JADE
The whind howled against my ears, pushing my hairs across my face as I sat in the balcony. Thunder rumbled in the sky with the wind getting fiercer signalling a very heavy storm.
I just wanted to enjoy and relinquish the beautiful fill of nature before going down to bed. It has been a week already since I had that terrible confrontation with Raffaele.
Luciano was not yet back yet and I had grown accustomed to his late returns from work. It no longer bugged me though I was still a tad worried. But him always been not around gave me time to snoop around the house as to a clue on what job he is into.
But I have been unsuccessful. The maids and staffs won’t tell me anything but I know they know things which I do not.
Apart from that, I was also experiencing an inner trouble myself. My mind was in turmoil as to if I should tell Luciano about Raffaele’s threats on having me or keep them within myself.
I do not want to be the cause of yet another fight. I am tired of being labelled as the black sheep amongst the other wives.
I am also fed up with the fights amongst the brothers. It all feels sickening and sometimes I feel choked up. I wish we could just leave this estate and go faraway to another house, away from the hatred and disunity that runs in this family.
While I sat alone, pondering my troubles, a car pulled up on the ground below. I figured it had to be Luciano arriving.
Struggling to make out anything in the darkness, I squinted my eyes to get a glimpse of who it might be.
Out of nowhere, I caught gruff male voices emanating from below, and they seemed to be getting louder. It was as if there was some kind of commotion happening downstairs.
My heart started pounding, and worries began to flood my mind. Could something be amiss? Was there an intruder inside the house? I couldn’t help but feel anxious, hoping that everything was alright and that there was a simple explanation for the urgent voices I was hearing.
“Signora!” heard a loud and anxious shout, and when I turned around, there was Elizabeth, sprinting toward me with worry etched on her face.
“What’s the matter? Why were you rushing like that?” I held her close, my expression full of concern.
“It is master. He is home, but he is very injured,” she struggled to get the words out, fear evident in her voice.
My eyes grew wide, and my jaw almost hit the floor. “What!? How did that happen? My husband?” I could hardly believe what she was saying.
“Please, take me to him,” I stuttered, my mind racing with concern and disbelief. I could not bear the thought of my husband being hurt and needed to see him right away.
Together we ran with a sense of urgency through the unilluminated hallways.
I could literally hear my heart drumming in my chest. What injury did Luciano have? Was it so serious?
My mind conjured the different scenes I could be met with downstairs.
He could be bleeding profusely or worse he could be fighting for his life!
Oh my God. I fought myself to breathe the more I ran with my maid in front of me.
We reached the edge of the stairs and I climbed down so hurriedly.
Luciano was flanked around by a multitude of his guards which blocked my view to see him and I could hear him groaning out in pain.
Once I reached the bottom of the stairs, I took an abrupt halt after noticing what almost caused a gag to haul up my throat.
Scarlet red blood stains like a pattern formed a trailed in the huge living room of our mansion.
As I walked slowly towards Luciano, my breath got stuck in my throat. He seemed to be in pain, and he exclaimed with frustration, “Oh, fuck! Can you all just go away goddamit!?” I could hear the anguish in his voice, and it made me feel worried and upset.
“We need to get you treated. You should not even be in here. You should be in the hospital” I did not know who said that but I know it was one of his men.
“Fucking get out!” Luciano growled at them, a blazing fury burning in his voice.
“You all should go deal with that son of the bitch and not bother me!”
“Carlos and his men are on it capo. Right now you need the doctor’s attention. Luigi and his team works on night shifts. I could have them treat you”
“L-Luciano” my voice was timid, and barely even up to a whisper.
Slowly, his guards moved away from him, allowing me to get a good view of his face and the sight I met with was traumatizing.
Seated on a broad sofa was Luciano and a huge part of his shirt had been smeared with blood.
It was horrific and it left me with a shocked and perturbed gaze.
Luciano held on to his bleeding arm so tightly but it still bled out alot of blood. The injury must be so deep.
How was he even able to keep his consciousness with the large amount of blood seeping out of his body?
“You are bleeding” I said, shuffling my feet to meet him.
I stretched my hands out to touch his but he avoided contact with me. “Jade what are you doing still awake? Go back to bed please”
His request was outrageous!
“I should go back to bed and sleep peacefully like my husband did not just come back home with a hole in his hand?” I asked, bewilderment etching in my features.
“Fucking yes. Go back to bed now. You should not even be seeing this. Who called you here?” Luciano ordered.
“I will stay! You can not do it all by yourself. You need help!” I stood my ground, drawing my hands back and using it to wipe off the traitorous tear drops that had trickled down my cheeks.
“Call the doctor” I ordered one of his guards.
“Do not call any doctor. Jade go upstairs now” Luciano spoke.
“Ok then. Get me the first aid box Elizabeth. And Jane get me a warm water and a towel. Luciano you are loosing a lot of blood. You could pass out any moment from now” I advised him.
“See raise your hands up will you? It will help to reduce the flow of blood and you are applying too much pressure by holding onto your arm that tight” I added.
Luciano reluctantly listened to me though he seemed hesistant to do so. All eyes were on me the moment Jane and Elizabeth came back with what I had asked them to bring.
Carefully, I unbottoned his shirt and slowly took it off him. In between the process, Luciano would whince and groan in pain.
I had to ward off my eyes from staring at his chiseled abs for too long.
Using the water and towel, I cleaned off the body stains glued onto his body and cleaned the surface of the wound.
It was so deep.
This was not an ordinary injury.
“This is a gun wound” I said in apprehension. “Probably by a rifle because the injury is way too deep. Has the bullet being removed?” I asked.
“Yes. It has. But he would not take any further treatment” one of his men answered.
“Who shot you?” Fear was written all over my face at this point.
“I do not know Jade” Luciano simply replied. Composing my emotions together, I cleaned off the remaining bloody stains and used a sterile bandage to cover the wound.
“You need to rest. Jane please take him to his room”
Jane walked slowly towards Luciano, as if she was scared that he might hurt her. He seemed furious so I would not blame her.
“Take him” I repeated myself.
Carefully, she helped him on his feet and led him towards the stairs.
“Someone get a mop and a bucket to clean the blood on the floors” I instructed one of my staffs before turning my attention to Luciano’s men.
“That gun wound was caused by either a hand gun such as a magnum revolver or a rifle. The injury was was too deep and it was meant to kill him. Who shot my husband and how did it happen?”
“I am sorry we can not give you the details in accordance to your husband wishes but be rest assured that we will get whoever fired that shot and make sure he pays signora” One of his men replied me before they all walked away.
I was not satisfied with that reply. My mind took a walk down memory lane on the note I read in Luciano’s study room days back.
Someone out there was to kill Luciano. Someone wants him dead but who?
Is my life also in danger?