Chapter 7

Alessia

“Papa.” Softly I closed the bathroom door. Dana was sleeping fitfully on one of the two hotel beds because that’s where we were now.

In a hotel in the centre of the city. Something swanky because Dana needed the distraction and I knew my father would go nuclear if he found out I had checked into anything less than five stars.

And he had found out in less than hour which meant my parents were still tracking my bank accounts. Of course I kind of knew they would be.

“What’s happened?” It was my fathers voice but not the voice he used around me: this was his work voice. “I just got an alert that you used your card to-“

I sighed loudly. “We are perfectly safe papa, I am perfectly safe.”

“And what exactly are you safe from?” His tone was dangerous and I could clearly picture him stalking back and forth in front of my mum. “What has happened?”

“Start from the beginning.” Another male voice quipped and I knew that voice. Stefano my fathers right hand man was there and I was clearly on loud speaker. I fought back another sigh. Biting my lip in the process. “Ow.”

“Alessia.” My father said sharply, his voice rising.

“I just bit my lip that’s all. We are ok.”

“We?”

“Me and my housemate.” I took a deep breath because this was it. I had to tell him what had happened today. Not the meeting a dreamy man. I wanted to keep that to myself for a little while. But I needed to tell him about the hands and if I was lucky he would already know because he was the one who had made it happen.

I knew that wasn’t going to be the case. My dad would have made the man who had assaulted me disappear. Never to be seen again. He wouldn’t have sent grotesque gifts to my house. 

He wouldn’t have put me through that.

“Had to book into a hotel and I knew you wouldn’t mind me paying the bill. We are going to stay here for a few days but I might have to find somewhere else to live. Neither me or Dana really fancy going back and-“

“Your rambling Alessia .” He snapped. “Spit it out and tell me what happened?”

I took a deep shaky breath. Steeling myself for his outburst because I knew it was coming. “Someone sent a gift to my house today.”

“Ok.” He said steadily. 

“The box contained the severed hands of a man.”

“Ok.” He said again. He was being too calm. So maybe this was all him. Or maybe Stefano? 

“Did you-?”

He cut me off sharply. “Did I send my daughter a hand in a box? No Alessia I fucking well didn’t. No one here would. Is there a reason why you would think I would?” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. 

Here it came, the blow up. The rage.

“Papa.” My lip trembled. “There was a man.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. My eyes glued to the door. I couldn’t hear any movement from outside, which meant Dana was hopefully still asleep. That was good because I didn’t want her to hear what I was about to say. 

“A man?” Dangerously low this time. “And why do you think this man has anything to do with things? You think he is some kind of stalker? Is this someone you are dating.”

I shook my head before I remembered this was a normal call and not a video one. “I only met him because my room mate was interested in him.” I sucked in a breath. “He followed me into the bathroom and got a little handsy.”

“How handsy?” That was Stefano.

“He just ripped my shirt. It didn’t go any further than that because-“

Both men exploded on the other end of the phone. I could hear them swearing in both Italian and English and had to muffle the sound with my hand so it wouldn’t wake Dana.

“Sweet girl?” My mum’s voice was calm which was just a scary as my dads ranting. “Tell me everything that has happened?”

I relayed what had happened. Going over details I couldn’t tell to my dad and the entire time she was silent. One good thing about my mum was that she was an excellent listener.

“And then some drunk guy stumbled in and-“

“What drunk guy?” Her sharp words cut me off. “What did he look like?”

“I don’t know.” I admitted. And that was the truth. “I wasn’t really paying attention. He told me to go and I went. Quickly.”

“I see. Sounds like we owe this man our thanks. I am glad you are ok and sorry this happened to you.”

I was sorry as well but not for me. Mostly for Dana. It didn’t take a genius to figure out whose hands were in the box. Her Irish crush. He had touched me against my will and his hands had appeared on my doorstep.

The gift was for me.

“It wasn’t one of your -“ I paused , struggling to find the right words. “Acquaintances?”

“I don’t think so. No one has come to us but I will ask around. It would be easier if you had seen the rescuers face but I’ll put the feelers out. Is there anything else you think I should know?”

“No.” I bit my lip. “Wait.” I frowned at my reflection. “Someone sent roses to me this morning. There was no message on the card, just my name. Do you think?”

“I think you should stay in the hotel for the next few days whilst your dad and I look into something’s.”

“I’m booking her a flight home.” My father shouted. 

“Hush Luca. Leave the girl alone.” Her voice softened. “Unless you want to come home for a while Alessia?” She asked quietly. “Maybe that would be-“

“No.” This time my voice was firm. “I don’t need to come home. I don’t know what is happening but-“

Dimly I heard a soft knock on the door. “I have to go mum room service is here.” Unlocking the door I smiled at the sever. Balancing the phone between the side of my face and my shoulder I took the tray from him and froze.

The room opposite me had two people in front of it. The woman, beautiful leggy with thick black hair, ran her hands all over the man who was desperately trying to get his key card to work. 

It probably would have been easier if he didn’t keep stopping to kiss her. Mesmerised, I almost forgot what I was doing. 

“Sorry.” A blush heated my cheeks. What must it be like to be so madly in love with someone that you couldn’t even wait until you were behind closed doors before you started ripping each others clothes off? 

I’d never felt passion like that but then again I had never felt real passion in all of my nineteen years.

“Thank you,” I said with a smile. “Mum, I have to go. I’ll ring you later, ok.”

The man froze, his back to me and then slowly he turned, a wave of shock spreading across his face. “Alessia?” Aiden whispered.