Chapter 06

Niccolò Ruffalo

"Call me if you need me" she mumbled a small okay and got out of the car, I sat there in the car  and looking at the  figure walking towards the building. As long as she's safe it puts my mind to ease. I drove away after she disappeared inside the building and making my way to deal with the pending work.

"Yo, wanna join us for a drink tonight?" Daniel asked me

"No I'm good" I told him while fidgeting with my pen.

"Come on, man I just flew down today from Italy after knowing your going to get married in America"

"See I told you he's not coming" Mike interrupted

" surprisingly, but where's the bride?! I really want too see her?" Daniel spoke with excitement, that made my teeth grind, why would he need to see my woman?

"You can see her on that day of the wedding" I spoke with an irritated time to let him know that I'm done with this conversation.

"Come on, don't be selfish introduce us as well!" I glared at him and Mike hit his back to shut his mouth, sometimes Daniel says things that sound irrelevant but I tend to ignore him most of the time because he is a close family friend of grandpa not mine and he acts like we both are very close, which we aren't at all.

I skipped dinner because it was too lonely to eat alone with me only sitting in the dining table. Speaking of food, I wonder how Ari is. Did she have her dinner or is she asleep since it's almost midnight, gosh I miss her voice so much but then I realised that I don't have her number with me. Darn it, I gave her my number but I didn't ask for her number. Sighing and massaging my the bridge of my nose I was interrupted by my phone ringing from an unknown number.

"Hello" I spoke to the person on the other side of the line

"Nic, it's me Ari. there's something wrong with my brakes and it's going at high speed" she spoke choking on her own words, that made my blood go cold "I didn't accelerate but it just happened, I don't know what to do." I threw everything that came on my way and ran to my car,

" Calm down Ri,  tell me which road you are in"  I calmed her down .

"The road which leads to the lake"

"' I'm coming baby, wait for me don't cut the line!" I've never driven so fast in my life.

"You won't be able to make it on time" I'm steeped on the accelerator as hard as I can, thankfully the roads were empty.

"Nic..." She spoke with horror " there's car following me" I slammed my hand on the steering wheel. How did they get to know about it ?

"F*ck baby , calm down I'm coming " the line got disconnected before I get to complete the sentence for f*cks sake I tried to ring her phone again but it kept telling her phone is off. I grunted from frustration. As I was getting closer to the lake I could see something explode right above the water my blood ran cold again I've never feared my life before but her one us important to me the car that was following stopped right at the edge of the deck and three men were standing and watching the pieces of the car float .

I took my gun and got out of the car, the noise of shutting door made their attention turn towards to me, they charged at me and on mean tried to punch my face but I dodged it and threw him into the lake. one down two more to go. The other came running with a long piece of wood I didn't waste any time took my gun and shot him in the leg which made him cry in pain and he lost his balance and fell into the water, these motherf*ckers. The other one standing was pointing his gun and threatening to kill me if I came and closer. I don't give a flying F*ck about it and shot him to death. its when I started to look for her, I shouted my lungs out by calling her  name but I got no response. On the other side I heard water splashing, there she was I ran to the other side of the deck bent down to reach her hand

"Come on tesoro, grab my hand" I told her, she was inches away from my hand.

"Fuck Ari!" she was dragged underwater. I removed my coat and jumped into the water without any hesitation. My eyes burned when I opened my eyes underneath but I manage to keep them wild open and search for her and the man with a coat  was pulling her Dow and she struggled to get out his grip, she kicked him in the face but didn't let go I quickly swam down and aimed my gun at him to shoot him arm he was holding the knife.

While he let go of her arm to hold his wounded hand , I grabbed her hand and she opened her mouth lightly which made all the air she was holding in to let go I bought her close to my lips and opened her mouth with my tongue to let her in some air. When we pulled apart she soften her eyes at me and I couldn't help but hold her eyes with mine, her eyes still looked pretty but we both couldn't wait any longer holding out breath. I wrapped my  hand around her waist and swam up, we both came up panting heavily she had her arms around my neck holding me real tight she looked at me again and she was going to say something but I shushed her lips by keeping my finger on her lips and pointing towards the deck. Two other man were looking at the surrounding and probably his worker lying dead on the deck.I came closer to her and whispered

"Let's move under the deck before they see us" she nodded at me and tried  to swim but  her arms and legs must be tired. So I went in front of her and lead her arms across my neck and swam with her until we reached under the wooden deck. I turned around and slid my hand around her waist to bring her closer to me since it was cold. Her weight shifted towards my body as I held her even tighter. Her eyes grew tired, she rested her cheek on my upper chest closer to my shoulder . I whispered to her

"Dont fall a sleep baby"

"I'm not" she answered me with a small voice.

