Melina placed the file back after removing her fingerprints using her handkerchief. She gently tumbled out of the room and was about to reach her room when she bumped into a wall. 'Ouch! That's gonna hurt for real. Did I hit a wall or something?', she mumbled and then looked up to see that it wasn't a wall. She was instead met with the amused face of Massimo.
'No, you didn't hit a wall', he replied and one could easily make out that he's trying not to laugh. 'Um.. actually I..was..I want to go to my room', she replied looking down and was about to reach her room when she felt a hold on her left wrist. Not aggressive, just a gentle hold. She turned back to look at Massimo without his guard.
He didn't mask his longing for her. She could clearly see it in his eyes...That he cared and his fear that she wouldn't love him back. She didn't shrug off his hold. She just stood baffled, seeing Massimo like that.
A man who masked everything stood defenseless, in front of her.
Massimo asked her intently without hiding the hurt in his eyes, ' I'm just a monster to you, am I not?'. 'Well, technically you killed my boyfriend's father, hunted him for years to kill him, and now have declared a mafia war against him for a throne that you yourself have got by betrayal. So yeah I guess that makes you a monster', she thought but dare not say that to him. Though she knew he was a monster, there was some part of her that felt bad for him seeing him utterly defenseless.
She just kept quiet. She was worried about how her brother was doing. The last she saw him, he couldn't even bear a knife cut when he helped her during dinner one day. Just when she was reunited with her long lost brother, he had to do this to her. He was a monster to her. Nothing could change that.
'Is my brother doing good?', she asked looking down. 'He can't bear much pain. Please don't hurt him', she said, tears falling down involuntarily.
Massimo was filled with guilt. For the first time, he questioned his actions. He shouldn't have acted on impulse. It was wrong to make a woman cry. It was wrong to abduct her in the first place. He realized that he just took her like an object not caring for her feelings. He regretted how he violated her the day he abducted her. He felt terrible.
He let go of her wrist and walked away from her. Not even a few steps were taken, when he heard a gunshot. The first thing that came to her mind was just one person.
Melina.
He darted towards her to find her crouching down, closing her ears. 'Melina! Are you alright?', he asked, eyes filled with concern. She nodded. 'We have to get out', he said to which she replied, 'Not without my brother'.
'Melina! There's no time! I have to get you to safety', he said to which she didn't even budge. He could hear the gunshots getting closer. 'I have no other way Melina, I'm sorry', he said and before Melina could understand what was happening, her face was pressed by a cloth with a weird smell.
She understood what he was doing. She fought against his hold vigorously, but she was no match for his iron grip. All she heard was, 'Trust me, Melina, I'll never allow you to get hurt', before passing into the abyss. But she knew he meant it.
He carried her towards the secret door that was designed to use during emergencies which led towards a tunnel to the outside. Halfway through the tunnel, he found the car he parked there and his friend Alessandro. He secured Melina in the passenger seat.
'Take her to the mansion, now!', he roared. Alessandro replied,' Don't worry Massimo. She's safe in my hands'. Both nodded at each other and then Alessandro sped away to the mansion on the other side of the city.
Massimo was in rage learning that someone broke into his home despite his top security. All this meant one thing and he knew it. Someone betrayed him. He took his guns, one in each hand, and went back in. He fought alongside his men shooting all those who broke in. To his surprise suddenly out of all sudden, the men who broke in withdrew and disappeared.
He couldn't understand what they were after until one of his men reported him, 'Don, Dario is missing'. Now it all became clear to Massimo.
He knew what they were after.
Melina.