Adriano

Chapter 61:

Lorenzo stands at the back of the room, his arms crossed and head down as Terzo speaks to him in a hushed tone.

'It makes the most sense.' Matteo says.

Mimi and Adriano haven't left my side, both of them holding onto me as if I'll disappear.

'She made us all a meal and two of us get poisoned.' He says. 'One of us in a coma and the other with half of her body numb.'

Alora smiles at me softly and I feel guilty for ever suspecting her. If she didn't find me, I would've died.

I grab Adriano's hand and he squeezes mine softly. I turn to him and he gives me a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.

'Maybe we should let Dilara sleep.' Mimi says. Everyone nods and she hugs me tightly. Adriano gets up to leave with them but I don't let go of his hand.

'Don't go,' I whisper.
He nods and sits back down. I move up in the hospital bed and open the covers so he can sit next to me. I lean on his chest and he wraps an arm around me.

'Pazza, I'm so sorry.' He says. 'I should've never left your side.'

'I should've been more prepared.' I reply. 'Adriano, it's not your fault.'

I feel so useless. I could've done so more to protect myself. To protect my baby.

'My baby,' I whisper. 'Our baby.'

'It's not your fault.' He says.

'Adriano I could've protect the both of us.' I feel tears prick my eyes and I start bawling.
I cling onto Adriano's shirt and he rubs my back.

'Dilara you're alive.' He whispers. 'That's better than anything.'

I feel his shirt dampen under my cheek but I continue crying. The events over the past few weeks finally hit me and everything comes crashing down. Like this stabbing flicked a switch in my brain.

Adriano puts a finger under my chin and presses his lips to mine. He holds me face in his hands and rests his forehead on mine.

'I'm going to find them.' He whispers to me. 'And you're going to give them a slow painful death.'

I look up at him and i can't help but feel safe in his arms.

'I love you Dilara.' He says.

'I love you too.' I reply.

***********
The first day I was in the hospital Adriano brought me a jar of red skittles. The second day it was a bouquet or sunflowers. The third and fourth day I was greeted with blueberry pancakes and chocolate covered strawberries. These gifts repeated for two weeks straight.

My days would consist of little physiotherapy sessions so I could get back to walking without my wound hurting too much. Mimi would then come in and check up on me.

I found all the attention from everyone a little overbearing. Until I realised that this was Mimis first time seeing someone close to her bleed out in-front of her face. 

Surprisingly, Matteo has come to visit me a lot of the time. Our time spent together mostly consists of us silently scrolling on our phones but I don't complain. I know we both went through losing a loved one. I know how he feels. Sometimes he'll send me a get well soon meme and I'm starting to get him to open up about Jasmine.

Rory will come visit me with Alessandro who was extremely sympathetic and I feel our relationship healing itself. He makes jokes with me now and lets me stay with Rory alone.

Terzo and Lorenzo both see me together, with Terzo being his normal funny self but Lorenzo being more reserved and quiet.

'How you feeling Lorenzo?' I ask.

'Good.' He replies. That's how most of our conversations go recently. I ask the questions and he gives me one worded answers.

'Amira didn't do it.' Lorenzo says and Terzo's face drops. 'I know it.'

'All evidence says otherwise.' I reply. We found the Tetrodotoxin in the food she cooked and a sleep drug in the water she gave me. A couple days later Alessandro showed us CCTV footage of Amira walking into Vittorias office and then leaving with her.

'But you know she wouldn't.' He raises his voice. 'Amira is anything but violent.'

'I don't know what I believe.' I reply. 'No one can be trusted.'

Lorenzo storms out and Terzo shoots me a sympathetic smile before following him. I sigh and lean back on my bed.

First I thought Zoya was the traitor because she mysteriously disappeared. Then I beloved it was Alora because she was last seen with Zoya. But now it's all pointing at Amira. The food poisoning, the drink poisoning, it all makes sense.

I don't want to believe it, I really don't but that's what everyone else thinks. Except Lorenzo, but if I gave up on a lead just because someone had a romantic interest in them then we'll never figure out who the traitor is.

I let out a breath and my finger traces the stitches on my abdomen. Someone knocks on my door.

'Come in.' I say.

Matteo walks in, the hood of his black jumper covering his face and his hands on his pockets. His eyes are red as if he were crying and he sits on the chair next to my bed.

'Dilara can we talk?' He asks, his eyes looking over my face.

'Yeah go ahead,' I reply, narrowing my eyebrows in concern. 'What is it about?'

'Jasmine.' He replies. 'I need to talk about Jasmine.'
My heart drops.

*AUTHORS NOTE*
I wrote this while my eyes were closing cause i need to sleep so if there's any stupid spelling mistakes leave me alone 😍😍
I hope your enjoying the book.
Have a nice day!