By the time they reached the hotel the escort had caught up to them. Alessandra stepped out of the car and waited patiently to get her luggage. Before the escorts could grab it for her, she grabbed her carryon and placed her shoulder bag on her larger suitcase before pulling the handle up to roll it behind her, She started walking towards the entrance with Luca. He gave her a sideways glance.
"My men would have gotten that for you."
"That's okay, I don't need strangers rummaging through my things."
Luca scoffed.
"What makes you think I would have my men go through your things."
"You don't know me and up until this day your family hasn't been exactly friendly with mine so you could say this was all a ploy and maybe I have lied and it's my job to kill you. I'm sure the idea has crossed your mind or at least your father's. I would check the bags if I were you." Alessandra said very calmly before walking up to the front desk and checking the couple in. Luca was dumbfounded that she seemed to know what he was thinking. He looked down at his side where she left her bags, he was tempted to go through them, after all, if she knew the men were going to go through it, why did she want to seem suspicious by not letting them. Luca had to fight every urge in his body to go through the partially opened shoulder bag, but in the end he lost and he opened the bag the rest of the way.
Alessandra wasn't stupid but to her it appeared Luca was because he didn't seem to notice that she could see him in the mirror behind the reception desk. She smirked as he started rummaging for something that was definitely there. She turned her attention back to the desk attendant.
"Ecco la signora Mazzanti. C'è qualcos'altro che possiamo procurarti?" (Here you go Mrs. Mazzanti. Is there anything else we can get you?) The attendant gave Alessandra four cards to the room. Alessandra came to the realization that the escorts would also have a set a keys and she became uneasy. Her mind began to cloud over as her heart pounded in her ears. She could feel the nausea rising in her throat as she tried to maintain her composure. Alessandra closed her eyes, trying to focus on her breathing. The attendant didn't notice that Alessandra was only seconds from becoming completely undone as she kept talking. By the time Alessandra counted down to one her heart had already returned to normal and she was able to open her eyes again.
"No grazie." (No, thank you.)
"Va bene. La cena sarà servita nella sala da pranzo alle 19:00." (Okay. Dinner will be served in the dining room at 7 pm.)
"Grazie" (thank you).
Alessandra swiftly walked back to Luca who was now acting like he didn't do anything. She handed him the three cards and grabbed her bags. She moved swiftly to the elevator with Luca close behind her. If she cared right now she could have swore she saw guilt across his face.
The elevator felt suffocating as she stood next to Luca. The two sets of escorts were on either side of her closing her in. She swallowed hard as the nausea came back. The elevator couldn't hit the top floor fast enough. As soon as the doors opened, Alessandra exited the elevator making her way to the room. Luca looked at her then the escorts who shrugged their shoulders, no one knew what had gotten into her.
By the time the others had reached the room, Alessandra was already inside. Her luggage was thrown onto the couch without care and Luca could hear running water in the bathroom. The escorts went through the room checking closets and windows for any signs of tampering before heading for Alessandra's luggage.
"No need to check that. I already did." Luca grabbed the luggage out of the way. He kept staring at the bathroom door, guilt becoming more evident the longer she was inside.
After what felt like an eternity, Alessandra opened the bathroom. When she left one of the escorts went inside to make sure it was safe. Alessandra rolled her eyes.
"This is my uncles' hotel, that is not necessary."
"Ma'am it is our job to make sure everything is safe." the escort replied coming out of the bathroom.
"Did you find anything" she rolled her eyes again but the escort ignored her question.
"If you need anything, Boss, we will be outside the door at all times. James and Neil have the first break and will be downstairs in the lobby." the escort said to Luca, but Luca ignored him. With that the escorts left, leaving the couple alone again.
Luca began to unpack his bag and Alessandra did the same. They sat in comfortable silence until Alessandra was finished unpacking. It didn't take long for Luca to unpack, he shoved everything into a dresser and left his toiletries on top. Alessandra on the other hand took time to make sure her toiletries were in the bathroom, her clothes were organized and either hung or folded in the wardrobe. Her shoes placed in a orderly line underneath the wardrobe.
Alessandra tried to focus on anything else other than being alone with Luca with two more men outside the door but it was nearly impossible as they talked incredibly loud.
"Do they need to sit outside the door all the time." Alessandra scoffed.
"Yes."
"Why, it's not like there is any danger, my uncle wouldn't put me in danger." Alessandra elaborated.
"Well as someone so cleverly pointed out, you could be here to kill me." Luca made his way towards the couch Alessandra was seated on.
"Please, I have never hurt anyone in my life. I wouldn't even know where to begin." Alessandra repositioned herself, uncomfortable with how close he was getting.
"Oh really." Luca was practically leaning over her now. He pulled a small handgun from behind his back. "Then why do you need this if you are not in danger."
Alessandra froze. She knew he had gone through her bags but she didn't know he would wave his findings in front of her, like he didn't care about being caught. She stared at him, her shock turning to rage, as he continued to smirk at her.
"I said my uncle would never put me in danger, I don't know a thing about it you." She tried to snatch the gun back but he kept it out of her reach.
"I'm hurt," Luca said sarcastically placing his hand holding the gun over his heart, "how could my wife not trust me to not kill her. I'm hurt!" he laughed.
"Asshole" Alessandra whispered under her breath.
"Excuse me," Luca's face changed from a smirk to one of rage.
"What did you just call me," he stepped closer to her again. When she didn't answer he grabbed her wrist and yanked her up towards him.
"What did you just call me." he said in a voice barely above a whisper that sent shivers down Alessandra's spine. So this is the Luca they warned her about. She swallowed hard, even though she could feel her heart racing in her head she wasn't going to show him how scared she was.
"Answer me." he pulled her closer so their noses were touching. Alessandra took a deep breath before saying in a steady voice.
"Asshole." her face didn't show an ounce of the fear she was feeling but she could feel that wall breaking under his stare.
Luca threw her back down on the couch and stalked off towards the bathroom. Alessandra looked confused at his reaction, was he really not going to punish her?