No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 19

Her eyes flash with fear as I push her, her back hitting the wall behind her as I stalk over to her. Her jaw locks as I pin her wrists above her head, my gun rested under her chin as her eyes flutter shut.

"Why are you doing this Anastasia?" I ask in a low voice, wanting to know why my life in the past month has been consumed with this girl.

"My Grandfather's orders," is all she whispers, "He wants revenge on your family so he ordered me to kill you. If I don't he kills me," she explains.

"I never wanted to kill you, or your family," she says, her voice barely audible as her eyes open to look at me.

I drop my gun and step back, letting her hands fall as she stares at me confused.

"You have one minute to leave piccolo fiore, if you show your face to me again, I kill you," I say calmly, watching her intently as her jaw partially opens.

She must snap out of whatever daze she's in as she nods and to my surprise opens the window behind her.

"Thank you," she whispers. I nod at her and her head disappears out of sight.

Once she's gone I feel my legs buckle beneath me, blood running out of the gash in my stomach at a rapid pace.

The door is flung open again and I strain my neck to see Alessio and Dad.

"She's gone," I grit out, forcing my eyes to stay open as they both run over to me.

"She did that?" Alessio asks, looking slightly amused as they help me up.

I nod, unable to form any words as my vision starts to go blurry.

I let out a groan of pain as each step causes more blood to run down the gash in my stomach, shoots of agony coursing through my body.

"Stay with us Enzo," Dad says, his eyes wide with fear as I nod, unable to hold myself up as my eyelids droop down.

My eyes blur over as they take me into an elevator, Alessio hurriedly pressing the buttons before putting my arm back over his shoulder.

"I let her go," I rasp, my words not processing in my head as my world goes dizzy.

"Probably for the best," Dad mutters, grunting as he pushes me up, my entire body weight being supported by him and Alessio.

I hear a distant ding and my eyes fall shut as I hear a loud cry.

————

I force my eyes open as I hear a steady humming, turning my head to see a machine next to me.

I blink and look around me, Mom, Dad, Alessio and Azalea sitting in the room as I lie on a white bed.

"Ma chérie you're ok," Mom gasps, gently hugging me as I wrap a weak arm around her.

"Let him breathe tesoro," Dad chuckles, gently pulling Mom away as I see drips in my arm, a dull ache in my stomach.

"You scared us there fratello," Alessio grins, his smile wicked as he hugs me.

I roll my eyes and feebly push him away, ignoring his scowl as I try to push myself up.

"Asshole, stay lying down," Clarisse huffs, gently pushing on my shoulder.

"What happened with Anastasia?" Azalea suddenly asks, making me curse myself.

"I let her go," I say quietly, feeling ashamed about my decision.

"Why?" she asks,

I shrug, honestly not knowing why I did, steady regretting my decision.

The door opens and I look up to see a smiling doctor walking into the room.