Made of Steel

59. A bedtime story

Cassandra Reid

I cry, scream and kick, but the more I resist, the more I sink into the water. The sound of a gunshot echoes in my ears and suddenly my husband's bloodied body lies in front of me.

I try to call him, but a bandage over my lips prevents me.

I jump up and suddenly find myself in a room, a younger Adriano greets me at the door. I want to run into his arms, but a gun attached to my back stops any movement.

He wraps me in his arms before giving me a nostalgic kiss, a kiss which feels like goodbye.

"Look into my eyes, cara," he asks as someone grabs me from behind. "Focus on me, only me". Once again, my throat is closed and I can't utter a word. "I will always find you."

My husband's body collapses in front of me without me being able to move a finger.

My belly aches, I look down at the ground to discover my body bathed in blood. My hands get soaked, I bring them to my cheeks to wipe away tears and then, in front of the mirror, I see the same red liquid coming out of my eyes.

'It's a nightmare,' I repeat over and over again, but everything turns red.

I want to wake up, I need to get out of here.

I'm soaking wet, with his lips on mine and automatically, drawing a smile on my expression.

"You found me," I say, still not believing it.

"I did," he reaffirms. "I always will, cara. You have to wake up."

'I have to wake up'

I hear whispers around me, but I can't hear clearly. My own body does not answer to me and I am dragged into the darkness.

"I'm really sorry, Adriano," a high-pitched voice reaches my ears. "I never imagined that you would fall in love. I thought you were like me."

"I am, at least my rational part is," I think I recognize my husband's voice. "However, every rule has its exception. Cassandra is mine and Pietro is yours..."

'Is he alive?'

I try to speak, to call him, but I fall asleep again.

"What do you see in that guy?" It's Adriano again.

"I guess the same as Cassie in you," my best friend replies. I would know how to recognize her even with my eyes closed. "His cruelty has its charm"

"He's sick!", my husband protests.

"I'm not very sane either," she alleges. "Now that we've shared confidences, are we best friends?"

I can't hear the answer, because unconsciousness takes me once again.

I move my eyelids extremely slowly and I have to repeat the action several times before I can clear my vision.

I find myself alone in a hospital room and try to move, but the IV in my left arm renders me paralyzed. I feel light as a feather and a single movement feels like a hundred blades go through my entire body.

The sound of the gunshot echoes in my ears at the same time pulses on the echocardiogram go frantic.

"Adriano", although I try to scream, a hoarse whisper only comes out of my mouth. What drug have they given me? Sleeping pill for horses? "Adriano, Adriano."

I start to cry due to impotence without stopping pronouncing his name. Then he appears in front of me like a shooting star.

He is here, alive, intact. He cries more intensely and doesn't hesitate to throw himself into my arms.