186

186
Alaric’s POV
The second Emilia stumbled into the meeting room, disheveled and bruised, I knew I wouldn’t rest until every last person responsible for her pain paid the ultimate price. But before I could even think about revenge, I had to get her to safety. To me, that meant one thing: the hospital.
Now, we were in the car, the engine humming as I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my eyes flicking between the road and her pale, dirt-streaked face. She sat beside me, bundled in my coat, though she kept trying to shrug it off as if the discomfort of wearing it was worse than her obvious exhaustion.
“I don’t want to go,” she muttered flatly, breaking the silence that had settled between us since we left the meeting.
“You’re going to the hospital,” I answered her in an equally flat tone.
“No,” she said just as firmly, her voice raspy but unyielding. “I’m fine, Alaric. I just need to clean up and rest. That’s all.”
My knuckles whitened as I tightened my grip on the wheel. “Fine isn’t bruised, scratched, and barely able to walk. You’re going, Emilia. End of discussion.”
She sighed, a frustrated sound that filled the confined space of the car. “You can’t just drag me there like I don’t have a say. I’ve had enough of men deciding what’s best for me.”
The bite in her words stung more than I cared to admit, but I kept my gaze on the road. “I’m not dragging you anywhere. I’m taking you someplace where they can make sure you’re okay.”
“I already told you, I’m okay,” she said sharply. Her voice softened a fraction as she added, “I just need to be home with you, not stuck under fluorescent lights answering endless questions.”
I shot her a quick glance. Her eyes were fixed out the passenger window, her jaw set stubbornly, but I could see the vulnerability just beneath the surface. She didn’t want to be vulnerable. Not now.
“Emilia,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “You were kidnapped. God knows what they did to you while you were gone. This isn’t about control-it’s about making sure you’re safe, physically and otherwise.”
She pressed her lips together, and for a moment, I thought she might argue again. Instead, she slumped back in her seat with a small huff, crossing her arms over her chest.
“You’re impossible,” she muttered.
“And you’re stubborn,” I replied, unable to keep the faint edge of amusement out of my tone. “We’re a great match.”
That earned me a faint smile, one I barely caught before it disappeared. I didn’t press it, letting the silence return for a few beats before she finally spoke again.
“I should have insisted you took the guards with us. But I just wanted a chance at normalcy so bad I forgot what being in your world was like. I was so stupid. I’m sorry,” she said quietly, blaming herself.
“It wasn’t stupid,” I said firmly. “They were waiting for us, Emilia. That wasn’t your fault. If anything, I am the stupid one for letting us stay that late.”
She exhaled shakily, brushing her hair back from her face. “I fought, you know. I scratched one of them pretty good, but they were fast. Strong. I didn’t stand a chance.”
Hearing her recount it sent a surge of anger through me, one I had to force down to keep from slamming my fist into the dashboard. God. I felt like I could feel that bullet pierce through my skin once again. “Go on,” I urged, my voice softer now.
“When they shoved me into crazy van,” she continued. “I tried screaming, but one of them hit me-hard enough to make me stop. I don’t know how long we drove, but when we stopped, they dragged me out and took me to some warehouse or something.”
I stiffened at the mention of the warehouse, but I didn’t interrupt.
“It was… dark and stinky,” she said, her brow furrowing as if the memory itself was strange to her. “Just the kind of place I expected kidnappers to take someone. They locked me in a room, left me there for what felt like hours. Then…” She trailed off, her voice faltering.
I glanced at her again. “Then what?”
She shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “They were bored. That’s what one of them said. They came in, started talking about… things they wanted to do to me.”
A muscle in my jaw ticked, rage boiling beneath my skin. “They touched you?”
“No,” she said quickly, her hands gripping the edge of the seat. “No, they didn’t. Someone else came in before they could. Killed them all right in front of me.”
I frowned, the detail catching me off guard. “Killed them? Who?”
She hesitated, her gaze dropping to her lap. “One of their bosses, I think. I didn’t get a name, but he… He seemed angry. Not just at them but at me, too.”
“Angry at you?” I asked, my voice sharpening slightly.
She nodded, her expression hardening. “He kept calling me… things. Said I didn’t understand who I was or what I’d done by being with you. It was all so cryptic, but…” She paused, her eyes flicking toward me. “I think it’s connected to you. To whatever history you have with his family.”
I clenched my teeth, the pieces starting to align in my head. This wasn’t just about Cruz wanting leverage. This was personal-on a level I hadn’t fully understood before.
“Emilia,” I said, my tone quieter now. “There’s more, isn’t there?”
She didn’t answer right away, her hands fidgeting with the hem of my coat. “Not now,” she said finally. “Let’s just focus on getting home.”
“Emilia, you’re lying to me aren’t you? You’ve twisted the whole thing. There are parts you’ve left out. I want the whole thing, Emilia,” I pressed.
“Fine. It was Alonso Cruz. He came in and killed them all. He called me Alessandra. He hates you so much, God.” She let out a shaky breath.
It was no news that Alonso Cruz hated me. I hated him even more. But calling her Alessandra? That was the only thing that sparked my interest.
“Why?” I demanded.
“Why what?”
“Why did he call you Alessandra?” I demanded.
“Later, Alaric. I’m tired,” she murmured, deflecting.
I wanted to push, to demand she tell me everything, but the exhaustion in her voice stopped me. She’d been through enough already, and whatever she was holding back would come out in time.
“Alright,” I said, keeping my tone even. “But we will talk about it later.”
She nodded, her gaze fixed out the window again.
As we pulled into the hospital parking lot, she sighed heavily, clearly bracing herself for the inevitable. “You’re not going to let me skip this, are you?”
“Not a chance,” I replied, parking the car.
She glanced at me, a flicker of a smile crossing her lips. “You’re lucky I don’t hate you right now.”
I smirked, opening my door. “You’d miss me too much.”
Her soft laugh was the only sound I needed to hear before stepping out and walking around to her side.