I could hear footsteps sound growing further and further away and a sound of a car starting, they must be gone. I looked down at her and said

"Tesoro, they're are gone we can go out now" she gave an exhausted look and swam to get on the deck, the deck seemed taller since the water level is reduced. She grabbed the wooden deck and tried her best to push her self up while I held her waist to push her up and I accidentally touched her butt to push her up. That round thing felt good to my hand and I felt the heat run up to my cheeks.

Niccolò ! get back to your god damn sense.

Once she was up the deck I pushed myself out of the water and sat on the deck, while I saw her lying on the ground and she started to cough. I hurried next to her and held her head and bought her into a sit up to an upright position.

"Are you okay bambina? do you need got to hospital ?" I asked in a worried tone and removed the wet hair blocking her face. She just shook her head

" I just want to go home and sleep" she answered in a quavering voice, while her eyes started to water she  and started to shiver. I couldn't figure out if she was crying or just the excess water in her eyes I grabbed the coat sitting on the edge of deck and wrapped it around her fragile body to give  warmth and carried her inside the car in bridal style, her being stubborn she refused to be carried.

"put me down, I'm heavy and I can walk " I ignored her knowing that she is a stubborn girl and won't listen to me. I safely put her in the passenger seat and turned on the heater to keep her warm. While I went out there to see any evidence on who set this trap on my fiancee, I slightly moved his sleeve which was covering up his black spade tattoo. They are coming after her now, I should have our marriage as soon as possible.Once I get into the car and started to drive to her house.

"Nic" came out her angelic voice and she  looked up at me with her doe tired eyes

"Yes Bambina, do you need anything ?"

"Thank you" she spoke softly which made my heart swell.

"Is anyone at home at this time?"

"No one is there , you can drop me at home"

" No way your going to stay at home alone after this incident"

"You can stay" she said while fidgeting her finger nail.

"Go to sleep tesoro" she slowly closed her eyes.

I've never been happier, she called me when she was in danger. Ari called me when she needed me. My cold heart felt warm again after ages, only she has that control over me and her voice would make my knees weak. Once we reached to her place I opened her door while she was still asleep and unbuckled the seat belt while I felt her breath on my cheek.

"Bambina, wake up we're here" I spoke as softly as possible trying not startle her. I slid my hands beneath her knees and one across her waist and lifted her up and went to the door she knocked on the door and it revealed an old lady I assume that she works here. The look of horror on her face made Ari speak

"I'm okay Gina, I just fell into the water fountain. And make sure not to tell Dadda or my brothers" she told her putting on a fake smile.

"You can put me down now Nic, I think I can walk now"

"No thinking,it's hard for you to walk, please show me her room" Gina guided us to her room while her head was resting on my chest. I kept her feet on the ground and held from her waist just to make sure she can stand straight,

"I'll have a wash and come meanwhile Gina give my fiance a pair of clothes for him to spend the night" she told Gina with a gloomy tone yet the word my fiance,  made me glow with pride and her just marking me as hers is huge tick off my bucket list. I left her in the room by herself while Gina guided me to the guest room which was right next to her room.

"I'm sorry sir for asking this but did she really fall into a water fountain or a lake ?" Gina asked me

"Why do you ask me that ?" I asked her suspiciously

" I was here with her from the day she was born and I took care if her after her mother got a divorce from her father, her experience with lakes weren't a very pleasant one" I nodded my head and said

" she did fall into a lake, is there something I am missing ?"

"I'm very sorry again if ma'am didn't tell you, I have no right to complete her story" she spoke without being able to look in my eye . " I'll leave you be now" saying she left the room leaving me behind with a whole set of new clothes.

The cold water dripping on my skin made me think back, she once told me that she was a never  a fan of lakes during high school but she always dodged the question when I asked her the reason. I want to know and shield her from everything that's hurting her mentally and physically even if it means fighting in her nightmares for her. After dressing myself in the sweatpants and a white tee I wanted to check up on a her but I wasn't sure if she was comfortable enough to have me in her room. I knocked on her door but I got no response so I knocked again yet no response

"I'm coming in " saying I opened the door slightly and there she was sleeping like an angel sent from above, she looked so peaceful while she was a sleep and buried against the soft pillows,i found squatting in front of her bed as I removed a strand of hair causing to block her beautiful face and gave a kiss on her forehead 

"You're safe with me bambina" I whispered as lightly as possible

* Translations *

tesoro - sweetheart/ treasure

Bambina - baby