Chapter Seventy Four

Romero had not intended for her to get hurt, he had been angry and wanted to punish her and he had not realised there was nothing she could hold on to in the back of the SUV to prevent herself from being thrown violently around. Stupidly he had allowed himself to believe in the car chases he had seen in films where the victim always emerged unscathed. So when he told Angelo to open the boot and bring her into his office he was not prepared for his second in commands gasp of shock,                                                      ‘Merda, capo, cosa le hai fatto?’ [Shit Boss what did you do to her?]                                                      Gingerly he reached into the boot and picked up the unconscious girl cradling her against his chest instead of heading for Romero’s office he raced across to the medical facility yelling for their full-time Medic, Dr Katrina Degio,

‘Hey, Dr Kate?’

He shouted bursting through the doors with Romero on his heels,

‘Mettila qui.’ [Put her over here.’]

They ignored Romero as Angelo gently placed Juliette on the gurney Kate had indicated,

‘Che diavolo le è successo, perché dovresti fare questo Romero?’ [What the hell happened to her, why would you so this Romero?]

Romero flinched at the accusation in her words he found it hurt him to think she believed he was capable of doing this to Juliette but he pushed it down now was not the time.

‘Lei era nella parte posteriore del SUV, Ricci ha guidato un po' troppo veloce, non è stato intenzionale, ha frenato per evitare una pecora insanguinata che è finita in strada, è stato un incidente’ [She was in the back of the SUV, Ricci drove a little to fast, it was not intentional, he braked to avoid a bloody sheep that ran into the road, it was an accident.]

He tried to explain but they both looked at him with raised eyebrows, Kate checked Juliette over, she had a bump on her head with a small cut that needed a couple of paper stitches and a few other bruises that had already changed to a dark purple. None of the injuries were serious and she was already coming around from the concussion,

‘What happened?’

She asked the Kate in English and the Doctor frowned,                                                                                 ‘Mi dispiace che il mio inglese sia un po' arrugginito.’ [I’m sorry my English is a little rusty.]

Kate said in Italian but Juliette frowned back at her,

‘What did you say? Oh God, where am I? Who are you?’

The panic in her voice was noticeable and Kate moved to reassure her,

‘Va bene, non preoccuparti Juliette, sei in Sicilia, hai un bernoccolo in testa ma starai bene.’ [It’s okay don’t worry Juliette, you are in Sicily you got a bump on the head but you will be fine.]

‘I don’t understand, what are you saying? Please, doesn’t anyone speak in English?’

Juliette backed away from Kate holding up her hand to fend her off, fear and panic etched on her pretty face and Romero stepped forward,

‘Don’t be frightened little one, you banged your head and have a little concussion but it will clear soon and you will be fine.’

Turning to face him, there was no recognition in her eyes,

‘Who, who are you?’

She stammered her eyes taking in the very handsome Italian man who had stepped forward,

‘Wow, he was gorgeous.’

Her mind took in the muscled body, chiselled chin, perfect golden skin, white teeth and thick long curls that hung past his shoulders. Whoever he was he sent her pulse soaring.

‘What happened to me, why am I in hospital?’

She asked him her beautiful eyes huge in her pale face the bruising and cut on her head enhancing her fragility,

‘You banged your head, and knocked yourself out, seems you have a little amnesia but I’m sure it's nothing that a little rest won’t cure.’

He looked across at Kate who nodded approvingly,

‘Where am I?’

She asked now frowning slightly,

‘Where do you think you are?’

Romero countered as she pushed herself up into a sitting position making her blink in confusion,

‘Am I in England? Is my Mother coming in soon? Have you contacted her?’  

Romero sent a worried look toward Kate, and then he said gently

‘You are in Sicily, little one, you have lived here for the last few years.’

He was deliberately vague knowing she had to remember things for herself,

‘Sicily?’ I am in Sicily?’

She looked from one to the other her eyes widening as Kate walked forward,

‘Ha ragione Juliette, hai bisogno di riposare, per favore sdraiati. Sono sicuro che la tua memoria tornerà tra qualche giorno.’ [He’s right Juliette, you need to rest, please lie back down. I’m sure that your memory will return in a few days.]

Kate told her looking to Romero to translate which he did his eyes never leaving Juliette who took a deep breath and then did as they asked lying back against the pillows and closing her eyes. When they were sure she had fallen back to sleep they walked toward the window keeping their voices low,                                    ‘È normale?’ [Is this normal?]  

Romero asked Kate in a worried whisper and she placed her hand on his arm,

‘Ha avuto una botta alla testa, è abbastanza normale, quanto tempo impiegherà a ritrovare i suoi ricordi è un'altra questione.’ [She has had a bang to the head, it's quite normal, how long she takes to regain her memories is another question.]

Romero sat by her bed watching her sleep, he worked quietly on his phone, answering emails and sending others, she slept for most of the morning and well into the afternoon but he never moved.

Juliette opened her eyes and blinked at the bright sunshine,

‘This was unusual for Cornwall?’

She thought wondering why it wasn’t raining then she was hit by memories that brought a cry of pain as her hands went to her head and she closed her eyes again tears streaming down her face. Romero reacted instinctively standing up picking her into his arms and then sitting back on the bed holding her tightly,

‘Hey, hey, it’s okay baby, it’s okay, I’m here.’