Garden of Roses ✔️

Chapter 13

Zara

         I wake up to someone gently nudging my shoulder. It takes me a few moments to even realize that it's a part of real life and not my dream. I open my eyes slowly and see Camilla sitting next to me, smiling.

"Oh great, you're awake," she exclaims excitingly as if she didn't just wake me up herself.

Of course, she looks perfect. Her hair is tied into a sleek ponytail, a subtle brown shade flatters her eyes, and her cheeks are slightly rosy.

"What the fuck?" I squint as I look around and see a huge modern bedroom that I don't recognize and remember the sting in my neck that occurred when I got out of the car at the airport.

"You guys sedated me again, didn't you?" I rub the back of my neck, knowing the answer already.

Bastards.

"Hey, in my defense, I was against it. But Dante insisted and it made others feel more comfortable," Camilla explains as she flips her long ponytail behind her shoulder.

"Now, the closet is packed. I'll leave you to get ready, we'll have breakfast, and then a little tour if you're up for it?" she asks with a wide smile on her face.

"Where are they?" I suddenly panic as I remember that they must've sedated my team too. What if they're hurt or Dante did something to them?

"Relax, they're all fine. They're already awake and waiting for you actually," Camilla answers quickly, noticing the panic on my face. I nod my head slightly and she stands up from the bed.

"We'll wait for you on the terrace, so when you're ready, just ask the guard in front of your door to show you the way, okay?"

"Excuse me, the guard in front of my door?" I ask in confusion and she stops in the doorway before exiting the room.

"Yeah, sorry. You will all have guards in front of your rooms at all times. Just as a precaution," Camilla elaborates, and with that, she leaves the room, not leaving me any time to protest. Not that it would be successful anyway.

I feel a little nauseous as the sedative departs from my body. At the same time, I feel enraged for being sedated again and a bit grateful that I got some good night's sleep.

The bed I'm in is huge. The beige sheets feel heavenly soft against my skin. I find myself not wanting to leave the bed, even though I don't even know exactly where I am. Everything around me is unfamiliar. I know that we are at the Salvatori estate, but I feel extremely disoriented in completely unfamiliar surroundings.

The room is very bright. On my right, I notice a big glass door that lets all the sunlight in. I slowly tiptoe to the door and open it, finding a spacious balcony with a spectacular view. The railing is also made of clear glass, making me a little anxious to approach the edge.

The sun feels warm on my skin as I close my eyes and take a deep breath, filling my lungs with crisp spring air. The feeling is incredible. I'm not sure what it is that makes me suddenly relax. Considering the circumstances, I should probably feel more anxious or stressed or at least a little bit nervous, yet the sun and the gentle breeze on my skin make it all go away.

I've always appreciated the fresh air, living in a bunker and all. Seeing such a deep blue sky right now made me forget all the circumstances under which I was here and just enjoy the sensation.

After a few minutes, I get back inside to get ready. I didn't want all of them to wait for me for too long. I open the massive closet door and realize that Camilla wasn't joking. The closet is overflowing. Every piece of clothing that I could ever need is inside this closet. From pajamas, sweats, jackets, coats, jeans, and casual t-shirts to skirts, dresses, heels, boots, sneakers, slippers, bathing suits... Absolutely everything.