Coming Back To You

~Ten~

Bella's POV

'Tatiana'?

That's her name? I guess a stupid girl gets a stupid name.

After I left, I went straight back to the counter to continue working. And after a while, Nicolo left too. I was a little relieved since I felt the tension in the room clear a little after he left. But my question is, how did he know this so-called Tatiana. Maybe they dated in the past or something? Maybe a sibling or something? I don't really know and don't really care anyway. His business isn't mine. And with that, I dropped the subject and continued to work.

When I was walking home, I felt like I was being followed, or watched. So when I came to the sidewalk that leads straight to my house, instead of turning right, I turned left just to be safe. I walked for some time until I realized I was in a way too familiar part of town. This part of town was called 'Gangster Way' for a reason, I've only ever heard of it and the stories of it. And that's when it hit me about why I felt like I was being followed. It might be a gangster.

Just then, I heard someone's voice I never thought I'd hear. It sounded like he was really out of breath and a little...worried? He seemed frantic too because when I turned around, his eyes were darting behind him and behind me as if he were looking for something, or maybe someone. But that isn't what caught my attention. What caught my attention was the forming bruise on his left cheek, the cut on his bottom lip, and his bloody knuckles.

"Bella, what are you doing here?"

"Why are you asking me what I'm doing here?! I should be the one asking you! And why do you look so beat up?! You were fine a few hours ago?!" I basically yelled at him

"Well, I just got into a fight." He said way too nonchalantly

"How can you say that so calmly, Nicolo?!" I asked in an angry tone

"Ugh, fine. Just come with me." I said walking towards him. I put his arm on top of my shoulders and gripped my hand on his forearm and wrapped my other arm around his waist to help keep him up.

"I can walk fine on my own bella." He said.

"I don't care, it's better safe than sorry. I just need to get you cleaned up and then you can go home."

We continued to walk home and when we reached my house, I took my left hand off his forearm and unlocked my door.

When we got in, I set him on a kitchen island stool and went to get the first aid kit. I guess the medical lessons I took with my nanny back in England paid off.

As I made my way back to the kitchen, I noticed him looking around my house. As if he was taking a picture of everything and saving it for later. I set the first aid kit down and grabbed a washcloth and turned the water setting on to hot. As I was waiting for it to get hot, I was thankful to have brought an ice pack here so I got it out of the freezer and gave it to him. I walked back over to the sink and put the washcloth under the water and rung the water out so it was damp. Then I went over to him and looked into his eyes as he did mine.

"Can I?" I asked, looking up at him. Since he was already tall and sitting on a stool, I had to crane my neck up to look at him.

He simply nodded his head and continued to stare at me.

I picked up his hand and started lightly dabbing at his knuckles with the washcloth, red color being absorbed into the washcloth. I could feel his eyes on mine as I started washing his other hand. When I was done, I went to ring the washcloth out and set it down so it could dry. Then I went over to the first aid kit and got out the rubbing alcohol and some cotton swabs. I could still feel his intense stare at me as I was dipping the cotton swabs into the alcohol. I glanced at him for a moment and when I was done, I stood in between his legs and looked up at him, cotton swab in hand.