
“What happened to you? Are you alright? Are you hurt?” I inquire.
“No, I am fine. Don’t worry about me. I carried Marcello and he was bleeding, that’s why,” he responds. I remember the time when Marcello has been shot a few weeks ago. How much he bled. How I had been so scared when I thought I was going to lose him.
My head hurts.
“Oh God! I think I am going to pass out. So much has happened in such a short time. So you think Marcello is going to be alright?”
Gabrielle gives me a pitiful look and then holds my hand.
“I can’t make any assumptions. He is in the hands of the most skilled doctors in Bologna. This is the best hospital in this region, you know. We can only pray and hope for the best,” he responds responds and then gives my hand a gentle squeeze of assurance.
“You look to shocked. Calm down and hold some hope. Marcello is not someone who would die easily. He needs your courage right now,” he says.
I purse my lips to stop myself from crying loudly. I don’t feel any courage at all.
“Federico is dead,” he says, “Marcello shot him three times in the head. But Federico and his men had got their shots on him. At least Federico is now an eliminated threat.”
As much as it sounds hard to believe that Federico is now dead, it is a relief that he didn’t just slither away after shooting my man.
Gabrielle goes on to check on Papà and I tell him all about what the doctors have been saying about his condition. I feel like Marcello could have already told him but he shows interest anyway so I tell him.
“Come on, Gabrielle. I can’t wait from here. Let’s go to where Marcello is so I can wait from there,” I tell him after some time.
“Okay, if you insist,”he shrugs and then leads me out of the room.